A bird in a cage, when will it fly?

Everyone present was stunned by these words, even doubting their own ears.

What was going on?

Even Xiao Junlin had only requested that Xiao Yang be stripped of his status and banished from the Prince's Estate.

But why was he asking for death himself?

At this moment, even Xiao Junlin was a bit bewildered.

However, Ning Hongye's beautiful eyes sparkled with an unknown light, wondering what Xiao Yang was planning.

"Jiu Lang, do you truly mean it?!" King Zhenbei asked coldly.

"Absolutely!"

Xiao Yang nodded and then said, "Father King, your son has indeed committed a grave offense, but my crime was not injuring Third Brother, but rather for another reason."

"What reason? Tell us!" King Zhenbei commanded.

Xiao Yang's eyes lit up.

Next, it's time for me to steal the show!

"Ahem!"

He cleared his throat and said proudly, "Third Brother did indeed host a banquet today, but during the feast, he ordered me around and repeatedly called me a 'bastard'!"

"He wasn't insulting me, but you, Father King..."

"I failed to uphold Father King's dignity, that is my first crime!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in an uproar. No one expected there to be such a hidden reason behind the incident.

"You... you're spouting nonsense! I wasn't insulting Father King, I was—"

Xiao Li immediately became anxious and tried to explain.

He had called Xiao Yang a bastard because Xiao Yang's mother had died in childbirth, and coupled with his mysterious origins, no one knew where he came from, which was why he had insulted him so.

He never expected Xiao Yang to twist his words in such a way that it sounded like he had insulted their Father King.

"Silence!!!"

At this moment, King Zhenbei roared in fury, his python robe billowing as if containing a monstrous rage.

"Jiu Lang, continue!" King Zhenbei commanded again.

"Today, at Tianxiang Pavilion, Third Brother killed three girls without a word of disagreement, and even threatened that even if he bloodbathed the entire place, the shop owner wouldn't dare to utter a single complaint!"

"From what I know, Third Brother has been tyrannical and has wantonly killed innocent people over the years, causing the common folk to complain endlessly and damaging the Xiao family's reputation!"

"And I, as a member of the Xiao family, failed to protect the reputation of the Prince's Estate. This is my second crime!"

While Xiao Yang's words seemed to be a self-accusation, they were in fact like sharp swords, their points aimed directly at Third Prince Xiao Li.

"Father King, Ninth Brother is slandering me! Please don't believe him..." Xiao Li quickly shouted.

"I ask you, did you kill three people at Tianxiang Pavilion today as Ninth Brother claimed?" King Zhenbei asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, but—" Xiao Li still wanted to explain.

"Enough!"

King Zhenbei's face darkened, and a terrifying aura emanated from him.

"It seems I have been too lenient in my discipline of you! If I continue to indulge you, you will only cause irreparable disaster. You are hereby confined for three months and must reflect on your mistakes!" King Zhenbei decreed.

"Father King..."

Xiao Li was dumbfounded. He couldn't believe that he, the "victim," was the one being punished.

"Your Highness!"

At this moment, his mother, Consort Hong, could no longer hold back and stepped forward to complain, "Not only was Li'er's cultivation crippled, but his very manhood was also destroyed. Are we just going to let this go? One matter at a time, shouldn't the perpetrator be punished?"

Hearing this, King Zhenbei frowned.

"I implore Father King to grant me death once more!"

Suddenly, Xiao Yang spoke up again. "However, as a son of the Xiao family, I should die on the battlefield, in a glorious manner, without disgracing the reputation of our ancestors!"

"I request Father King to send me with General Ning back to the Southern Territory. I am willing to lead from the front, join the suicide squad, and shed my blood and sacrifice my life!"

"Who knows not the hardships of the frontier, yet even in death, the scent of chivalry lingers!!!"

King Zhenbei's heart was shaken by these words.

He never expected his seemingly insignificant youngest son to recite such a passionate and stirring poem.

Rumor had it that he had composed a hundred poems after drinking at the Lanting Poetry Gathering; it seemed the rumors were true!

In reality, Xiao Yang's request to "seek death" was naturally well-considered.

This Prince's Estate was fraught with danger, and his elder brothers were all formidable adversaries, engaged in a life-or-death struggle for the throne.

But this young master isn't playing this game anymore!

As long as he left the Northern Territory, he would have boundless freedom, like a fish in the ocean and a bird in the sky. Wouldn't that be a life of leisure and ease?

"Please grant my wish, Father King!"

Xiao Yang bowed in salutation.

"Enough!"

King Zhenbei frowned and spoke in a deep voice, "Jiu Lang, do not mention this matter again! You are already betrothed by the royal family. The most urgent task is to marry Miss Ning as soon as possible!"

"Next month, I will host your engagement banquet. The royal family will also send an imperial envoy to attend!"

"For these days, you shall remain in the Prince's Estate and prepare for the wedding!"

With that, King Zhenbei's figure flickered and disappeared from where he stood.

Since the Prince had spoken, no one else dared to disobey.

Soon, guards escorted the Third Prince, Xiao Li, back to contemplate his mistakes.

"Li'er, you just wait!"

"Mother will return to the Hong Alliance and will definitely find a way to restore your cultivation!"

"Your Father King doesn't care about you, so I'll go find your maternal grandfather!"

Consort Hong gritted her teeth, turned, and headed towards the city gates.

Xiao Yang watched her departing back and let out a cold laugh in his heart.

Seeking help?

The Hong Alliance is indeed the foremost power in the martial world, with countless experts.

But I have the System, and Ning Hongye as my fiancée!

No matter how strong the Hong Alliance is, how can it stand against the cavalry of the Vermilion Bird Army?

"Miss Ning, thank you for saving me just now!" Xiao Yang walked towards Ning Hongye and said gratefully.

"I wasn't saving you, I was just repaying the favor for those gifts!"

Ning Hongye spoke coldly and left without looking back.

Such a tsundere. Is it so hard to say a word of concern for me?

Xiao Yang sighed helplessly.

It seems it's not yet time to completely conquer this aloof Female God of Slaughter.

The Prince's Estate, study.

This was King Zhenbei's exclusive domain. Without his permission, no one was allowed to enter.

At this moment, King Zhenbei, Xiao Qiankun, walked in, opened a hidden compartment, and took out a painting.

The painting depicted a peerless beauty with an ethereal aura, like a celestial being.

If one looked closely, they would notice that her features bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Yang's, about seventy to eighty percent similar.

At the bottom of the painting was her name—Ye Qingmei.

"Qingmei, your son has grown up!"

"Not only is he capable in both literary and martial arts, but he is also astonishingly talented and speaks words that shock the world, just like you back then!"

"Bird in a Cage, when will you fly?"

"If you don't fly, you won't fly at all. But once you do, you'll soar to the heavens!"

"Will he truly be the one destined to rise, as you predicted?!"

King Zhenbei looked at the woman in the painting and sighed.

Late at night.

Xiao Yang had gone through quite an ordeal today and was somewhat tired, but he hadn't rested.

He had finally obtained the Spirit-grade Cloud Piercing Bow from Xiao Li and hadn't had a chance to gift it to Ning Hongye yet.

Soon, he arrived at the separate courtyard where Ning Hongye lived, carrying the Cloud Piercing Bow.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Xiao Yang knocked on the door.

The lights were on inside, but there was no response.

Xiao Yang found it strange and couldn't help but push the door open and look inside.

The next moment, his gaze fell upon a scene that made his mouth water and his heart race—

Ning Hongye had taken off her clothes and was lying in a wooden tub, taking a bath!

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.