Chapter 743: Chapter 744: I Want His Life

Shui Xingqiu paused and gave him an expressionless glance.

Si Kouji instantly felt a chill shoot up from the soles of his feet!

’I almost forgot. This man never explains his actions to anyone. Even the Monarch is exceptionally courteous to him.’

’It’s no wonder Shui Xingqiu felt offended by my question.’

’But... but...’

’We came all this way to rescue Prince Su. He hasn’t even regained consciousness, and Shui Xingqiu is already about to go off on his own. How can I possibly rest easy?’

He swallowed hard and explained with difficulty, "Prince Su’s forehead is scorching. It seems he has a fever. The night will likely be perilous, so he can’t be left without someone to care for him, Water Family Master—"

"Isn’t Lord Si Kou right here?" Shui Xingqiu retorted coolly.

Si Kouji was at a loss for words.

He hesitated for a long moment before forcing himself to continue his appeal. "Water Family Master, today is our first day in the Capital City. In a place this large, who knows how many eyes are watching us. If you step out that door, I fear you’ll be discovered immediately..."

"Lord Si Kou, you and I haven’t had many dealings in the past, so perhaps you don’t know me well enough." Shui Xingqiu clearly had no desire to listen to him ramble and cut him off. "When I decide to go somewhere, no one has ever been able to stop me."

Si Kouji pressed his lips into a thin line.

He really didn’t know Shui Xingqiu well. The man had lived in obscurity for years under an assumed name, only to return to the Shui Family and swiftly eliminate all his rivals, becoming the Shui Family’s youngest Family Head.

His methods were thunderous, his heart merciless.

In the end, Si Kouji could only sigh to himself.

"Then... Water Family Master, please be extremely careful."

Shui Xingqiu started for the door.

Si Kouji couldn’t help but add, "This is the Capital City, after all, and King Yan Nan also happens to be here. That man is meticulous and exceedingly cunning, not an easy person to deal with. And besides him, there are several others who are no pushovers—"

"Are you talking about Shen Yanchuan?"

Shui Xingqiu instantly guessed who he meant.

Si Kouji nodded. "Yes. Rumor has it his Black Cavalry Guard is all-knowing and all-powerful. If he were to target you, it would be extremely troublesome..."

Shui Xingqiu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"I know of him. Shen Youyan’s son, the Heir of Dingbei Marquis Mansion."

He had recognized Shen Yanchuan with a single glance in the great hall today.

No one needed to point him out.

Among the crowd, that man was simply too conspicuous.

Even though he did his best to minimize his presence and said nothing from start to finish, no one who saw that exquisitely handsome face could ever forget him.

’However...’

"You said it yourself—it’s just a rumor. I, on the other hand, think the man’s reputation is entirely undeserved." Shui Xingqiu’s lips curled into a faint, mocking sneer. "He’s most likely just riding on Shen Youyan’s coattails to build his own prestige."

’I’ve seen plenty of people like him.’

But Si Kouji frowned.

"That... can’t be right, can it? I’ve heard Emperor Muwu holds him in high regard. If he were truly all talk, how could that be? Besides, rumor has it he’s clashed with Prince Wazhen several times without a single defeat—"

"Were those his victories, or Shen Youyan’s?" Shui Xingqiu shot back.

Si Kouji was speechless.

The Northern Border and Nanhu were separated by a vast distance. He had only heard bits and pieces by chance and didn’t know the details.

To each of them, the other was little more than an ephemeral name existing only in rumors.

"Besides, you saw him today. Was there anything special about him?" Shui Xingqiu reached the door, placing a hand on it and turning slightly. "Lord Si Kou, instead of wasting your energy worrying about him, you’d be better off thinking about how to deal with that Ye Yunfeng. King Yan Nan is already a handful. Now we have another problem, and this one won’t be so easy to solve."

’Given time, that Ye Yunfeng will be a force to be reckoned with!’

This was, in fact, Si Kouji’s greatest worry.

He lowered his head, his mind heavy, wondering how he would explain all this to the Monarch when he returned.

A gentle night breeze blew as the door swung shut.

Shui Xingqiu’s figure vanished from sight.

...

「Prince Jing Mansion.」

In the study, Xiao Chenglin wore a look of deep displeasure.

"You show up unannounced without a single word of warning. You’ve gone too far."

Across from him, Shui Xingqiu brushed off his robes and sat down casually.

He glanced around, surveying the room, before letting out a soft snort and speaking in a tone that was half-mocking, half-amused.

"I knew life in the Capital City wasn’t easy for you, but I never expected you to fall this far. The great Prince Jing, living in such a shabby place. You certainly have a high tolerance for suffering."

Xiao Chenglin suppressed his rage.

He had been about to eat his evening meal when Shui Xingqiu had suddenly appeared.

"How I live is no concern of the Water Family Master. This place, of course, can’t compare to your grand residence in Nanhu."

Shui Xingqiu held an extremely high position in Nanhu. After becoming the Family Head, he became famous for his extravagance, spending countless fortunes on lavishly constructing his estate.

But Xiao Chenglin had no interest in any of that. The only thing he wanted to ask was—

"I don’t know how I might have offended you, that you would grace me with a visit on your very first night in the Capital City."

Shui Xingqiu could, of course, detect the suppressed fury in Xiao Chenglin’s voice, but he paid it no mind.

"I can come and go from your Prince Jing Mansion as if no one were here. What, am I not allowed?"

Xiao Chenglin laughed in exasperation. "Where do you think you are? Don’t treat me with that Nanhu attitude of yours! You can’t possibly believe your little trip here truly evaded the countless eyes and ears outside this Prince Jing Mansion, can you!?"

Shui Xingqiu narrowed his eyes, a flicker of doubt in his gaze.

"This is your territory. Don’t tell me you can’t even handle a small matter like this?"

"You—"

Xiao Chenglin pressed a hand to his forehead, a headache blooming.

He had dealt with Shui Xingqiu a few times in the past and had always found the man excessively arrogant and stubborn. He’d assumed it was because Shui Xingqiu had suffered for years in exile, so upon reversing his fortunes, he indulged in extreme luxury and became cold and merciless, looking down on everyone.

But now he realized Shui Xingqiu’s arrogance knew no bounds!

"In the Capital City, I am nothing more than an unfavored cripple! If I were to actually pull out all the spies inside and outside the Prince Jing Mansion, wouldn’t that be the same as painting a target on my own back for them!?"

Shui Xingqiu understood, but he didn’t seem to care. Instead, he just snorted softly.

"Sly, treacherous, and endlessly scheming. You people truly are masters of intrigue."

’It took me plenty of schemes to secure my position as the Family Head of the Shui Family, but my methods are still a notch below Xiao Chenglin’s brand of cautious plotting.’

Xiao Chenglin knew it was pointless to explain.

He couldn’t be bothered to argue with Shui Xingqiu any longer and cut straight to the point, asking coldly, "Enough. Time is short. If you have something to say, say it quickly."

’The longer this takes, the greater the risk of exposure!’

Xiao Chenglin had deliberately feigned illness to skip the court assembly today for the express purpose of avoiding Shui Xingqiu.

’Who would have thought the man would come straight to my door!’

Shui Xingqiu spoke calmly.

"I want Ye Yunfeng dead."

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