The time goes back a few days.

Inside Xiangzhou City.

Lu Ziyuan learned that Xie YanYu was assigned by the Emperor to Bianzhou to serve as the chief examiner for this local examination. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

In these troubled times, the Xie family is known as a civil servant family. In Lu Ziyuan’s eyes, his father-in-law’s family is all show and no substance, and even their subordinates lack a competent master.

It’s truly not advisable to travel around.

The political scene is exceedingly complicated, and besides, the two princes have been driven to the brink, close to the point of desperation.

Who knows if they might make another foolish move?

Out of love for the Xie family, he was willing to put in extra effort, so he asked his trusted aide to check out the political situation in Bianzhou.

That very day, Ming Fengming Jian brought back news.

The newly appointed Prefect of Bianzhou is Ji Chengfeng, the top scholar of the recent imperial examination.

Lu Ziyuan was, of course, not unfamiliar with this name.

He had personally witnessed his Wanwan accept the red plum gifted by Ji Chengfeng at a palace banquet two years ago.

He had even been thoroughly jealous at that time.

Later, when he thought of Ji Chengfeng as someone doomed to not live past spring, he generously let it go.

Coming across this name again, Lu Ziyuan’s calm face showed a slight ripple.

A person whose grave should be overgrown with weeds by now, yet didn’t die?

... Why?

However, with a moment’s thought, he came up with the answer.

Why else could it be, of course, that girl couldn’t resist meddling.

Whenever it concerned Xie Wanqing, Lu Ziyuan could never remain calm.

He stood there firmly, his expression changing several times as he pondered something.

Finally, gritting his teeth, he said, "Heartless only to me!"

Even a remote cousin, whom she still ’pities the weak’, wanting to save him once.

How did she not think that fleeing from him was an aim for his life!

Did she just want his life that much?

Or, besides that old man Pei Yuqing, did his Wanwan have other inclinations for others?

Thinking of Ji Chengfeng’s face, Lu Ziyuan just felt a fire in his heart.

The urge to kill began to surge.

Ming Feng calmly took half a step back and said, "There are still over a hundred rebel soldiers in the dungeon, should we..."

Lu Ziyuan raised his hand slightly, "No need to go to that trouble, there are a few ready-made ones here."

After saying that, he turned into the Punishment Hall where Yu Cheng and several deputy generals from the Yu Family Army were held.

Soon, everyone else in the Punishment Hall withdrew, leaving only Lu Ziyuan inside.

No one knew what happened inside, nor did anyone know what Lu Ziyuan was doing.

But the more close deputy generals knew.

Since Miss Xie’s death, their master had become a living corpse.

Only when killing could there be some sign of life in him.

Before their master was heavy with murderous intent but did not quite resort to brutal killing.

But now...

The faint screams from inside the Punishment Hall made Ming Feng and Mingjian exchange glances and bow their heads silently.

They didn’t know that in another life, Lu Ziyuan was truly a God of Killing.

Waging war everywhere, massacring cities happened quite a lot.

That was not enough; he was addicted to killing, even in the court, causing heads to roll.

He was the Emperor, but also an absolute madman.

A madman deeply hurt by lost love.

After an unknown amount of time, the heavy door was pulled open from the inside.

Lu Ziyuan emerged; his clothes were neat, his face calm and unhurried. At a glance, he appeared truly stunning, a noble and imposing man, though perhaps his aura felt more chilling.

Other than the blood-red glint in his eyes, there was no sign of his deep-seated murderous tendency and fading humanity.