Cheng Wang’s expression didn’t change. He casually twisted the maid’s neck and tossed her aside. In the next moment, he grabbed Qi Yuan’s ankle like a claw and yanked her violently toward him.
With one foot caught, Qi Yuan lost her balance and her upper body tipped backward.
Cheng Wang, a faint smirk on his lips, said, “So, you really are a little wildcat that can scratch.”
Holding her ankle firmly, he suddenly tightened his grip and leaned in, rubbing his nose against her ankle, his voice tinged with perverse delight. “Such a unique flavor.”
A chill shot up Qi Yuan’s spine, her heart surging with killing intent. The moment her back hit the ground heavily, she swiftly raised her hand and fired the sleeve arrow directly at Cheng Wang.
His reflexes were extraordinarily sharp. The instant the arrow left her sleeve, he flung her ankle aside and dodged his head to the side.
The arrow skimmed past his cheek, leaving a deep, bloody gash on the left side of his face.
Cheng Wang’s face instantly darkened, his left hand touching the wound. Feeling the blood on his fingers, his expression turned stormy. “I thought you were just a little wildcat with some fight. Turns out you’re looking to die.”
He knew all too well the rumors and condemnation surrounding him in court and among the people.
But so what?
He didn’t care.
He was Emperor Yongchang’s youngest uncle. Though he was called ‘uncle,’ in truth, he was about the same age as the Emperor’s sons.
As long as he didn’t covet the throne, even if he committed murder and arson, the Emperor wouldn’t really do anything to him.
And the more this was the case, the more reckless Cheng Wang became.
What good was sitting on the throne? Being Emperor was like being a clay Buddha—everything scrutinized, every word criticized, rising earlier than the roosters, spending all day buried in tedious state affairs.
How could that compare to his life as a free-wheeling prince?
He only needed to act on his whims. As long as he didn’t eye the throne, what harm was there in playing with a few women?
Even if things really did blow up, what would be the consequence? At most, they’d bestow the woman on him as his consort.
It wasn’t as if he hadn’t had consorts before—six of them had already died. If another one died, so what?
Putting his blood-stained fingers into his mouth to suck on them, he lunged at Qi Yuan.
Like a tiger pouncing on its prey.
Qi Yuan immediately rolled aside while firing a few more arrows at him.
But Cheng Wang’s skills were even better than she had anticipated—not a single arrow hit him.
Now she understood why the Liu family had chosen him to deal with her.
This Wangye was truly brutal and vicious.
But he was also highly skilled.
Knowing how capable she was, the Liu family had not dared to be careless this time—they had made thorough preparations.
Qi Yuan quickly climbed up into a tree.
Cheng Wang laughed loudly, unfazed.
Back when he ran wild in the southern palace grounds, he had caused untold damage to the ancient trees there.
Trying to escape by climbing a tree? How naive—it was laughable.
With a few agile movements, he quickly chased after her.
She was just a woman. The Liu family made her sound like some deadly, well-trained assassin—more terrifying than a ghost.
But really, how formidable could she be? Faced with him, she could only flee in panic.
Qi Yuan’s skirt hem fluttered just ahead of him.
Cheng Wang, with smug satisfaction on his face, reached out and yanked it hard.
With this pull, he’d either rip off her skirt or drag her to the ground—by then, she’d be helpless, and he could do whatever he wanted.
Those prim, proper noble ladies were all dull and lifeless—no excitement at all.
But this little wildcat before him was different. He could already picture her desperately struggling on the ground in vain.
Just the thought of it made his blood race.
His hand firmly grasped the skirt.
Cheng Wang chuckled, “Got you.”
Qi Yuan smiled too.
Suddenly, she threw a handful of powder at him and softly said, “I was waiting for you.”
The powder scattered into his eyes, and Cheng Wang immediately felt an excruciating, indescribable pain spreading rapidly through them. The burning sensation was unbearable, and he couldn’t stop himself from letting out a scream.
Qi Yuan’s expression was completely cold.
This was why, as a killer with countless real-life combat experiences, she never felt she was carrying too many weapons or tools.
His world instantly went dark, his tears streaming uncontrollably. Deprived of sight, he had no sense of safety.
In agony, Cheng Wang clawed at his own eyes.
As soon as he let go, he could no longer keep his balance and fell hard from the tree.
He landed with a heavy crash, his back slamming against the stone slab beneath the tree, eliciting a pained scream.
Like a nimble cat, Qi Yuan leapt from the tree almost simultaneously, her dagger poised to strike at his heart.
Just then, she keenly sensed a sharp gust of wind coming from the side. Instinctively, she rolled to the ground as an arrow whizzed past her shoulder.
There was someone else!
Qi Yuan’s eyes sharpened instantly, her gaze sweeping the surroundings. Without hesitation, she fired a sleeve arrow toward the large privet tree in the northeast corner.
At the same time, seizing the opportunity while Cheng Wang was still furiously clutching his eyes and cursing, she reversed her grip and plunged her dagger into him.
Men like him were walking disasters.
Even if she gathered all the evidence proving Cheng Wang had meticulously orchestrated this at the Wang family banquet, what would it matter?
To the imperial family and the world, the “best” solution was always to let a girl who had been violated marry the man as compensation.
As if that was what a woman’s life was worth.
As if being forced to marry your abuser was considered justice, especially when the man held power. Some might even shamelessly claim she was getting a good deal.
Rather than leaving him alive to disgust the world, it was better to kill him swiftly.
What crime was it for someone of his rank to violate a few women?
Not only would Emperor Yongchang think this way, the Empress Dowager would too. In fact, most people in the world thought this way.
Unless he committed treason, he would never die.
But it didn’t matter.
If King Yama wouldn’t take him, she would.
As she withdrew her dagger, Cheng Wang’s blood splattered, and all his shouting, cursing, and screaming stopped at that moment.
The world fell into an eerie silence.
Even in death, Cheng Wang’s eyes remained wide open, burned and blinded, still locked in the direction of Qi Yuan—dying with unresolved hatred.
But Qi Yuan no longer cared. She picked up a nearby arrow—immediately recognizing it as a sleeve arrow.
So, Qi Wang and the Liu family’s men were here too.
Likely as a contingency in case Cheng Wang couldn’t handle her.
Her lips curled coldly. She crouched low like a leopard and lunged toward the large privet tree nearby.
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