Did the Seventh Prince attend court today?

The rain hadn't stopped, but it had changed from a torrential downpour to a light drizzle, pattering on the destroyed and collapsed ruins.

When the Pixiu crossed the mountain, it saw some rocks hanging precariously on the mountain wall that had been struck by lightning. If the rain were to get a little heavier, these rocks would immediately detach from the mountain wall and roll down the mountain.

It dared not approach and took a longer route to fly to the other side of the river.

When the Pixiu arrived, the eldest prince was still pacing anxiously by the river. He hadn't given up and still wanted to go across the river to take a look. Unfortunately, the bridge was broken, and his lightness skill wasn't up to par, so he could only watch the rushing river with great frustration.

The Pixiu floated down to the eldest prince, saw his bloodshot eyes and disheveled appearance, and couldn't help but sigh, offering a few half-hearted words of comfort: "These are the growing pains. Just get through them. Hang in there, eldest brother!"

After saying that, it turned and rushed towards Cang Shuyue, its tail whipping excitedly like a propeller.

[The beast knew you'd arrived!]

Who was it that, after wiping out the bandits, rushed off in the rain, just to see their wife as soon as possible?

Who was overjoyed only to be told their wife was gone?

Who else has lost their beloved baby?

[It's you! It's all your fault! Cang Shuyue, the beast can't wait to see you weep and wail, heartbroken!]

The Pixiu's eyes gleamed, and it rubbed its hands together, letting out an evil laugh.

However, it was destined to be disappointed.

Cang Shuyue was directing the guards to escort the villagers away. His face was ashen and full of murderous intent. Although he looked intimidating, he appeared very calm and composed.

Pixiu exclaimed in surprise, scratching its head, [Why is it so calm? Did I take the wrong medicine?]

Unconvinced, it leaned close to Cang Shuyue's ear and shouted: "Your wife is gone! Hey! I said your wife is gone! Did you hear me?! Your wife is gone!"

Cang Shuyue did not react at all.

Pixiu slapped its forehead, belatedly realizing, "Oh right, he can't hear me."

Enraged, he pounded his chest and stamped his feet, roaring to the heavens: "Heavens above the beasts! He wanted to steal the leader of the beasts, but the beasts couldn't even manage a small beating! Beasts…!"

"My husband! My husband! I'm so sorry! I couldn't even protect your memorial tablet. How can I face living in this world? I might as well go with you; it's better than living alone!"

The Pixiu, halfway through its howling: [...]

No, why are you stealing the spotlight?

It looked in the direction of the sound and saw a white blur. It couldn't help but twitch its lips.

Why is it this scourge again? Is it never going to end?

Under the dim light of the windproof lamp, Meng Shi, dressed in white, sat sideways on the ground. Her delicate face, battered by the wind and rain, appeared even more pitiful and fragile, evoking pity.

She lowered her head slightly, covering her face as she sobbed, revealing a slender and fragile neck. Her soaked thin shirt clung to her body, outlining her exquisite curves. Her loose hair was both alluring and pitiful, yet she wore a white flower in her hair to symbolize chastity, making her appear both innocent and seductive.

Many villagers who heard the noise and looked over were so stunned that they forgot to walk.

The Pixiu huffed and puffed as it floated to Meng's side. Seeing this scene, it couldn't help but click its tongue in amazement. [Holy crap, this wet and alluring woman knows how to seduce!]

It subconsciously looked at Cang Shuyue's reaction, only to find that he didn't even glance in its direction.

The eldest prince, however, was drawn by the crying. He stepped forward, took off his outer robe, and covered Meng Shi with it, comforting her in a hoarse voice, "Please accept my condolences, my lady."

Pixiu couldn't help but roll its eyes. [My goodness, I don't know whether to praise your pure heart or your stupidity, that you still can't see through this woman's true colors.]

The eldest prince was naturally in great pain, but he did not blame Meng Shi for the mistake.

