The princess was ordained by Heaven.

The person who had just spoken up for Bao Ye shuddered and looked gratefully at his companion who had just covered his mouth.

Seeing Bao Ye's furious expression, Zheng Xun thought he would cause a scene, but to his surprise, he was very patient.

He was covered in sweat, his veins bulging from barely suppressed anger, and he gritted his teeth as he answered with difficulty, each word deliberate and strained: "She has awakened. I have spoken rudely and offended the Princess. I deserve to die!"

I sobered up and my mind came back to normal.

His legs were in so much pain that he could barely feel them. How could he not worry? How could he not hate?

However, he knew very well that he had now given Zheng Xun leverage over him, and in order to protect his life and official position, he had to endure it.

From a certain perspective, he was actually very persevering. Such a person might have become a powerful and influential figure in a chaotic world.

Unfortunately, he neither used his mind for good nor found a like-minded person.

Zheng Xun nodded: "Since you know you deserve to die, then go and die."

Zheng Jiu, Zheng Shi: ?

Bao Ye: Your words are a bit too harsh.

He forced a smile: "Your Highness is too kind."

Zheng Xun drew a long sword from the waist of a patrol guard next to her and threw it in front of him: "Who told you I was joking?"

Bao Ye's smile gradually faded.

He realized that Zheng Xun was there to cause trouble, and she wasn't going to let him off the hook today.

Now that the pretense of respect had been broken, he no longer pretended to be respectful and said in a firm tone, "As an official of the court, no one can decide my life or death over the Emperor."

Zheng Xun gave a noncommittal reply, then drew a sword from someone else: "For what you've done, you deserve to die a thousand times over."

Bao Ye frowned: "I wonder where I have offended the princess?"

Zheng Xun raised his sword and patted his face: "Just because Tao Heng has no backing and no money to bribe you, you arranged for him to be some despicable people. You almost killed him! He was on an imperial mission. You have some nerve!"

Bao Ye's agitation gradually subsided.

He thought Zheng Xun was acting out of a sense of justice, but it turned out he was there to settle scores with him. Now that the crux of the matter has been found, things will be easier to handle.

He slapped himself twice ingratiatingly and said with a fawning smile, "Oh, Princess, I was blind to your greatness! So Lord Tao is one of your men! I'll find some skilled men to escort Lord Tao right away!"

Zheng Xun coldly observed his fawning manner, remaining completely unmoved.

This is a venomous snake; it's currently hiding, but given the chance, it will surely bite back.

But she won't give him that chance.

"In this important camp, you're drinking and making merry, bringing in unrelated people. Do you think you can still be a peaceful and secure commander of the patrol guards?"

Cold sweat beaded on Bao Ye's forehead, and he felt his legs hurting even more: "I was just thinking that the brothers were tired from training, so I brought them along to have some fun..."

You want to make your brothers happy but then renege on your debts, huh? Zheng Xun wouldn't even bother to say anything to you.

"In the second year of Zhaoyuan, Kang Ze took office as the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Weizhou. Because he refused to accept bribes from you, you stuffed several cunning and deceitful officials into his hands, and he eventually died tragically in office."

In the ninth year of Zhaoyuan, you took a fancy to the second daughter of Dou Sheng, the provincial inspector of Xianzhou. You conspired with Xun Fangwei to kill Dou Sheng and then forcibly took his second daughter as a concubine.

"The tenth year of Zhaoyuan..."

"Enough!" Bao Ye interrupted her. "If you want to find fault, you can always find a reason. Although the princess is a member of the royal family, there is no reason for her to speak nonsense. My loyalty is as clear as day and night. Although I may not have made any great contributions, I have served the Great Yong and the court diligently for many years. If the princess does not like me, she can simply give me a quick death!"

He was upright and dignified, his words resounding, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

Zheng Xun almost burst out laughing.

Well, now that he's said that, he's become the loyal minister, and she's become the petty person who uses her position for personal revenge.

"Are you convinced that I have no evidence?"

Bao Ye did not answer, but that was indeed what he thought.

He was confident that he had handled things cleanly enough, and that Zheng Xun was just a tiny child when he did those things, not even born yet. Where could she find any evidence?

At this point, he had completely forgotten the warnings from his colleagues and friends not to provoke Princess Yuanjia.

Zheng Xun could even see the hidden smugness beneath his calm exterior; he was pleased with himself for having done everything flawlessly.

However, nothing in this world is perfect, and nothing can escape her eyes.

However, there's no need to explain these things to Bao Ye; she's determined to take his life today!

She smiled, raised her knife, and swiftly beheaded him.

Bao Ye's eyes widened, and he didn't even have time to show his shock. Until his death, he didn't understand why Zheng Xun dared to make a move.

Zheng Jiu and Zheng Shi were somewhat worried, fearing that Zheng Xun would get into trouble for killing a court official.

The Emperor dotes on the princess, but it's hard to silence public opinion...

Zheng Xun held the blood-stained knife with a calm expression.

But the more she did this, the more terrifying it seemed, because she had just ended the life of a grown man.

With such a thick neck, she could easily sever the head off with a single, light stroke, and the cut would be smooth, with blood only appearing moments later...

They were incredibly skilled.

Zheng Xun seemed to still have some lingering interest, his gaze sweeping over the people around him.

There were many people in the group who colluded with Bao Ye. Now that they were leaderless, they were all panicked and tried to hide behind others.

However, the more they try to cover it up, the more obvious it becomes.

Zheng Xun didn't linger her gaze on them for long. She said she had evidence, and she really did have evidence. Killing Bao Ye was enough for her to establish her authority. Taking any more action would damage her gentle and kind image.

Suddenly, her gaze stopped on a certain spot.

There, the boy who had just been bullied on the fighting stage looked at her with bright eyes.

Zheng Xun beckoned to him: "Come here."

Others thought he was going to be in trouble, and some had already started to gloat.

"What's your name?" Zheng Xun asked, his thoughts a jumble of emotions, but his tone remained gentle.

“Song Zhiling, the Zhiling of a young man who must have lofty ambitions.” He seemed very happy, his tone carrying a youthful and spirited quality unique to young people.

Zheng Xun looked directly into his eyes, which were clear and without a trace of gloom. Even though he had just been humiliated and was still injured, he felt no hatred, only sincere admiration.

"You are not suited to stay in the Patrol Guard."

Zheng Xun's words were like an autumn wind, blowing away the youthful vitality from the boy's face.

He hung his head in disappointment, like a disappointed little dog.

"How about you come with me?"

Song Zhiling was initially terrified, then gradually became somewhat anxious: "Does that require castration?"

Zheng Xun: ...

"That's not necessary."

"But I don't know how to do anything, is that okay?"

Zheng Xun smiled and said, "Since I want you, it means you are useful."

Song Zhiling's face lit up with joy: "I'll go with the princess!"