The Dragon Shadow Guards assigned to Yun Shu by Emperor Xuanwu might not intervene to help her deal with the Heir of Prince Lian—but if anyone tried to harm her, they would certainly act without hesitation.
Yun Shu was well aware of this.
And so, her strikes grew bolder and more ruthless. From the moment she entered, her broadsword never once veered from its target: the Heir of Prince Lian.
At first, the Eldest Prince and the heir both believed Yun Shu had come in a moment of fury after learning about Tang Xinhua—here to give them a scare, to vent a little.
But it quickly became clear that her attacks, though lacking technique, were sharp, fast, and without mercy. Every swing came closer than the last.
They finally realized—Yun Shu was not bluffing.
"You've gone mad!"
The Heir of Prince Lian barely dodged another slash, anger rising alongside fear.
"I merely touched the shopkeeper of your Tian Waitian Restaurant. I didn't kill her! What madness are you playing at?!"
Yun Shu didn't respond. Her face was cold and taut with fury, radiating the murderous intent of someone who had come to claim blood. Without a word, she raised her blade again.
"You really think I won't fight back?!"
Snarling through clenched teeth, the Heir of Prince Lian lifted his weapon—just as two black-clad shadows burst into the room.
One blocked the Eldest Prince, shielding him.
The other intercepted the Heir of Prince Lian's swing.
Sching!
Almost in the same instant, a gut-wrenching scream tore through the waystation, sharp enough to pierce through stone.
Even the Dragon Shadow Guards—trained to remain impassive in any situation—instinctively tensed at the sound.
Yun Shu stared impassively at the growing blotch of blood soaking the lower half of the heir's robes, the stain blooming from his upper thigh downward.
A cold smile tugged at the corner of her lips. It was the first thing she'd said since entering the room:
"Just one slash. I didn't kill you. Why scream as if I had?"
"You dare, Yun Shu!"
The Heir of Prince Lian was beyond words now, his face contorted in agony.
It was the Eldest Prince who regained his senses first. Furious and stunned, he glared at Yun Shu.
"We came on behalf of Bei Xiang to offer birthday tributes to Emperor Tian Sheng! Your actions today show blatant disregard for our kingdom!
Are you not afraid that this offense could lead our nations to war? That you, Princess Sheng An, will be remembered as the one who brought ruin to Tian Sheng?!"
Yun Shu's expression did not waver.
"And what a joke it is, hearing such righteousness from your lips."
She took two steps closer, sword still dripping red. Lifting the flat of the blade, she tapped it lightly against the Eldest Prince's cheek.
"You come bearing tribute on behalf of Bei Xiang, yet dare to drug a Tian Sheng princess, and let a mere heir of Prince Lian lay hands on the kin of a Tian Sheng official.
If war truly breaks out over this, do you truly believe I would be the one to blame?"
Her voice was calm, almost gentle, yet the threat beneath each word struck like steel.
With that, Yun Shu gave a casual toss, flinging her bloodied sword to the ground. The blade hit with a clatter.
Then she turned and left without another word.
She was not yet fourteen. The softness of youth still clung to her face.
But not a single soul in that room dared stop her.
Outside, Yun Shu mounted her horse once more.
"Ah Ku."
"Present!"
The hidden guard had yet to vanish into the shadows after revealing himself. Yun Shu glanced sideways, her tone light.
"Send word to my cousin. Tell her the Heir of Prince Lian has been dealt with. I will visit her in a few days."
"Yes."
Ah Ku clasped a fist in salute. Only then did Yun Shu tug the reins and gallop off, just as swiftly as she had arrived—heading straight back toward the palace.
Outside the Imperial Study, Eunuch Li saw her return and let out a long breath of relief.
"Your Highness, you've finally returned. After you stormed out in such anger, His Majesty grew quite anxious. He feared you might run into trouble."
"Is Father Emperor still inside?"
Despite the fact that she'd just emasculated the heir of a foreign prince, Yun Shu felt no remorse.
Still, as she prepared to face Emperor Xuanwu, even she couldn't help feeling a flicker of guilt.
"Would you... perhaps inform him on my behalf?"
"No need."
Eunuch Li smiled and gestured her forward.
"His Majesty ordered that the moment you return, you are to see him immediately."
Yun Shu: "…"
Would Imperial Father hit his daughter?
She didn't recall the original book ever saying so…
With mild dread in her heart, Yun Shu entered the Imperial Study. The boldness she had shown earlier was nowhere to be found now.
"Father Emperor, your daughter comes to confess her guilt."
"Guilt for what?"
Emperor Xuanwu had been startled earlier when Grand Preceptor Liu informed him that the little brat had left the palace with murder in her eyes.
Now, seeing her return with the same fearful, submissive expression as always, Emperor Xuanwu scoffed. Since there had been no reports yet, he assumed she had chickened out halfway through.
"What are you guilty of? Running out in a fury, only to return halfway through, accomplishing nothing. Is that the cowardice you seek to confess?"
"?"
That… wasn't what she'd expected.
An idea flickered through Yun Shu's mind. She tried her luck, testing the waters carefully:
"Father Emperor, are you saying… the Eldest Prince of Bei Xiang attempted to drug your daughter, and then the Heir of Prince Lian dared lay hands on the kin of a Tian Sheng official—so your daughter ought to have stood her ground? That I must not cower like a turtle, letting others humiliate me without striking back?"
"Obviously!"
The words were unpleasant, but Yun Shu had indeed managed to stir real anger from Emperor Xuanwu now. His voice was sharp with frustration.
"You are a daughter of the Emperor, personally conferred as Princess Sheng An. How could you lack so much backbone?
If you do not wish to act, then stay put in the palace. But if you choose to go out, then to return halfway—timid, afraid, bowing your head—how will that look to others?
Should the world come to think our Tian Sheng is so weak, so easily trampled upon, who would respect Us?"
"…Then I will not confess."
Yun Shu straightened her back at once, tone bright.
"Father Emperor, you are correct. I must not be a turtle hiding in its shell.
That's why I took courage—and acted."
Emperor Xuanwu: "…"
What does that mean?
How exactly did she act?
Something wasn't right. Had the little wretch laid a verbal trap?
His scolding halted mid-sentence as his eyes narrowed sharply. His mind replayed their earlier conversation at once.
"You mean… you weren't persuaded by Grand Preceptor Liu?"
"Grand Preceptor Liu?"
Yun Shu blinked in confusion, then suddenly understood.
"Oh, I did see Grand Preceptor Liu and his men on the road. But I was in a rush to report back to you, so I didn't stop."