Chapter 27

Chapter 27

After more than ten years together day and night, she knew his temper best.

Whenever Wei Yi was angry with her, he would never directly say why.

Instead, he would torment her in various ways, making her suffer physically and mentally while reflecting on her mistakes again and again.

Just like now.

After an unknown amount of time, the door finally opened again.

The woman holding the pipa walked gracefully.

She instinctively glanced toward Sheng Zhaoning.

When their eyes met again, she was far less frightened than at first, but still didn’t dare look for too long.

Sheng Zhaoning ignored the inquiry in her eyes and remained standing silently in place.

A moment later, Yunyan left the courtyard.

The young maid who had brought her here earlier came running over in hurried little steps again.

“Shadow Ten Guard, His Highness says… you may withdraw for now.”

After speaking, she lowered her head, somewhat embarrassed.

Such an outcome had long been expected.

Sheng Zhaoning showed no expression.

She responded indifferently and turned to leave.

Bang!

The teacup smashed against the door.

The sound of porcelain shattering echoed.

Sheng Zhaoning instinctively paused.

This was a sign of Wei Yi’s fury.

And also… a sign that he was waiting for her to yield and admit her mistake.

Sheng Zhaoning sighed, resignedly turned around, and walked to the door.

“Your Highness, Shadow Ten seeks an audience,” she said.

After a long while, a voice came from inside: “Get in here.”

Just as Sheng Zhaoning was about to push the door, before she could touch it, the door was quickly opened from inside.

She looked up and saw it was Wei Yi’s personal attendant, Zhao Quan.

“Please come in quickly!” Zhao Quan said with a happy expression.

Inexplicably, she could see a hint of relief on his face, as if he had survived a disaster.

Sheng Zhaoning had not entered the Northern Garden for a long time.

The furnishings in the room were as usual, the familiar fragrance of agarwood filling every corner.

She walked to the side room.

Behind a screen partition, a large rosewood bathtub was placed in the center.

A layer of mist hung in the air, dense with steam.

The humid heat quickly enveloped her, swirling around her invisibly.

“I pay respects to Your Highness the Heir,” Sheng Zhaoning knelt.

She kept her head down, refusing to look up.

Even though Wei Yi’s figure was obscured behind the water mist, blurry and unclear, her heart raced wildly just from a fleeting glance.

Wei Yi leaned against the edge of the bathtub, his arm casually draped over the side.

Glistening water droplets slid down his firm, lean chest muscles and disappeared into the water, tracing a pleasing curve.

He just watched Sheng Zhaoning kneeling not far away.

After a long while, he finally said, “Get up.”

Sheng Zhaoning rose properly, stood aside, half hung her head, not looking at him.

The pent-up frustration Wei Yi had been holding somehow dissipated by half.

He looked her up and down, curled the corner of his lips, and said, “Come here.”

He saw Sheng Zhaoning visibly stiffen, then walk unnaturally to stand before him.

“Your Highness,” she responded with her head lowered.

Wei Yi’s gaze fell on her mask, and he frowned in disgust.

“Take off the mask.”

Sheng Zhaoning’s expression froze for a moment; she raised her hand and removed the mask.

Wei Yi watched as the hideous, ugly mask was peeled away, revealing a face of jade-like bone and clear features that he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Instead, his expression paused, and he fell silent for a brief moment.

“I’ve almost forgotten what you look like,” Wei Yi mocked.

Sheng Zhaoning said nothing.

“How many years have you been a Shadow Guard?” he asked.

“Ten years.”

“Do you still remember how many people you’ve killed?”

Sheng Zhaoning curled her fingers. “Countless.”

Wei Yi fixed his gaze on her face and let out a scornful laugh. “Look at yourself. Don’t you feel disgusted?”

Sheng Zhaoning froze. A bitter feeling spread rapidly through her chest.

She lifted the hem of her robe and knelt halfway down, replying, “Serving Your Highness and the prince is my honor.”

Wei Yi’s smile grew even more mocking. “But I find it disgusting.”

He didn’t miss the slight trembling in Sheng Zhaoning’s shoulders. As if the harsher the words, the more they could dispel the dark viciousness festering in his heart.

Wei Yi would never forget the first time he saw her kill.

Gutted bodies, blood pooling everywhere, scattered entrails…

She had tortured and murdered the assassin who came for him in a shockingly brutal and cruel manner.

Even the battle-hardened soldiers of the border couldn’t help but vomit after witnessing that scene.

It was that incident that spread Shadow Ten’s name across the entire Northern Border.

She became a nightmare to everyone in the Northern Border.

Unwilling to relive that memory, Wei Yi sneered coldly. “You’ve killed so many you’ve lost count, yet you still have other talents for seduction.”

Sheng Zhaoning frowned in confusion and remained silent.

Staring at her, Wei Yi taunted, “Chi Yu braved death and danger to journey to Mobei for you. Such profound affection.”

“He wanted to take you away. Why didn’t you go, then?”

A chill shot through Sheng Zhaoning. She looked up and met a pair of eyes that seemed to smile yet not smile.

The day Chi Yu came, he was there too…

Sheng Zhaoning immediately dropped to both knees and kowtowed. “This subordinate pledges life and death loyalty to the Wei Clan, without change.”

“What a fine declaration of loyalty unto death.”

Wei Yi withdrew his gaze and leaned back loosely. “Then go kill someone.”

Sheng Zhaoning remained kneeling, waiting for his next words.

Wei Yi’s voice sounded again, slowly speaking a name.

“Beijie Battalion Adjutant, Liu Qi.”

The air was still for a moment.

After a long pause, Sheng Zhaoning said, “Yes.”

Wei Yi’s gaze fell on her again. “Aren’t you going to ask why I want him dead?”

“Your Highness must have your reasons.”

Her unconditional obedience didn’t bring Wei Yi the pleasure he had imagined.

His dark eyes stared at her, unreadable.

“He is a man of the court.”

For some reason, Wei Yi suddenly explained.

Sheng Zhaoning was taken aback and asked instinctively, “Is there evidence?”

“No, only suspicion.”

“Understood.”

Wei Yi’s brows arched slightly, his sharp features tinged with coldness.

“Aren’t you afraid my father will punish you?”

Sheng Zhaoning’s voice came through clearly. “If Your Highness wants him dead, then he deserves to die.”

Wei Yi abruptly laughed. His gaze drifted over, those dark eyes boring into her as he slowly said, “Have you thought about what will happen to you after he dies?”

Sheng Zhaoning’s fingers unconsciously clenched.

Of course… she knew.

Adjutant Liu Qi of the Beijie Camp had countless achievements and was deeply valued by Prince Zhenbei. He was a man the prince had personally promoted, and he enjoyed considerable renown within the military.

To kill him, there had to be solid charges.

Otherwise, based on mere suspicion, once Liu Qi died at her hands, not only Prince Zhenbei but the entire military would not let her off easily.

Wei Yi’s hand rested on the edge of the bathtub, tapping idly.

“If you don’t want to…”

“This subordinate accepts the order.”

Wei Yi’s words died in his throat and vanished.

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but his eyes instantly turned cold.

“Get out,” he said.