Chapter 6: At the Mercy of Others

Xiao Yunshang’s hand trembled slightly inside her sleeve, but she obeyed the order and pushed open the vermilion gate just enough to create a narrow crack.

“Squeak—”

Outside, the clamor suddenly quieted by half.

Liu Gang, already anxious from waiting, immediately urged his horse closer as the door opened, squinting through the gap.

A face emerged from the crack, stunningly beautiful even beneath plain clothes. Liu Gang’s shifty eyes immediately sharpened.

“Well, well, isn’t this Princess Xiao? Have you come to your senses?” Liu Gang grinned widely, his yellow teeth flashing. His gaze was as if he wanted to strip Xiao Yunshang bare and examine her every inch.

A wave of nausea churned in Xiao Yunshang’s stomach. Following Xiao Zhan’s instructions, she forced a sobbing, pleading tone into her voice. “General Liu... General Liu, our Yan Prince’s Mansion admits defeat. We only beg for your mercy, to spare us a way to live.”

She subtly stepped aside a little, allowing Liu Gang to glimpse the corner of the courtyard behind her, where several faintly visible chests lay.

“All the gold, silver, and valuables in the mansion, your servant... your servant has brought them all, willing to offer them to you, General. We only ask you to speak kindly for us before His Majesty.”

Her lowered brows and submissive posture made her look utterly resigned to whatever fate awaited her.

Liu Gang’s throat moved greedily, his plump face oozing with avarice. “Well said, well said! Princess Xiao truly understands the greater good!”

He smacked his lips, then shifted tone, his voice thick with oily insinuation: “As for the treasure, I will naturally see that it is delivered to the princess. But His Majesty is most merciful, and I’ve heard the princess is both talented and beautiful. If you could personally accompany me to the palace to pay respects, and plead your case before the emperor, perhaps His Majesty’s heart would be softened, and this matter, heh heh, would be much easier to settle.”

Xiao Yunshang’s heart suddenly clenched. This old lecher, as expected, hadn’t given up his wicked intentions—he was setting his sights on her!

Momentarily unsure how to respond, her peripheral vision caught Xiao Zhan’s discreet signal from behind the rockery not far away.

“General Liu’s words are most sensible,” Xiao Yunshang lowered her delicate head, her voice trembling with a hint of fear and choking sobs. “However... as for all this treasure, I am but a frail woman and fear I cannot guard it properly. Perhaps... perhaps the general could first send some capable officers into the mansion to inventory and inspect? That way I can rest assured, and you, General, can be confident as well, can’t you?”

Liu Gang burst into loud laughter. “The princess is indeed thorough!”

Inside, his cunning mind clicked rapidly: This little lady probably fears I’ll keep all her treasure for myself. Well, that works perfectly—I’ll send men inside to probe and see if Xiao Zhan has really caved in.

“Men!” Liu Gang turned and waved his hand.

Immediately, twenty elite cavalry soldiers dashed forward, each exuding sharpness and strength.

“You, follow the princess inside and count every item for me! While you’re at it, take a good look to see if that heir, Xiao Zhan, is really as obedient as he claims!” Liu Gang barked, then lowered his voice to the captain of the guards, “Be alert! If anything goes wrong, signal me immediately!”

“Yes, sir!” The captain saluted and, with his men, swiftly dismounted. He forcefully pushed the gate fully open and charged inside, following Xiao Yunshang.

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Xiao Yunshang moved gracefully, leading the twenty imperial soldiers straight into the front courtyard, which was already a carefully laid trap. Each step felt like an invisible hand squeezing her heart tighter.

Inside the courtyard, several mansion guards were “frantically” moving chests, seemingly oblivious to the intruding soldiers, showing no sign of suspicion.

With a wave of his hand, the captain of the soldiers ordered his men to scatter—some rushed eagerly to the chests, while others cautiously scanned the courtyard.

One soldier, impatient, reached to lift the heavy lid of a wooden chest—

“Hands off!”

A sharp command shattered the silence from the shadowy corner of the yard. It was Xiao Zhan!

In an instant, the guards who had been moving the chests sprang into action. Gone was any sign of panic; instead, gleaming knives and sharp spears flew from their hands.

“Shhhk!” “Ugh—!”

Screams pierced the air.

Several soldiers were skewered before they could even react, blood spurting wildly.

The captain, battle-hardened and quick, just gripped his sword hilt and tried to draw it in warning—

“Bang!”

A dull yet penetrating gunshot tore through the quiet courtyard.

The captain felt a crushing blow to his chest, numbness spreading instantly. Looking down in horror, a gaping, bloody hole was spraying his life away. Mouth agape, his throat gurgled as he stared at Xiao Zhan sauntering out from behind the rockery, the black “Desert Eagle” in his hand still emitting faint smoke.

“T-treachery...” he croaked, body collapsing forward with no further sound.

Xiao Zhan coolly blew on the still-warm barrel of his pistol, lips curling into a cold smirk. “A bunch of small fry, not even worth letting the AK see action.”

The remaining dozen or so soldiers watched their captain’s lifeless glare, then glanced at the mansion guards who now looked like wolves ready to tear them apart. Terror struck them dumb—they dared not resist, screaming and scattering like frightened birds, cursing their parents for giving them legs.

Xiao Zhan’s guards followed his death order flawlessly, striking only at vital points, leaving no chance for the soldiers to cry for help.

No clang of blades meeting steel rang out—only muffled sounds of knives slicing flesh and bones shattering echoed continuously.

In the blink of an eye, all twenty soldiers, including the captain, lay dead on the ground, silent and spotless.

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