The figure vanished in response. Shen Qianmo slightly raised her eyes, a smile playing on her lips, and said to Situ Jingyan with a hint of allure and cunning, "Jingyan, you lost. What are you going to do?"
A sly glint flashed in Situ Jingyan's eyes. He raised his eyebrows slightly, a captivating smile playing on his lips, and said, "I never renege on my debts. Since I've lost, I'll dedicate my entire life to Mo'er."
“Jingyan is getting better and better at talking.” Shen Qianmo’s smile remained unchanged. She casually tossed some silver on the table and said with a smile, “It’s getting late. I’ll go and take a look at the Eighth Prince’s residence.”
The Eighth Prince's residence. The once-dull plaque now looks brand new, seemingly intentionally done by Shangguan Jin. Having bided his time for so long, he's finally about to ascend the throne; has he finally had enough? But it seems too early for him to be so smug.
There was still no announcement; Shen Qianmo disliked those official formalities. She easily slipped past the guards and entered Shangguan Jin's courtyard.
From afar, the winter sunset still carried a temperature that was neither too hot nor too cold. Shangguan Jin, dressed in a golden robe, stood in the sunlight. Unlike his usual deep and reserved demeanor, he now faced the setting sun with an arrogant smile on his face and obvious smugness in his eyes.
"Eighth Prince, congratulations." Shen Qianmo's gentle and refined voice interrupted Shangguan Jin's thoughts. He turned around and saw that it was Shen Qianmo, a smile playing on his lips.
"So it's the Palace Master." Shangguan Jin said coldly but politely, but a hint of calculation flashed in his eyes, which naturally did not escape Shen Qianmo's notice.
"I heard that the Eighth Prince plans to kill Yao Shan tonight?" Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow and looked at Shangguan Jin.
Upon hearing Shen Qianmo's words, Shangguan Jin's face flashed with astonishment. He had handled the matter of killing Yao Shan with utmost secrecy, so how could the Demon Palace Master have known about it?
However, since he already knows, it doesn't matter. After killing Yao Shan and taking back his military power, he can join forces with the Demon Palace Master to kill Shen Lingyun. Then, Qi Yue's empire will be in his hands. Thinking of this, Shangguan Jin smiled and said, "The Palace Master is indeed well-informed."
"You flatter me. I just want to know when the Eighth Prince plans to deal with the Shen family?" Shen Qianmo said calmly, her eyes unfathomable, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.
Shangguan Jin frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. A few days ago, when he went to see Shen Qianxin, she actually told him that the Demon Palace Master was Shen Qianmo. But the Demon Palace Master was determined to destroy the Prime Minister's Mansion, so how could he possibly be Shen Qianmo? It was truly absurd.
But why would Shen Qianxin lie to him? If the Demon Palace Master really is Shen Qianmo, then what is her true motive for helping him like this?!
Thinking of this, Shangguan Jin asked tentatively, "A few days ago, I went to check if Shen Qianxin was behaving herself, but she told me some shocking news."
"Is that so? Second sister is telling you my identity?" Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow. Since Shen Qianxin had already told Shangguan Jin, she had nothing to hide. In any case, her identity wouldn't change anything.
Upon hearing Shen Qianmo's words, Shangguan Jin's expression changed. He had only intended to test the waters and see what grudge existed between the Demon Palace Master and Shen Qianxin, but he hadn't expected that the Demon Palace Master was actually Shen Qianmo, the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion!
"I didn't expect it to really be the Third Miss." Shangguan Jin looked Shen Qianmo over again. Her eyebrows were curved, her eyes were like stars, her nose was small and delicate, and her lips were cherry-like. She had only thought that the Palace Master of the Demon Palace was elegant and peerless, but she never expected that she was a woman.
Yes, it was all because her demeanor was so noble and free-spirited that he overlooked her naturally slender and graceful figure. She was already so captivating in men's clothing; imagine how absolutely stunning she must be in women's attire!
"My identity is not important. I only want the Shen family to die." A murderous glint flashed in Shen Qianmo's eyes, and a cold smile appeared on her lips as she spoke.
Shangguan Jin looked at Shen Qianmo in astonishment. The hatred in her eyes was so obvious. But as far as he knew, Shen Lingyun treated his daughter very well. Why would she hate the Shen family so much? Could there be some conspiracy involved? Could she be conspiring with Shen to rebel?
"What is the Eighth Prince thinking?" Shen Qianmo saw the suspicious look on Shangguan Che's face and smiled. "Qianmo advises the Eighth Prince not to think too much. If I really have any connection with Prime Minister Shen, then I can kill you now, frame Yao Shan, and then support a weak prince to take the throne."
Upon hearing Shen Qianmo's words, Shangguan Jin forced a smile and said, "How could I doubt Miss? I was just wondering why Miss hates her father and sister so much."
