Human lives were like blades of grass in his hands.

Yu Sinsheng had no desire to go over.

However, she knew very little about Kong Dezhao; both of their encounters had begun with arrows leading the way.

This man was violent, eccentric, and unpredictable. He had just stood up for her, and if she were to slight him, there was no telling what he might do.

Besides, Qi Mubai was still standing right there.

It was unwise to make a big scene out of this matter.

Weighing her options swiftly, Yu Sinsheng lowered her head and walked over, stopping a meter away from the two sedan bearers, and offered a half-curtsy.

Just as she was about to speak, Kong Dezhao's laughter came from directly above her.

"There is no need for formalities at every turn. By my side, you should be a bit more unrestrained and unbothered by such rigid rules."

"Come closer."

Helpless, Yu Sinsheng took another two steps forward.

Kong Dezhao was tall, with long legs and arms. With a single sweep of his arm, he pinched the back of her neck.

He lifted her gently forward—like picking up a soft, white little rabbit.

Goosebumps erupted all over Yu Sinsheng's body, and she was forced to raise her head to look at him.

Their eyes met, and in Kong Dezhao's slightly amber-tinted pupils, her exquisite, panicked yet forcefully composed face was reflected.

An indescribable feeling welled up inexplicably in Kong Dezhao's heart. His throat rolled twice, and he gently released his hand.

"Prince Kong," Princess Duanyang said, infuriated, "how can you treat her like this? Her background is utterly lowly, and she cursed her own parents to death—didn't you know? She even used to go to Zhenning Tower. What kind of place is that? For all you know, she..."

She had likely been defiled long ago and lost her chastity.

"Princess, watch your tongue!" Su Yanshu barked, cutting her off.

He was secretly thrilled; regardless of how things turned out in the future, the fact that Kong Dezhao clearly favored Sinsheng right now was a wonderful thing.

How could he possibly allow Princess Duanyang to expose her past and ruin this good fortune?

Faster than his voice, however, was Kong Dezhao's crossbow.

Without even sparing Princess Duanyang a direct glance, one of his crossbow bolts pinned the hem of her skirt, rendering her immobile.

Another grazed her cheek, instantly leaving a thin red scratch and severing a strand of her hair.

Terrified out of her wits, Princess Duanyang's face drained of color as she opened her mouth and screamed.

"Ah..."

"Thud!"

Another sound rang out as an arrow pierced a throat. The elderly servant woman who had just attempted to strike Yu Sinsheng took an arrow square in the windpipe, the arrowhead protruding from the back of her neck. Fresh blood carrying a heavy, pungent odor quickly spread across the ground.

With a heavy thud, the corpse collapsed.

Princess Duanyang swallowed the second half of her scream. Her eyes widened in terror, and she dared not even take a deep breath.

The maidservant beside her let out a shrill shriek: "You... how could you..."

"Thud!"

"Plop."

The maidservant crashed to the ground, the items in her hands scattering everywhere.

Princess Duanyang managed only half a shriek. Seeing that the maidservant's eyes were still wide open while a massive pool of blood bubbled from her throat and flowed toward the hem of her skirt, she wanted to flee in panic, but her skirt remained pinned to the ground by the arrow, trapping her.

She was on the verge of a complete breakdown.

This scene had unfolded far too quickly, exceeding everyone's expectations.

Yu Sinsheng had never anticipated this either. Her heart hammered wildly against her ribs, and cold sweat silently rolled down her back.

She had witnessed the crown prince's perversion, Su Dingqin's volatility, and Su Yanshu's vicious ruthlessness, but she had never seen anyone like Kong Dezhao, who would openly take lives with a flick of his wrist and snuff out human existence in the blink of an eye.

Human life meant no more to him than cutting vegetables.

A chill radiated through Yu Sinsheng's entire body as she truly experienced, for the very first time, the terrifying nature of those in supreme power.

The crown prince and the Su brothers at least maintained some restraint and kept up appearances on the surface, but Kong Dezhao did not.

He harbored no scruples and feared nothing at all.

A wave of worry inevitably stirred in Yu Sinsheng's heart: with a Kong Dezhao this unhinged, could she truly hope to defeat him?

Even with Hao Mengye's assistance.

Hao Mengye helped her conditionally, weighing pros and cons rather than acting without restraint.

If Kong Dezhao proved this insane, even Hao Mengye would likely stand aside and watch.

Yu Sinsheng tightly clenched her fists, her fingertips turning pale.

