Just kill Jun Xian and Lin Palace prowess will drop by half.

No matter how much ability Jun Wu Xie has, she was still only a kid and Jun Qing was a crippled waste, the most Lin Palace could hang on was for a little while more.

Once they started this, it was a road of no return.

The Emperor knows the importance of this matter and even if Jun Wu Xie had suspected that tonight’s attack on Lin Palace was related to them, she had no witnesses. If she dared to revolt, he had the excuse to put them down and charge them with treason. Henceforth sealing the entire Rui Lin Army.

The reason why the Emperor was wary of the Rui Lin Army was not only because of its military power but also because of its high reputation amongst the people of Qi. The Rui Lin Army were highly regarded in their hearts and even if the Emperor had secretly harboured thoughts on disbanding them, he had to take into account the voices of the people of Qi.

If he had followed thru his intentions, he would be buried with petitions and cursed by many. There will be chaos that he did not have a solution to.

Their plans could never keep up with the changes, as the Emperor hushly whispered some orders to Mo Xuan Fei, another regiment of Rui Lin Army arrived.

This regiment was led by Long Qi in the forefront as he dragged in a huge sack. As he was approaching Jun Wu Xie, people could see that there was a constant struggle from within as well as screams as if killing a pig.

Hmmm. Somehow the screams sounded a little familiar to the Emperor.

“Reporting to Young Miss, we have brought the person here.” Long Qi flung the sack to one side as he reported the completion of his task.

The big black beast which Jun Wu Xie was riding went towards the sack and used its sharp claws to firmly grasp the side and tore through it as a stout round figure tumbled out.

The person rolled onto the bloodied muddy floor as his luxurious robes were stained. He lay sprawled onto the cold ground momentarily trying to grasp the situation, before he could even make an attempt to escape, he was pushed onto the ground by the black beast’s paw. His obese face was trampled into the mud as the screams continued and resounded into the sky.

Everyone on the wall instantly recognised that person who just rolled out!

“Jun Wu Xie! What do you think you are doing! Why did you catch Wu Wang for?!” The Emperor’s face was black to the extreme, that screaming round figure that was trampled on was his Brother, Wu Wang!

When Jun Wu Xie saw the Emperor’s hideous expression, her thin lips curled upwards into a hint of smile.

Under the moonlight, that smile exuded a chillness that made all who saw it feel as if they were on a snowy plain and the coldness was making their teeth chatter.

Jun Wu Xie had rarely smiled, be it this world or previous world. One can say that her smile was a treasure!

However each time she smiled, it was as if opening pandora’s box.

It was even mentioned before that her smile was alluring and lethal.

While people were still obsessed with that intoxicating smile, Jun Wu Xie casually replied: “Wu Wang colluded with the attackers and has bad intentions towards Second Prince. Immediate Execution!”

That cold voice made the Emperor wake from his previous stupor and stared wide eyed at Jun Wu Xie and bellowed: “Jun Wu Xie! You better not mess….”

“Aaah!” Shrill screams interrupted the Emperor. Wu Wang who was still pressed down in the mud by the paw was swiftly attacked by the black beast.

Beneath the black beast now rolled out a dirty fat head that had eyes full of fear as it stared at the Palace walls.

Grandfather, those that dare to bully you, Wu Xie will help you get rid of them!

 

Jun Wu Xie’s smile widened.

The public execution of Wu Wang, was brutal and bestial, the people stared at Jun Wu Xie as if looking at the devil incarnate.

The Emperor was seething in rage, although they were never close, Wu Wang was nevertheless a member of the Imperial Family, and the Emperor’s blood related brother. Executing him in the Emperor’s presence without his consent was disrespecting the Crown!

His royal decree was interrupted and ignored, and Jun Wu Xie killed the duke before he could finish the sentence!

“Jun Wu Xie! You dare…..” The Emperor trembled in contained rage.

Jun Wu Xie continued nonplussed: “The investigation on Wu Wang has been resolved. The Rui Lin Army will be bringing in the other accomplices involved in the attack on the Second Prince shortly.”

“What do you plan to do?” The Emperor feared what Jun Wu Xie has in plan next.

She must have lost her mind!

Jun Wu Xie’s smile grew more radiant,and the cold seemed to have diffused out of her.

“I will carry out His Majesty’s orders to the end.”

The Emperor’s face twitched.

When did she receive orders to execute Wu Wang?

“Long Qi!” Jun Wu Xie summoned.

“Here!”