"You don't need to know this." Shen Qianmo's tone was cold, as if the person standing in front of her was not an emperor about to ascend the throne, but a servant.
A hint of anger flashed across Shangguan Jin's face. Although he concealed it with a smile, the sharpness in his eyes did not escape Shen Qianmo's notice.
Annoyance flashed in Shangguan Jin's eyes as he looked at Shen Qianmo with a gloomy expression. This Shen Qianmo was truly going too far. She didn't even take him seriously. He, Shangguan Jin, was no longer the same person he used to be. In a day, he would be the emperor of Qi Yue! Once he became emperor, he wouldn't care about the Demon Palace at all.
Shen Qianmo remained silent, simply observing Shangguan Jin. The pride and smugness that flashed in Shangguan Jin's eyes made Shen Qianmo sneer.
How foolish! Power has not yet been reclaimed, and the throne has not yet been assumed, yet they are already so smug. They may not even know how they died.
Is this the composure Shangguan Jin has cultivated over the years, hiding his true strength? It's truly pathetic.
"As you know, Miss, I'm going to kill that traitor Yao tonight. If you're interested, you can stay and watch. If not, then please leave." Shangguan Jin's attitude was somewhat arrogant, as if she already considered herself the emperor.
Shen Qianmo remained unperturbed, merely smiling calmly, "My decision to stay or leave is none of the Eighth Prince's concern."
The implication was that whether she stayed or left was her own decision, and Shangguan Jin had no say in it. Her tone was somewhat nonchalant, as if she didn't take Shangguan Jin seriously at all. There was even a hint of disdain for the guards in Shangguan Jin's residence.
Shangguan Jin frowned in displeasure. He had always admired Shen Qianmo, and now that he knew her identity as the Palace Master of the Demon Palace, he even had the idea of marrying her as his concubine. However, seeing her arrogant appearance now, it seemed that the Demon Palace would have to be eliminated one day.
Shen Qianmo stared coldly at Shangguan Jin. Although Shangguan Jin smiled, his eyes revealed murderous intent. Did Shangguan Jin want to kill her? He probably didn't have the ability or the fate to do so.
"In that case, I won't stay with you any longer, Miss," Shangguan Jin said with a faint smile.
"Please do as you wish, Eighth Prince. Also, please call me Palace Master from now on." Shen Qianmo raised her eyes, her gaze unfathomable, and the smile on her lips was equally enigmatic.
A hint of unease flashed in Shangguan Jin's eyes. He forced a cold smile and turned to leave.
As Shen Qianmo watched Shangguan Jin's figure slowly walk away, a bewitching smile appeared on her lips. "Then, I'll stay here and watch this good show."
As the sun gradually set, the setting sun dyed the western sky orange-red, as if a bloody battle was slowly brewing. Shen Qianmo leaped onto a tree branch, her eyes filled with a hint of laziness and a nonchalant smile, watching the night gradually descend.
"The Prime Minister has arrived."
Upon hearing the guard's report, a hint of amusement flashed in Shen Qianmo's eyes. Shangguan Jin had actually summoned Shen Lingyun as well. Did he intend to eliminate him as well? However, Shen Lingyun's influence in the court was deeply entrenched. It seemed premature for Shangguan Jin to kill Shen Lingyun at this time.
"Father-in-law, you've arrived." Shangguan Jin was still wearing the same golden robe he had worn that afternoon, and compared to his previous cold demeanor, he exuded an air of nobility.
Shen Lingyun wore a kind and benevolent smile, but a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes as he asked, "I wonder what business His Majesty has summoned me here for?"
"Father-in-law, please don't say that. I haven't ascended the throne yet," Shangguan Jin said, feigning modesty, though his eyes betrayed an undisguised smugness.
Shen Lingyun patted Shangguan Jin on the shoulder and said with a smile, "It was only a matter of time."
Shen Qianmo gave a cold smile. These two really knew how to put on an act. But, since they were about to die, what harm was there in letting them have their fun?
"Father-in-law, the main reason I summoned you here today is to discuss the matter of eliminating Yao Shan." Shangguan Jin's lips curled into a cold and murderous smile, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes.
Shen Qianmo could see it clearly from the tree. Could it be that Shangguan Jin wanted to kill Yao Shan first, then Shen Lingyun, and frame Yao Shan so that he could take back power at the same time?
But how could that old fox Shen Lingyun let him have his way so easily? The guards of the Eighth Prince's residence had probably already been turned into Shen Lingyun's men without anyone noticing. Otherwise, given Shen Lingyun's cautious nature, why would he personally come to the Eighth Prince's residence at this crucial time?
Sure enough, a cunning ruthlessness flashed in Shen Lingyun's eyes, and he said with a forced smile, "That old bastard Yao Shan really deserves to die!"