Strip him of his princely title!

Upon hearing these words, Na Yan’s heart churned like stormy seas. He wasn’t truly worried about his princely position being revoked—after all, father and son by blood wouldn’t sever their relationship over this matter.

Rather, he worried that King Huyi would lose all faith in him because of this.

In that case, his hope of being established as Crown Prince would be virtually zero!

Such a heavy price was not worth paying!

He could only obediently acknowledge his error: “Yes, your son will certainly handle this matter properly and will never trouble Father King again.”

“It’s not about troubling me. This matter is of great importance—what’s needed is justice!”

“Yes!”

“It’s best that no more mistakes occur.”

“Your son understands.”

King Huyi sighed and waved his hand: “Fine, you may all withdraw.”

“Yes! Your son takes his leave.”

Na Tuo and Na Yan bowed and withdrew.

Just as the two left the inner hall, they heard violent coughing from inside.

It seemed King Huyi had been angered to no small degree!

After exiting the great hall, they didn’t leave directly but stopped at the entrance.

Gazing at the vast snow before them. Xue He still knelt in the snow, his body trembling, his face flushed red, his lips purple. With eyes that could barely stay open, through the dense falling snow, he looked at the two figures standing at the entrance. He licked his lips, breathing with weak gasps. His heart was both anxious and held a last thread of hope, hoping that Na Yan would save him out of consideration for being his disciple.

However, fate’s wheel never favors such people!

Na Tuo gazed at the heavy snow before him and suddenly smiled, speaking in a tone full of smugness: “Na Yan, I told you before—when you previously set me up before Father King, I would definitely pay you back with interest! Counting this incident, plus the previous matter with Lord Huang and Lord Zhong at the Ministry of Justice, I’ve paid you back with interest! So ultimately, you’re simply no match for me.”

His arrogant expression was unmistakable.

It made one want to scratch their ears and cheeks in frustration.

Wish they could tear him to pieces!

After hearing these words, despite the bitterly cold weather, Na Yan’s face was still terrifyingly dark.

His gaze stared straight ahead: “Who loses and who wins—until the very end, no one knows.”

“Do you think you still have a chance to climb back up?” Na Tuo looked at him sideways. “Now your disciple has gotten into trouble, Father King flew into a rage. This matter will soon spread throughout Gaoding City like wildfire. As for the consequences, surely you can gauge them yourself.”

“…”

How could Na Yan not know?

His wings had been clipped, and now his heart had nearly been gouged out.

His chest filled with a cavity of black blood.

Finally, he stepped forward into the snow.

Walking before Xue He.

Xue He struggled to lift his head with all his might: “Your Highness… save…”

Before he could finish, Na Yan said: “Even the greatest immortal couldn’t save you now.”

“Ah! No… Your Highness, no…” Xue He immediately grabbed his leg, desperately pleading.

But Na Yan kicked him away.

Sending him tumbling to the ground.

He no longer had any strength to get up.

He could only watch Na Yan stride away.

In the end, Xue He was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice dungeon.

At first, he refused to confess. After struggling desperately for several hours, he still couldn’t withstand the reality before him.

He confessed!

Originally, back then, he alone had been a disciple of the Pingyang Marquis Manor. But unexpectedly, Du Mubai also entered and, with his outstanding talent, gained considerable recognition. He became jealous, unwilling to be overshadowed by a scholar from a humble family. So his heart turned to wicked thoughts. He secretly bribed Fang Tong and Jiang Wen. By coincidence, those two were also jealous of Du Mubai. Thus, the three shared the same goal and reached a consensus.

But they still needed someone to take the lead!

That scapegoat was ultimately chosen to be Bingzheng.

As Bingzheng had written in his confession, initially, he had refused. But Xue He threatened him with his grandmother, forcing him to agree.

This led to today’s consequences!

Liu He sat in the back hall of the Ministry of Justice, looking at the case file written by the Ministry’s civil officials regarding Du Mubai’s theft case.

On it was truly a trail of “bloodstains.”

Fine young scholars of this year’s examination had walked down an irreversible path because of “jealousy” and “greed.”

Besides regret, there were also endless sighs.

…

That evening.

Xue He sat in his cell, the cold on his body still not completely dissipated.

Although the Ministry of Justice hadn’t yet determined his punishment, he knew what he faced.

Lifelong prohibition from the examinations!

Endless imprisonment!

His future, completely dark!

He was afraid, terrified to death.

All hope had dissipated the moment he confessed.

He hugged his arms tightly, trembling again.

Suddenly—

“Thud, thud, thud.”

Footsteps echoed in the prison.

Drawing closer from afar to outside his cell door.

He abruptly raised his head, his dark pupils staring outside the cell.

He saw three people enter.

Two in front, one behind.

The person in back wore a black cloak with a hood, wrapped up tightly, their face completely invisible.

Xue He had an ominous premonition!

Growing increasingly intense.

The cell door was opened. He instinctively shrank back.

Eyes wide, he watched the cloaked man enter.

After entering, the man removed his hood, revealing that cold face.

“Second… Prince!”

Na Yan looked down at him, his eyes filled with murderous intent. Then he crouched down, staring into his terrified eyes, saying eerily: “Xue He, this Prince has come to see you.”

“See… see me?”

“Why are you trembling?”

“Your Highness, what exactly are you going to do?” Xue He shrank backward.

His hands tightly gripping the straw on the ground.

In his eyes, besides fear, there was only fear.

“Hehe.” Na Yan smiled sinisterly. “What do you think this Prince wants to do?”

“I…” He suddenly knelt, crying and begging, “Your Highness, spare my life! If I can get out in the future, I’ll work like an ox or horse for you. Your Highness, spare me!”

He kowtowed continuously.

But the murderous intent in Na Yan’s eyes didn’t diminish in the slightest.

He smiled slightly, stood up, and took two steps back.

Then said: “Do it!”

“No… no, Your Highness…” Xue He instinctively tried to flee.

But—

How could his weakened body run?

As soon as he stood up, he was seized by the two guards who had entered with Na Yan.

One of them grabbed Xue He’s hands.

“You… what are you doing? Let me go! If you kill me, even as a ghost… I won’t let you go.”

But the other person clamped his mouth shut, took out a bottle, and poured the powder inside into his mouth.

“Mmph mmph mmph…”

He struggled with all his might.

His body had no strength at all.

He could only be forced to swallow the powder.

His face flushed red, unable to make another sound.

Na Yan watched coldly from the side, his lips curling as he said: “You must die! Only when you’re dead will this rage in this Prince’s heart be dispelled.”