Shang Changge: …?
Good grief. With an aura this intimidating, who was the villain here?
The man’s figure was exceptionally imposing. By Shang Changge’s estimation, he was at least 198 centimeters tall.
Under the bright lantern light, she could clearly see his handsome features.
His expression, however, was cold and stern.
Noticing the whispers and commotion nearby, he glanced over.
His face remained completely unchanged, as though he had long since grown accustomed to such reactions.
His gaze swept across the crowd before finally settling on Shang Changge, who stood at the center of attention like the moon surrounded by stars.
Shang Changge raised an eyebrow.
She had already found his name in the original owner’s memories.
…
…
An oddly tense silence fell over the scene.
After a brief exchange of looks, the man moved.
And the moment he did, another wave of panic swept through the gathered nobles.
“Brother Yuan, w-what do we do? The General is coming over!”
“Stop pinching me! How would I know? I’m barely standing myself—I’m even more scared than you!”
“We shouldn’t have come tonight… sob…”
“Xinxin, don’t cry! I heard the General hates people crying…”
Similar whispers rose and fell all around them.
With her sharp hearing, Shang Changge even caught several people quietly shuffling backward.
As someone who knew the plot, she naturally understood why everyone feared the approaching man.
Because he was a Great General.
A man capable of fighting a hundred enemies alone.
A man known as the God of Slaughter.
That title came from a single event:
He had once massacred an entire city.
And this Great General was only twenty-eight years old.
Never mind that it had been an enemy city.
Never mind that he had merely obeyed military orders based on the realities of war.
Never mind that before that battle he had earned countless victories and was once hailed as the God of War.
Never mind that after that campaign, Qingyan Dynasty had enjoyed six years of peace, with no foreign nation daring to invade its borders again.
None of it mattered.
From that day forward, the title “God of Slaughter” stuck to him.
People paled at the mention of his name.
Children cried when threatened with tales of him.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Your servant was delayed by unforeseen matters and arrived late. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness.”
His voice carried the deep, steady resonance of a mature man.
His bearing was calm and composed.
He was so tall that even while bowing, he still stood a head higher than Shang Changge.
Having lived two lifetimes and always been over 170 centimeters tall, Shang Changge suddenly got to experience life from the perspective of a petite heroine.
After granting him leave to rise, she kept her gaze fixed on him.
Then she spoke his name.
“Xiao Ji.”
Xiao Ji immediately replied:
“Your servant is here.”
Just like before, his voice contained only respectful formality.
No warmth.
No emotion.
Cold and distant.
Shang Changge didn’t mind in the slightest.
Instead, she enthusiastically invited him.
“I didn’t expect General Xiao to attend tonight’s poetry gathering.”
She smiled.
“Would you like to sit with me? My pavilion has plenty of room.”
Silence.
Terrifying silence.
The atmosphere became even quieter than when Xiao Ji had first appeared.
Everyone had already been nervous because of his arrival.
Now Shang Changge’s shockingly enthusiastic invitation left them utterly stunned.
What was the Princess doing?!
What was she doing?!
Would you like to sit with me?
Was that really something one could say?!
Could she really say something like that so openly, in front of so many people, without the slightest attempt at restraint?!
Even Xiao Ji looked surprised.
He prided himself on his ability to read people.
Naturally, he could tell that the Princess’s welcome contained no ulterior motives.
No fear.
No calculation.
No hidden agenda.
Just pure, straightforward enthusiasm.
And that made even less sense.
For six years, whether people were close to him or distant from him, whether they hated him or respected him from afar—
every single one carried some degree of fear or caution toward him.
Someone like Shang Changge was a first.
In fact…
Her enthusiasm was almost excessive.
Like a dog spotting a piece of meat, eyes shining brightly.
Xiao Ji remained silent.
The atmosphere grew increasingly awkward.
Only then did Shang Changge realize how easily her words could be misunderstood.
She coughed lightly and corrected herself.
“What I mean is, my pavilion is the largest.
If General Xiao doesn’t mind, you can join us there.
That way, it’ll be easier for everyone to converse, compose poetry, and socialize.”
The crowd immediately understood.
“So that’s what the Princess meant…”
“I knew it. How could the Princess possibly…”
Another wave of hushed whispers followed.
Though no one dared finish their sentences, it wasn’t difficult to hear the fear and subtle prejudice hidden within their words.
As a martial artist, Xiao Ji’s hearing far surpassed that of ordinary people.
He heard every single word.
Yet his expression remained unchanged.
Politely, he declined.
“Thank you for Your Highness’s kindness, but the murderous aura surrounding me is too heavy. I’m afraid I may offend Your Highness.”
He didn’t know where the Princess’s enthusiasm came from.
Nor was he interested in finding out.
Had it not been for the Emperor’s command, he wouldn’t have appeared tonight at all.
Poetry gatherings like these were essentially matchmaking events disguised under more elegant names.
Talented young men.
Beautiful young women.
All gathered under the pretense of literary appreciation.
He had no intention of marrying or starting a family.
To him, attending was merely a waste of time and energy.
“That is incorrect.”
The casual remark instantly drew everyone’s attention.
Including Xiao Ji’s.
Shang Changge looked directly at him.
“General, you led troops into battle and secured peace along the borders. How can that be called a murderous aura?”
No one whispered anymore.
The warm evening breeze swept through the venue.
Rows of lanterns swayed gently.
Tree shadows danced.
Ripples spread across the lake.
Under the night sky, Xiao Ji narrowed his pale eyes.
For the first time, he truly examined Qingyan Dynasty’s eldest princess.
Shang Changge paid little attention to his scrutiny.
She simply continued speaking.
“If soldiers who shed blood for their country are still criticized by the very people they protect, then it is the people who are wrong—not the soldiers.”
Something darkened in Xiao Ji’s eyes.
He watched her silently.
Shang Changge continued.
“Merit is merit.
Honor is honor.
Those achievements were earned through lives risked on the battlefield.”
“They should not belittle themselves because of the ignorance and prejudice of others.”
“You did nothing wrong.”
From the original owner’s memories, she knew that Xiao Ji wasn’t the only one treated this way.
Every soldier who had participated in that infamous campaign faced similar discrimination.
It was normal for common people to be afraid.
Ordinary people feared war.
Feared bloodshed.
Feared death.
But that fear should have been respect mixed with awe.
Not prejudice.
Not rejection.
The city hadn’t been slaughtered for the sake of slaughter.
It had been a decision forced by circumstances.
Yet even after learning the reasons behind it, many people still viewed those soldiers with suspicion and hostility.
It was unfair.
And cold-hearted.
“Your Highness speaks wisely.”
A young man stepped forward.
It was Yun Luobai.
He bowed deeply toward Xiao Ji.
“I previously misunderstood the General and held certain prejudices.”
“My actions were offensive.”
“Only after hearing Your Highness’s words tonight have I awakened from my ignorance.”
“I offer my sincere apology.”
Though tonight’s gathering had been organized by Yun Xiangrong, the person truly controlling the event was Yun Luobai.
Once he stepped forward, others quickly followed suit.
One after another, they offered apologies to Xiao Ji.
Shang Changge didn’t quietly accept the credit and retreat into the background.
Instead, she patiently waited until everyone had finished apologizing.
Then she looked back at Xiao Ji.
Under the bright moonlight, her smile was breathtakingly beautiful.
She extended the invitation once more.
“General Xiao.”
“Care to join me?”
This time, Xiao Ji did not refuse.
His deep voice answered simply:
“All right.”