As soon as Ning Yin killed the old Emperor and ascended to the position of Regent, Zhao Hui sent him a woman.

At that time, the nation was in mourning, with music and feasting forbidden, but this didn’t prevent opportunists from climbing the ladder. During a “Treasure Appreciation Gathering,” various families brought out their most precious heirlooms, eagerly trying to please the young, gloomy Regent.

The hall gleamed with displays of various rare treasures. Ning Yin sat with his temple propped on his hand, his pale, slender fingers casually picking up an exquisitely carved white jade cabbage.

Under the hopeful gaze of the gift-giver, he loosened his five fingers, and the jade emitted a heart-wrenching cracking sound as it shattered into pieces.

Next came a tiger-eared gold cup adorned with jewels, then a red coral ornament…

Destruction was a pleasurable thing. The colorful fragments of jade scattered about, worthy only of providing a sound for the Regent’s ears.

“Nothing but dead objects, vulgar things,” Ning Yin lifted his eyelids, his dark pupils cold as ice. “How dare you use these to fool this Prince?”

The crowd’s expressions changed from pride to heartache, then to despair. Only one person was an exception.

Zhao Hui dragged his corpulent body forward in prostration, flattering him: “Your servant Zhao Hui, Head of the Ministry of War, has a priceless treasure, unparalleled in the world. I dare not keep it for myself and wish to present it to Your Highness for your enjoyment.”

That night, the Zhao household sent a young maiden dressed in crimson silk in a plain red palanquin.

“This is my niece, originally the youngest daughter of a general’s family, of noble birth. After her parents’ death, I took pity on her circumstances and adopted her, raising her in seclusion. I’ve always treated her as my daughter educated and cared for properly, unlike those improper girls who are impure…

If Your Highness would bestow even a little affection on her, keeping her by your side to serve you, it would be a blessing earned from three lifetimes of merit.”

Zhao Hui’s flattery still echoed in his ears, and indeed, he hadn’t lied.

Truly, it was an extraordinarily beautiful face, with a fiery red dress that was almost blinding.

Below that were slender shoulders, a narrow waist curving into an enticing arc, barely large enough to grasp, yet where flesh should be, there was no shortage—even through her clothing, one could see what kind of unparalleled graceful beauty lay beneath.

The rainy night was cold, and the old injury in his left leg ached faintly.

Ning Yin slowly tapped his index finger on the armrest of his chair, examining the figure kneeling before him: “What’s your name?”

His voice was light and carried a smile, yet without a trace of warmth.

The young woman naturally heard this, and with trembling breath replied: “Yu…”

Her throat was very tight. She swallowed with difficulty before continuing in a hoarse voice: “Yu Lingxi, the ‘Lingxi’ as in a moment of spiritual connection.'”

Surname Yu, no wonder.

Ning Yin narrowed his eyes, using his walking stick to lift her chin: “Raise your head.”

The metal end of the walking stick pressed against her chin, bringing a bone-chilling coldness. Yu Lingxi visibly trembled, clenched her fingers, and slowly raised her head.

She had indeed been crying, with redness at the corners of her eyes.

Outside, the autumn rain fell desolately, but around her seemed to glow a layer of soft light, fragile yet captivating.

Good, rainy days were most suitable for killing.

In this world, as many people wanted to curry favor with him, just as many wanted him dead. Women sent to him were either seductive traps or hidden daggers. He would never let them live to see the next day’s sunrise.

No matter what “mission” Yu Lingxi carried, she would be no exception.

With a press of his thumb on the mechanism, the blade at the bottom of his cane shot out without warning.

The candle flame wavered violently, autumn rain raged outside the hall, and shadows danced wildly on the floor tiles.

The blade, thin as autumn water, pressed against the side of her neck. Yu Lingxi’s wet, red almond eyes remained calm.

Without screaming or begging, she remained weak and beautiful from start to finish, only asking one question: “If I die, will my uncle’s family be implicated?”

Her reaction was truly boring to the extreme. Ning Yin was slightly displeased, his tone turning colder: “If I’m not satisfied, this Prince will have them all killed.”

After speaking, he stared into Yu Lingxi’s eyes.

However, the expected fear did not appear. She seemed to have received the answer she wanted and raised her hand to grip the blade beneath the cane.

On her slender white fingers, a beast-headed ring engraved with a clan emblem reflected a piercing cold light.

This was a gesture of resistance.

Ning Yin showed some interest, almost instinctively about to pierce Yu Lingxi’s neck.

Plop.

A tear slid down her jaw, splashing onto the blade with a clear sound.

The bloodthirsty excitement in Ning Yin’s eyes gradually receded like the tide.

He saw through her thoughts.

This woman deliberately made a show of resistance, seeking death, and wanting to drag down the Zhao family with her…

Indeed, the Zhao household had offered her as a gift to him, so naturally she resented them thoroughly.

