Chapter 61 Truly a Madman

Wisps of smoke curled upward from the distant incense burner, gradually dissipating into the air.

Jun Wuhen raised his fingertips, signaling for someone to drag Lin Zhaozhao away.

Yet Lin Zhaozhao felt that, driven by nothing more than a faint curiosity about silver, she was currently behaving like a utterly humble bootlicker.

Still, one had only one life; surely one could not abandon one's own skin and life purely for the sake of dignity?

Seeing that Jun Wuhen remained entirely expressionless, she dialed up her emotional investment, professing her innocence while currying favor,

"This humble subject has always had a poor memory. Whatever he said went in one ear and out the other."

"It's just that the way Your Highness sat here reprimanding people was simply breathtakingly heroic! Furthermore, as for the political maneuvering at court, this subject doesn't understand much, but since it managed to enrage Your Highness, this person is undoubtedly a complete scoundrel!"

She was making the absolute most of her silver tongue. Jun Wuhen raised his brows, finally deigning to spare her a couple of remarks,

"You think he is a scoundrel. Then if this prince were to carve him into a thousand pieces here today, what would you think of this prince?"

As he spoke, he effortlessly scrutinized the expression on Lin Zhaozhao's face, unwilling to miss even the slightest emotional ripple.

Deep down, he couldn't help wondering whether she was merely flattering him on the surface or secretly judging him as ruthless and cruel.

He added casually, "Not long ago, this prince was dispatched by imperial decree to provide disaster relief, yet along the way, we encountered an ambush and barely escaped with our lives, all because he secretly colluded with others to murder his own comrades."

The man collapsed on the floor had actually noticed Lin Zhaozhao early on, and his intuition told him that the Third Prince's attitude toward her was quite extraordinary. Thus, he pleaded, "Miss, save me, save me!"

He bore severe injuries, looked half-dead, and possessed a face that naturally made one feel he was honest.

Lin Zhaozhao pondered for a moment and said earnestly, "Here is the thing, Your Highness. This subject believes that slicing him to pieces on the spot is truly quite improper!"

She spoke in a tone of profound disapproval, which startled even Zhou Heyu standing nearby.

He thought to himself that this little blockhead truly lived up to her name; she hadn't even secured her own life yet, and she still dared to plead for someone else here!

Jun Wuhen let out a cold laugh, his dark eyes resembling the churning waves of a deep sea.

He simply found the young girl before him utterly ridiculous. Her mouth was full of praise for his brilliance and martial prowess, acting as though she was madly devoted to him, yet when matters came to a head, she turned her elbows outward.

Lin Zhaozhao was entirely unaware of his inner thoughts. Had she known, she would surely have screamed out: What do you mean by turning my elbows outward? You and I aren't even family!

At that moment, she heard him inquire,

"Then does your meaning imply that this prince should smooth things over and simply let him go like this?"

"Thank you, Miss! Thank you, Miss!"

The man had thought himself beyond redemption and had already given up all hope, but hearing someone intercede for him at this juncture came as an absolute surprise. Dragging his crippled body, he prepared to kowtow to her.

Zhou Heyu's brows knitted together. He had not expected Jun Wuhen to actually follow along with her words—was he really going to let the man go? If he let him go, what would become of those brothers who had died so miserably? Truly, women only slowed down the speed at which they drew their blades!

"Fifth Miss!" Zhou Heyu flared up instantly, wanting to have a proper reckoning with her.

One had to know that their Third Highness was destined to ascend the throne in the future. As an emperor, he ought to be decisive and ruthless. If he were to forget his duty simply because of a woman, he might as well help him out.

He might as well just beat Lin Zhaozhao to death and be done with it!

Seeing them putting on a display of bloodlust reminiscent of a triad society gave Lin Zhaozhao a headache, so she appealed to his emotions and reasoned with logic, "Just think about where this is! The black market, with so many people coming and going!

You are the genuine Third Prince right now; you must always mind your words and actions. You have no idea how many pairs of eyes are watching you for a misstep. You are a wonderfully authentic person, and I hope you can maintain that straightforwardness, but you must hold yourself to an even higher standard, live up to expectations, and set an exemplary model! Therefore—"

Zhou Heyu was slightly puzzled, "Therefore?"

"Therefore, before you start crying out for blood and slaughter, you definitely need to find a place where nobody else is around!"

The crowd, "..."

Wait, what on earth is that supposed to mean?

"A dark night is perfect for murder! If you want to kill someone, you have to keep your own hands clean! Your Highness, drag him off to some dark corner and carve him into a thousand pieces!"

Zhou Heyu, "!!!"

Brilliant! Incredible!

You truly are my sister!

My one and only sister!

To be able to utter such vicious words—you clearly aren't just ruthless; you're even a step beyond ruthless!

Hearing this, Jun Wuhen felt a sudden lightness in his previously heavy chest for reasons unknown, and the corners of his lips curved upward. "Your idea is not bad."

"Being able to assist Your Highness is this subject's fortune!"

Do not blame her for being ruthless; she was barely capable of looking after herself as it was. Besides, someone who murdered his own comrades—if placed in modern times, he would undoubtedly be a traitor. Forget a thousand pieces, being pierced by ten thousand arrows would not be too harsh!

The man collapsed on the ground, who had thought he had met a living Bodhisattva only to find out she was a living King of Hell, instantly turned pale as a sheet and cried out for help at the top of his lungs,

"Miss, is human speech what you're speaking?! Aren't you afraid I'll come back to haunt you in the middle of the night?!"

Lin Zhaozhao, "..."

To be honest, you might find this hard to believe, but I am a ghost inhabiting another's body myself. Why on earth would I be afraid of you?!

Finding the man far too noisy, Jun Wuhen cast a glance at the men behind him. Someone immediately stepped forward, grabbed a dirty rag, stuffed it into the man's mouth, and dragged him away.

The room instantly fell silent, and the atmosphere grew somewhat subtle.

"Today—" Jun Wuhen started.

"Your Highness, rest assured. The moment I step out of this door, this subject will pretend I know nothing at all!"

Seeing him pour a cup of tea, drop a few ice cubes into it, and wear an irritated expression, Lin Zhaozhao couldn't help probing, "Has Your Highness felt a constant tightness in your chest lately, alongside a short temper and an urge to kill people?"

Jun Wuhen raised his eyes.

Zhou Heyu couldn't help blurting out, "What do you mean by lately? He's been like this since he was a child..."

Jun Wuhen shot him a look.

Zhou Heyu instantly caved, "I'm talking nonsense! I'm committing treason! I'll slap my own mouth!"

Before he could finish clowning around, however, Lin Zhaozhao continued, "I always felt that Your Highness experiencing such emotions doesn't seem to stem from your natural disposition, but rather that someone recently fed Your Highness something they shouldn't have..."