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

Xiang Xin ignored him and angrily shouted at Chang Fu, "Aren't you going?!"

Changfu trembled and respectfully withdrew.

This time, Fu Qingbai didn't stop him. She just watched him quietly, her gaze as cold as ice, a man who had fought his way out of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood on the battlefield, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.

Xiang An felt a chill of fear, but Xiang Xin seemed blind and insensitive, looking at Daoist Xuanqing without changing his expression: "When will Xiao Jiu be able to return to my side?"

"What do you mean 'back to your side'?! You pervert! I'm your own sister!" Xiang An rolled her eyes again and again.

"Your Majesty, Princess Miankang has a special identity; she possesses dragon blood, she—"

Xiang Xin waved her hand to stop him from continuing: "There's no need to say more. I'm tired of hearing you say this over the past month. You've failed too many times. I'm losing patience."

"Tell me, do you have any ideas? How much longer will it take?"

“Your Majesty, there are many methods, but they all take time. You can’t rush things.” Master Xuanqing knelt down deeply.

"Bring it up," Xiang Xin shouted outside.

A moment later, the officials who had been kneeling outside entered with their heads bowed, and said in unison, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Xiang Xin neither told him to rise nor spoke, but gave him a look. A eunuch in the corner bowed and went out, then came back with a handsome young man who looked relaxed and at ease. He was dressed in a yellow Taoist robe, had a fair complexion, carried an ancient sword on his back, and had a smile on his lips.

He stood next to Master Xuanqing. The former resembled a precious jade radiating a mysterious and serene light, exuding a sense of composure, while the latter was an oddity, looking like an old beggar who could easily be thrown into the street if he changed his clothes.

Upon seeing his attire, Master Xuanqing's heart sank instantly: "Your Majesty, who is he?"

With a slight smile, Xiang Xin didn't reply. He was no longer of any use; there was no need to bother with him. The yellow-robed Taoist, however, made a perfectly standard Taoist gesture: "Greetings, Your Majesty; greetings, Princess Miankang; greetings to all the esteemed officials. I am Ling Xiaozi."

With just that one sentence, Xiang Xin's face immediately lit up with obvious joy, her clear favoritism and affection were plain to see.

Fu Qingbai's expression remained unchanged, as calm as if no one was speaking, and he was simply waiting quietly for Xiang Xin to speak.

"Old Taoist Xuanqing, where did you learn your master? Which Taoist temple? Why have I never seen you before?" Master Xuanqing's face was grim.

"Having only entered the palace in the latter half of the month, this is naturally the first time that Daoist Xuanqing has met me."

He was respectful and humble, but of the many questions asked, Ling Xiaozi only answered the last one.

Master Xuanqing was annoyed: "Old Taoist priest, you're not old, but you're quite arrogant. I asked you a question, and you—"

"Master Xuanqing knows that he is young and impetuous. If he doesn't want to answer, why do you keep pressing him?"

Xiang Xin leaned against the pillows, lounging on the bed. "I don't know how you Taoists get along on a daily basis, but you should know that the one who stands before me is very important. If even Taoist Xuanqing doesn't know this, then your position in the Imperial Observatory should be replaced."

A blatant threat and backing.

Master Xuanqing's once unconventional posture had somehow become proper and upright, his expression serious: "Your Majesty, it is not that I am pressing you, but a Taoist priest of unclear origins—"

"No need for further words. Everything he said was what I instructed, and everything he didn't say was also what I instructed."

Xiang Xin stopped Master Xuanqing from speaking for the third time today. "I called him here to inform everyone in public that from now on, the matter of Xiao Jiu will be handed over to Ling Xiaozi, and Master Xuanqing will return to the Star Gazing Tower to observe the celestial phenomena from time to time."

"Alright, look up and recognize everyone. Remember them well. If I ever find out that someone hasn't followed my orders, don't blame me for being ruthless in killing them."

With just a few casual words, he arranged everything for everyone, not even caring that Master Xuanqing had changed his self-address.

After entering the room, the ministers who had been kneeling without uttering a sound raised their heads and carefully memorized Ling Xiaozhi's appearance, while the rest remained kneeling or bowing their heads.

The atmosphere was silent for a moment.

Just then, Ling Xiaozi smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty, the pills in the alchemy room are about to be ready. I shall take my leave now."

"Go ahead," Xiang Xin said with a gentle smile. "Master Xuanqing, you should also return to the Star Gazing Tower."

Master Xuanqing seemed to want to say something, but seeing the officials kneeling on the ground, he swallowed his words and bowed, saying, "Yes."

As soon as Ling Xiaozhi and Daoist Xuanqing left, Xiang Xin threw off the covers, stood barefoot on the ground without even putting on his boots, drew the sword hanging behind the bed, and said with a sinister smile, "What? You all want to rebel?"

"Your subject dares not." A perfectly synchronized sentence.

With the sword in hand, Xiang Xin twirled it left and right, the light reflected off the blade flashing, and the brand-new, mirror-like blade occasionally reflected his refined face.

Xiang Xin chuckled dismissively: "I know very well what some of you are waiting for. But if you think this will work, you are underestimating me."

The ministers remained as silent as chickens with their necks choked.

Light footsteps approached slowly. Raising an eyebrow, Xiang Xin gripped the hilt of his sword, sat boldly on the edge of the bed, and declared, "Enter!"

Footsteps immediately entered from outside the door, and the Prime Minister, Qi Cheng, Bai Yuchen, and others knelt down: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Have you taken them all?"

Xiang Xin asked casually, without mentioning what they had captured, but the expressions of everyone present changed drastically, given that the prince had raised an army in rebellion and could attack at any moment.

The "thing" the young emperor mentioned must be related to outsiders. A bad feeling welled up in my mind, but I couldn't believe it. I was so incredulous that I almost shouted, "Impossible!"

However, Xiang Xin's casual tone was as calm as if she were asking, "Have you eaten today?" This instantly raised my disbelief from five points to eight or nine points, with the remaining one or two points of stubbornness.

"We've captured them," the Prime Minister said. "The Third Prince had 1,000 men, and the Fifth Prince had 2,000 men, for a total of 3,000. 1,235 of them died, and 1,765 were captured. The Third Prince committed suicide by sword after being captured, and the Fifth Prince had his right arm cut off during his fierce resistance. The imperial physicians are currently treating him."

"Yes, yes, yes!!"

Xiang Xin clapped his hands and praised, "Prime Minister, go and tell the imperial physician that my fifth brother must be saved. Although he disregards brotherly affection and wants to treat both the emperor and his brother, I am merciful and do not want to kill my brother."

"As you command." The Prime Minister cupped his hands in greeting, rose to leave, but then heard Xiang Xin say, "Wait, don't rush."

A flash of silver light streaked across everyone's eyes, landing on the necks of the two ministers. Without even a short, painful groan, their two round heads slammed to the ground, spraying warm blood everywhere and splattering several ministers around them.

Xiang Xin: "Simmer these two heads for him to make soup. Soup made from the flesh and blood of one's closest relatives is the most nourishing."

One head of the Fifth Prince's maternal grandfather, and one head of the Fifth Princess's maternal uncle.