"Son, you don't really want to kill someone, do you?"
When Lady Elira heard her son say this, panic immediately appeared on her face:
"No! Absolutely not. If you do this, won't you give those people a handle?"
Lady Elira was no novice in palace fighting.
Even though they were now in the ColdPalace, there were still many people who wanted to kill Leon.
As a mother, she naturally didn't want Leon to take risks just because of the provocation of one or two servants.
"Uh... I was just trying to scare Mara, why did you take it seriously?"
Leon showed a trace of embarrassment and comforted her:
"Don't worry, Mother. I'm not a fool. I will not do something as stupid as digging my own grave."
"That's good."
Lady Elira breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned again:
"But, besides this, do you have any other coping strategies?"
"Don't worry, Mother. Just wait for them to arrive."
Leon didn't tell her his plan, but his calmexpression gave LadyElira some confidence.
In less than half an incense stick of time, Mara returned with reinforcements.
This time, there were more people, including Ruixiang, the eunuch in charge of household affairs for EmpressVictoria, and three tall, strong eunuchs who served as errand boys.
Such a lineup was more than enough to deal with a sickly mother and son.
Ruixiang looked a bit sinister. As soon as they met, he shouted in a hoarse voice:
"You two are so bold that you even disobeyed the orders of Empress Victoria and beat her personal maid. Today, we must seek justice for Empress Victoria!"
"Eunuch Ruixiang, this is all a misunderstanding. Leon just woke up and his mind isn't clear yet, so he was confused for a moment and offended Miss Mara. Please..."
LadyElira had just started to plead for mercy when Leon interrupted her:
"Mother, why are you wasting time talking to them?"
He took a step forward and looked at Ruixiang:
"Yes, I disobeyed the order and beat the maid. So what? What are you going to do about it?"
"Hehe, I never thought that a loser like you could be so brave."
Ruixiang looked at Leon with a squinting gaze, and said with a fake smile:
"That's better. When we start fighting, our people won't show mercy."
"No, Eunuch Ruixiang, please..."
LadyElira was frightened and rushed forward to plead for mercy, but was pushedaway by Ruixiang and almost fell to the ground.
Fortunately, Leon supported her in time.
But Ruixiang said without any shame:
"It's too late to beg for mercy for your son now. You even dare to beat someone around Empress Victoria. That's simply lawless!"
"You, Lady Elira, don't know how to teach your son. Let us help you teach him a lesson! This will also remind this useless prince of his place!"
Mara, with her swollen, bruised face, took the opportunity to say:
"Eunuch, tell your people to act quickly! I want this piece of trash bedridden for at least a month!"
"Are you sure one month is enough?"
Ruixiang smiled sinisterly.
Before Mara could respond, Leon's eyes turned cold:
"Of course, it's not enough. You'd better make sure I lie down for the rest of my life—that would count as real ability!"
"Hehe, the Eldest Prince is joking. No matter how bad you are, you're still the son of His Majesty. I don't have the courage to go that far."
Ruixiang wasn't lying. Even though he was in the Cold Palace, Leon was still a member of the royal family.
As long as he held that identity, these servants couldn't openly harmhim, at least not in public.
At best, they could rough himup, but even that would need to be well-covered.
If news got out, even if the Emperor turnedablindeye, the censors incourt wouldn't let it go.
"So even you know fear."
Leon sneered, clenched his fist, and stepped forward:
"It's a pity that you don't have the courage—but I do."
"You... what do you want to do!?"
Ruixiang looked at his clenched fist and shouted sternly.
He couldn't believe that this disgraced prince actually dared to raise his hand.
In the next moment, he paid the price for this misjudgment.
Leon didn't hesitate at all and punched him hard in the stomach with incredible speed.
"Ouch... cough, cough—you..."
Ruixiang nearly suffocated. He screamed and bent over like a cooked shrimp, coughing and pointing at Leon while trying to retreat.
"Eunuch Ruixiang?!"
Mara's expression changed drastically. She was completely caught off guard and shouted at the three eunuchs:
"What are you standing around for? Help him!"
The three eunuchs snapped out of it and rushed forward.
But though they were fast, Leon wasn't slow either.
He roared and pounced on Ruixiang, punching and kicking him like a wild beast.
"Ouch! He's crazy! Restrain him! Restrain him!"
Ruixiang was beaten badly. He ran away with his head in his hands. His face was swollen, his robes were torn, his hat fell off, and even his hair was messy—a complete mess.
However, the enemies had more people and more strength, and Leon'sbody was farinferior to that of his previous life.
After a brief stalemate, he was finally pinned to a table by the three eunuchs.
"Bah! Are you insane? A mad dog?!"
Ruixiang, who had barely escaped the assault, spat out blood and raised his arm:
"Hold him down! Hey, kid, didn't you want to beat someone? I'll play with you now!"
"No!"
At this moment, LadyElira rushed forward again, but Ruixiang snapped coldly:
"Pull this woman away!"
One eunuch left Leon and moved to stop Lady Elira.
No one interfered as Ruixiang turned back with a cruel smile:
"Had your fun? Now it's our turn!"
He raised his hand and was about to slap Leon, but just as his palm neared Leon's face, the prince's lips curled slightly—as if he had anticipated this moment all along.
In a flash, Leon twisted his body, freed one arm, grabbed the fruit knife on the table, and slashed upward!
Ruixiang reacted fast and pulled back, but his palm was still cut, immediately turning pale with cold sweat.
"Damn it, are you insane—"
His voice suddenly stopped.
His entire body froze, and his expression turned dark and ugly.
Mara and the eunuchs were just as stunned, looking as if they had seen a ghost.
Tick-tock...
Bright redblood poured from Leon's wrist, pooling at his feet.
He had actually cut his wrist!
The scene was so shocking that even time itself seemed to freeze.
After a long pause, LadyElira screamed, rushed to Leon'sside, grabbed his arm, and cried:
"Leon! Why did you cut your wrist? Why are you so stupid? If you die, I can't go on either! Wuwu..."
"Don't worry, Mother. I won't die... not yet."
Leon consoledher, then turned his head to glare at Ruixiang and the others, a cold smile on his face:
"Weren't you going to teach me a lesson? Go ahead, continue! As lowly servants, you deceived the emperor and forced the prince of the dynasty to commit suicide. Tell me—what do you think will happen to you?"
---