Chapter 28: A Strike at the Heart

The clan elders knelt in a dense, sprawling mass. Those who usually strode through the Marquis’s residence with the arrogance of seniority had shed their customary dignity and composure; gone were their affected airs as they knelt and hailed the Crown Prince, shouting wishes for his longevity. They feared that even a moment's delay might displease His Highness and bring ruin upon the house.

"This humble subject has been remiss..."
"May Your Highness be well. It is our negligence that we did not welcome you in time. We beg for your mercy and punishment."

As the elders trembled in their pleas for forgiveness, a sharp, startled cry cut through the air.

"Oh my! What has happened here!"

The moment the Old Madam stepped out, the first thing she saw was Shen Yishu’s head, bloodied from the blow. She let out an immediate gasp: "Someone, come quickly! Who could be so—"

The phrase "blind and reckless" died on her lips.

Upon meeting a pair of sinister, piercing eyes, the Old Madam choked back both her cry and her heartache. Only then did she belatedly notice the clan elders filling the courtyard and the tense, adversarial posture between Shen Yishu and Xiao Ze.

She swallowed hard, her throat dry.

She whispered anxiously to Shen Yishu, "What happened to your head? How can you be so disrespectful in front of His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"I bumped it accidentally, Mother. Do not worry."

Shen Yishu gritted his teeth. Even while feeling humiliated, he had to cover for Xiao Ze, his inner self seething with hatred. How could the Crown Prince arrive so suddenly, and why did he have to stumble upon such an unsightly scene, leaving him in such a wretched state?

The rumors claimed this Crown Prince was difficult to deal with, and he certainly seemed to hold a grudge against him. The atmosphere grew stifling. Dou Hongyan, by contrast, remained the most relaxed person present; she stood motionless, arms tucked away, quietly observing Shen Yishu and the Old Madam.

The Old Madam could not bring herself to utter a single word of reproach. She stammered a few times, gathering the courage to probe Xiao Ze’s disposition: "Yo-Your Highness, your sudden visit..."

But when she looked up and caught the cold, thin gaze of Xiao Ze, she clamped her mouth shut in terror, feeling a chill seep through her entire body.

The other man’s icy stare rested on Shen Yishu. It was as if he were looking at a lifeless object, weighing whether to keep or discard him, showing not a shred of pity. He simply... found him an eyesore.

Shen Yishu must not remain in the Crown Prince’s presence any longer!

"Yo-Your Highness, Yishu was careless and injured his head. This humble subject will take him to have it bandaged first. I beg Your Highness to forgive us."

The Old Madam inadvertently stepped in front of Shen Yishu. Sensing his reluctance to leave, she jabbed him in the elbow, forcing him to keep quiet. She fawned over Xiao Ze, saying, "If there has been any disrespect, I pray Your Highness will be lenient. Please do not blame my son for his lack of caution while walking..."

"Go."

It was as if she had been granted amnesty.

The Old Madam, drenched in a cold sweat, hurried Shen Yishu away. If they didn't leave now, the intensely possessive Crown Prince might truly be unable to resist killing him on the spot.

The elders were left behind, anxious and uneasy. Even those who guessed that Shen Yishu had been injured because he had offended the Prince dared not speak a word. They only asked eagerly, "Has Your Highness come to the Marquis’s residence with instructions? Please, do not hesitate to command us."

"That is not the case."

The crowd let out a breath of relief, only to have their hearts leap back into their throats.

They heard Xiao Ze speak with idle, piqued interest: "I have heard reports of someone returning from the dead. In this life, I have never seen such a ghostly, supernatural creature, so I came out of curiosity to see if these legends of spirits and gods are true."

As he spoke, he cast an interested glance toward the direction in which Shen Yishu had disappeared.

Even though Shen Yishu could not see it, he felt a sudden, inexplicable chill run down his spine. The elders’ expressions stiffened; they looked grim and mumbled incoherently.

The atmosphere grew frigid once more. Dou Hongyan’s face darkened slightly. She watched Xiao Ze’s retreating figure with a profound gaze, finally understanding his true intentions. He meant to brand Shen Yishu a supernatural entity, then wait for any opportunity to kill him outright, all under the guise of legitimacy.

To kill someone while breaking their spirit, and to make the Marquis’s house feel compelled to express gratitude—this was, indeed, the signature of Xiao Ze.