Chapter 1323: Chapter 1323: Counterkill

Was it worth it?

Xia Houzhe’s face turned slightly green, but then he laughed: "There’s no need for you to mock me, sir. If I’ve lost, so be it. After my death, who cares if the floods come heaven-high?"

"So you couldn’t wait to expose yourself?" Mr. Ning looked at him with sharp eyes: "If you’re not afraid of death, why make a deal with Emperor Chu, betraying your old allies?"

Xia Houzhe grinned: "If you hadn’t abandoned us first, how could I have abandoned you? Didn’t you once say I am like my imperial grandfather? Selfish and cold-hearted to the core."

Mr. Ning shook his head slightly.

Knew his vision was narrow and lacked the bigger picture. I am no good, and I won’t let you be good—what a fool.

Defeat was not unworthy, hehe.

Xia Houzhe continued: "I know you’ll curse me for not being as wise as my father, but what can be done? If you hadn’t kept me as your only pawn back then, how could you command those old allies? For these years, it’s been you who taught me. It’s only my fault I didn’t learn your wisdom. But if I had, who knows whom those old allies would listen to."

Mr. Ning’s heart suddenly calmed.

Indeed, he was wrong.

He suddenly took down the wooden hairpin from his hair and stabbed it toward Xia Houzhe.

Xia Houzhe was startled and instinctively dodged, chopping at Ning’s wrist with his hand.

Mr. Ning’s wrist went numb, the wooden hairpin fell and was caught by Xia Houzhe, who saw the tip was sharpened.

"You, you want to kill me?" Xia Houzhe was shocked and angry.

Mr. Ning sneered: "A worthless, unfaithful traitor like you, what use is there for you in this world? Better to leave with me."

He lunged again, Xia Houzhe’s mind buzzed; he instinctively gripped the hairpin and stabbed hard.

Plop.

It was the sound of something entering flesh. Warm liquid splashed onto his face, with a taste of blood, sticky and hot.

Xia Houzhe wiped at his face, blood-stained his vision. He looked down to see the wooden hairpin in his hand stabbed into Mr. Ning’s throat, blood bubbling forth.

Xia Houzhe turned pale, looked at his own hand, then at the silver-haired old man, taking two steps back before collapsing to the ground.

"No, no, I... it was you who tried to kill me first, I, I just..." Xia Houzhe lunged forward, trying to cover the bleeding hole, his eyes stained red with blood.

Mr. Ning was also looking at him, but his eyes had a sense of relief.

"No, sir, don’t die." Xia Houzhe knelt on the ground, grabbing his hand.

Mr. Ning’s blinks grew weak, lips moved, voice barely audible: "Take care... of yourself."

Xia Houzhe’s heart sank, hurriedly holding his hand, calling for help.

Watching as the old man’s breath weakened, his hand grew cold. He panicked.

It was at this moment he remembered as a child, this hand he held had once held his, teaching him to write his name, stroke by stroke.

This hand had patted his head, smilingly praising him, saying the young prince was a clever child.

This hand taught him how to hold a sword and kill.

Since when had this hand become so needless, so unseen?

Feeling Mr. Ning’s hand grow colder, Xia Houzhe’s heart grew ever more anxious, truly feeling that this old man was leaving.

No, if he goes, I would be truly alone, with nothing left.

"I won’t let you die, summon the Imperial Physician, damn it, summon the Imperial Physician."

But Mr. Ning curled his lips, eyes meeting a blinding white light, where someone stood, reaching out to him: Sir, I’ve come to get you.

Your Highness.

Mr. Ning let out a sigh, smiled, and closed his eyes.

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