Chapter 591
Chapter 591
A short while later, in the secret underground chamber of the Marquis of Changping's estate.
Lian Jin, the Lotus Prince, and Bian Xin, the niece of Bian Wu, knelt before Shen Lang. Bian Xin shouted loudly.
“Shen Lang, how dare you! I must see Consort Bian this instant. I must see His Highness! Where is Ning Zheng? Tell him to come out here. Without the support of our Bian Clan, what gives him the right to contend for the throne? Tell him to come before me at once!”
Lian Jin lifted his head and offered Shen Lang a faint smile. Though the tendons in his feet had been severed, he still tried to maintain an air of dignity. Shen Lang smiled back and said,
“Lian Jin, were you trying to harm me on your own accord? Or were you merely following the orders of Shu Baidao from the Hidden Yuan Society?”
Lian Jin grinned and replied,
“Shen Lang, when you walk the martial path, can you truly avoid getting cut? Isn't that so?”
Even in this situation, he remained composed, attempting to negotiate with Shen Lang, or at the very least, appear more refined than him. Shen Lang smiled again and said,
“Well said, indeed. If you walk the martial path, how can you not get cut?”
With those words, Shen Lang swung his blade and severed the Lotus Prince's lifeline. Blood sprayed in every direction.
“Aaaargh!”
At last, all of the Lotus Prince's composure vanished. He stared at the bloody object on the floor and let out a wretched scream. He had been castrated. A man of his renown, a celebrated talent—how many beauties could he have claimed? Yet now, that vital instrument was gone. Bian Xin was utterly stunned. She stared at Shen Lang and spoke in a hoarse voice.
“Shen Lang, how dare you harm my husband? You have truly earned the wrath of our Bian Clan. You are finished, utterly finished.”
Shen Lang walked over to her and drew his sharp blade across her throat. Blood instantly gushed forth. Bian Xin stared at Shen Lang in disbelief, blood pouring from her mouth, rendering her speechless. A moment later, she collapsed to the floor, dead. Shen Lang turned to Lian Jin and said,
“Did you think I would negotiate with you? That I'd try to uncover the secrets between you and the Hidden Yuan Society, or what deals you struck with the Crown Prince? What a foolish notion. I don't need a reason to deal with someone! Offending me is reason enough. And you, Lotus Prince, you have some nerve, acting so smug before me. You said you can't walk the martial path without getting cut? Well said! Then get cut! Wuyue, give this bastard the death of a thousand cuts! Make sure he's stabbed at least a thousand times before he dies!”
“Yes, sir!”
A moment later, the Lotus Prince's wretched screams echoed from the cellar. Shen Lang couldn't bear to watch such a scene, content with the knowledge that the man was in utter agony.
* * *
Shen Lang went to the palace at once and reported the entire incident to the King and Consort Bian in detail.
“I have killed Lian Jin's entire family. I did it in the name of the great bandit Go Duhwan, which will bring tomorrow's 'Operation Spring Thunder' to a new climax. That beast Lian Jin is currently being subjected to the death of a thousand cuts, though he is likely not yet dead. His wife, Bian Xin... I killed her as well!”
Hearing this, Consort Bian flinched. The color drained from her face in an instant, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She was utterly speechless, unable to sit or stand. Why did she react this way? When she had visited the Lotus Academy, she had found the children there so lovely and pitiful. What a wonderful place, she had thought, to take in such children. So she had made donations and, at her niece's urging, had even written the academy's name on a plaque for them.
‘How could something so vile exist in this world? How can people be so wicked? And my niece, Bian Xin—what did she lack? She had wealth, glory, everything she could possibly want. So why would she help a villain commit such evil? To even use me, alongside her depraved husband? I am her aunt!’
Consort Bian never knew there were people in the world who would give their very heart and soul for the one they loved. The Lotus Prince, Lian Jin, had used his cunning arts to make Bian Xin love him enough to lay down her life. The King nodded to Shen Lang, then helped Consort Bian back to her room to lie down. A moment later, a cry of utter anguish echoed from her chambers. After comforting her for a full hour, the King emerged, his eyes slightly red.
“The Hidden Yuan Society?”
Ning Yuanxian asked. Shen Lang replied,
“Yes! Shu Baidao himself ordered Lian Jin to ensnare me and Consort Bian.”
In front of Shen Lang, Ning Yuanxian made no effort to suppress his symptoms, and his hands trembled violently.
‘Such insolence, to run so wild! And what in the world has the Blackwater Terrace been doing? A man as famous as the Lotus Prince commits such atrocities in the capital, and they failed to uncover a single thing?’
“Originally, His Highness Ning Zheng intended to sentence him to the harshest penalty under the law and hold a public trial to expose the scandals and crimes of the Lotus Pavilion to the world. However, I believed that would lead to dire consequences, so I took matters into my own hands, executing Lian Jin's entire family and killing Bian Xin as well.”
