Chapter 32: I Could Kill You!
Since they didn’t know beforehand what ingredients were mixed into the crab roe paste, a step-by-step analysis was required. This would inevitably take a considerable amount of time, and no one could guarantee a definitive result. Therefore, there was no need for Huangfu Chang’an to wait idly in the Daoist temple. After discussing with the old Daoist priest, she decided to return to the palace first and wait for the old Daoist to send someone to notify her once there was news.
Descending the mountain via the cableway pointed out by the little Daoist priest was incredibly fast. The towering mountain cliff was descended in less than an hour.
Regarding this, even Bai Su felt that her previous behavior was indeed a dereliction of duty. If it were in the past, given the Crown Prince’s tyrannical temperament, executing her directly would not have been excessive. Huangfu Chang’an only made her hang upside down from a tree. Although embarrassing, it was truly very merciful.
Upon returning to the sleeping quarters, Huangfu Chang’an had just changed into her palace robes when a young eunuch ran over to find her.
“Reporting to His Highness the Crown Prince, His Majesty summons you to the Chonghua Palace.”
The Chonghua Palace was where the Emperor handled daily affairs and reviewed memorials, unconnected to those women in the West Palace. Following the commotion at the Empress Dowager’s Yongshou Palace last time, Huangfu Chang’an had spent an hour familiarizing herself with all the palaces in the Forbidden City, thinking that if she encountered a situation like last time again, she would simply feign illness and not go!
Riding a palanquin into the Chonghua Palace, before Huangfu Chang’an even approached the door, she heard a slightly familiar voice coming from inside, revealing an obstinacy and arrogance that could not be ignored—it was none other than the incredibly cocky Major General of the Wolf Fang Cavalry whom she had bumped into on the street yesterday, Li Qingchi!
“What? You want me to serve that fat, ugly, and stupid idiot?! I won’t do it!”
Ever since becoming a chubby round ball, Huangfu Chang’an had been extremely sensitive to words like “fat,” “ugly,” and “stupid.” So, realizing that the person this arrogant guy was referring to was herself, Huangfu Chang’an’s body couldn’t help but tremble, and she immediately quickened her pace to rush over!
Unexpectedly, Li Qingchi’s reaction was so intense. Not only did he defy him to his face, but he even forgot to use humble terms. Huangfu Yinhua’s face suddenly darkened, and his tone was unprecedentedly serious.
“This King is not discussing with you; This King is ordering you! You actually say you won’t do it? Heh… dare you refuse, This King dares to deal with you by military law!”
Li Qingchi, full of pride and intractable, knelt on one knee, cupped his fists, and would rather die than yield!
“This subject would rather suffer military law!”
“You…”
Huangfu Yinhua was choked with anger, momentarily unsure how to handle him. This child had always been obedient before, so why was he as frantic as if his tail had been stepped on at the mention of being a guard for Huangfu Chang’an?! Did he have to despise his Chang’an so much!
During the standoff, the light at the palace door suddenly dimmed, and a massive body rushed in with a whoosh, immediately running up to Li Qingchi with the force of Mount Tai crushing down, gritting her teeth: “Bastard! Dare you say that sentence again?!”
Li Qingchi looked up, slightly surprised upon seeing Huangfu Chang’an, and then put on an even more disdainful expression.
“This subject would rather suffer military law!”
Huangfu Chang’an gritted her teeth until they creaked: “Not that sentence, the one before it!”
Li Qingchi was unyielding in his pride, not to be subdued by force!
“To ask Laozi to serve a fat, ugly, and stupid idiot like you, Laozi would rather die than do it!”
“Smack!“
Huangfu Chang’an was about to explode with rage. She slapped Li Qingchi on the spot. The force was as great as her anger, slapping his head directly to the side!
Li Qingchi spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, turned back to glare at her, and sneered coldly: “You useless waste, you dare hit Laozi?!”
Huangfu Chang’an’s eyes widened two times larger than his. He actually called her a waste? It was simply courting death!
