Chapter 23: The Great Sword.

Bai Shuxi stood between the two men, her face flushed red with a mix of anger and grievance. She turned her head slightly toward Qian Junyou and said in a low voice:

“Young Master is overthinking… I am not close with him at all!”

Although she and Xiao Kun had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, Bai Shuxi had never liked him from beginning to end. On the contrary, Xiao Kun’s constant unsolicited attentiveness often left her extremely embarrassed.

On top of that, the widespread rumors among the common people about the “talented scholar and talented lady” pair made Bai Shuxi increasingly disgusted with Xiao Kun. The key point was that Xiao Kun’s talent was actually inferior to hers.

Later, when Xiao Kun heard that Qian Junyou had taken a fancy to Bai Shuxi, he grew anxious. He gathered a few brothers and planned a “sweet confession” for her at a poetry gathering.

In the end, right in front of everyone, he put Bai Shuxi in an impossible situation. In a fit of anger, Bai Shuxi decided to sever all ties with him!

Some relationships were like that—once the window paper was pierced, they couldn’t even remain friends…

But Xiao Kun didn’t think that way! He believed his little sister Shuxi was just being shy and throwing a tantrum!

“Young Master Xiao, the Young Prince has never threatened me. This is a matter between him and me. It does not require your interference!”

Bai Shuxi forced herself to stay patient and explained seriously. However, Xiao Kun didn’t believe a word. Although he had been investigating the scene yesterday and hadn’t gone to Taiqing Palace, he had heard everything that happened.

“Shuxi, he must be threatening you with your family’s affairs, right? Don’t be afraid. I’m back now! I will protect you!”

Xiao Kun excitedly grabbed Bai Shuxi’s shoulders. His voice was gentle and affectionate, his eyes overflowing with excessive confidence.

The Xiao family, one of the five great clans, had decent connections in the court. Within the clan there were even two cultivators at the Soul Emergence stage and one at the Spirit Division stage.

As the rising star of the family, Xiao Kun carried the heavy hopes of the entire Xiao clan! Becoming the head of the Censorate at eighteen had shocked the entire dynasty—he was a once-in-a-century genius!

Facing a good-for-nothing rich young master like Qian Junyou who did nothing but idle about and used dirty methods to forcibly claim the girl he loved most, how could he tolerate it?

The officials from the three major judicial departments nearby were all whispering among themselves. In their eyes, Xiao Kun was the true protagonist of the story!

“Look, our boss and Miss Bai are the perfect talented man and beautiful woman, a match made in heaven!”

“I think so too! Lord Xiao’s heroic rescue of the beauty is so cool! What is that Young Prince even worth?”

Looking at Xiao Kun’s resolute gaze, Qian Junyou felt he had truly suffered a loss. If you’re so amazing, where were you on this day in the previous loop?

If only you had stepped forward and taken this girl away, he wouldn’t have died in the Teaching Department.

“Let go of me! I already said the Young Prince is here because I asked him to help investigate the case! Moreover, there is no relationship between you and me anymore! I don’t need your protection either! Please have some self-respect, Young Master Xiao.”

Bai Shuxi flung off Xiao Kun’s hand and spoke word by word while suppressing her anger.

Although she didn’t know when that extra set of memories had come from, she clearly remembered that in the “other world” she had already sought help from Xiao Kun. He couldn’t save her father and only wanted to persuade her to leave with him.

Confusion and sorrow flashed in Xiao Kun’s eyes. He had also read the Bai family’s petition from yesterday. Although Qian Junyou had ultimately won, that didn’t mean he had completely cleared his suspicions!

It was obvious that Qian Junyou was using the Bai family’s crimes to force Bai Shuxi to submit to him!

Xiao Kun suddenly raised his head and glared furiously at Qian Junyou, looking as if he knew everything.

“Prince Rui’s heir! Using such despicable means to coerce Shuxi—don’t you think that’s going too far?!”

“Hmph, with that intelligence of yours you still lead the Censorate? Miss Bai, the person to help you investigate the case is already here. I’ll be heading back first!”

Qian Junyou really couldn’t stand the intellectually challenged person in front of him anymore. Besides, he had long wanted to cut ties with Bai Shuxi and was eager to slip away.

Seeing that Qian Junyou wanted to leave, Bai Shuxi turned and grabbed his sleeve.

“No! Young Master, you promised Shuxi!”

“Miss Bai, using such despicable means to coerce me—don’t you think that’s going too far?”

Qian Junyou put on a poker face and repeated Xiao Kun’s earlier words in the exact same flat tone. The anger in his heart was almost impossible to contain anymore. Why should he come here just to suffer this humiliation?

He tried to甩 off Bai Shuxi’s hand, but she held onto his sleeve tightly and refused to let go, staring at him with a pitiful, aggrieved expression.

That day when Xiao Kun had confessed to Bai Shuxi, he had also grabbed her sleeve like this. But Bai Shuxi had flung his hand away and left without looking back. Seeing the same scene now felt like a knife twisting in Xiao Kun’s heart!

