14 Fearless and Unafraid

In the spacious backyard of the Crown Prince’s residence, it was filled with subordinates all dressed in black. Because the Crown Prince’s residence covered a vast area, the backyard at the very back had long been abandoned, left unattended and unused. At this moment, these subordinates had all been summoned here by Chief Steward Hai.

Shang Wuxin wore a black brocade robe, her steps elegant and composed, exuding an aura of noble refinement. There was an unmelting chill between her brows, and just one glance made those already loyal subordinates tremble in their hearts. Their master was truly extraordinary.

“Serve the Crown Prince!” Eunuch Hai and his subordinates knelt simultaneously, their tones filled with respect and awe. Shang Wuxin was satisfied with this outcome. Although she knew Eunuch Hai had trained many people, she hadn’t expected the number to be so large, and each one was skilled in martial arts with a resolute demeanor. Such a team required immense effort to train, and Shang Wuxin began to hold the Chief Eunuch in higher regard.

“Rise!” Shang Wuxin waved her hand, then carefully examined these subordinates. She walked gracefully and slowly past each one, deliberately exuding her dark aura whenever she passed by. The subordinates were drenched in cold sweat, and they all breathed a sigh of relief once she moved away.

“Today, as I stand here, what I need from you is your absolute loyalty! Do you understand what absolute loyalty means? It means your life and your faith belong to me!” Shang Wuxin’s voice was deep and magnetic, yet cold and commanding. “But I will not force anyone. I know you are either close to the Empress Dowager or trained by Chief Eunuch Hai. Today, I give you a choice: if you wish to leave, I will grant you freedom and money to start anew. But if you choose to stay, from now on, your loyalty belongs to me!”

Chief Eunuch Hai wanted to say something—how could the Crown Prince let these people leave and grant them freedom? They were all the Crown Prince’s subordinates; how could they be ungrateful? But looking at the Crown Prince standing there like a sovereign, he found himself unable to utter any words of persuasion.

In just a moment, the entire backyard once again resounded with resolute voices: “We swear to loyally serve the Crown Prince to the death!” They had once only pledged allegiance to that legendary incompetent Crown Prince out of gratitude or other reasons, but today, upon seeing the Crown Prince, they knew he was different. Such a master gave them confidence to be loyal, and more importantly, in front of the Crown Prince, none of them harbored any thoughts of betrayal. Each person looked at the Crown Prince standing there with spirits high.

Shang Wuxin nodded in satisfaction. Would she really give them freedom? No, of course not! Captain Hai had raised them for so many years, and they knew some of the secrets of the Crown Prince’s residence. If anyone really wanted to leave, Shang Wuxin would not let them leave alive. But what pleased her was that these people did not disappoint her—they were worthy of being her subordinates.

“Select half of them to serve as guards of the Crown Prince’s residence. I want this place to no longer be like an inn! Captain Hai, arrange this!” Shang Wuxin ordered. “The remaining half will be taken by Wuwei for training. Half of those who return will continue to guard the residence, and the other half will continue training!”

Though puzzled, no one resisted. Captain Hai was so happy because of the Crown Prince’s trust that his old face smiled like a chrysanthemum. “This old servant will definitely arrange everything well, Crown Prince, rest assured!”

“Bring out the five best martial artists!” Shang Wuxin ordered. “Wuwei, spar with them!” Although he knew Wuwei’s skills had improved significantly, Shang Wuxin had never tested him before. Now, this was both to verify Wuwei’s recent efforts and to establish his authority for future leadership.

Among the many subordinates, a woman and four men dressed in black stepped forward. Wu Wei nodded slightly to acknowledge them, and the six immediately began fighting. Wu Wei’s methods were ruthless, and the scars on his cheeks made him look even more terrifying. The other five were also quite skilled in martial arts, but compared to Wu Wei, they were still a bit lacking. Soon, only Wu Wei and another woman remained locked in a fierce battle. Since it was a sparring match, they did not use weapons, but both still bore bruises on their faces.

The two fought each other desperately. Wu Wei’s martial skills were far superior to the woman’s, but having just dealt with those four men, he had exhausted much of his strength and was inevitably a bit unsteady. Meanwhile, the woman’s ruthlessness was in no way inferior to Wu Wei’s.

“Alright!” Shang Wuxin stopped the two from their endless fighting. Although Wuwei’s martial arts had not met his expectations, he couldn’t push too hard.

The two immediately separated but both held mutual admiration for each other. They bowed to the prince, which made the many subordinates admire the prince even more. If a maid by the prince’s side had such high martial skills, even the one among them with the highest martial arts could handle her. Thinking of the prince saying he would send them for training, many were eager to try.

“What’s your name?” Shang Wuxin asked playfully, looking at the woman in black. This woman’s agility and reflexes were quite good, and since Wuwei still had many things to arrange, she had noticed Wuwei’s recent fatigue. Therefore, she needed a personal maid to manage the affairs around her.

“My name is not important! Everyone calls me Ah Yi!” The woman in black said with her head lowered, but there was not a trace of sadness in her eyes.

Chief Hai looked at the Crown Prince, who seemed somewhat interested in the woman, and quickly stepped forward to say, “This girl’s parents were once attendants to the Empress. She passed away shortly after birth a long time ago, so the old servant has been raising her. Because they were not her parents, she was never given a name. This girl is very smart and capable!”

“It’s rare to see you praise a girl like this!” A faint smile appeared at the corner of Shang Wuxin’s mouth. “From now on, you shall be called Wuju, just like Wuwei, serving as my personal maid. Are you willing?”

“Wuju is willing! Thank you, Crown Prince!” Wuju knelt and saluted. She had always lived a life of constant training. Since childhood, she knew to be loyal to the Crown Prince, but now, looking at the Crown Prince before her, Wuju felt that all the hardships over the years seemed worthwhile.

Shang Wuxin nodded and then left. The following matters would be arranged by these people. As a leader, she did not need to handle every single task personally. More importantly, these people needed opportunities to grow and be trained.