Chapter 11: The Mad and Desperate Prince x The Pampered and Spoiled Princess (11)

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Zhaoyang was so furious she nearly bit through a silver tooth, yet she was utterly powerless against them. The warmth still lingering in her hands seemed to mock her helplessness. She could not save herself, let alone rescue a wolf cub who had endured a fate similar to hers.

Not far away, Shen Jingmu leaned casually against a tree trunk, calmly watching the direction in which Shu Yao had departed. He had witnessed everything that had just occurred and chose to remain an indifferent bystander.

The woman’s voluminous skirt swept the dusty ground, her snow-white skin starkly contrasting with the fabric, creating a dazzling image that made one feel that no one in the world could desecrate her.

Her face was like a blossoming peach flower, but her heart was as venomous as a serpent’s.

These eight words were all Shen Jingmu could think of to describe her.

Undoubtedly, her face was beautiful—so breathtaking that it almost made one want to brutalize it, leaving behind only a pair of sorrowful, tear-filled eyes.

A venomous black rose: crushed and crumpled, yet the core remained black.

Zhaoyang stood frozen, dazed and motionless for a long while. Only then did Shen Jingmu lazily turn his gaze toward her.

Like himself, she was lowly in status, easily bullied by all. Yet unlike him, she was not yet accustomed to it; a single act of cruelty left her wearing the expression of one witnessing the sky falling.

He struggled to discern how much of that expression was genuine and how much was feigned.

She was a completely different person compared to the cooperative demeanor she had shown that night.

Suddenly aware of someone staring at her, Zhaoyang’s unease sent chills through her entire body.

Instinctively, she searched around and soon spotted the youth leaning against the tree.

His thin lips moved, but the distance was too great for Zhaoyang to hear clearly.

Squinting to focus, she saw that his mouth was clearly forming the words—“useless.”

—

“Princess, what shall we do with the beast that injured you?” Wan Tao asked as she looked at the still-nursing wolf cub, unwilling to speculate on Shu Yao’s intentions.

Could it really be intended for skinning to make a Feng collar?

That was undoubtedly a line to placate them.

Only rare and exotic animals from the Western Regions or precious foxes and martens raised within the palace could be draped around the princess’s neck.

A lowly wolf cub was hardly worthy.

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Hence, Wan Tao grew even more curious about the princess’s purpose in having this beast seized.

Could it be that she intended to torment it for her own amusement?

Shu Yao’s gaze settled on the wolf cub. Judging by its fur and appearance, it was not purebred—likely a wolf-dog hybrid.

According to the system’s information, the second plot point was the “Extermination of the Dogs,” and this wolf cub must be the dog referenced.

Extermination of the Dogs...

She extended her hand, her fair, slender fingers gently grasping the wolf-dog’s neck.

The bones at the throat were clearly visible; the creature was so emaciated that only a thin layer of skin and flesh remained.

The wolf-dog was completely unaware of the impending danger, its round black eyes resembling grapes, excitedly staring at Shu Yao.

Shu Yao shifted her gaze away and gradually applied more pressure with her hand.

The wolf-dog felt suffocated, struggling and emitting soft whimpering sounds from its throat.

Its four pink paws clawed the air weakly; it was too small, its soft paw pads pressing against Shu Yao’s arm.

Its strength to resist was negligible.

“Aw... aw...” The tiny voice grew frantic, its nose snuffling as it gasped for breath.

Shu Yao closed her eyes briefly, then threw the wolf-dog onto the ground.

The creature rolled a few times before stopping by the soft couch, carefully curling into a ball.

Shu Yao glanced at her own hand, her fingertips trembling slightly, as if still cruelly clutching the wolf-dog’s neck, feeling the warm touch of blood flowing in her palm.

To be honest, she had never considered herself particularly kind.

When the system issued the extermination task, she had thought it simple, but once she began, her heart was heavy with sorrow.

She could bully Shen Jingmu and Zhaoyang without remorse because they were the male and female leads of the story and would eventually take her life—so it was just repayment.

But this wolf cub was far too innocent.

The little cub, hurt from the recent fall, extended its tongue to delicately lick its front paws.

Its round pupils were moist, and its body visibly trembled.

Eventually softening, Shu Yao said to Wan Tao, “Find two trustworthy people to take this beast outside the palace and raise it for a few days. Once it’s weaned, release it back into the wild.”

Wan Tao was puzzled but replied, “Yes, Princess.”

Still uneasy, Shu Yao continued, “Make sure no one discovers it. Also, have someone fetch a Feng collar for me from the storeroom—its fur must match the cub’s exactly.”

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Wan Tao realized the implication a moment later.

She looked up cautiously, studying Shu Yao’s expression carefully.

Could the princess have lost her mind?

“You mean... you want outsiders to think this beast died by your hand?”

“Do as I say,” Shu Yao replied.

Wan Tao nodded, “Understood.”

The maid knelt on the ground, gently applying medicine to Shu Yao’s wounds.

The scratches the wolf cub left were shallow, but her skin was tender, and it continued to ooze blood.

The golden wound ointment stung slightly as it touched the injury.

“Princess... you shouldn’t let yourself be hurt.”

“If a scar remains and the Emperor finds out, he will surely be furious and punish me,” Shu Yao said softly.

The kneeling palace maid was named Can Zhi, speaking in a gentle voice.

She had been assigned by Emperor Chu An specifically to care for the original owner, holding a rank equal to Wan Tao but rarely appearing in public.

In the original owner’s memories, Can Zhi neither tended to her daily meals nor her clothing and lodging.

Her sole role was to apply medicine.

Looking deeper into those memories was like peering through a thin veil of mist—unclear and obscured.

The system only revealed main storyline plots related to the male and female leads; all other plots involving the malicious supporting female character were censored.

After the medicine was applied, Can Zhi withdrew and slowly closed the palace door.

The moment the door shut, Shu Yao met her gaze, which held a subtle meaning.

Half an hour later.

“Princess Jianing, His Majesty requests your presence at the Yangxin Hall,” Elder Su announced respectfully, holding a deer-tail whisk outside the hall.