“You handled it well. If this had come to light, the fallout would have been catastrophic—the greatest scandal since the founding of our state. Ning Zheng is upright and honest, but also a bit naive. He believes that if he handles matters with justice, all will be well, that Consort Bian's innocence can be proven. But this is a matter where innocence can never be fully restored. The hearts of the people are fickle and cruel; one must always assume the worst of others, especially one who sits on the throne. Once Consort Bian's reputation is sullied, it will be ruined for life, and she will never be able to become the Empress Dowager. Do you think Shu Baidao of the Hidden Yuan Society will use this to stir up trouble? That he might expose the Lotus Pavilion's scandal himself, just to drag Consort Bian's name through the mud?”
Shen Lang was silent for a moment before shaking his head.
“I don't think they will. For the Hidden Yuan Society, the time is not yet ripe to reveal this, and the dead cannot testify. More importantly, if they were to expose this and ruin Consort Bian's reputation, they would earn the enmity of Duke Bian Wu as well. Since I was the one who killed Bian Xin, the Hidden Yuan Society will assume that Consort Bian and Duke Bian Wu will direct all their resentment toward me. If they were to expose the Lotus Pavilion's scandal, they would only be sharing the blame that is now solely mine!”
And that was the primary reason Shen Lang had killed Bian Xin. The woman deserved to die anyway. One could perhaps overlook her failure to report her husband after learning of his capital crimes, but she had actively aided his evil deeds. Kidnapping children from their parents and selling them off was the vilest act in the world.
“A good death, a good death.”
The King ground his teeth, yet he looked at Shen Lang with gratitude. Shen Lang had handled this alone, leaving Ning Zheng out of it, precisely so he could bear the full brunt of Duke Bian Wu's potential wrath. Ning Yuanxian was truly moved.
‘This scoundrel, Shen Lang,’ he thought, ‘when he decides to treat someone well, he truly goes all out.’
“Do not worry about Senior Brother Bian Wu. He is a great man, but not without his flaws. He is a brilliant commander, yet in some ways, he can be quite obtuse. I am somewhat reassured now that Zhang Chong is by his side. There is one thing Senior Brother Bian Wu despises above all else, but he will surely understand that you killed Bian Xin to protect Consort Bian and the border.”
Just then, a voice announced from outside.
“Your Majesty, His Highness Ning Zheng has arrived.”
Ning Yuanxian frowned.
‘Why has Ning Zheng come here at this hour? Surely he hasn't come to condemn Shen Lang? If so, he is a fool who cannot see the bigger picture.’
“Let him in,” Ning Yuanxian said coldly.
After Ning Zheng entered the room, he first bowed deeply to his father.
“Greetings, Royal Father.”
Ning Yuanxian asked coldly, “What brings you here at this late hour?”
Ning Zheng rose and then bowed to Shen Lang.
“Brother Shen, thank you.”
Ning Yuanxian was taken aback. This son of his might seem dull, but his mind was surprisingly clear. His tone softened instantly as he asked,
“Ah, Ning Zheng. Is there anything else? If not, perhaps you should go and comfort Consort Bian.”
“Yes!”
Ning Zheng replied and immediately entered the adjoining room. A moment later, the sound of voices could be heard. In the presence of the plain-spoken Ning Zheng, Consort Bian was finally able to pour out her heart. Through her tears, she lamented how such vileness could exist in the world and how deeply Bian Xin had disappointed her. She spoke at length, and though Ning Zheng did not know how to respond, he simply knelt there, motionless, and listened intently to every word.
* * *
“Shen Lang, do you require my royal decree?”
Had the Crown Prince heard these words from Ning Yuanxian, he would have leaped in shock. The King was asking if he should use his authority as monarch to move against the Hidden Yuan Society—in other words, to mobilize forces and annihilate them. Shen Lang quickly shook his head.
“No, absolutely not! The only reason I can fight Shu Baidao and Shu Tingyu is because our feud is a personal one. Your Majesty can strike at the Hidden Yuan Society from the shadows, but you must never openly declare war and try to annihilate them. You have borrowed far too much money from them, their power is immense, and behind them stands the Great Yan Empire. If you move against them openly, it will bring about consequences you cannot possibly bear!”
Ning Yuanxian fell silent. He had to admit that even as the King of Yue, he was powerless against the Hidden Yuan Society. The Crown Prince, the Hidden Yuan Society, the Zhu Clan—these three powers were deeply entangled, and behind them all stood the Great Yan Empire. That was why the Crown Prince could act with such arrogance, even daring to challenge the authority of the King.
“Of course, I have no intention of letting this slide. Your Majesty need only wait for a good show. However, you should also prepare yourself. This time, I will deal a blow to the Hidden Yuan Society and the Crown Prince that will make them cough up blood! It will be a most thrilling and grand performance!”
According to Shen Lang's plan, razing the Hidden Yuan Society's branch in the State of Yue was only the beginning.
“When will that be?”
“In three days at the most!”
“Then I shall eagerly await that day!”
* * *
The days of lying low passed swiftly, and just like that, three days were gone.