Chapter 36: Flaying You Alive Is No Trouble At All

Everyone turned to look, only to see a youth in purple robes standing with his hands behind his back.

"Is this... His Highness the Third Prince?"

Xu Jiaojiao’s face turned pale. There was no other reason; the Third Prince, Jun Wuhen, was the eldest son of the late Noble Consort Mei. In those days, Noble Consort Mei had enjoyed the Emperor’s favor for a decade, and Jun Wuhen had been doted upon by Emperor Hui since childhood. From the moment he was born, he was raised by the Consort's side, and after turning three, the Emperor personally took him under his wing to teach him the strategies of statecraft.

Jun Wuhen was exceptionally intelligent—he recognized characters at three, composed poetry at five, and mastered horsemanship and archery by seven. Because Noble Consort Mei’s family had been meritorious ministers who helped the founding ancestors conquer the empire, her brother, General Mei Changjian, was a fierce and capable warrior who had pacified the northern borders and earned immense military merit. From the age of nine, Jun Wuhen had been taken along by him to the battlefield. To this Third Prince of Emperor Hui, taking the head of an enemy general from amidst thousands of soldiers was as easy as reaching for something in his own pocket.

Everyone had always said that Jun Wuhen was destined to be the Crown Prince, his status even more illustrious than the son born of the Empress. That was until he was thirteen, when General Mei colluded with the late Emperor’s Eighth Prince to rebel, marching straight for the capital. Emperor Hui, left with no choice, ordered the execution of Mei Changjian to quell the uprising. Noble Consort Mei knelt outside the palace halls begging for mercy, only to be stripped of her title and demoted to a low-ranking concubine. On the very day Mei Changjian was beheaded, the Noble Consort struck a pillar and died.

Emperor Hui, remembering the Mei family’s past sacrifices for the Great Yong empire, did not have the rest of the family slaughtered, exiling them to Southern Min instead. Once, the Mei family had stood second only to the Emperor, wielding immense power, but after the Noble Consort’s tragic end and the exile of the surviving family members, everyone assumed Jun Wuhen had lost his qualification to compete for the throne. Yet, who would have thought that he would carve a path of blood for himself on the battlefield?

He flooded Fancheng, drowning men, women, and children alike, and buried one hundred thousand enemy soldiers alive. One hundred thousand! Do you know what that means? Since ancient times, there has been the rule that those who surrender should not be killed. But Jun Wuhen buried over one hundred thousand lives! Many court officials were indignant, urging Emperor Hui to punish him, warning that this boy would surely become a scourge to humanity in the future.

But what did Jun Wuhen say? "Those who are not of my race will surely have different hearts. The corruption of the officials has left the Great Yong treasury empty. By stopping killing with killing, I can ensure the enemy countries will not dare to invade our borders for the next ten years."

With every deed, he forged his reputation as a "God of Slaughter." He was a living Yama, a demon with the face of jade.

Xu Jiaojiao’s knees went weak. She plopped down, kneeling and stammering, "I—I did not know this matter was... was settled by the Third Prince for... for Lin Zhaozhao!"

Wait—! The Third Prince? Oh my!

Lin Zhaozhao hurriedly looked up. She saw that Jun Wuhen had handsome features, but his pitch-black eyes seemed to hold an obscure, gloomy haze, revealing a hint of tyrannical eccentricity. With looks like these, it was no wonder he would later become a powerful, pampered, and treacherous minister who would come within a hair's breadth of overthrowing the protagonists, seizing the imperial seal, and ascending to the heights of power.

***

The moment Lin Zhaozhao saw Jun Wuhen, she developed a massive interest in him.

*[My God! What kind of walking hormone is this? A gorgeous man in the flesh!]*
*[That look like he’s staring at a dog! That face that hits all my preferences!!! Ah! Jun Wuhen, kill me!]*
*[You idiot author, how could you kill off such a handsome villain!]*
*[I love him, I love him!]*
*[Even if the police came today, I’d still say it: my lips were born to be pressed against his!]*

Beside her, the Lady Bai, who had just stepped out of the carriage, thought: "!!!" Oh my goodness! What is her daughter saying? Never mind Xu Jiaojiao; even a grown woman like her wanted to take a detour whenever she saw the Third Prince! But her daughter! Not only was she practically begging the Third Prince to kill her, but she was also talking about lips pressing against lips! This was truly improper behavior!

