Chapter 22: Settling the Bet

Chapter 22: Settling the Bet

“Don’t look!”

“Close your eyes!”

Nie Bing was so anxious that tears almost came out!

Xiao Ce naturally wouldn’t listen. He not only wanted to look, he also wanted to take action!

After playing around for a while, he had to admit, it was really very nice.

He truly hadn’t seen it coming.

Nie Bing was actually so well hidden, more unexpected than he imagined.

Like the saying goes, she looked thin with clothes on, but had curves without them.

“I’m going to kill you…”

“I… am going to kill you…”

“I… uh… I’m going to… I want… uh… I’m going… going to kill you…”

This threatening voice, along with Xiao Ce’s actions, gradually lost its threatening tone.

It gradually became suggestive.

Xiao Ce’s hands danced as if playing the piano.

From Nie Bing’s breathing and her overall reactions,

Xiao Ce knew it was really having an effect.

Her face was red all the way to the back of her ears.

Not only that, her originally fair skin all over had turned red.

What Nie Bing herself found hardest to accept were the sounds she made from time to time, sounds she couldn’t stand herself.

…

And Xiao Ce’s hands moved toward the completely forbidden place.

“You… you… stop! Don’t go there… I… I… I beg you…”

Nie Bing gasped for breath, almost with a sob in her voice.

And Xiao Ce’s goal was to get useful information from Nie Bing’s mouth.

Everyone had their own bottom line.

He knew very well, looking at the state Nie Bing was showing.

She was about to reach her limit!

A proud woman like Nie Bing would absolutely not want Xiao Ce to see that moment from her!

“I’ll talk! I’ll talk! I’ll talk! It was the Eighth Prince! The Eighth Prince sent me to kill you!”

Seeing Xiao Ce stop, Nie Bing let out a long sigh of relief.

The Eighth Prince?

Xiao Ce listened and searched his memory for the Eighth Prince.

Soon, a person who wasn’t very memorable appeared.

Xiao Xiangqing!

This person didn’t have a strong presence among the princes.

But according to the Original Host’s memory, this Eighth Prince was a scheming person. He seemed quiet, but was extremely cunning and ruthless.

Xiao Ce continued to ask, “You and Xiao Xiangqing have no connection at all? He told you to kill me?”

Nie Bing’s expression was ugly.

She had indeed agreed to do things for Xiao Xiangqing.

But, she knew very well in her heart that Xiao Xiangqing was not a wise ruler either. Choosing Xiao Xiangqing was entirely a choice made out of necessity.

Moreover, Nie Bing also knew. Xiao Xiangqing had always just treated her as a pawn.

Since she had already given up Xiao Xiangqing, she no longer hid anything.

“I’m not exactly Xiao Xiangqing’s person, I just helped him with tasks. At most, it was a matter of mutual benefit.”

“He told me to kill you and frame Xiao Yang. Also, killing you would be like removing a public menace!”

Xiao Ce had studied psychology.

Whether a person was lying could be seen from their eyes, micro-expressions, and movements.

He could be sure, Nie Bing wasn’t lying this time.

Xiao Ce asked, “Removing a public menace? I don’t recall doing anything to wrong the Great Xiao Kingdom.”

“Being a good-for-nothing is your original sin! If a good-for-nothing becomes the Emperor in the future! Then, it would be a disaster for the Great Xiao Kingdom! So, killing you is removing a public menace!”

Xiao Ce laughed out loud.

Nie Bing slightly frowned her delicate brows, “What are you laughing at?”

“Just in terms of judgment, you are far inferior to Yin Pan’er. Moreover, you keep saying it’s for the good of the Great Xiao Kingdom, for the good of the people of the Great Xiao Kingdom! Yet, you almost plunged the Great Xiao Kingdom into turmoil!”

Seeing Nie Bing’s unconvinced expression.

Xiao Ce continued, “Don’t believe me? Do you know why there hasn’t been large-scale turmoil in the court all these years?”

Seeing Nie Bing didn’t answer.

“That’s because I’m alive! All the princes know! As long as I don’t die, they can never become the Crown Prince! So, they have a common enemy! That’s me! I am the balance point. They band together just to try and kill me!”

“If, after killing me, what would be the consequences? According to the laws of Great Xiao, if there is a legitimate eldest son, he should be established! Only without a legitimate eldest son can a virtuous prince be chosen as Crown Prince! If I die! Not only the Eighth Prince, but also the Fourth Prince, and some lesser-known princes would all want the Crown Prince position. First, Xiao Xiangqing would join forces with the Prince of Zhenguo to attack Xiao Yang. And Xiao Yang’s faction also has considerable power, they would definitely fight back.”

“These princes, their maternal families each have influence in the court! When that time comes, the court would surely split apart, with constant internal strife! The Great Xiao Kingdom already has popular uprisings everywhere, with the Turkic people watching from the north, and pirates harassing from the south. If the court situation becomes unstable, that would be the real root of national disaster!”

“Do you really think This Prince is a good-for-nothing? Do you think I could have survived under the watchful eyes and open and hidden attacks of all the princes just by relying on the Prince of Zhenguo’s protection? You must know the Prince of Zhenguo is often away on campaigns! Besides the Prince of Zhenguo, This Prince has no other backing. I could only rely on myself! Do you think a good-for-nothing could have survived until now?”

Hearing Xiao Ce’s words, Nie Bing was stunned.

Because, her analysis did make sense!

Not only did Nie Bing think it made sense, analyzing this far, even Xiao Ce felt he had misunderstood the Original Host. The Original Host might not have been that useless after all.

Thinking he had convinced Nie Bing.

For some reason Nie Bing suddenly thought of something, and her tone changed as she said, “Hmph, don’t flatter yourself. What abilities do you have? All you do is bend and compromise, bend and compromise! You survived only because the Prince of Zhenguo was at the peak of his military power back then! His Majesty was just wary of him! What does that have to do with you!”

Looking at Nie Bing’s expression, Xiao Ce laughed in frustration.

Big breasts but no brains, was that referring to someone like Nie Bing?

“Does This Prince need to explain to you? Believe it or not! In this situation, why is This Prince discussing this with you?”

Seeing that a meaningful smile had reappeared on Xiao Ce’s face.

“You… you… what do you want to do!”

“Haven’t I already told you everything you wanted to know?”

Xiao Ce said with a smile, “That’s right, just now was the interrogation. Now it’s time for you to settle your bet!”

“How dare you!”

Xiao Ce picked Nie Bing up with one hand and placed her into a bathtub nearby.

After traveling all the way, they were indeed covered in dust.

Xiao Ce took off his dusty clothes and began to wash.

“You’re shameless!”

“You’re despicable!”

“You’re a villain!”

“Don’t touch me!”

“Don’t you dare touch there!”

“Xiao Ce, I’m going to kill you…”

“Ah…”

“You…”

…

Xiao Ce never planned to let Nie Bing go.

The moment Nie Bing wanted to kill him, Xiao Ce could not possibly let her go.

Everything needs to have a price!

After all, such a stunning beauty, killing her directly would truly be a waste.

Xiao Ce found that Nie Bing, this ice-cold woman, had high combat skills, but her brain really wasn’t as smart as Yin Pan’er’s.

Indeed, all the brains went to the chest.

And, from what Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing said.

Nie Bing’s father had considerable prestige in the Northern Desert Region back in the day. When he goes to the Northern Desert Region, he would still need Nie Bing’s help.

As for how to make this wild horse Nie Bing listen to him.

Xiao Ce had his ways.

Of course, making her his woman was the first step!

With Nie Bing’s intelligence.

Xiao Ce had full confidence he could keep her firmly in the palm of his hand.