Chapter 104 The Deadly Silence of the Study

Chapter 104 The Deadly Silence of the Study

The carriage sped along, the sound of its wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs particularly jarring in the quiet of the night.

It did not stop at the main gate of the Prince's Mansion, but drove straight in, through the second gate and through the corridor, and directly into the main courtyard, which was usually heavily guarded and off-limits to unauthorized personnel.

"Whoa—"

The carriage came to a stop.

The carriage curtain was suddenly flung open by a pale, slender hand.

Pei Yunjing carried Tangli, who was wrapped in a cloak, and strode down.

His face appeared unusually cold in the moonlight, his jawline was taut, and he exuded a suffocatingly low pressure.

Han Zheng, leading a squad of black-armored guards, was about to follow and provide protection.

"Get out."

Pei Yunjing didn't stop walking; without turning his head, he coldly gave the order:

"Everyone, retreat outside the courtyard."

"No one may approach within a hundred paces. Anyone who trespasses will be killed without mercy."

This command carried an unquestionable resolve and a chilling intensity.

Han Zheng's heart skipped a beat. Looking at his prince's back, which seemed to be about to "kill someone to silence them," he dared not ask another question.

He immediately waved his hand, leading everyone away like a receding tide.

In the blink of an eye, the vast main courtyard was left with only deathly silence.

"Bang!"

The heavy rosewood door to the study was kicked open and then slammed shut.

The latch fell.

This space has become a completely sealed cage.

There were no main lights on inside, only a single lamp in the corner emitting a faint orange glow.

The flickering light and shadow stretched Pei Yunjing's tall figure into an elongated silhouette, projecting it onto the wall like a giant beast poised to pounce.

Pei Yunjing did not immediately launch an attack.

He walked to the desk and put down the pear he was holding.

Tang Li landed on her feet, but felt her legs were too weak to stand.

She instinctively retreated to the corner of the bookshelf, her back pressed against the cold wall, as if only in this way could she gain a slight sense of security.

She looked at Pei Yunjing.

The man stood with his back to her beside the table.

He didn't look at her, but lowered his head and began to slowly unfasten the black iron wrist guards on his hands.

“Clatter.”

With a soft click, the bloodstained wrist guard was removed and tossed casually onto the table.

Then came another one.

Then, he picked up a damp cloth and began to carefully wipe away the remaining bloodstains from his fingers, one by one.

That was blood splattered from when the spy was killed.

His movements were slow, elegant, and even carried a hint of nonchalant laziness.

He wiped very carefully, as if he wanted to clean away every trace of bloodstain from his fingerprints.

The study was eerily quiet.

The only sounds were the soft rustling of a handkerchief against skin and the occasional whistling of wind passing by outside the window.

This kind of silent pressure is far more suffocating than yelling and shouting.

Tang Li stood in the shadows, feeling her hands and feet were ice-cold, and her heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, beating with extreme difficulty.

She stared at the man wiping his hands, her mind a jumble of thoughts.

It's over.

This time it's really over.

If she could have used excuses like "coincidence," "luck," "dream," or even "a hermit" to get away with it in the past, then she could have used them to get away with it.

So tonight, in full view of everyone, the scene of thousands of mice obeying commands, biting through the fuse, and even lining up at her feet to claim credit...

This is irrefutable evidence.

It is an anomaly that cannot be concealed by any excuse.

The so-called "one-eared master" and the so-called "feng shui diagram" are as pale as a joke in the face of this irrefutable fact.

Pei Yunjing isn't stupid.

On the contrary, he was the smartest, most perceptive, and most suspicious man in the Great Sheng Dynasty.

The reason he didn't lash out at the bridgehead was because it was outside, and he needed to protect his own and maintain the dignity of the Prince's Mansion.

But now, behind closed doors...

He's about to begin the reckoning.

"It's clean."

A deep, emotionless voice suddenly rang out.

Pei Yunjing threw away the handkerchief that had turned red.

He slowly turned around, his deep, dark phoenix eyes, seemingly capable of swallowing all light, pierced through the dim candlelight and precisely locked onto the pear tree in the corner.

There was no anger or surprise on his face.

Only a chilling calm.

That calm was like the sea before a storm, unfathomable and teeming with undercurrents.

"come over."

He beckoned to her, his tone as indifferent as if he were calling a pet.

Tang Li froze.

She wanted to run, but her legs felt as heavy as lead.

She wanted to beg for mercy, but her throat was too dry to make a sound.

This time, there's really no escaping it.