With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

The underground dungeon was filled with a strong stench of blood.

The torch was stuck in the wall, its flame flickering.

Ah Man tied the last survivor to the rack and stepped aside.

Several corpses dressed as border soldiers were piled up in the corner.

Footsteps sounded behind me, unhurried, boots clicking on the stone pavement.

Each step felt like stepping on someone's heart.

Aman turned around and bowed her head: "Master."

Ah Chao walked over. He had changed into dark clothes, and his silver mask gleamed coldly in the firelight. His eyes were filled with a sinister chill.

His entire demeanor bore no resemblance whatsoever to that of the obsequious stable boy.

Like a living Yama who crawled out of hell.

"Still no idea?"

Aman bowed respectfully: "Reporting to Master, I have confessed everything that needs to be confessed."

He handed over a stack of blood-stained papers.

Ah Chao took it and flipped through the pages one by one without even raising an eyebrow.

His finger paused for a moment as he turned to the last page.

He stared at the name, the corners of his mouth slowly curving upwards. There was no warmth in that smile, only a bloodthirsty killing intent.

"They really stretch their reach far."

From the capital to the border, from the imperial court to the inner palace,

A single thread runs through the entire chain, with her people anchored at every node.

He thought she was only causing trouble in the palace, but he didn't expect her to even want to interfere with the grain supplies on the border.

He folded the offering paper and tucked it into his sleeve.

Looking at the person on the rack, "What about this one?"

"This one... isn't from the same group as the previous ones..."

"Yes...it was sent by the Third Prince to keep an eye on the Shen family..."

Ah Chao narrowed his eyes and picked up the thin-bladed knife beside the rack.

He walked to the rack, looked down at the half-dead man, and...

"Your Highness?"

He held the knife up his back against the man's body, as if searching for the right spot.

"It's the prince again."

Ah Chao tilted his head, the tip of the knife cutting into the man's flesh.

One cut at a time, slowly and deliberately.

His voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself:

"The prince she called out in her dream, is that your master?"

The man was in so much pain that his whole body was convulsing, and he could barely speak:

"No, no... I don't know..."

"have no idea?"

Ah Chao smiled, a smile that was incredibly gentle.

The tip of the knife suddenly pressed down.

"How can you know nothing at all..."

The man screamed in agony.

Ah Chao cut off his tongue with a single stroke.

The scream was choked in his throat, leaving only a muffled whimper.

"It's so noisy."

Aman stood to the side, her eyes downcast, and said nothing.

He had seen his master interrogate people; he never asked many questions and never showed mercy.

But today is different. Today, something else burns in the master's eyes—not hatred, but jealousy.

Ah Chao dropped the knife, and the sound of metal clashing echoed in the stone chamber, crisp and clear, like the sound of bones breaking.

He looked down at his hands, his fingertips stained with blood, which was still dripping down.

He suddenly remembered what she had said.

"The person in my dream wields immense power and can protect my Shen family."

Xiao Yunting.

That carefree prince.

Why are you suddenly meddling in the Shen family's affairs?

Ah Man handed him a clean cloth, which he took to wipe his hands.

It couldn't be wiped clean; the bloody smell lingered between my fingers and wouldn't come off no matter what I did.

He looked at the blood in his hand.

"Xiao Yunting," he uttered the name.

"It's not that you can't kill them."

"master."

Mo Bai's voice came from the shadows, tinged with hesitation.

"It seems the Prime Minister has some knowledge of what happened in Peach Blossom Valley. Now, if we kill a prince, I fear your identity will be exposed."

Ah Chao glanced at him sideways but didn't say anything.

Sweat dripped down Mo Bai's forehead, but he dared not raise his head, so he just knelt there and waited.

"Are you teaching me how to do things?" Ah Chao finally spoke, his voice not loud, but Mo Bai's back tensed instantly.

"Your subordinate wouldn't dare!"

Ah Chao didn't look at him anymore, but just looked down at her hands.

I wiped it clean, but it still doesn't feel clean!

He suddenly became agitated and threw the handkerchief on the ground.

"What's going on with Xiao Yunting?"

Mo Bai knelt on the ground, his head bowed even lower: "This subordinate is incompetent; I haven't found out yet. But..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "The arrangements have been made with the Minister of Revenue. The Master is prioritizing important matters."

A-Chao didn't speak, but Mo Bai could feel a cold gaze falling on his back.

Mo Bai forced a smile and said, "And Miss Shen... she's asked you about it several times."

He didn't dare to look up.

I think I might have said something wrong.

The master is always a strategist, with no miscalculations, and never lets personal matters interfere with the overall situation.

But ever since he got involved with that Miss Shen, his master's rationality has been like a string that has been pulled out, and it could snap at any moment.

Ah Chao looked down at himself—blood was splattered on his dark robe, not very noticeable, but the smell of blood was strong enough to be detected if one got close. He frowned.

Prepare water.

Aman was taken aback: "Master?"

"Miss doesn't like the smell of blood."

Ah Chao removed his mask, revealing a blood-stained face that was both alluringly beautiful and chillingly cold.

"Wash yourself clean before going back."

Ah Man responded and turned to fetch water.

Mo Bai remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to get up.

"Continue investigating Xiao Yunting's case."

"Yes."

"And—" he paused, "keep a close eye on the palace."

"Yes."

Ah Chao straddled the bathtub.

The icy water streamed down his cheeks, washing away the smell of blood, but it couldn't wash away the dark look in his eyes.

He looked at his reflection on the water.

That face, alluring and aloof, glistened with water droplets, like a knife that had just been quenched.

He suddenly remembered Shen Nannan's face.

When she smiles, her eyes curve like crescent moons.

When she kissed him, her lips were soft and sweet.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When I opened my eyes again, the reflection on the water had become that cold, ruthless monster.

He reached out and stirred up the water.

------

The General's Mansion, the Wutong Courtyard.

Late at night,

In Shen Nannan's boudoir, the curtains hung tightly, and a rabbit nestled at her feet, curled up into a ball of white fur, its ears drooping, fast asleep.

Ah Chao left home this morning and hasn't returned since, without even leaving a word.

But she was too tired today. After dealing with those old men, her brother dragged her to check on the grain supplies. On top of that, she had been worrying about the money for days and hadn't slept well at all.

She waited and waited, and then she fell asleep.

This person is increasingly disregarding her...

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the window screen, casting a thin layer of light on her face. Her hair lay loose on the pillow, like a piece of black satin.

She was sleeping soundly, her breathing long and even.

I don't know how much time has passed.

She suddenly felt that something was wrong.

She always felt like something was watching her, that gaze was glued to her, and she couldn't shake it off no matter what she did.

She suddenly opened her eyes.

The curtains had been lifted at some point, and moonlight streamed in through the window, casting a pale line on the ground.

A man stood by the bed, moonlight shining from behind him, enveloping him in shadow.

Like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, flicking its tongue and eyeing its prey.

"Ah Chao?" she called out tentatively.