A Loose Tongue Deserves a Slap!

Hearing this, Azure Luan was deeply shaken. She had never expected her general to hold Xiao Yang in such high regard.

But wasn't this Ninth Young Master the most useless one in King Zhenbei's Mansion?

Could it be that he had been hiding his strength all along, pretending to be weak while biding his time?

Ning Hongye saw her confusion and spoke again. "No matter what Xiao Yang's intentions are, at least for now, he stands on our side."

Inside the residence.

"Your Highness, what should we do now?" one of the death warriors could not help asking.

"Fall back at once! Put away your weapons! Don't hurt Ninth Brother!"

The Fourth Prince immediately berated his men, his attitude making a complete one-eighty.

Now that Xiao Yang had produced the Tiger Tally Gold Seal, if anything went wrong here, there would be no explaining it to the Vermilion Bird Army.

"Ninth Brother, I was muddleheaded before and indulged my concubine. How about this... I'll confine Chizuru for three months. What do you think?" the Fourth Prince proposed.

"Not enough! That punishment is far too light!"

A cold gleam flashed in Xiao Yang's eyes as he said icily, "This woman's crimes are unforgivable. She must be expelled from the mansion and exiled to Ningguta!"

What?!

The entire room erupted in uproar at those words.

Ningguta was not a tower, but a barren land where the Great Xia Dynasty exiled criminals. It was filled with vicious, lawless drifters.

For a beautiful woman like Chizuru, she would likely be violated a hundred times a day there. It was even worse than killing her!

"Ninth Brother, isn't that a little too ruthless?"

The Fourth Prince's expression darkened. After all, Chizuru was his beloved concubine, and she had served him very well in bed.

"Ruthless? When she falsely accused my maid and injured my guard, why wasn't that ruthless? Fourth Brother, if you refuse, I'll go ask Father King and Miss Ning to judge who's right!"

Xiao Yang invoked his fiancée once again.

"Sigh... Since Ninth Brother insists, then we'll do as you say!"

Though the Fourth Prince was unwilling, he could only swallow his anger.

"Your Highness, no!"

Chizuru's face went deathly pale as she let out a piercing scream. "You were the one who sent me to deal with Huangli! You even said you wanted to slap the Ninth Young Master's face hard! How can you exile me now?!"

With death staring her in the face, she no longer cared about anything.

"Shut up!"

The Fourth Prince was instantly humiliated, his face turning the color of liver. "You wretched maid, how dare you slander me! I'll smash that mouth of yours!"

As he spoke, he slapped Chizuru across the mouth several times, then ordered his death warriors.

"You lot, take her away for exile!"

"Yes!"

Several death warriors immediately stepped forward and dragged Chizuru out.

"Ninth Brother, are you satisfied now? If there's nothing else, then leave!" The Fourth Prince issued an order to see him off.

"No rush. I came for one more thing!"

The corners of Xiao Yang's lips curled into a smile.

Yet when the Fourth Prince saw that smile, he felt a chill run down his spine. For no reason at all, his heart trembled with fear. Xiao Yang even seemed more terrifying than Eldest Brother Xiao Junlin.

"Before Father King, didn't Fourth Brother promise to give me a Spirit-grade Treasure? It's time to make good on that promise!" Xiao Yang demanded.

"This..."

The Fourth Prince felt so stifled that he was nearly suffering internal injuries.

Xiao Yang had killed Kato, exiled his concubine Chizuru, and now came to demand a treasure. Yet he had no choice but to give it.

"Someone, bring out that Night Shining Jade Lion!" The Fourth Prince waved a hand.

Before long, his men led over a fine horse.

Its entire body was snow-white without a single blemish. Its limbs were long and slender, and its gait light and graceful.

"This horse is an imperial tribute. It can travel a thousand li a day and is worth a fortune. It's also a mare with a gentle temperament. Ninth Brother, consider yourself lucky!"

The Fourth Prince's heart bled.

Such a peerless steed was rarely seen in Great Xia. Its value could even buy a courtyard residence in the Imperial Capital.

"Then I'll gladly accept it!"

Xiao Yang showed no courtesy, and anticipation stirred in his heart.

If he gave this horse to Ning Hongye, what would the system return this time?

Then, leading the Night Shining Jade Lion, Xiao Yang swaggered out of the residence.

As the Fourth Prince watched his retreating figure, his eyes filled with venom and gloom.

"Contact Eldest Brother at once. I want to discuss with him how to teach that brat a harsh lesson!"

