Chapter 5: 第005章：草包女发飙（1）

What should they do? They had originally only acted under the instigation of the Second Young Lady, thinking they could simply enjoy a fine meal. After all, defiling this neglected, useless girl wouldn't cause any trouble; who would even know? They never expected this useless girl to be so fierce, preferring to jump into the lake to commit suicide rather than be defiled. This was bad. If this matter reached the Prime Minister's ears, their lives would truly be over. Everyone's hearts raced with terror, their faces turned deathly pale, and their legs trembled uncontrollably.

At this moment, Xue Qingcheng had just finished changing her clothes. Upon hearing that Princess Ming arrived in this direction, she felt a surge of worry. She had heard Princess Ming's words clearly just now, and her heart was filled with secret joy seeing this useless girl act so resolutely. Seeing the servants in such a state of panic, her beautiful eyes flashed with a sharp light. She let out a soft snort from her nose, and a cold, sinister voice rang out toward the useless servants: "What are you panicking for? Fish her out. Strip her clothes. As for Father, I will handle him."

Hmph, thinking that by dying she could preserve her chastity—what a delusion. She, Xue Qingcheng, would ensure the girl died in disgrace. When Father asked about it, she wouldn't be afraid; she would simply say this slut couldn't stand being lonely and seduced the household servants. With her mother's previous example, Father would have to believe her even if he didn't want to. Besides, these servants didn't have a death wish; given what they had done, how would they dare disobey her?

Xue Qingcheng's icy, sinister words caused the servants' bodies to tremble once more. Beneath the beautiful countenance of the Second Young Lady lay a heart as poisonous as a scorpion. The crowd knew her methods, so they replied respectfully, "Yes, Second Young Lady."

In the lake water, Xue Linglong felt a bone-chilling cold piercing her body. Her consciousness was blurred, and the pain was almost unbearable, yet her heart was filled with such resentment and unwillingness. Why, as the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's manor, did she have to suffer persecution from these people? The hatred in her heart was like a surging river, endless and unceasing. Even as the darkness prepared to swallow her, her bone-deep hatred rippled through the entire lake, its murderous aura becoming incredibly intense. Xue Linglong swore that after death, she would surely transform into a vengeful ghost to claim their lives.

Having received the order, the servants hurried to fish Xue Linglong out of the lake. Once pulled up, Xue Linglong's eyes were wide open, clearly dying with eyes unclosed. Those cold, staring eyes made their skin crawl and their hair stand on end. It felt as if an icy hand was about to squeeze their necks; their bodies shook violently, their legs trembling so much they were weak and unable to even take a step.

Xue Baimei's heart also leaped in fright, but she plucked up the courage to squat down and check Xue Linglong's breathing. There was none. She feigned extreme shock, crying out, "Second Sister, she's dead! What should we do?"

Although Xue Baimei appeared terrified and her voice was somewhat trembling, a flash of disdain and triumph flickered in the depths of her beautiful eyes, accompanied by a hint of joy. This slut deserved to die. Although she wouldn't directly inform Father, she would send people to spread word throughout the capital about today's events. Who in the Imperial Family would dare to take such a venomous woman as a wife? Wouldn't the position of Princess Ming eventually fall into her, Xue Baimei's, hands?

"Hmph, just a slut who seduced the household servants and accidentally drowned in the lake. Do you think Father could blame us?" Xue Qingcheng snorted, a cold smile curling her lips. Her eyes were full of triumph; this slut's death was perfect. Now that she was dead, no one would dare compete with her for Prince Ming, and the position of Princess Ming would belong to her, Xue Qingcheng. Xue Qingcheng then cast a disgusted, cold glance at the Xue Linglong lying on the ground. A sinister light flashed in her eyes as she curled her lips in mockery and snorted, "Hmph, wanting to preserve her chastity? I'd like to see how you do that. You lot, strip her clothes!"

The servants looked at the dead Xue Linglong on the ground, whose eyes were still glaring angrily, her skin a deathly, bloodless white. It was exceptionally terrifying, as if she might transform into a vengeful ghost at any moment to claim their lives.

"What, aren't you moving? Do I need to petition Father and say you drove Third Sister to her death?" Xue Qingcheng's arrogant and chilling voice rang out.

Hearing this, the servants truly wanted to collapse onto the ground and faint. If the Prime Minister found out, they would surely be beaten to death. At this thought, they forcibly suppressed their fear and stepped forward.

A dark light flashed in Xue Baimei's beautiful eyes. Her crimson fingernails dug hard into her palm; this woman was indeed poisonous. However, a faint smile curled her lips, though it did not reach her eyes. She wanted to see who was more formidable: Xue Qingcheng, or herself, Xue Baimei.

Just as the servants' hands touched that cold body, the light in those originally glaring eyes suddenly sharpened, soul-shaking and making the very heavens tremble. Then, the body suddenly lunged upward. These people were dead men; they actually dared to touch the God of Slaughter, Xue Linglong. With a swift, fierce movement, she grabbed one of them. With a loud *crack*, his hand bone was snapped. Immediately, a pig-like scream of agony rang out: "Ah...!"