Hearing this, Qingluan was deeply shaken. She had never expected her general to hold Xiao Yang in such high regard.
But wasn’t this Ninth Prince the most useless one in the Northern War King’s residence?
Could it be that he had been hiding his strength all along, pretending to be weak while waiting to strike?
Ning Hongye saw her confusion and spoke again, saying, “No matter what Xiao Yang’s purpose is, at least for now, he is standing on our side.”
…
Inside the residence.
“Your Highness, what should we do now?” one of the death guards could not help asking.
“Stand down immediately. Put away your weapons. Do not, under any circumstances, injure Ninth Brother!”
The Fourth Prince scolded his subordinates sharply, his attitude making a complete reversal.
Now that Xiao Yang had taken out the Tiger Tally Golden Seal, if anything happened to him here, there would be no way to explain it to the Vermilion Bird Army.
“Ninth Brother, earlier this brother was muddle-headed and indulged his concubine. How about this? I will confine Qianhezi for three months. What do you think?” the Fourth Prince proposed.
“Not enough. That punishment is far too light!”
Cold light flashed in Xiao Yang’s eyes as he said icily, “This woman’s crimes are unforgivable. She must be expelled from the Prince’s Residence and exiled to Ningguta!”
What?!
Hearing this, the entire place erupted in shock.
Ningguta was not a tower at all, but a barren land where criminals of the Grand Xia Empire were exiled. It was filled with vicious and desperate outcasts.
A woman with looks like Qianhezi would likely be abused a hundred times a day there. It would be even worse than killing her outright.
“Ninth Brother, isn’t this a bit too ruthless?”
The Fourth Prince’s expression darkened. After all, Qianhezi was his beloved concubine who served him well in bed.
“Ruthless? When she framed my maid and injured my guard, why wasn’t that ruthless? Fourth Brother, if you do not agree, then I will go to Father and Miss Ning to reason this out!”
Xiao Yang brought up his fiancée again.
“Sigh. Since Ninth Brother puts it that way, then we will do as you say.”
Although unwilling, the Fourth Prince could only swallow his anger.
“Your Highness, no! Please don’t!”
Qianhezi’s face turned ashen as she let out a shrill scream. “It was clearly you who sent me to deal with Huang Li and said you would slap Ninth Prince in the face hard. How can you exile me now?!”
With death looming, she no longer cared about anything.
“Shut up!”
The Fourth Prince was instantly put on the spot, his face turning the color of pig liver. “You cheap wench, you dare slander me. I will smash your mouth!”
As he spoke, he slapped Qianhezi’s mouth several times, then ordered the death guards.
“You few, take her away for exile!”
“Yes!”
Several death guards immediately moved, dragging Qianhezi away.
“Ninth Brother, are you satisfied now? If there is nothing else, go back!” the Fourth Prince issued an order to see him off.
“No rush. I still have one more matter to attend to!”
Xiao Yang’s lips curled upward into a smile.
Seeing him smile, the Fourth Prince felt a chill run down his spine for no reason at all. He was inexplicably terrified, even feeling more fear than when facing First Brother Xiao Junlin.
“Earlier, in front of Father, Fourth Brother promised to give me a spirit-grade treasure. It is time to honor that promise!” Xiao Yang demanded.
“This…”
Xiao Yang had killed Guard Katō, exiled his concubine Qianhezi, and now still demanded a treasure. Yet he had no choice but to give it.
“Men, bring out the Nightglow Imperial Steed!” the Fourth Prince waved his hand.
Soon, his subordinates led out a fine steed.
Its entire body was snow-white without a trace of blemish. Its limbs were long, and its steps light and graceful.
“This horse is a royal tribute. It can travel a thousand li in a day and is worth ten thousand in gold. It is also a mare with a gentle temperament. Ninth Brother, consider yourself lucky.”
The Fourth Prince felt intense pain in his heart.
A peerless horse like this was rare in the Grand Xia Empire. Its value was enough to exchange for an entire courtyard residence in the imperial capital.
“Then I will gladly accept it!”
Xiao Yang showed no courtesy, anticipation rising in his heart.
If he gave this horse to Ning Hongye, what kind of reward would the system return?
After that, Xiao Yang led the Nightglow Imperial Steed and swaggered out of the residence.
The Fourth Prince watched his departing figure, his eyes filled with venom and gloom.
