The saintess is pregnant, what does that have to do with me, a spoiled brat?

Deep inside the imperial prison, it was dark and damp, with a stench of decay and blood filling the air.

In the innermost cell, a dark figure slid down from the narrow ventilation opening like a ghost, landing silently.

Xu Nuo dusted off the hem of his clothes, casually stuffed the blood-stained night clothes deep into the haystack, and changed into the slightly oversized prison uniform.

He leisurely lay back down on the haystack, crossed his legs, and dangled a dry blade of grass in his mouth.

The timing was perfect.

At the end of the prison corridor, came the sound of hurried and heavy footsteps.

"Young Master Xu! Grandpa Xu!"

Accompanied by pig-like screams, Captain Liu and Manager Qian scrambled to the prison gate.

The two men paid no heed to the filth on the ground, slamming their knees heavily onto the bluestone slabs and kowtowing repeatedly.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Within moments, blood appeared on both of their foreheads.

Xu Nuo closed her eyes, turned over, and faced away from them, as if she were fast asleep.

Captain Liu was so anxious he was almost in tears. He knew that the three great figures outside were still waiting, and every moment of delay meant a loss of his life.

"Grandpa Xu! I was blind and ignorant, and offended you, a true god! I beg you to be magnanimous and let me go like a fart!"

Shopkeeper Qian, his fat jiggling, cried out in tears, "Young Master Xu, it's all my fault! I shouldn't have coveted your shop; I was blinded by greed!"

Xu Nuo then lazily sat up and spat out the dry grass in her mouth.

He walked to the cell door and looked down at the two men.

"Weren't you all so imposing just now?" Xu Nuo's lips curled into a cold smile. "Didn't you say that once you enter this imperial court, dragons must coil up and tigers must lie low?"

Captain Liu wished he could slap himself until his mouth was ripped apart, so he slapped himself twice across the face.

"You foul-mouthed scoundrel! You deserve to die!"

Xu Nuo squatted down and looked at Manager Qian through the iron fence.

"Manager Qian, do you still want my milk tea shop?"

"I wouldn't dare! I absolutely wouldn't dare!" Manager Qian shook his head frantically, like a rattle-drum.

"No way. Since you like shops so much, I have to grant your wish." Xu Nuo held up a finger and shook it. "The three pawnshops and two restaurants under your name on that street in the south of the city will all be mine. In addition, I'll give you another 100,000 taels of silver to calm your nerves."

Manager Qian was struck dumb, his entire body frozen in place.

This is almost all of his wealth!

"What? You can't bear to part with them?" Xu Nuo stood up, clapped her hands, and said, "Alright, I'll go back to sleep. You can kneel down as you please."

"Give it to me! I'll give it to you!" Manager Qian shouted bitterly, his heart bleeding, but compared to his life, money was nothing.

Xu Nuo nodded in satisfaction and turned his gaze to Captain Liu.

Captain Liu shuddered, knowing it was time for him to bleed profusely.

"Lieutenant Liu, you gripped me quite tightly with your hands."

Captain Liu's face turned pale, and without the slightest hesitation, he suddenly drew the sword from his waist.

"Pfft!"

With a flash of light, Captain Liu's left hand was severed at the wrist.

Blood gushed out and splattered on the iron bars of the cell.

Captain Liu gritted his teeth, his body convulsing in pain, but he didn't utter a single scream. He just kowtowed, his face pale, saying, "Young Master Xu, is this... enough?"

Xu Nuo raised an eyebrow.

He's a ruthless person.

"Alright, open the door."

The cell door opened, and Xu Nuo swaggered out without even glancing at the severed hand on the ground.

Outside the main gate of the Imperial Edict Office.

The night breeze was slightly cool.

As soon as Xu Nuo stepped out of the door, a round, fleshy ball pounced on him.

"Brother Nuo! You're finally out! I've missed you so much!"

Fatty Wang, with snot and tears streaming down his face, wanted to cling to Xu Nuo's leg.

Xu Nuo kicked him away in disgust: "Get out of here, stop wiping your snot on my clothes."

