Mo Zi saw it—the entire process of that arrow being shot, crystal clear.

At that moment, Xiao Wei was crouching in mourning over Xu Yang’s heroic sacrifice. Only she could see. When she turned to glare angrily at the Crown Prince, her gaze even met the archer’s for a moment. She remained expressionless, her heart instantly worried the archer would abandon the original plan. But at this critical moment, heaven was on her side. That arrow was both precise and satisfying, immediately silencing forever that mouth that spoke no human words.

She could have saved him completely—cry out a warning, or give him a push, either would have been easy. But she didn’t. Not only did she not, she even looked forward to this bloody scene, excited to the point her entire body turned cold. Yes, cold. Only coldness was fitting to send off this cold-blooded Crown Prince, only this matched his lofty status as a true dragon’s son. Hot blood would truly defile his “extraordinary nobility.”

Xiao Wei’s startled cry reached her ears. In her eyes she saw Xiao Wei’s hand checking for breath. She laughed lightly. “Would such a person still have breath?” Having said this, she turned around.

Xu Yang lay peacefully, as if merely asleep. His dark face was covered entirely in blood, appearing fierce, yet he was truly a loyal and righteous good man. He’d only followed her for less than two days, yet he’d given his life for her. Though he spoke constantly of the imperial decree, she believed that in the moment of saving her, he hadn’t thought much about the sacred edict. Because in the instant he saw she was unharmed, his relieved smile and closed eyes departed so peacefully. Mo Zi tore off a piece from her sleeve to wipe his face.

Xiao Wei stood up. The dark mass of Duhu Guards from the city gate drew closer and closer. He averted his eyes, secretly measuring the direction and distance from which the arrow that took the Crown Prince’s life had been shot. Suddenly, his expression turned shocked.

“You… saw this arrow.” Somewhat incredulous, somewhat helpless.

Mo Zi didn’t turn her head. “Didn’t see it.”

“Mo Zi.” On the boat she could observe in all directions and hear from all sides, as if she had eyes growing on the back of her head. And she had turned around at that moment—how could she possibly not see the archer a dozen or so zhang away? Xiao Wei sighed. The former him would have been angry and agitated. The current him could only sigh, because he already understood that speaking to her about the foundation of the state and the altars of grain and soil would only earn her mockery. Especially since the Crown Prince was truly chilling to the bone.

So after calling her name, he was speechless for a long while, then said one sentence: “He was, after all, the Crown Prince.”

Had he changed too? The Crown Prince died before his eyes, yet his heart was quite calm.

“Though the Crown Prince is the son of the true dragon Son of Heaven, he ultimately descended and reincarnated as a human, nothing more than flesh and blood. An arrow hitting him in the forehead—even immortals couldn’t save him. General Xiao has already done his utmost, so please accept this loss.” Mo Zi “consoled.”

Listening to her, though Xiao Wei knew this was wrong, her words made him want to laugh. He coughed dryly twice, glaring at the Crown Prince’s face that wouldn’t close in death. When the Duhu Guards arrived, he maintained a cold, stern face, commanding soldiers to pursue the remaining Daqiu knights while he himself didn’t leave Mo Zi’s side for a single step. General Xu Yang was dead—he didn’t dare leave her alone in this chaotic battle even though the fighting was nearing its end.

Of course, in the eyes of the Duhu Guards, the ever-loyal General Xiao was merely standing guard unflinchingly over the deceased Crown Prince.

“Young General, we captured one assassin alive. The rest died in battle or took poison. Awaiting your orders for disposal.” The Duhu Guard captain approached. Seeing the Crown Prince’s tragic state, his face couldn’t help but twitch, his heart trembling. Whether the Crown Prince’s death would be blamed on them, he didn’t know.

The absolute numerical advantage meant the fierce Daqiu knights were ultimately defeated, but their tenacious desperate fighting made this battle outside the Great Zhou capital gates a horrifying bloody battle. The Jinlin Guards, the Crown Prince’s few guards, Xiao Wei’s men, and the Duhu Guards—casualties numbered in the hundreds.

“Bring him up.” Xiao Wei commanded in a deep voice.

Soon, a burly man covered in blood was pushed to kneel before Xiao Wei. Probably fearing he’d bite a poison tooth, his mouth had been stuffed with cloth.

Mo Zi saw his expression was stubborn and arrogant, his head held high. Even while kneeling, he could still look down, that posture of complete disdain for his opponents.

“You are Daqiu people?” Xiao Wei pulled out the cloth from the man’s mouth. Though the answer was obvious, protocol still required asking.

“Nonsense!” The other party admitted quite readily. Daqiu knights were mostly descendants of herding tribes, revering dark and sturdy physiques, with rough and unrestrained temperaments, plus a sense of superiority looking down on Han people.

“Sent by the King of Daqiu to assassinate His Highness the Crown Prince?” Xiao Wei asked another seemingly conclusive question.

That man suddenly looked toward Mo Zi.

Mo Zi detected from his vicious gaze a trace of coldness suggesting mutual destruction, but she raised her eyebrows without showing the slightest timidity. She’d been framed many times—she didn’t care about one more. However, she didn’t notice Xiao Wei’s suddenly cold eyes.

“Our Daqiu nation’s empress is here—what need to listen to the King’s orders?” The air of conspiracy was about to be released. “What is the Great Zhou Crown Prince—”

Xiao Wei grabbed the man’s jaws with lightning speed, shouting, “Don’t die!”

The man was stunned.

Mo Zi was also stunned.

But the man’s eyes grew wider and wider, his face showing extremely painful expression. His whole body convulsed twice, black blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. His breathing went from rapid to stopped, in an instant.

