Nan Wushang was in a much worse state; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was riddled with thorns. Fortunately, he was quick-witted and had good lightness skills, so he avoided vital points and didn't die.

When Luo Xi saw him wrapped up like a mummy and carried into the hall by several Red Mansion assassins, she was completely stunned.

"What...what happened?"

If you're talking about backboards, you'd be killed outright. If you're not, how could you go out vertically and come back horizontally?

Jiuxian acted as if nothing had happened, found a seat, picked up some pastries from the table and started eating, without any intention of explaining.

Qinglong had no choice but to step forward and recount the entire process to Luo Xi and the others in the room without missing a single detail.

Well, as for their deliberate delay in rescuing people?

Is that true?

No, they just didn't realize it yet. That's normal, isn't it? Everyone has moments of blankness.

After hearing the whole story, Luo Xi realized there was nothing she didn't understand, but... Nan Wushang deserved it!

Who told him to treat Jiu Xian so badly back then? This is just retribution.

She pretended not to know anything: "Thank you for your hard work. Take him home and have someone take good care of him."

"Wait!" At this moment, Nan Wushang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and handed over the wooden box he had been holding in his arms.

"Here's your pledge of loyalty," he said.

A pledge of allegiance?

Luo Xi's heart skipped a beat. Could it be what she was thinking?

It was so hot, carrying him all the way back was really irritating.

However, before Luo Xi could stop her, Nan Wushang opened the lid, and immediately, an extremely strong odor permeated everyone's nostrils and even their skin.

Loxi: "..."

The cerebellum has atrophied.

Which idiot came up with this stupid rule? Does a blood oath really have to involve sacrificing your life?

Jiuxian couldn't swallow the pastry she hadn't yet swallowed.

He spat into the spittoon with a "pui" sound, then slammed the box shut with a bang from a distance, but the pastries on the plate no longer smelled good.

He glared angrily at Nan Wushang.

Nan Wushang was even angrier than Jiuxian. These were the few fingers he had left that weren't bandaged, and this guy had almost crushed them.

"You..." He dared not speak his anger.

Seeing that the box was finally closed, Luo Xi nodded approvingly at Jiu Xian, quickly called the guards outside to take it out, and then had the windows opened to let in some fresh air, which made him feel a little more comfortable.

"Why?" she asked.

Luo Xi meant why Nan Wushang had to offer a pledge of allegiance, and why he used such a well-known method. You see, in doing so, Nan Wushang would be inextricably bound to them, and might even become the Left Prime Minister or the court's number one enemy.

Nan Wushang, his face still covered in medicine, said indifferently, "I'm happy to!"

After saying those three words, he closed his eyes again, looking as if he didn't want to say anything more.

Luo Xi stared at him for a long time before waving to the Red Mansion assassins, signaling them to carry the man back.

Everyone present felt extremely conflicted; they never expected Nan Wushang to do such a thing.

After a while, Yin Li finally got down to business: "Xiao Yu died at our hands, and I'm afraid the Left Prime Minister won't let it go easily."

Luo Xi snorted coldly: "Even when he was alive, the imperial court wasn't exactly treating us any better."

That's true," the others nodded in agreement.

"But we're almost out of salt, what are we going to do?" Wei Qing said worriedly. "In the past few days, many people have told me that the price of salt in the market has started to rise, and there is even a shortage of salt available."

"Rong Bai, pass on the word." Luo Xi's face was cold: "Anyone who dares to take advantage of this opportunity to make money will have all their property confiscated immediately and be expelled from Nanyue County, never to be allowed to enter again."

“That’s how it should be.” Rong Bai laughed, but the next second, he heard Luo Xi say, “Have all the county governments release half of our reserves to ensure that everyone has salt to eat, including you.”

Rong Bai: "..."

It hurts!

"Boss, can I not hear that last sentence?"

“Sure!” Luo Xi seemed very agreeable: “Xiao Yu’s head was so badly rotten that I couldn’t even see what a person without ears looks like. Perfect, you can see the same way.”

Rong Bai swallowed hard: "I... I was just kidding."

Loxi stared at him for a long time, until cold sweat streamed down the man's forehead, before finally speaking: "Me too!"

Rong Bai: "???"

On the other side, in the study of the Left Prime Minister's residence in the capital.

"What did you say?" A lean old man with white hair and beard, but full of energy, stood up in shock, his face full of disbelief. It was none other than the Left Prime Minister, Xiao He.

“My son is twenty years old, in the prime of his life. He can live for another fifty or even sixty years. You dog slave, are you tired of living? How dare you curse him?”

Butler Li prostrated himself on the ground, his voice choked with sobs: "Master, it's true, it was that villain Nan Wushang. He poisoned the young master first, and then cut off his head. The young master... he's really gone!"

Xiao He staggered and slumped into a chair, his eyes filled with grief: "Yu'er, my Yu'er..."

The lady suffered from uterine coldness, and he was over thirty when he finally had this legitimate son, and now he's gone just like that?

"Nan Wushang!" Xiao He clenched his fists tightly and said sternly, "Go, Xiao Yi has failed in his duties. He shall be given fifty strokes of the cane and no one is allowed to treat his injuries."

Clearly, he vented all his grief on Xiao Yi.

Fifty strokes of the cane, and without medical treatment, how could he possibly survive?

After a moment's hesitation, Butler Li said, "Master, he is, after all, your bloodline..."

"Shut up!" But before he could finish speaking, Xiao He interrupted him: "The son of a lowly servant girl, he doesn't deserve to be called one."

If this beast weren't still somewhat useful, he would have had him killed right now.

My son, just wait, your father will definitely avenge you.

The next morning at court, Xiao He petitioned the Tianqi Emperor to send troops to destroy Nanyue County.

The emperor at the head of the table looked dazed, with a sallow complexion and dark circles around his eyes. He was extremely thin, looking like a man in his sixties or seventies even though he was only in his thirties.

"Alright, fine, Minister Xiao, you can make the decision." His eyes were glazed over, and it was unclear whether he understood or not.

All the courtiers: "...??"

His Majesty must have been fooling around in the Jade Pool all night again last night!

Sigh, Tianqi is practically becoming the domain of the Left Prime Minister.

Xiao He finally showed a smile on his face for the first time in two days. "Yu'er, your great revenge will be achieved soon." He knelt down and prepared to express his gratitude.

"Wait!" At this moment, the Right Chancellor Si Yu stepped forward: "Your Majesty, you have been busy lately and may not know that we have reached a critical moment in our battle with the Heavenly God Sect."

"If they suddenly send troops to Nanyue County again, the Heavenly God Sect's mission might be stillborn. Aren't you quite curious about the holy maidens they've collected?"

He gave the emperor a knowing look.