“Bring to me Official Wang, Official Shangguan, Official Xu…..” Jun Wu Xie continued on a long list of over ten court officials, the crowd murmured in reaction to every name Jun Wu Xie announced to ‘invite’ over.

Tonight, not one will be spared!

“That is enough! Jun Wu Xie! All those people are high ranking court officials, and you have executed Duke Wu. The matter should have ended!” The Emperor realised now the reason for killing Wu Wang in front of him. It was a show of force and for vengeance. In retaliation for what happened at the Lin Palace tonight!

The order to investigate into the attackers on the Second Prince was to make things difficult for Jun Xian by giving him false leads, never would the Emperor have thought, the same order was being used to make things so difficult for himself.

Under the pretext of carrying out the orders of the Emperor dutifully in full view of the crowd gathered, the Emperor can find no good reason to admonish Jun Wu Xie.

But, if she is allowed free rein, the Imperial City will be a sea of red come sunrise.

“Your Majesty.” Jun Wu Xie looked up at the Emperor. “These traitors, harbour sinister intentions against the prince, the punishment meted fits such horrendous crimes. Moreover, the Lin Palace was given full authority to punish the culprits in any manner seen fit.” This was mentioned in the conversation between Jun Xian and Jun Qing, while Jun Wu Xie listened.

The Jun father and son’s casual conversation was remembered word for word by Jun Wu Xie.

The Emperor’s anger rushed to his head and he felt faint as he swayed on his feet.

It dawned on him now! It was now clear!

The reason for the Rui Lin Army’s grand entrance was to alarm and gather the people of the whole city, who will be curious of the ruckus in the dead of the night. Jun Wu Xie knew the Emperor’s concern for his reputation and good standing in the eyes of the people, and with the citizens gathered, the Emperor will be hard pressed to deal with Jun Wu Xie without offending the crowd that gathered! With the authority given the the Lin Palace to mete out punishments as befitted the crime, Jun Wu Xie now used that power, under His Majesty’s banner, to eradicate the threats to the Lin Palace, punishing them as she wished.

Unless the Emperor has proof to refute that the officials are guilty, he will have to put up with seeing those officials beheaded one after another!

What proof can he possibly produce to refute? The corpses lying down there were sent to Lin Palace to wipe them out as a fact, that was irrefutable. He cannot publicly renege on his words that the prince was attacked by a lone attacker now, can he? Mo Xuan Fei declared he was attacked by a group of attackers for two reasons. The first was to save himself from humiliation, and the second reason was just to stump Jun Xian in his investigations.

No way can the truth that they sent these assassins to kill off the Jun Family be made known to the citizens gathered.

 

That truth must never be made known. What would the people think?

In the eyes of the people of Qi, the Lin Palace and the Rui Lin Army enjoyed a high stature, worshipped on a pedestal. For this very same reason, the Emperor wanted to eradicate the Jun Family. If his intentions were known to the people, he would suffer scorn and disdain.

There was no exceptions. Not at all.

Not just the people, with the Rui Lin Army entrenched within the Imperial City, if the truth was made known now, their fierce loyalty to the Jun Family will have them dragging the Emperor himself out and slaughtered right there and then!

The Emperor had his hands tightly bound, his concern on his reputation and standing to the people, and the strength of the Rui Lin Army severely restricted his options to salvage the situation.

With the Rui Lin Army, a single word from Jun Wu Xie, and his head could roll.

“Long Qi, proceed!” Jun Wu Xie looked at the Emperor with disdain. With what he had done to Mo Qian Yuan, she knew the Emperor was more concerned in protecting his reputation and standing with the people, than protecting the lives of his vassals and officials.

She would test the limit tonight, to see how long the Emperor can stand up to this.

Killing the high ranking officials, creating chaos in the Imperial City, they were all to pressure the Emperor to hand over Jun Xian. Jun Wu Xie was calm and collected, if the Emperor plays tough, she was prepared to kill all officials and even functionaries of the Imperial Palace!

Even the Son of Heaven, the Emperor himself!

She will find Jun Xian!

Long Qi led a group of Rui Lin Army soldiers to arrest the officials named. All high ranking officials’ residences and palaces have already been surrounded before to prevent escape.

Jun Wu Xie had ordered them surrounded before they moved out from Lin Palace.

The Emperor watching the back of the departing Long Qi grew anxious, but the scheme Jun Wu Xie rendered him helpless.

He never would have dreamt that the Jun Family could have an offspring so cold and malicious. On top of that, it turned out to be the little overbearing girl who followed behind Mo Xuan Fei like a little puppy before.