“Immediately contact First Brother. I want to discuss thoroughly how to deal with that brat!”
…
A short while later.
Xiao Yang arrived at the separate courtyard where Ning Hongye was staying and knocked on the door.
“Come in!”
A cold, clear voice sounded from inside.
Xiao Yang pushed the door open and saw Ning Hongye still wearing her mask, sitting at the table and reading a military text.
A faint, subtle fragrance filled the room. It did not come from incense, but from Ning Hongye herself.
“Miss Ning, I have a gift I would like to give you,” Xiao Yang said.
“The Nightglow Imperial Steed?” Ning Hongye asked in return.
“How did you know?”
Xiao Yang was a little surprised. He had not expected her to be so well informed.
He did not know that she had just been at the scene earlier.
“No need.”
Ning Hongye shook her head and said, “I already have a Windchaser Horse. I have fought on the battlefield with it since childhood, and our coordination is perfect. I do not need another fine steed. You should keep it for yourself.”
“This…”
Xiao Yang instantly grew anxious.
If she did not accept the treasure, how was he supposed to trigger the system’s return?
But just as she said, a horse was different from a weapon. There was a matter of compatibility.
She and her beloved horse had long since bonded. It was impossible for her to change mounts easily.
Just as Xiao Yang was at a loss.
Thump, thump, thump!
Suddenly, Qingluan rushed in quickly, her expression anxious. “General, something bad has happened. Your Windchaser Horse has been slaughtered!”
“What? Who did this?”
Xiao Yang, however, felt puzzled.
The Northern War King’s residence was heavily guarded, as solid as a fortress. Who would dare break in just to kill a horse?
“It is said that several centurions from the Vermilion Bird Army did it,” Qingluan replied.
“Take me there!”
Ning Hongye set off immediately.
Xiao Yang followed along.
…
This time, the Vermilion Bird Army had arrived with 3,000 soldiers. Naturally, they could not all stay in the residence and were temporarily stationed at the military camp in the eastern part of the city.
Led by Qingluan, Ning Hongye and Xiao Yang entered a tent.
“Come on, brothers, drink more!”
“This horse meat really has some bite!”
“Exactly. It is that woman’s Windchaser Horse. The taste is just different!”
Several centurions were drinking wine and eating meat, the atmosphere lively and boisterous.
“Audacious!”
Seeing this, Qingluan shouted angrily, “Where did you get the nerve? Not only did you kill General Ning’s Windchaser Horse, you even divided it up and ate it?!”
At this moment, the centurions also noticed Ning Hongye’s arrival. Yet they showed no fear at all and continued drinking and eating.
“Qingluan, insubordination and dereliction of duty. According to military law, what is the punishment?” Ning Hongye asked coldly.
“One hundred lashes, demotion by three ranks, and reduced to common soldiers,” Qingluan answered.
“Then what are you standing there for? Carry out the punishment immediately!” Ning Hongye gave the order.
As the saying goes, kindness cannot command an army. The position she held today was not achieved through mercy.
With such blatant provocation, these people absolutely could not be spared.
Unexpectedly, in the next moment, those centurions stood up, their faces full of defiance.
“Ning Hongye, even if you strip me of this battle robe today, I will not submit to you!”
“That’s right!”
“I also refuse!”
…
“You committed a crime and still think you are in the right?!”
Ning Hongye’s gaze turned sharp, the killing intent within her nearly boiling over.
“Of course!”
“This Windchaser Horse was a gift from Old General Ning to you. But you committed the grave crime of killing your father. Your sin is monstrous. You are not worthy to ride this horse!”
“The old general treated us like his own sons and showed us great kindness. Even if we go to the capital to submit a petition, we will seek justice for him and will not let you, a patricidal executioner, off!”
“You have betrayed the old general. You are not worthy to command the Vermilion Bird Army, nor are you worthy to bear the surname Ning!”
In an instant, emotions ran high.
Hearing these accusations, Ning Hongye chose silence, offering no explanation at all.
Yet beneath her armor, her body seemed to sway slightly.
Even if her heart was filled with endless grievance and bitterness, at this moment, there were no words she could speak…
But just at that moment.
“A foul mouth deserves a beating!”
Xiao Yang, who had been standing in the corner, let out an angry shout and directly swung a slap toward the leading centurion.