Killing Is Still Better

"Still pretending?" Grace drew her sword and waved it in front of Lily Xu's hand. "If I chop off your hand, do you think you can keep clinging on?"

"No! I really don't know anything about any painting! If you know, then explain it!" Lily Xu screamed.

Judging by her reaction, she didn't seem to be faking it.

Grace frowned and sheathed her sword. "Evan Xiao, let her go!"

The oppressive aura faded, and Lily Xu scrambled up the cliff, running like she was being chased by ghosts.

"Is she the one you mentioned—the annoying woman who tried to seduce the Imperial Alchemist?"

Lily Xu had tried to seduce Jun Lionhead; Grace had mentioned this to Evan Xiao before.

Grace nodded. "That Lily Xu is rotten to the core—bad reputation, bad intentions. I'll find a chance to kick her out of the Spirit Alliance."

"Just kill her."

"The Spirit Alliance isn't like your army," Grace said. "Spiritual Alchemists are rare on the continent, so the Alliance has strict rules—we can't just execute members on a whim. Otherwise, there'd be endless trouble. It's not worth it."

Why does she get such a wonderful husband too?

Why does she get all the best things in the world?

Why? Why?!

As she hacked away, something fell out of her sleeve.

It was a spirit jade pendant.

It was a gift from Andrew Zhao.

Lily Xu bent down to pick it up. Suddenly, a wicked thought flashed in her eyes: Chloe Zhu! I want you dead!

If you're crippled, dead, the Grand Marshal will definitely be mine!

......

Andrew Zhao walked home, lost and broken.

Duke Zhao—his father—was finished.

When the nest is destroyed, how can any egg remain unbroken?

When the time comes, he'll most likely be exiled.

He didn't want to be exiled.

He wanted to inherit Duke Zhao's title and live out the rest of his life in peace...

So he wandered everywhere, begging for help.

But no one paid him any attention.

All those 'friends' from the drinking tables of the past avoided him like the plague—none of them would help!

"Young Master." Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.

Andrew Zhao turned his head and saw—it was Lily Xu.

"Young Master." Lily Xu walked up to him, looking at him with pity. "How did you get so haggard?"

"Why are you here? To laugh at me?" Andrew Zhao snapped.

"Actually, that day I was bullied by Zuo Juanjuan and took it out on you," Lily Xu said. "In my heart, I care about you. How could I bear to see you suffer alone?"

"So? Can you help me plead with Prince Eight?"

"Don't you know what kind of situation Prince Eight is in?" Lily Xu shook her head. "Even without an official decree, he's basically been stripped of his military post by the Emperor and is barely hanging on himself! Duke Zhao has always been considered part of Prince Eight's faction. Now he's just trying to stay out of trouble—how could he possibly plead for your father?"

"Then what should I do?" Andrew Zhao wailed.

Lily Xu looked at him, eyes flashing with calculation. "If you really want to avoid exile, there might be a way..."

Andrew Zhao's eyes lit up. "What way?"

Lily Xu leaned in, voice low and mysterious. "If you can get Chloe Zhu into trouble, maybe the Emperor will spare your family."

Andrew Zhao hesitated. "But... Chloe Zhu is favored by the Emperor. If I go against her, won't I be digging my own grave?"

Lily Xu smiled slyly. "Not if you do it smart. I can help you."

Andrew Zhao looked at her, hope flickering in his eyes. "You'd really help me?"

Lily Xu nodded, her face gentle but her heart cold. "Of course. We're in this together."

Andrew Zhao was moved, his voice trembling. "Thank you, Lily Xu..."

Lily Xu smiled sweetly, but her eyes were full of calculation.

The plot thickened, and the storm was just beginning...