Snatching a guard’s sword, Huangfu Chang’an went mad with anger, raising the sword towards Li Qingchi and swinging to stab—
“You commit insubordination; This Palace could kill you!”
“Seventh Brother! Do not act recklessly!”
Seeing this, Huangfu Wujie was startled and immediately drew his sword to block her long sword. Unexpectedly, he was still a step too late. Huangfu Chang’an’s long sword brushed past his blade, sliced off a lock of Li Qingchi’s long hair, and stabbed straight towards his throat. At the critical moment, it actually stopped just barely touching Li Qingchi’s throat.
In an instant, everyone present turned pale, breaking out in a cold sweat from shock.
Only Li Qingchi remained kneeling on the ground, immovable as a mountain, like a stone sculpture unchanged for a thousand years. With his thin figure, he created a towering presence that commanded heartfelt admiration.
Huangfu Yinhua was also scared to death.
This Li Qingchi was the sole heir of the Li family line. If he were killed by Huangfu Chang’an just like that, even if the Li family didn’t rebel in a rage, Huangfu Chang’an could definitely no longer be the Crown Prince.
“Hehe, you have some guts…” Instead of scaring others out of their wits, Huangfu Chang’an laughed instead. She retracted the long sword and casually threw it back to the guard. Taking two steps forward, Huangfu Chang’an looked down at Li Qingchi with raised eyebrows. “Since you have such backbone, how about taking three needles from me? As long as you can endure it, This Palace will let bygones be bygones regarding your rudeness; if you cannot endure it, then obediently serve This Palace… like an ox or a horse!”
Li Qingchi raised his eyebrows coldly. Although looking up at her, he showed absolutely no intention of submission.
He had only ever submitted to the strong! For a disgraceful waste like Huangfu Chang’an, he felt even killing her would dirty his knife!
“Just three needles, bring it on! Just don’t renege on your word when the time comes!”
“Renege?” Huangfu Chang’an smiled wickedly. “The same words are returned to you verbatim.”
“Hmph!”
Li Qingchi snorted coldly and turned his face away, not wanting to look at her again.
Huangfu Chang’an turned back and nodded to Huangfu Yinhua: “Father, could you please step out for a moment?”
Huangfu Yinhua didn’t know what she was planning, but meeting those clear, watery eyes, he seemed to see a particularly convincing power, so he waved his hand to dismiss everyone.
“All of you withdraw for now.”
Once everyone had left the room and closed the door, Huangfu Chang’an took a small cloth bundle from her sleeve and spread it flat on the table. Then, she took out three needles one by one, turned back to walk up to Li Qingchi, and smiled sinisterly: “Reminding you in advance, it will be very painful. If you really can’t stand it, don’t force yourself. Even if you cry, This Palace won’t laugh at you.”
Li Qingchi scoffed through his nose: “Cut the crap!”
The tougher and more arrogant he was, the more Huangfu Chang’an wanted to crush his bones!
Pinching a silver needle, Huangfu Chang’an narrowed her eyes and stabbed straight down into the back of his neck. Almost at the same instant, Li Qingchi’s body trembled violently, but he didn’t utter a single groan.
Before he could adapt, Huangfu Chang’an quickly stabbed down the second silver needle.
This time, Li Qingchi finally couldn’t help but grunt softly. In just a few seconds, a layer of fine sweat densely seeped out on his smooth forehead.
“One more needle, make sure not to cry…”
“If you’re going to stab, do it quickly! Stop fucking jabbering!”
The group of people who had been dismissed stayed in the side chamber, not far away. Each held their breath and concentrated, listening intently to the movement inside the hall. At first, the room was quiet, and nothing could be heard.
A moment later, a scream suddenly erupted from the hall: “Ah—!”
Earth-shattering! Ghost-weeping! Just hearing the sound made one’s hair stand on end!
Huangfu Yinhua and Huangfu Wujie looked at each other, couldn’t help but raise their hands to touch their own necks, breaking out in goosebumps.
It hurts so much! Just listening to it, it feels so painful!
Recommended Reads