Lin Hu stepped forward, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a deep voice, and said, "Young Master, I am late and have frightened you. The Duke has ordered that if the Imperial Censorate dares to lay a finger on you, they will raze it to the ground tonight!"

Upon hearing this, Prefect Zhao Kang, who was standing next to him, felt his legs go weak and almost lost his balance.

Xu Nuo waved her hand: "Get up, I'm fine."

At this moment, the two expressionless imperial guards stepped forward and bowed slightly.

"Young Master Xu, my mistress said she will handle the shop's affairs cleanly. Also, she wants you to visit Tingyu Pavilion when you have time; she has something to discuss with you."

Xu Nuo narrowed his eyes slightly.

Tingyuxuan is owned by Princess Zhao Qinghan.

This woman has really gone too far.

"Understood, please thank your master for me."

Xu Nuo turned her head and looked at Zhao Kang, who was covered in sweat.

Zhao Kang shuddered and quickly forced a smile that looked more like a grimace: "Young Master Xu..."

Xu Nuo stepped forward and patted Zhao Kang's cheek.

Snap, snap.

The voice wasn't loud, but it was extremely insulting.

"Lord Zhao, the waters in the capital are very deep. What if you drown one day and there's no one to even collect your body?"

Zhao Kang nodded repeatedly, cold sweat dripping down his chin: "This official understands, this official understands."

Xu Nuo sneered, turned around and boarded the carriage of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Inside the carriage, the noise from outside was kept at bay.

Xu Nuo leaned back on the cushion, her nonchalant expression vanishing instantly, replaced by an icy coldness.

He touched his chest.

Beneath the clothes, the ancient jade pendant was faintly warm.

Primordial Dragon Soul.

Just now at the Marquis of Anyang's residence, after killing that father and son, the jade pendant absorbed a tiny bit of primal power.

But we are still far from lighting up the first dragon pattern.

"Too weak," Xu Nuo muttered to himself.

The essence of a ninth-rank martial artist is not even enough to fill a tooth gap.

The last half of Anyang's words before his death replayed in his mind.

"It's three..."

Three what?

The Third Prince Zhao Jing?

In the royal family of Dali, the eldest prince is a martial arts fanatic, the second prince died young, and the third prince, Zhao Jing, appears to be gentle and refined, and treats scholars with respect, but in reality, he is extremely cunning and has secretly won over many court officials.

The Earl of Anyang was a member of the Third Prince's faction.

"Trying to kill me?" Xu Nuo's lips curled into a cruel smile.

Whoever it is, once they've reached out, they should be prepared to have their hand chopped off.

at the same time.

The top floor of Zuixianlou in the inner city of the capital.

The night breeze rustled the light gauze curtains.

Shen Qingyi, dressed in a light blue dress, stood quietly by the window, looking down at the brightly lit street below.

She was tall and slender with a curvaceous figure. Her stunningly beautiful face was expressionless, as cold as a block of ancient ice.

The Holy Maiden of the Primordial Holy Land, the eldest daughter of the Shen family.

Either of these identities would be enough to drive countless young talents in the capital crazy.

But in her eyes, there was only indifference and contempt for these worldly people.

"Miss."

The maid, Xiao Huan, quickly entered the room and reported in a low voice.

"News has just come in: something has happened at the Marquis of Anyang's residence."

Shen Qingyi didn't turn around; her voice was as cold as spring water striking stone: "Speak."

"The Earl of Anyang and his son Liu Chen died in the study. They were killed with a single blow, without even having a chance to cry for help. There were no signs of a struggle at the scene."

Shen Qingyi frowned slightly.

Liu Chen is a ninth-rank martial artist, and there are quite a few guards in the Anyang Earl's mansion.

Those who can do this silently are at least at the peak of the eighth rank, or even a master of the seventh rank.

"Who did it?"

Xiao Huan shook her head: "I can't find it. But... there's one more thing."

"Xu Nuo has just been released from the Imperial Prison. The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, the Minister of Works' son, and the Princess's men all went to pick him up."

Shen Qingyi turned around, her skirt swaying slightly.

"A promise?"