In his view, Meng was just a pitiful woman. She was deeply affectionate and loyal, yet lonely and helpless. She was not wrong to want to rescue her husband's memorial tablet.

The fault lies with him; he wasn't decisive enough, nor brave enough. If he had made the decision sooner, the seventh brother wouldn't have...

He didn't hate the Meng family; he hated himself.

He had already decided that if anything happened to his seventh brother, he would pay for it with his life, since he was too ashamed to return to the capital to face his father and mother.

However, before that, he hoped that Meng could live well. After all, his seventh brother had risked his life in her place so that she could live, and he could not let his seventh brother down.

Wiping away his tears hastily, the eldest prince was about to continue comforting and consoling her when Meng suddenly erupted, shoving him to the ground and pointing at him, screaming, "It's you! It's all your fault! If you hadn't arrived so late, if you hadn't made so many excuses, I would have already taken out my husband's memorial tablet!"

"You did this on purpose! You deliberately tore my husband and me apart, I won't let you get away with this, I'll haunt you even as a ghost! I'll haunt you for all eternity, making you miserable for the rest of your life!"

The eldest prince sat blankly on the ground, his face turning as white as paper from Meng's sharp accusations.

He didn't understand. He had gone to such lengths, even losing his younger brother to help her, so why was she still not satisfied? Was a memorial tablet really more important than a life?

The Pixiu looked at the Crown Prince's bewildered face, turned its tail, and didn't know what to say.

Xu Ruohuai couldn't stand it any longer and angrily said, "You're like a dog biting Lü Dongbin, not recognizing a kind heart! If His Highness hadn't stopped you, you would have been crushed by the rolling boulder long ago. How could you be here repaying kindness with enmity!"

Gu Cheng also said, "I told you long ago not to waste your breath on her. People like her deserve to die."

Although he wanted Xiao Yunlu dead, he had to admit that it wasn't worth dying for someone like that.

Facing the crowd's rebukes, Madam Meng bit her lower lip, tears streaming down her face, and said, "You're all meddling in my affairs. I'd rather die holding my husband's memorial tablet!"

After saying that, she subtly curved the corners of her lips into a smile.

These people can't shake her off.

Everything was going according to her plan.

The memorial tablet was saved, which was a great favor, so she offered herself to repay the kindness.

The memorial tablets weren't rescued, and that was a form of enmity. She could exploit these people's guilt to legitimately harass them.

In any case, none of these people can escape her grasp.

She had made up her mind as soon as she learned that the person coming to provide disaster relief was a prince. She wanted to climb the social ladder, she wanted to become a phoenix, and she was willing to pay any price for it.

Fortunately, even the heavens were on her side. They not only showed her the naivety and ignorance of these nobles, but also arranged this natural disaster. Otherwise, with her abilities, she would have had to risk her reputation for chastity to try and win.

Now, my reputation is intact, my public image is stable, and she's clinging to me.

Wealth and prosperity are just around the corner.

Meng couldn't help but raise the corners of her eyes, but before she could put on that affectionate pose again, a cold hand suddenly grabbed her neck, and the moment her feet were lifted into the air, the expression on her face froze.

Everyone felt a blur before their eyes, and when they came to their senses, Meng was already being held high up by the neck, her mud-splattered skirt swaying violently in the air.

"Want to die? Then—may you have your wish."

Cang Shuyue's face turned cold, and he suddenly clenched his fingers.

Meng stared in horror, her delicate and beautiful face contorted and red from lack of oxygen, devoid of any beauty.

She struggled desperately, using all her strength, but she couldn't even budge a single finger of the man.

Fear and despair enveloped her; this man who had suddenly appeared truly wanted to kill her.

Xu Ruohuai and Gu Cheng gasped, not only because Cang Shuyue acted quickly, but also because of his ruthlessness and decisiveness.

The Pixiu touched its neck and clicked its tongue twice: "A man whose wife has disappeared is truly terrifying."

The next second it twisted into a maggot shape again, [I'm totally hooked! I'm totally hooked!]