After the system set its sights on the dragon throne, the princess started courting death every day.

"Did all three of you hear what I just said?" Xiang An sat halfway on the desk, looking at Sun Yi and the other two with a half-smile.

The three were taken aback at first. Yan Qing and the other guard looked blank, but Sun Yi reacted quickly. He cupped his hands and said, "This servant didn't hear anything."

Yan Qing and the other guard suddenly realized what was happening and followed suit, saying in unison, "We didn't hear anything."

Xiang An nodded: "It's best if you didn't hear it. But Sun Yi, you need to hear it."

Sun Yi's expression froze slightly.

"The vegetables in the kitchen have been very fresh lately, and the prices are also cheap. The amount of silver used is half that of before. Sun Yi, I am very satisfied. You have done a great job."

Sun Yi bowed deeply, extremely respectful: "This is what a servant should do."

"You two, carry the body away and bury it." Xiang An then turned his attention to Yan Qing and the guards, who quickly obeyed. Sun Yi, on the other hand, was so frightened that cold sweat broke out on his back.

A few days ago, Sun Yi had just finished his work and sat down to rest when the cook in the back kitchen suddenly told him that the princess had bought the same dishes as those in the kitchen from a smelly old man in the back alley for a very low price. This was like the sky falling down for Sun Yi.

He came from under the emperor's command, which made him a cut above the other palace servants, not to mention that he later became the emperor's eyes and ears and came to the princess's residence as a steward.

In a sense, Princess Miankang still had to be wary of Sun Yi.

Indeed, this was the case. Princess Miankang and Sun Yi usually kept to themselves, neither getting along nor interfering with each other.

Upon arriving at the princess's residence and gaining control of its household, the emperor sent someone to question him privately within two or three days.

Although Sun Yi didn't know the reason, he dared not ask further. Neither the princess nor the emperor were people he could afford to offend. All he could do was obediently follow the emperor's orders and do as he was told to do, in order to save his own head.

At first, Sun Yi mistakenly thought that something was wrong with Princess Miankang, so he dealt with her carefully. He memorized the first words she said every morning and sent them to the emperor on the appointed day.

However, according to Sun Yi's long-term observation, Princess Miankang was usually docile and obedient, and there was nothing wrong with her.

Perhaps the emperor also realized this, and gradually stopped asking questions. With the emperor's relaxation and Princess Miankang's indifference, Sun Yi became bolder and more greedy.

Although the message was delivered by the cook and Princess Miankang herself did not appear, Sun Yi, who had infiltrated the palace, knew that this meant Princess Miankang wanted to take over the household's finances.

Princess Miankang's actions were unusual. Sun Yi should have gone to the palace that night to see the emperor and tell him the truth, but he hesitated.

Although he was the emperor's eyes and ears, the princess was the emperor's daughter; it was obvious who held more power. Furthermore, throughout history, which emperor didn't resent corruption and bribery?

Sun Yi was greedy, and he amassed a great deal of wealth. If he went to the emperor, he would surely lose his head; staying in the princess's residence, however, offered him a sliver of hope.

Holding the belief that it's better to live a miserable life than to die, he met with Princess Miankang alone one evening a couple of days ago.

Princess Miankang remained as cold as ever towards him. Anyone else would be terrified in the face of her indifference, and would spill every secret. Sun Yi, however, was quite relieved. This meant Princess Miankang wasn't angry, and his head was safe.

Sun Yi's heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, instantly settled down. So when Princess Miankang asked about the dishes in the kitchen, he skillfully came up with a plausible excuse. Princess Miankang didn't ask any further questions and quickly let him go. However, for many days afterward, he dared not accept any more extra money.

Unexpectedly, Princess Miankang had been quietly observing the kitchen since that day, and only today did she finally reveal her fangs, like a snake hiding in the grass, silently capable of killing people.

At this moment, Sun Yi was extremely grateful for his caution; otherwise, Princess Miankang would have killed far more than just Xiao Ling today.

Yu Guang glanced smugly at Xiao Ling, who lay dead with her eyes wide open, and felt overjoyed. It felt so good to be alive.

As they carried Xiao Ling along, drops of red water dripped onto the ground, their color more vibrant than that of the spider lilies.

As Sun Yi watched, a chill ran down his spine. He couldn't help but think: Princess Miankang took a life without batting an eye. Was the gentle and obedient Princess Miankang he knew before really her true nature?

Could it be that the Emperor sent him to the Princess's residence as an informant for this very day?

Then...then all the messages he presented to the emperor were fake! They were all Princess Miankang's fabrications!

The crime of deceiving the emperor!

He's finished!

Sun Yi's face was deathly pale, her body was trembling, her legs were so weak that she could barely stand, and her teeth were clenched so tightly that she felt no pain, as if she would beg for mercy if she relaxed her grip.

Soon, only Sun Yi and Xiang An remained in the room. Neither of them spoke, but Sun Yi could clearly feel Xiang An's gaze upon him, seemingly insignificant yet carrying immense weight.

Princess Miankang was beautiful, her gentle features devoid of any sharpness. Even being stared at by her without moving would not evoke the slightest fear; instead, it would bring a sense of pleasure and warmth. Sun Yi knew Princess Miankang well; he had never been afraid of her, on the contrary, he felt quite at ease. But today, he was afraid.

Xiang An asked in confusion, "Are you hot?"

A layer of sweat appeared on his forehead and the tip of his nose.

Sun Yi shook his head frantically, stammering, "No...not hot, this servant isn't hot." More than just not hot, he felt a chill run through his entire body, inside and out. He hadn't felt fear since leaving the palace and the emperor's territory; today was his first time experiencing it at the princess's residence.

"It's good that it's not hot." Xiang An's lips curled slightly. "Are you afraid of dying?"

Sun Yi knelt down with a thud, her lips trembling: "Princess, spare me! Princess, spare me!"

"Don't be afraid, I won't kill you." Xiang An sat completely on the desk, her dangling feet swinging leisurely. "I said I would trust those I employ and not employ those I don't trust. Sun Yi, I trust you."

Sun Yi calmed down a little and kowtowed deeply as if he had survived a disaster: "This servant thanks the princess for her appreciation."

“But—” Xiang An’s deliberately drawn-out tone made Sun Yi’s heart go empty again. Xiang An watched Sun Yi’s fingers tremble slightly before continuing, “You are Father Emperor’s man, but you are now in the Princess’s residence. So, are you loyal to me or Father Emperor?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Sun Yi trembled even more violently, but Xiang An pretended not to see it and smiled, "Don't worry, I have a very good temper, you know that."

Sun Yi felt bitter. He used to have a very good temper, but now he was ruthless and merciless.

"Still not going to talk? Seriously? I've put you in charge of the kitchen for so long, and you've taken so much from my princess's residence, yet you're still not full." Xiang An said thoughtfully, "Could it be that you're an ungrateful wretch?"

Sun Yi: "..."

"Really? That's troublesome." Xiang An's tone was light. "I despise ingrates the most. Take Xiao Ling, for example. I saved her and provided her with good food and drink in the manor. If she weren't an ingrate, how could I bear to kill a young woman of sixteen who hasn't even married yet?"