When Hui heard Jiang Zheyu’s words, his expression instantly turned cold. His grayish-white eyes looked unsettlingly terrifying as he stared at her icily. "How did you know I came from the slums?"

He questioned her coldly, word by word.

Jiang Zheyu had no idea what was wrong with these people’s thought processes. ’How dare they question *me* so coldly?’

’But it *is* a little hard to explain. Normally, I shouldn’t know Hui, let alone his background and origins.’

"What, did I hit a nerve?" Jiang Zheyu retorted instead of answering.

"You... fine!" Hui laughed, incensed. His grayish-white eyes were fixed on Jiang Zheyu in a cold, dark stare as he slowly walked toward her.

Jiang Zheyu’s brow furrowed slightly.

’Don’t tell me I hit such a sore spot that he’s actually going to hit me?’

As Hui approached, Xiao Luo hurried out to stand in front of Jiang Zheyu. Despite his slender frame, he resolutely spread his arms to shield her.

The young man was about the same height as Jiang Zheyu, and his build wasn’t much sturdier than hers. His spiritual power was even lower than hers. And yet, this far-from-powerful rabbit Beastman was shielding her.

Jiang Zheyu stared at Xiao Luo’s pink hair with mixed emotions.

"Deacon Hui, what are you doing?" Xiao Luo asked, looking up at Hui.

Seeing Xiao Luo shielding Jiang Zheyu, Hui stopped in his tracks.

"Why so tense?" Hui’s expression was unreadable, and his tone was even more ambiguous. "I just wanted to get a little closer to have a word with the female."

"There should be a proper distance between men and women. Princess Zheyu can hear you just fine from where you are. There’s no need to be this close," Xiao Luo said calmly, his expression showing no fear.

"A mere butler like you dares to meddle in your master’s business?" Hui sneered. "Didn’t they teach you at butler school not to interfere in your master’s affairs? Or do you not want to work in the Imperial Palace anymore?"

Xiao Luo faltered for a moment. As an outstanding graduate from the butler school, he naturally knew that a butler must not interfere in their master’s affairs.

Jiang Zheyu quickly pulled Xiao Luo behind her and looked at Hui, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "He’s my attendant. What right do you have to discipline him?"

"I was just giving him a little reminder," Hui shot back coolly.

"Well then, you’re the one being nosy," Jiang Zheyu replied with an ambiguous little laugh of her own.

"So sharp-tongued. How utterly unpleasant." Hui’s eyes darkened as he stared at Jiang Zheyu, looking like a shadowy monster ready to tear her to shreds. He slowly enunciated each word, "I’ll remember you. I hope you’re still this sharp-tongued the next time we meet."

Jiang Zheyu had a sinking feeling this man would try to pull a dirty trick on her later, when no one was around.

But even knowing he used vile and dishonorable tactics, Jiang Zheyu wasn’t afraid. There was no way she was going to swallow this insult.

"Let’s go," Yan Luo finally spoke, her expression utterly cold. "Stop wasting my time."

"Mm," Hui grunted in response.

Yan Luo took the lead and walked off. Hui followed, but not before shooting Jiang Zheyu one last ambiguous, dangerous glare.

"What are you looking at? Keep staring and I’ll gouge your eyes out!" Since she had already offended the man, Jiang Zheyu didn’t mind offending him more thoroughly, letting out all her pent-up dissatisfaction. "You filthy little rat! You’re the filthy little rat! Your whole family is a bunch of filthy little rats!"

WHEW.

’I finally got to say that to their faces.’

’So satisfying!’

When Hui heard this, his eye twitched violently. His grayish-white eyes grew even more vicious, and his fists clenched tightly.

He had originally planned to teach this female a lesson in secret, but she was provoking him so brazenly that he now wanted nothing more than to go over and kill her on the spot.

"Say that again if you dare," Hui snarled, spinning around to glare daggers at Jiang Zheyu.

Yan Luo grabbed Hui’s arm, her brow furrowing slightly. "Enough. I don’t have time to continue playing games with you here."

Hui’s brow was tightly furrowed, and his breathing grew heavy; he was clearly livid at Jiang Zheyu’s words. However, he could only shoot her one last vicious glare before turning to leave with Yan Luo without another word.

Jiang Zheyu withdrew her gaze. ’Calling him a filthy little rat is an insult to actual rats.’

"Let’s go. On to the White Tower," Jiang Zheyu said, glancing sideways at Xiao Luo.

"Princess Zheyu, should we tell Prince Jin Yu what happened today?" Xiao Luo asked, looking at her worriedly. He was afraid that Hui might try to do something to Princess Zheyu behind her back.

"Oh, if you’re worried, go ahead and tell Prince Jin Yu," Jiang Zheyu said, unconcerned.

’After all, even if I tell Jin Yu, that Hui fellow probably won’t let me off. In the novel, he was the type to seek revenge for the smallest of grievances.’

"Okay, I will report this matter to Prince Jin Yu," Xiao Luo affirmed.

He had heard that the people from Star Investment were all former Star Thieves, so he was naturally afraid they would bring harm to Princess Zheyu.

Before long, Xiao Luo had led Jiang Zheyu to the White Tower.

The White Tower was more than ten stories tall, its exterior walls entirely coated in white paint, a perfect fit for its name.

Guards patrolled the perimeter of the White Tower, and monitoring drones even flew overhead. Security was clearly extremely tight.

’Probably to keep the Beastmen inside from getting out and hurting anyone.’

Xiao Luo led Jiang Zheyu in through the main entrance.

"Who goes there?" a guard asked, blocking their path.

Xiao Luo explained to the Beastman guard that Prince Jin Yu had sent them to perform a purification. Jin Yu had apparently made arrangements beforehand, so after confirming their identities, the guard led them inside.

Not only were the exterior walls of the White Tower painted white, but the interior walls were also white, and even the floor was laid with white ceramic tiles.

The guard led them to a room, which also had guards posted outside.

In fact, nearly every room had guards posted outside its door.

The guard at the door opened it for them.

"Female, please wait a moment. We must first administer a sedative to the Commander," the Beastman guard said. He placed his right hand over his left breast and gave a slight bow to Jiang Zheyu. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Jiang Zheyu waited at the doorway. ’Since they have their own procedures, I’ll just follow their lead.’

’Besides, what if I can’t control him and end up getting hurt myself? I’m afraid of that, too.’

’This is a Level 3S Male Beastman, after all.’

’The Little Princess of the Empire’s Beast Husbands are all Beastmen with Level 3 Mental Power, and they were all former Commanders, too.’

’So, it’s best to let the guards administer the sedative first. I’ll go in to perform the purification after that.’