Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves echoed outside the mansion, and then...

"Clang!"

The gates of Prince Yi's mansion slammed shut, revealing a figure on a tall horse, exuding a sharp and murderous aura.

Holding a long staff, Helian Ci's handsome face was cold and sinister. Behind him stood rows of imposing Imperial Guards.

The scene inside the mansion, however, left Helian Ci and the assembled Imperial Guards, radiating murderous intent, completely dumbfounded.

What... what's going on...?

Helian Ci's handsome, cold face froze for a moment, his dark eyes falling without hesitation on Helian Si, who was dressed in a crimson dress and gripping Nan Hong's neck.

The hand holding the long stem trembled, and a strange, bewitching red light spread around the little coward. What was going on?

The Imperial Guards' attention, however, was focused on the haphazardly laid-out, dark mass of guard corpses within the mansion, and on the way they looked at Helian You and the few secret guards under Emperor Ying's command.

I'm absolutely in awe. There are at least a hundred of them, and judging by the murderous aura emanating from them, they're no ordinary guards.

Like them, the twenty were meticulously trained assassins. The Third Prince and his Imperial Shadow Guards easily subdued them.

hiss!

Behind Helian Ci, the Imperial Guards gasped in unison, their faces filled with shock and admiration.

Di Ying and several of his bodyguards remained standing in place. A twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth. They were all trained in the same place; he didn't even need to look to know what they were thinking.

What a bunch of brainless idiots! They're thinking about this! Shouldn't they be focusing on the princess right now?!

Helian Si had grown impatient and increased the pressure in his grip, leaving faint marks on Nan Hong's neck.

Tell me, where my father is trapped.

Helian Yi was tied down by Helian You, Helian Ci arrived with his troops, and now he himself was being controlled by this enchantress.

Nan Hong knew that now was not the time to resist; escaping was the most important thing. Once they were free, he could send a signal for the troops outside the city to gather, and there would still be a chance to turn the tide. Therefore, he relented.

"Cough, cough, I'll talk, I'll talk."

The coldness in Helian Si's eyes hadn't faded, and he loosened his grip slightly. Nan Hong, having narrowly escaped death, took a few deep breaths before speaking.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty is trapped in the snow mountain, right there in the misty snow mountain adjacent to Bei Yin Dong Chen. I have already begged you to spare me, cough cough."

Before he could speak, Helian Si tightened his grip on his throat again, making it impossible for him to breathe. His eyes widened, and he couldn't open his mouth.

Helian Yi's heart trembled. His maternal grandfather, who had taken care of him since childhood, was someone he couldn't bear to watch Nan Hong die in front of him.

No longer remaining indifferent, he looked at Helian Si with pleading eyes and spoke up to intercede for Nan Hong.

"Sisi, please, spare my maternal grandfather's life."

Helian Si glanced sideways, his peach blossom eyes filled with coldness as he looked at Helian Yi, a mocking smile playing on his red lips, "Spare his life?"

"ah--!!!"

Almost simultaneously, Nan Hong's dying, pitiful cries rang out, echoing throughout the entire Prince Yi's residence. Helian Si frowned in displeasure.

"Noisy".

In the instant the words were spoken, a dazzling red light flashed, and Nan Hong turned into a wisp of smoke, instantly disappearing completely with the wind.

All the Imperial Guards and Shadow Bodyguards present stared wide-eyed in shock at the scene before them, their gazes turning to Helian Si with a mixture of fear and dread.

What on earth is going on? How could the princess be like this?