“You’re quite bold, daring to use this Prince’s hand to kill.”

Ning Yin laughed coldly in extreme anger, grabbing her wrist that held the blade, his strength almost enough to crush her delicate wrist bone.

Yu Lingxi winced in pain, was forced to let go, and fell sitting on the ground. Crimson blood droplets slid down her translucent white fingertips, blooming like blood plum blossoms.

Ning Yin was displeased, extremely displeased.

He was born with a rebellious nature. With Yu Lingxi so eager to die, he instead refused to give her a quick end.

The Regent narrowed his eyes, filled with malice, and changed his mind.

…

The autumn rain fell all night.

When Ning Yin came to retire, his face was deathly pale without a trace of vitality.

The young woman who had been lightly sleeping with her head on a chair immediately awoke, sitting up straight to look at him. Having just awakened, the Regent hadn’t had time to disguise his emotions, frowning, his entire being exuding a chilling coldness.

He stared at Yu Lingxi, remembering that such a thing still existed.

Yu Lingxi was still sitting on the cold floor tiles, trembling all over from his gaze, like prey pinned under a gray wolf’s claws, left with only instinctual trembling.

“Will the Prince kill me today?”

She had not slept all night, appearing frail and delicate. Her smudged red makeup against her pale complexion created a unique kind of decadent beauty.

Ning Yin turned his slender hand back and forth, the veins on the back of his hand slightly protruding, able to crush a person’s bones with ease—

Last night, Yu Lingxi had already experienced his inhuman strength.

She instinctively hid the purple bruises on her wrist, only to hear the Regent’s cold laughter: “I’ll kill you when I return.”

Ning Yin was satisfied to see Yu Lingxi’s eyelashes quiver, and only then did he leave, leaning on his cane.

More interesting than killing prey was watching them trapped in fear worse than death.

Just thinking about seeing her withered face when he returned, watching her wilt in despair, the Regent finally felt some twisted contentment.

In the hall.

Knowing her time of death, Yu Lingxi suddenly felt much more at ease.

The household servants didn’t know this woman’s background, after all, no “gift” had ever survived a night by the Regent’s side. They were puzzled and fearful, so when this beautiful young woman politely asked them to bring some food and clean water, the servants dared not refuse…

By evening, Ning Yin returned after killing several disobedient court officials, only to find the red-dressed young woman neatly groomed and radiant, sitting in a chair in his bedchamber, eating pastries until the corners of her lips were covered with crumbs.

Indeed, she was eating.

With quite a good appetite.

Ning Yin stood at the doorway, just staring at her sinisterly.

Yu Lingxi had a calm “finally you’re here” expression. She reluctantly put down the last half of her pastry, carefully stacked the four empty plates, wiped her lips clean, arranged her skirt, and only then knelt with her head bowed toward Ning Yin from afar.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Prince.”

It was as if she had eaten and drunk her fill, ready for her journey.

Ning Yin, with a gloomy face, walked toward her step by step, his cane striking the ground, making a death knell-like “tok tok” sound.

She wrung her fingers, her half-lowered eyelashes trembling with each of his distinctive footsteps, appearing not as calm as her face suggested.

Ning Yin raised his cane and pressed it against her slender neck.

Yu Lingxi closed her eyes.

The sharp blade was just a hair’s breadth from her fragile skin. With just a slight cut, her body would bloom with scarlet flowers.

But it was meaningless.

Killing someone waiting for death would bring no pleasure; he detested the feeling of being manipulated.

With a ding, the blade at the bottom of the cane retracted.

Yu Lingxi still kept her eyes tightly closed, not daring to face the outcome.

How could something so fragile that he could strangle with one hand have the courage to “face death calmly”?

Ning Yin sneered, a dark thought arising in his mind.

“Your current appearance is not much different from a corpse.”

Ning Yin leaned forward with one hand on his cane, using his other hand to pinch Yu Lingxi’s chin, forcing her to open her eyes.

He stared at her watery eyes for a long while, then suddenly said softly: “This Prince has no interest in defiling corpses. Go.”

Those desolate almond eyes suddenly widened, bursting with light.

Her full red lips parted slightly as if wanting to ask something.

Ning Yin narrowed his eyes and said slowly: “I said go. Didn’t you hear?”

He… was letting her go?

This was undoubtedly a huge temptation. Yu Lingxi looked at him for a long time, hesitating, then slowly stood up.

Ning Yin clasped his hands on his jade-handled, gold-inlaid walking stick, patient and gentle, waiting for her to rush out in wild joy.

Each time people sent women to him, he liked to deliberately lower his guard.

Then, when the spy could no longer contain herself and revealed her true intentions, he would personally destroy both her hopes and her life.