"Well, if it isn't Young Master Shangguan? Still got the nerve to stroll around on the streets?" Shangguan Ke, lost in thought, was jolted back to reality by a piercing voice. He looked up and couldn't help but let out a cold snort.
Shangguan Ke knew his identity was extremely sensitive, so he adhered to the principle of avoiding trouble whenever possible. He walked straight past the man, unwilling to engage.
The person approaching was the eldest young master of the Gao family, Gao Xuejuan's brother. When they were in the academy, the teachers always praised Shangguan Ke for his good attitude and excellent studies, saying he had a bright future. Gao family's eldest young master, on the other hand, served as a stark contrast to him, a negative example.
The eldest young master of the Gao family was extremely displeased. However, Shangguan Ke was the eldest young master of the Shangguan family, someone he couldn't afford to provoke. He could only bury all his resentment deep within his heart. Now that Shangguan Ke was in trouble, he was overjoyed and saw an opportunity for revenge.
Seeing that Shangguan Ke was about to leave his sight, how could he tolerate such a thing? He simply shouted, "Everyone, come quickly and see! This is the Shangguan family's eldest young master who murdered his father! How can such a person walk openly on the streets? It's a disgrace to humanity."
Because the recent affairs of the Shangguan family had caused quite a stir, everyone immediately stopped and turned to look.
Seeing that he was surrounded, Shangguan Ke took out a dagger from his怀 and toyed with it in his hand. He slowly walked towards the eldest young master of the Gao family. The latter, looking at Shangguan Ke's malevolent expression, swallowed hard and retreated step by step. He suddenly remembered that this person before him was someone who dared to kill his own father. What was he in his eyes?
Shangguan Ke quickly stepped forward, kicked him away, and held the knife to his throat, saying sinisterly, "What do you think would happen if I plunged this knife down? I suppose blood would gush out immediately, and you wouldn't see the sun tomorrow."
Feeling the cold touch of the knife against his neck, the eldest young master of the Gao family was so terrified that he wet his pants. He pleaded, "I know I was wrong. I'll never dare to do it again. Please, show mercy and spare me this once." Su Dan Novels.
Shangguan Ke immediately raised his head and looked around. Wherever his gaze fell, people instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes. They secretly resolved to stay far away from this man. He could afford to be reckless, but they still wanted to live.
After observing for a while, ensuring that no one dared to confront him again, Shangguan Ke slowly stood up, rubbing the sharp dagger. He said calmly, "If I ever see you again, my knife won't have eyes."
The eldest young master of the Gao family scrambled to his feet and fled as if his life depended on it. Shangguan Ke was simply a madman, biting anyone he encountered.
After scaring him, Shangguan Ke walked towards the crowd. Everyone instinctively made way for him. "Indeed, they only bully the weak and fear the strong," Shangguan Ke thought to himself.
Penniless, he passed a familiar figure and, with lightning speed, stole the purse from his waist.
It was only after he had walked some distance that the man stabilized himself. He frowned, looking at Shangguan Ke's retreating back, thinking he looked very much like Shangguan Ke. Then he remembered that Shangguan Ke had done such things and was confined to the woodshed. How could he be openly walking on the streets? He shook his head, thinking he must be hallucinating.
In the next moment, he spotted a pretty trinket, intending to buy it as a gift for the concubine he kept outside. He touched his waist and found nothing. He was startled and stamped his foot in annoyance.
This person was none other than the younger brother of Shangguan Ke's grandmother. He was a man of gambling, drinking, and womanizing. When he ran out of money, he would come to the Shangguan family for handouts. Shangguan Ke's grandmother was very protective of her maternal relatives. When they visited, even her own grandson, the Shangguan family's legitimate heir who was once highly favored, had to take a back seat. Each time, they were like a swarm of locusts, taking whatever they fancied. Shangguan Ke had been dissatisfied with him for a long time. Today, he felt no guilt about using his money.
Soon, he left the city gates and arrived at a small village in the suburbs. He paid a small sum for lodging. It wasn't that he didn't want to stay in the capital, but the Shangguan family would surely send people to look for him. After all, someone had already seen him. Although he wasn't afraid, he didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble.
Recently, several corpses had been carried out of the Prince of Joy's mansion. The servants had just buried them in the wilderness. As soon as they left, someone dug up the corpses. Seeing the woman buried at the very top, with bloodshot eyes, a surge of desire to kill them washed over him.
The next day, an old official with white hair, his face filled with grief, knelt in the main hall and denounced the Prince of Joy's evil deeds. "I was blessed with a daughter in my old age, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her my most precious pearl. A while ago, my daughter and her personal maid went out to buy jewelry and never returned. I heard they were taken to the Prince of Joy's mansion. This old official visited many times, hoping to bring my daughter back, but to no avail. I had planned to come today to beg the Emperor to save my daughter's life. I never expected that last night, we would find my daughter's body in the desolate mountains and wild. Alas, this old official is seeing his descendant off."
After speaking, he burst into tears. It was truly heart-wrenching for anyone who heard it. The Emperor was at a loss for words. He knew his brother's flaws. In the past, he only toyed with common women, so no one could bring him to court. Even if there was a commotion, it could eventually be appeased with money. He never expected him to go so far this time, actually laying his hands on a minister's daughter. If this was not handled properly, it would surely chill the hearts of others.
The hall was silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. They had all heard about Prince of Joy's peculiar tastes. In the past, when it didn't infringe upon their interests, they had let it slide. Who didn't have a daughter? If the Emperor did not put a stop to this now, and it happened to them in the future, they couldn't bear to imagine it. Therefore, no one spoke up for the Prince of Joy.
The Prince of Joy looked at the old official and felt somewhat angry. It was just playing with a woman, wasn't it? He was the Emperor's own brother. Was there a need to say it in front of so many people?
The Emperor hesitated for a moment and then comforted him, "Rest assured, my dear minister. I will give you a satisfactory explanation. Please return home and await my decision."
The old official was not one to fail to read the room. He quickly kowtowed in gratitude.
After the court session ended, the Emperor specifically summoned the Prince of Joy to the study. Seeing his indifferent demeanor, the Emperor was furious. He rebuked him, "Kneel down at once!"
Seeing that the Emperor was truly angry, the Prince of Joy felt a bit flustered and immediately obeyed, kneeling on the ground.
"You, you! How many times have I told you? That habit of yours is unacceptable. You must change it. You picked a fight with whom? You actually provoked an official's daughter! What are you going to do now?" The Emperor pointed at him with a trembling finger, feeling that he was becoming more and more audacious. He indeed needed to be properly disciplined, otherwise, he would definitely stir up even bigger trouble in the future.