"What does the eldest princess mean by that?"

"Was the black snake's madness deliberately caused by someone?"

"Did you hear what the Second Princess said just now? I was close by, I heard it. She told the Eldest Princess that she didn't care about our lives!"

"It was the eldest princess who healed the black snake and saved us!"

Shen Zhiyi pointed to the shards of glass scattered on the ground and said loudly, "Look everyone, there is sulfur powder mixed in here, which is something that will drive snakes mad."

The glass cage is too smooth; once a snake enters, it cannot climb out.

“And this energy crystal.” She picked up a crystal from the ground and said, “As long as an image is injected into it, people can see illusions.”

She looked down at the little black snake.

"You jumped in because you saw me being 'locked' inside, didn't you?"

The small snake on her wrist gently rubbed against her skin.

His vertical pupils were full of grievance.

The people erupted in protest.

"How could there be such a wicked person!"

"Exploiting the orcs' kindness and our fear to take lives!"

"And they'll ruin the eldest princess's reputation too!"

Who is this person?

Shen Zhiyi approached Shen Xiya step by step, her eyes turning completely cold.

She is willing to accept the struggle.

But we absolutely cannot tolerate anyone using such methods to harm those around her, let alone challenge her authority!

"What...what do you want to do?" Shen Xiya's body went limp, and she crawled backward in fear. "I am the second princess of the empire. If you dare to do anything to me, my mother will not let you off!"

“Challenging the authority of the royal family, framing and persecuting members of the royal family, and inciting civil unrest are crimes deserving of death.” Shen Zhiyi said calmly as she slowly raised the ice feather arrow.

“I won’t kill you, but…”

She suddenly drew her bow!

A series of cold, sharp glints formed a cage around Shen Xiya!

"Your talent for causing trouble must not be allowed to live."

Shen Zhiyi put down the bow and arrow, and a huge ball of energy gathered at her fingertips.

A terrifying suction force was instantly generated, rushing towards Shen Xiya's head.

"No—! My talent!"

"Shen Zhiyi! How dare you strip me of my talent! Ah—!"

Shen Xiya let out a shrill scream.

Within her body, her core strength was being gradually extracted and crushed!

A sharp pain swept through my entire body.

Her vision went black, and she fainted completely.

Shen Zhiyi withdrew her hand and coldly ordered: "Notify Colonel Leo that Ice Crystal City is powerless to protect the safety of its people, let alone persuade the Second Princess to stop her from committing evil deeds, knowing about them but failing to report them, and showing contempt for the royal family."

"I hereby order the cessation of all Astoria's supply business to the Royal Family until they offer a sincere apology."

She didn't look at Shen Xiya again.

With Samus by his side, he left Ice Crystal City amidst the kneeling farewells of the crowd.

*

The royal bedroom.

As soon as Shen Zhiyi entered the room, Samus transformed into human form and hugged her tightly.

"Princess……"

Shen Zhiyi pushed him away, her expression slightly cold. "Explain."

She walked over to the sofa, sat down, and looked down at him.

"Why has your ability already reached S-rank?"

"Furthermore, since they've already reached S-rank, why were they still fooled by such a simple illusion and fell into that glass cage?"

Samus's heart skipped a beat.

He closed the door, walked up to her, and said, "Princess, I..."

"Kneel down." Shen Zhiyi raised the tip of her shoe and kicked his knee.

Samus's Adam's apple bobbed.

He stared intently at her, then slowly knelt down...