The change that came over the Jun Family’s Missy was astounding to say the least!

Equally taken aback was Mo Xuan Fei, who stood behind the Emperor. Her deeds tonight have scarred him for life. He never knew she was capable of such malice. If she ever knew those assassins were his doing…..

Mo Xuan Fei could not continue that line of thought!

The Jun Wu Xie whom he disregarded before, had come back a relentless nightmare, with him caged in it.

The people on the wall, watched on in the chill wind as Jun Wu Xie deployed the Rui Lin Army soldiers. From their high vantage point, they could see the whole city. The wall was originally built to illustrate the high status of the Emperor, and no buildings were allowed to be higher than the Imperial Palace.

Tonight the high point only served to allow them to see the Rui Lin Army and its awe.

They saw sea of torches and dust kicked by the massive number of horses, riding towards to residences of the named officials.

It was a cold and chilly night, but the Emperor and Mo Xuan Fei were roasting, like they were caught in an oven, their backs soaked in sweat.

Mo Qian Yuan stood at the back of the people on the wall, watching the events that played out, a smile suppressed.

Provoke the heavens, provoke the earth, but Jun Wu Xie was not to be provoked!

A pity his Father and brother found that out too late.

A pity, too late!

 

It was a night many would remember, many high ranking officials and generals, who were always arrogant and aloof, were dragged forcefully from their residences and palaces by the Rui Lin Army, whimpering and whining.

The guards and hired mercenaries were no match for the Rui Lin Army soldiers, who killed any who tried to stop them from carrying out their orders.

The smell of death and blood spread and hung thickly over the Imperial City. Those officials and generals who resisted had their arms broken and dragged before the Palace Gates, their blood trailing in their wake.

Overbearing might? Dominating authority?

These mattered not to the Rui Lin Army.

Not even the Emperor dared use such ruthless means on so many court officials, but it mattered not an ounce to the Rui Lin Army, whose eyes did not see the pleading and begging of those captured but only the orders they were given by Jun Wu Xie.

Once an order was given, the Rui Lin Army carried it out to their death!

There was no stopping the Rui Lin Army as the killing continued with pockets of feeble resistance put up.

More and more high ranking officials were tied up and carted off.

They never could have imagined, with their high rank and authority, they would ever be subject to such humiliation and treatment.

The brutality of the most elite army of Qi when resisted from carrying out their orders, drives the strongest of men to tears.

Jun Wu Xie stood calmly, the wind blowing behind her, looking up at the Emperor.

The dust kicked up as a horse carrying a captured official stopped beside her. Squealing like a pig to the slaughter, he was thrown unceremoniously to the ground just beside the beast.

The Emperor recognised the man, it was the maternal grandfather of the Second Prince. Before the downfall of the Empress’s family, he received much favour from the Emperor, one of the Emperor’s top lackeys, and he played a big part in the suppression of the Lin Palace, in cahoots with the recently deceased Wu Wang.

Upon seeing his grandfather treated as such by the Rui Lin Army, Mo Xuan Fei shouted, eyes red rimmed: “Jun Wu Xie! Release my grandfather at once! When will you stop this madness!? Do you know what you have done!”

Jun Wu Xie is insane! She has gone mad! She arrested the father-in law of the Imperial Family! What gall!

Jun Wu Xie glanced up at the jumping Mo Xuan Fei, her gaze sweeping past Mo Qian Yuan standing among the crowd.

Mo Qian Yuan burned up at the sight in front of him, his blood coming to a boil. He watched fixedly at Jun Wu Xie, his eyes ablaze.

“Kill.” Jun Wu Xie ordered, her eyes still fixed on Mo Xuan Fei.

“NO!” Mo Xuan Fei screamed.

Long Qi raised his sword, and with a single slash, Mo Xuan Fei’s grandfather lay on the ground as two.

The warm blood splashed on Jun Wu Xie.

The blood of the hated villain, stained the hem of Jun Wu Xie’s dress. The warm blood, like a curse, seemed to fuel her blood thirstiness.

“She has lost her mind! Guards! Arrest Jun Wu Xie immediately! She murdered a court official in public!” Mo Xuan Fei screamed, on the verge of lunacy, seeing his grandfather killed before his eyes, dismembered. He drew the sword from his hip and pointed it at Jun Wu Xie continuing to shout incoherently.

The only answer to his rants, was the howl of the cold chilly wind.

No one on the top of the walls uttered a single sound, and only stared fixedly at Jun Wu Xie, terror in their eyes.

Not even the Yu Lin Army.