“Shuxi, stop fooling around! It was my fault last time! Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, you don’t have to lower your head to this beast in human clothing!”

“Shut up—!”

Bai Shuxi turned her head and roared at Xiao Kun. She was so aggrieved she was about to cry. She swallowed hard with difficulty, two veins standing out on her snow-white neck, and looked at Qian Junyou pitifully.

Qian Junyou let out a cold laugh and said to Xiao Kun:

“Xiao, I remember your family background is quite good. Why does it feel like your brain didn’t develop properly and your cerebellum didn’t develop at all?

I have no interest in destroying the Bai family, but I wouldn’t mind trying to make your Xiao family go bankrupt!”

The moment these words came out, everyone present was stunned. Xiao Kun was so furious his eyes nearly spat fire, his teeth grinding audibly.

The Censorate was the Emperor’s “external” eyes and ears—a blade hanging over the heads of all court officials!

Prince Rui’s mansion’s status also needed no explanation. If these two sides clashed head-on, what would the outcome be?

Moreover, Qian Junyou had no idea that there was still a deep grudge between the Xiao family and him…

“Qian Junyou! Arrogant and conceited, speaking rudely! Today I will teach you a proper lesson on behalf of Prince Rui!”

“Who the hell do you think you are? You brainless fool!”

Xiao Kun drew his sword once again. Qian Junyou could barely suppress the rage boiling inside him!

“Stop—!”

Seeing the situation, Bai Shuxi formed hand seals to summon water, condensed it into ice, and shaped the ice into a sword. With lightning speed, she pointed it at Xiao Kun’s throat.

A wave of icy chill swept across the entire hall. Everyone suddenly felt much colder and subconsciously tightened their clothes.

“You two lords, please stop fighting and calm down!”

The Vice Minister of Justice wanted to step forward to mediate but didn’t dare get close. He could only shout from a distance.

The Chief of the Court of Judicial Review also stood to the side, trembling with a troubled expression.

“Shuxi! Why are you still protecting him? If you want to investigate the case, I can help you! Why must you find this ignorant, good-for-nothing noble young master?”

“You… you don’t understand others, so don’t speak nonsense! The Young Prince already knows the cause of the fire!”

“You actually believe his nonsense?”

Bai Shuxi paused, then said firmly:

“I choose to believe him. What does that have to do with you?”

Xiao Kun couldn’t believe his ears. It felt as if he could hear his own heart shattering.

Previously, Bai Shuxi had clearly treated this profligate son Qian Junyou with cold disdain and contempt. Yet now she was defending him in every possible way. What exactly had happened?

Why would she rather believe this “useless waste” than believe him?

“Even so, what qualifications does he have to investigate the case?!”

“Five years ago, His Majesty issued an oral decree!”

Xiao Kun loosened his clenched teeth. His cold gaze swept across Qian Junyou as he said contemptuously:

“Heh, even so, Young Prince, where is your official sword? If you didn’t bring it… then I’m afraid we cannot receive you!”

Official sword? What official sword? Did he have an official sword? Qian Junyou suddenly couldn’t keep up with their conversation…

Go back and get it now? No need. He hadn’t really wanted to help Bai Shuxi anyway. Once he left, he wouldn’t come back.

But just letting it end like this felt unsatisfying… unwilling.

Just as he fell into confusion, a familiar icy voice sounded softly beside him—

“Young Master, your sword.”

‘Holy shit! Xueya?! How are you here???’ Qian Junyou’s heart jolted.

Everyone present was startled the moment they saw Nalan Xueya. When had this woman appeared?

Her face was cold as frost, her skin like ice and jade. An immortal aura intertwined with chilling cold, like a fairy descending from a snow mountain!

The icy aura Bai Shuxi had released earlier couldn’t even compare to the visual impact of everyone looking at Xueya once.

Nalan Xueya did not answer. She simply knelt on one knee and presented the treasured sword with both hands.

“Who exactly is this person? When did she get in? The Ministry of Justice has an Out-of-Body stage expert guarding it!”

“I keep feeling… like she was already here the whole time! I heard before that Prince Rui’s mansion has many monsters! Heavens…”

Nalan Xueya’s appearance and figure were in no way inferior to Bai Shuxi’s, yet no one tried to compare the two. It seemed as if everyone’s seven emotions and six desires had been frozen solid by her in this moment.

There was no oppressive aura at all, yet both Bai Shuxi and Xiao Kun felt an indescribable sense of fear.

Qian Junyou once again felt a chill toward this “concubine” of his. Trembling, he took the treasured sword Xueya offered and slowly drew it from its sheath—Profound Grade Superior!

This was the highest grade that could be forged in the mortal world. Only three people were capable of crafting weapons of this level!

A dazzling light instantly blanketed everything in sight. When the light faded, the sword was revealed—

The blade was finely etched with clear patterns. On one side was an ascending flood dragon, on the other a soaring phoenix. The sword body was also adorned with the seven stars of the Northern Dipper, corresponding to celestial phenomena!

Finally, near the hilt, four large golden characters were inscribed—

“Imperial Bestowed Shangfang”