A moment later.

Xiao Yang arrived at the separate courtyard where Ning Hongye lived and knocked on the door.

"Enter!"

A cool, aloof voice came from within.

Xiao Yang pushed the door open and entered, only to see Ning Hongye still wearing her mask as she sat at the table reading a military treatise.

The room was filled with a faint, subtle fragrance. It did not come from an incense burner, but from Ning Hongye herself...

"Miss Ning, I have a gift I'd like to give you," Xiao Yang said.

"That Night Shining Jade Lion?" Ning Hongye asked in return.

"How did you know?"

Xiao Yang was somewhat surprised. He had not expected her information network to be so efficient.

Little did he know, she had been at the scene just moments ago.

"No need!"

Ning Hongye shook her head. "I already have a Wind Chasing Horse. We've fought on the battlefield together since I was young, and we understand each other perfectly. I don't need another fine horse. Keep it for yourself!"

"This..."

Xiao Yang immediately grew anxious.

If she did not accept the treasure, how was he supposed to trigger the system's return?

But she was right. Horses were different from weapons—they required mutual understanding.

She had long since formed a bond with her beloved horse. There was no way she would replace it so easily.

Just as Xiao Yang was at a loss.

Thud, thud, thud!

Azure Luan suddenly rushed in, her expression frantic. "General, something terrible has happened! Your Wind Chasing Horse... has been slaughtered!"

"What? Who did it?!"

Ning Hongye's phoenix eyes narrowed, erupting with bone-chilling killing intent.

Yet Xiao Yang was puzzled.

King Zhenbei's Mansion was heavily guarded and impregnable. Who would dare break in, only to kill a single horse?

"It was supposedly done by several Centurions from the Vermilion Bird Army!" Azure Luan answered.

"Take me there!"

Ning Hongye set off immediately.

Xiao Yang followed after her.

This time, the Vermilion Bird Army had brought three thousand men. Naturally, they could not all stay in the mansion, so they were temporarily stationed at the military camp in the eastern part of the city.

Led by Azure Luan, Ning Hongye and Xiao Yang entered a tent.

"Come on, brothers, drink up!"

"This horse meat is really chewy!"

"That's right! It's General Ning's Wind Chasing Horse—of course it tastes different!"

Several Centurions drank and ate meat, the atmosphere boisterous and lively.

"Outrageous!"

Seeing this, Azure Luan furiously rebuked them. "Where did you get the nerve to not only slaughter General Ning's Wind Chasing Horse, but divide it up and eat it as well?!"

At this point, the Centurions noticed Ning Hongye's arrival. Yet they were not afraid in the slightest, instead continuing to drink and eat.

"Azure Luan, insubordination and dereliction of duty—according to military law, what is the punishment?" Ning Hongye asked coldly.

"One hundred strokes, demotion by three ranks, and reduction to an ordinary soldier!" Azure Luan replied.

"Then what are you standing around for? Carry out the punishment immediately!" Ning Hongye ordered.

As the saying went, mercy could not command an army. She had not attained her current position through kindness.

These men had provoked her so openly. She absolutely could not let them off.

Yet in the next instant, the Centurions stood up, their faces full of defiance.

"Ning Hongye, even if I'm stripped of this battle robe today, I still won't submit to you!"

"That's right!"

"I won't submit either!"

"You committed a crime, and you still think you're in the right?!"

Ning Hongye's gaze sharpened, the killing intent within her nearly boiling over.

"Of course!"

"This Wind Chasing Horse was a gift from Old General Ning to you, but you committed the heinous crime of murdering your father. Your sins are unforgivable—you are utterly unworthy of riding this horse!"

"The old general treated his soldiers like his own sons and showed us great kindness. Even if we have to go to the capital to file an imperial complaint, we will seek justice for him! We will never let you, you father-murdering executioner, get away with this!"

"You have betrayed the old general! You are unfit to command the Vermilion Bird Army, and even less worthy of bearing the Ning name!!!"

For a moment, the crowd was filled with righteous outrage.

Yet upon hearing those rebukes, Ning Hongye chose silence and offered no explanation.

Still, beneath her armor, her body seemed to sway slightly.

No matter how much grievance and bitterness filled her heart, she could not speak of it now...

But just then!

"Such a foul mouth deserves a beating!!!"

Xiao Yang, who had been standing in the corner, suddenly roared in fury and swung a slap directly at the Centurion leading the charge...