Chapter 23 The Male Lead's Indifference

Chapter 23 The Male Lead's Indifference

Night falls and the city lights come on.

Inside the Regent's study, candlelight flickered.

Pei Yunjing sat behind a large sandalwood desk, not reviewing memorials, but holding a snow-white silk handkerchief, slowly wiping a short dagger.

The dagger was jet black, with a blade that gleamed with a chilling light; it was clearly a murder weapon that had drunk countless lives.

Tang Li sat on a small stool two feet away from him, holding a cup of hot tea in her hand, but her eyes were somewhat unfocused.

Tomorrow is the day the Tang family will come to visit.

Although the trap had been set and Da Bai was ready to pounce, this was, after all, the Regent's Palace.

Pei Yunjing preferred quiet and hated strangers entering his residence and making noise.

If we make too much noise tomorrow and anger this powerful figure, killing the entire Tang family would be a minor matter, but if she were to be killed as well, that would be a bad deal.

I still need to report it.

Let's sound out what they're thinking.

“That… Your Highness.”

Tang Li put down her teacup, placed her hands on her knees, and adopted a docile, requesting-permission posture:

"I have something I'd like to report to you."

"explain."

Pei Yunjing didn't even raise his head, his fingertips lightly gliding over the cold blade, his attention seemingly entirely focused on the dagger.

“It’s like this…” Tang Li carefully chose her words, “Today I received a visiting card from my family. Tomorrow, my stepmother and elder sister want to come to the mansion to visit me.”

When she said the word "visit," Tang Li emphasized it, with a hint of sarcasm.

A brief silence fell over the study.

The only sound was the faint rustling of a silk handkerchief wiping the blade.

Pei Yunjing remained silent, as if he hadn't heard anything about it, or rather, in his opinion, it wasn't as important as a rust spot on the dagger.

Tang Li felt a little uneasy.

This reaction... does it mean yes or no?

She tentatively continued, "I know Your Highness prefers peace and quiet and dislikes being disturbed. If Your Highness finds this inappropriate, I will have someone politely decline their request, saying..."

"Refuse?"

Pei Yunjing finally stopped what he was doing.

He slowly raised his eyelids, his long, deep phoenix eyes sweeping over Tang Li, his gaze indifferent and devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

There was neither anger nor displeasure at being disturbed.

Only those who are high above and indifferent to all things are like ants.

"Tangli".

He called her name, his tone as indifferent as if he were discussing tomorrow's weather:

"You are the mistress of this Regent's Palace."

Tang Li was taken aback.

This was the first time he had so directly confirmed her identity.

Pei Yunjing raised the gleaming dagger, examining it against the candlelight, his voice laced with a nonchalant mockery:

"You need to ask me about such trivial matters of the inner quarters?"

In his view, the Minister's Mansion? The Wang Family? His elder sister?

What is that?

They were just a few ants that could be crushed at any moment.

If ants crawl into the yard, just step on them and kill them.

If you don't want your shoes to get dirty, just have the servants throw them away like water.

If he can't even handle these few ants, then I'm just bothering him...

Then this so-called "princess," the only "medicinal ingredient" by his side, is far too useless.

"Since I've kept you by my side, you can do whatever you want with this mansion, except for my study and my bedchamber."

Pei Yunjing casually sheathed the dagger, the crisp "click" sounding particularly clear in the quiet study.

He looked at Tang Li, a cruel smile curving his lips, and casually uttered a sentence that would chill the hearts of all the powerful and wealthy in the capital:

"Since they want to come, let them come."

"If you don't want to see them, or they bother you..."

Pei Yunjing picked up the military treatise beside him, leaned back in his chair, and his eyes were utterly cold and indifferent:

"Just kill him."

"The flowers and plants in the back garden of the Prince's Mansion are growing well, but they just need a few more fertilizers."

Tang Li's heart skipped a beat.

Just kill them.

Use as fertilizer.

The way he said it was as natural as "cutting off rotten leaves."

Without asking the reason, without considering the power of the Tang family, and without any regard for "etiquette and filial piety".

In his world, the strong are respected.

If he is unhappy, or if Tangli is unhappy, then those people have no reason to exist.

This is not just indifference, but an extremely arrogant delegation of power.

He was telling Tangli:

In this palace, I've sharpened your knife for you. You can kill whomever you want.

"I...understand."

Tang Li lowered her head, concealing the eager excitement in her eyes.

Her lips curled slightly upward, her voice gentle yet firm:

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness. I will certainly... treat them well."

No need to kill anyone.

Killing them is too lenient.

Sometimes, suffering while alive is worse than dying.

Pei Yunjing ignored her and opened the military book in his hand.

For him, the conversation was over.

No matter how many people die tomorrow, or how much chaos ensues, as long as no blood is splattered on him or no noise is made that gives him a headache, he won't even bother to lift an eyelid.