Kong Dezhao's laughter spilled from his throat as he patted her head. "Don't be afraid. This Prince will protect you."

Without sparing the two corpses even a glance, Kong Dezhao fixed his gaze on Princess Duanyang's pale face.

"If I hear so much as half a syllable of what you just said again, I won't mind making a return visit to your throat."

"Do you remember that?"

Princess Duanyang was utterly bloodless, her face a mask of absolute terror.

"Speak!" Kong Dezhao snapped.

Shuddering violently, Princess Duanyang stammered, "I... I re..."

Before she could finish, she slumped limply to the ground, having fainted from sheer fright.

Kong Dezhao let out a soft sneer. "Utterly useless."

Outside the moon gate.

The Emperor's eyes were slightly lowered, a smile playing faintly at the corners of his mouth.

"Kong Dezhao is exactly the same as he was back in Nanshun. Not a bit has changed."

The crown prince said in a low voice, "Imperial Father, shall your son summon him over to pay his respects?"

If summoned to pay respects, Kong Dezhao would undoubtedly bring up the matter of a bestowed marriage.

And that would effectively seal the deal.

Over the past two days, Kong Dezhao had claimed illness, citing an inconvenient leg, and had failed to enter the palace to pay homage. Yet now, he was able to appear here and stand up for Yu Sinsheng.

Joy and anger were indistinguishable on the Emperor's face. Before he could reply, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from behind, only to be intercepted by the Crimson Dragon Guards.

"Who goes there? Halt!"

"Your servant, Zhao Tianliang, Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, requests an audience with the Emperor."

Hearing this clearly, the Emperor commanded, "Send him here."

Zhao Tianliang hurried before the Emperor, bowing deeply in salute. "Your servant, Zhao Tianliang, pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Official Zhao, did you also come to listen to the sutras today?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant observed the celestial phenomena last night and knew today to be an auspicious day, so I came specifically to light an everlasting lamp for my late mother."

He paused, lowering his voice. "However, as this servant observed the stars just now, a dark red aura of slaughter arose from the southwest, disrupting this auspicious day. Learning that Your Majesty is present here, I came specifically to report this so that Your Majesty may take utmost care of the Imperial constitution recently."

The Emperor's brows furrowed slightly.

The southwest—was that not the direction of Nanshun? Coincidentally, this area behind the temple could also be considered the southwest relative to the main hall.

A dark red aura of slaughter? It went without saying what that meant; Kong Dezhao had just slain two people.

The scent of blood had not even dissipated yet.

Feeling a twinge of anxiety, the Crown Prince lowered his voice and said, "Official Zhao, there is no need to make alarmist statements. Imperial Father enjoys robust health and is the Son of Heaven; how could he possibly be disturbed by a mere wisp of slaughter aura?"

Zhao Tianliang lowered his head. "Your Crown Prince Highness, this servant dares not speak wildly. Honored with Imperial grace to head the Astronomical Bureau, I dare not keep silent upon knowing something. This is what the celestial signs reveal, not my own idle fabrication."

Pausing for a moment, Zhao Tianliang took a half-step forward, his voice dropping even lower.

"Answering Your Majesty, the birth charts Your Majesty previously commanded me to calculate have now been computed."

"Both individuals bear overly rigid horoscopes. If they are forcibly joined, I fear misfortune will ensue. Blood disasters would be the least of it; I am afraid... it will impact the imperial clan and the dynastic fortune."

The Crown Prince suffered a jolt of shock. When had Imperial Father ever asked the Astronomical Bureau to calculate birth charts? Were they for Kong Dezhao and Yu Sinsheng? Why had he never heard even a whisper of this before?

The Emperor slowly exhaled a breath, his gaze deep and solemn.

"Imperial Father..."

"Return to the palace."

Frowning, the Crown Prince hurriedly followed, casting a backward glance at Zhao Tianliang after a few paces.

Head bowed and hands cupped in salute, Zhao Tianliang did not look back up at him.

Hearing the footsteps fade into the distance, Zhao Tianliang finally allowed himself a sigh of relief.

He had no desire to fabricate such warnings, but Commander Hao had helped him restore the only surviving portrait of his late mother. Such a massive debt of gratitude could not go unpaid.

If he was going to owe anyone, it certainly couldn't be the Crimson Dragon Guards.

Besides, for Kong Dezhao to commit murder right inside a temple was far too flagrant and lawless. Even if he had said nothing, the Emperor would not have been pleased in the least.

He was merely going with the flow.