Defying Authority
"Ali, you know how I feel about you..." Xiao Zetian looked at her pale face, his heart aching as if it were bleeding.
Su Li gave a bitter smile, her mind replaying scenes with Yuanbao like a movie. But after the harsh collision with reality, she could no longer tell what was real and what was fake.
"He’s with you only for your money," Prince Ling whispered softly into Su Li's ear, trying to manipulate her. "Even I admire your business talents, let alone General Xiao Zetian. The general needs money more than I do to maintain his troops. The Wei Yuan Marquisate should have fallen long ago, but it’s held up solely by Xiao Zetian. There’s no extra money for him. But if he gets you and tricks you into making money for him, it’s like he’s found a treasure trove. He’ll coax you into giving him money while using it to fund his army, build his achievements, and marry Princess Mingyu, his long-time lover. And what will you be then? You’re an unbetrothed village girl; Mingyu is the emperor’s political match, a union between two nations. Being his concubine under the guise of love is worse than being with me. At least I won’t toy with your feelings."
Su Li’s face turned as pale as paper.
Prince Ling’s expression grew even more pleased as he added fuel to the fire: "Little Pepper, do you know who your four disciples really are?"
Su Li’s body trembled. When Prince Ling mentioned her disciples, she had already guessed.
Prince Ling smiled strangely: "Clever beauty, you guessed right. Your four disciples are actually top assassins under Xiao Zetian. He planted his men around you to learn your cooking skills. Just think, in a few years, when they master your craft, and your business grows but you age and lose your charm, what fate will await you? Tsk, I truly pity you, being schemed against so thoroughly, yet you still believe Xiao Zetian is a good man. You’re devoted to him, but he’s deceiving you in every way. Truly a shame."
Xiao Zetian gripped his long sword so tightly his hand seemed to crush the hilt.
He saw Prince Ling whispering into Su Li’s ear, his voice intentionally low. But Xiao Zetian’s knowledge of Prince Ling assured him it was nothing good!
Seeing Su Li’s pale face, Xiao Zetian grew anxious, realizing the misunderstanding was deepening!
"Prince Ling, please release my wife!" Xiao Zetian raised his long sword, his robes fluttering in the wind, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
Prince Ling pushed Su Li behind him and looked at Xiao Zetian with a smile: "General Xiao, you must be mistaken. Your wife is in the imperial palace in the capital—Princess Mingyu of Chu Kingdom."
A cold gleam flashed in Xiao Zetian’s eyes as he stepped forward three paces: "Prince Ling, don’t make me say it twice!"
Prince Ling raised an eyebrow: "Tsk, I am a prince, a lord; even if you are a supreme war god general, you are still a subject. Are you trying to rebel today?!"
Xiao Zetian took a deep breath and blew a whistle. Suddenly, over a thousand black-clad assassins silently emerged from all around, all in perfect formation, their sword tips pointed at Prince Ling’s hundred-plus guards.
Xiao Zetian stepped forward slowly, staring at Prince Ling: "I am not trying to rebel, but if forced by circumstances, I will cut the grass to the root, leaving no survivors. Prince Ling, do you want to test if your guards can survive an encounter with my Xiao family assassins?"