Xiao Wei’s voice was regretful. “One step too slow, what a pity.”

Like it was real. Mo Zi blinked, then blinked again, almost suspecting the Xiao Wei before her eyes had been switched. Clearly he had forcefully squeezed and broken the poison in the man’s mouth, forcing him to swallow it, yet he said the man took poison himself—blatantly lying with open eyes.

Apart from Mo Zi, no one saw the truth. Who was Xiao Wei? He was Prince Jing’s most accomplished son, the war general personally trained by Old General Xiao, a valued minister trusted by the current Emperor. He was the hope of Great Zhou’s future. Everything he did was for the state and altars of grain and soil, utterly loyal to the Wu surname. Therefore, if Xiao Wei said the man took poison, then he took poison. Though with his skills he still couldn’t prevent it, the other party’s determination to die was resolute and unexpected—being one step slow was within reason. Moreover, Xiao Wei had already said “what a pity.”

The captain then said, “They killed His Highness the Crown Prince—their deaths are hardly regrettable. Whether instigated by the Daqiu Empress or the Daqiu King, either way it’s Daqiu people who caused this trouble. Their audacity is so great, I fear war is approaching and the border is in danger.”

Xiao Wei released his hand. The corpse sagged limply. “Today His Majesty was also assassinated. It seems it must have also been these Daqiu people’s doing. Captain Wu, return immediately to the city gate and guard it tightly for me. Unless there’s a sacred decree, no one may leave the city. I will examine whether any traces remain, and after organizing will return. Though the Crown Prince’s death is deeply saddening, His Highness led from the front, incomparably brave, neither fearing nor dodging—though dead, his glory lives on. I will personally report everything to His Majesty. You all just serve as witnesses.”

Captain Wu had no doubts whatsoever. He led the Duhu Guards, carrying the Crown Prince’s corpse and the wounded, and left first.

Xiao Wei stepped over the corpse whose life he’d taken using poison, saying to the guards who remained, including his own subordinates, “Look carefully for me—are there any survivors? Remember to be extremely careful they don’t take poison.”

Mo Zi couldn’t help but follow behind him, saying in a low voice, “Why did you do this?” He’d saved her, twice in succession no less. The second time was even more unexpected—she hadn’t thought of it at all.

“What did I do?” Xiao Wei asked back, not looking at her once, walking to the archer who shot the Crown Prince. He kicked the body over with his foot and bent down to check for breath.

“…” He was confirming the other party was completely dead. Mo Zi understood in her heart. “Everyone heard that man’s words. Before he finished speaking, he—”

“Do you think he didn’t finish?” Xiao Wei went to confirm other corpses. “But I think he finished. Finished speaking, then committed suicide. That’s all.”

At this moment, Mo Zi had no doubt whatsoever that if any Daqiu person were still alive, this General Xiao would find another way to make them completely dead. No wonder he volunteered to stay behind—not to organize, but to clean up. Clean up everyone still breathing who could open their mouths to splash dirty water on her.

“You don’t need to go this far for me.” This step was a step of selfish motives, a step of bad intentions, a step where the upright young general who didn’t know how to turn corners began to adapt to circumstances.

Xiao Wei glanced around. No one was paying attention, so he met Mo Zi’s gaze. “I’m not doing this for you. I just don’t want the enemy’s conspiracies and schemes to shake military morale. Since I clearly know they’re talking nonsense, why let them continue speaking, and why listen to it?”

“Thank you.” The enemy’s scheme hadn’t succeeded, and she was safe.

“A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, hearing you sincerely thank me.” Xiao Wei sighed with a bitter smile. When he acted to kill someone, he hadn’t hesitated one bit, full of selfish motives, yet lying without his face turning red. Was this sanctimonious hypocrisy? But he had no regrets.

“Thanking you doesn’t mean there’s an opportunity to repay you.” Did this person like her? Revealed today for the first time.

Xiao Wei was quite magnanimous. “If saying thank you once required repaying once, who would dare say these two words? I’ve already told you, it’s not for you, but because I don’t want others to exploit the situation.” He’d learned from her—how to hide true intentions.

“Fine, not for me.” She even breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s just that these Daqiu people’s identities are probably not simple. The Crown Prince said they were warrior guards hired by Daqiu merchants, but in this battle every single one showed exceptional skills, with offensive and defensive strategies—clearly they’re elite troops from the Daqiu military. They seemed to be coming for me, so they wanted to frame the Crown Prince’s death on me. On the road I questioned the Crown Prince. No matter what, he wouldn’t admit to plotting with Daqiu, insisting the other party were private goods merchants and he only coveted beauties and treasures. Looking at his manner, he didn’t seem to be lying either. But I still have several unclear points. First, how did they know the Crown Prince would meet with me? Second, why did the leader enter the capital first? Third, what was the purpose of the several hundred soldiers at the Crown Prince’s traveling lodge?” The case of collusion between Daqiu and Great Zhou—the more it’s investigated, the denser the fog becomes.

“I don’t know either.” Xiao Wei spoke truthfully. “Logically, Prince Li’s case has solid evidence. The person colluding with Daqiu must be him and no one else, yet Prince Li refuses to confess to this day. However, the Crown Prince actually brought Daqiu people, and according to what you said, the traveling lodge had heavy troops guarding it. Either the Crown Prince lied, or Prince Li lied. The Crown Prince is already dead. His attendants scattered and fled. I’m afraid someone has already notified the traveling lodge side. This lead may be impossible to verify.”

“That’s not necessarily so.” Mo Zi didn’t completely agree.