Lin Zhaozhao mused: The protagonists, huh? Jun Wuchen, who obsessed over the throne, acted like a stud, sowing seeds everywhere while professing deep love for the heroine. Lin Wanyue, a fraud who had benefited from the Marquis of Qingyuan’s household for so many years, yet felt they had wronged her, eventually joining the male lead to destroy the Marquis's house, leaving them dead or maimed.

Given the nature of those old-fashioned, dog-blood, sweet-yet-slightly-angsty novels, a little unlucky wretch like her who had exhausted herself to death in her previous life—if you asked her to engage in palace intrigue, she lacked the brainpower. If you asked her to strive for greatness, she lacked the energy. But what was the difference between a person without dreams and one who lived a carefree life? Lying flat and living like a rice weevil was her best life attitude!

As the saying goes, the enemy of an enemy is a friend. To protect the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate, the first priority was to secure this Third Prince! I must show favor! I must show favor!

"This subject's daughter thanks Your Highness the Third Prince for your discerning eyes!"

*[As the saying goes, a debt of gratitude should be repaid with one's hand in marriage. If he wanted to marry me...]*

Lady Bai: "!!!" If he wants to marry you, you must refuse! Who knows if a tyrant like this would strangle you to death after taking you home!

*[Though, the villain in the book doesn't seem to be close to women. He hangs around with a lot of boys instead—could he be gay?!]*
*[No, no, I can't like a gay man. What a waste of such a face that knows how to cook!]*

***

*[I guess I'll have to look elsewhere!]*

Lady Bai: "..." What 'gay'? And since when did she hear that the Third Prince could cook? Are you climbing up another branch again?

In any case, Jun Wuhen glanced coldly at the young girl before turning his gaze toward Xu Jiaojiao. "She is a county princess conferred by His Majesty. As the daughter of a Minister, what right do you have to yell at her? Guards, drag her out and throw her away!"

Two guards immediately stepped forward and, without a word, dragged Xu Jiaojiao away and threw her out of the hunting grounds.

Lady Bai: "!" She knew he was violent!

Lin Zhaozhao: "!" Starry-eyed!
*[Is this what a man nourished by power looks like? Truly handsome and seductive!]*
*[Wuwuwu! His voice is so nice, deep and magnetic without losing his youthful charm! Why isn't he close to women?!]*
*[Whatever, I'm just admiring him anyway. If we really started dating, I’d run faster than anyone!]*

Lady Bai: "..." No, this is just the first time you've met! He didn't ask to date you!

*[But I really want to kiss a face like that!]*

Lady Bai: "..." Can you please be more steady and not so wanton!

Lin Zhaozhao couldn't hear her thoughts, but if she had, she would have retorted: her private life was already dull and tasteless enough, so what was wrong with being a little racy with her words!

However, Noble Consort Mei had been a presence that dazzled the harem, and her behavior had been equally arrogant and domineering. Jun Wuhen had been influenced by her since childhood; he was too lazy to analyze such petty tricks between women and preferred to suppress them with brute force. Everyone already knew of his tyrannical reputation, so for a moment, no one dared to say a word. The atmosphere at the hunting grounds fell silent.

It was Jun Wuchen, who had arrived late, who maintained his gentle, jade-like demeanor and said, "Today is the imperial hunt. Father said it is a celebration for all under heaven. Although Miss Xu was in the wrong, it was ultimately an unintentional mistake. Why must Third Brother be so angry with her? Why not bring her back? We can discuss the matter later."

*[I honestly want to laugh. She wasn't targeting you, but you're trying to make yourself look like a lotus flower rising from the mud!]*
*[Stop putting on this hypocritical act. Let me tell you, if it really came to a hard clash, Jun Wuhen wouldn't have any trouble peeling off a layer of your skin!]*