Pei Lie looked at the butler and said sternly, "What, your master is so powerful now that you dare to block my path, Your Highness?"
He had always disliked referring to himself this way in front of others, but it was clear he was extremely displeased now.
The butler smiled slightly, his attitude deferential. "Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. How would I dare to offend you? I am merely curious. You always enter and exit the palace without guards. Why are you bringing one today?"
His gaze, deep and unfathomable, fell upon the guard, as if trying to see through the disguise to the person within.
"Or is this person very special?"
Pei Lie said coldly, "Whether he's special or not is none of your business. Move aside."
The butler straightened slightly, a apologetic yet subtly defiant smile on his face. "I'm sorry, I cannot let you pass. Your Highness, where did you go just now?"
"Are you questioning me?"
"No, merely curious."
Pei Lie was so angered he laughed. "And what if I simply don't want to say?"
The butler said calmly, "Then I will have to report to the Fourth Prince. After all, the King has entrusted the safety of the palace to the Fourth Prince now."
"Is Father mad?!"
"Your Highness, speak with caution," the butler reminded him in a low voice.
Pei Lie shot him a fierce glance. "I don't need you to remind me. I've spoken like this since I was a child, and Father knows it very well!"
The butler merely smiled. "Your Highness, you will still let me examine this guard."
He would not allow Pei Lie to change the subject.
Pei Lie shifted, his tall and imposing frame blocking the guard. He was slightly taller than the butler, looking down at him, radiating an aura that created an invisible pressure.
"If I don't agree, what can you do?"
"If you refuse to let me, I will have to report to the Fourth Prince." The butler was certainly not foolish enough to directly confront a prince who commanded military power.
However, the Fourth Prince could contend with Pei Lie equally, perhaps even surpassing him due to the King's favor.
Pei Lie's voice was sharp. "So what? Do you think Pei Xi can now oppose the army in my hands?"
The butler said gently, "I wouldn't dare. It's just that the Fourth Prince is currently responsible for the palace's security. If an assassin were to infiltrate, it would be difficult to explain to the King."
In every three sentences, he mentioned the King and Pei Xi.
Pei Lie found himself unable to deal with the butler for the moment, as everything he said was for the good of the palace and made perfect sense.
If he were to question or object, it would instead make him appear suspicious.
The butler smiled with satisfaction and turned to the guard. "You, come here."
Pei Lie remained rigidly still.
The guard behind him stepped around Pei Lie's body and approached the butler. The butler scrutinized him from head to toe, his gaze sharp and probing.
It was as if he intended to see the face beneath the mask.
"Take it off."
Pei Lie's patience snapped. "You are going too far!"
The palace guards had strict regulations: unless facing their own commander or the King, any mask worn in the presence of others must not be removed.
This was to prevent others from seeing a guard's face and using coercion or bribery.
The royal family of H Kingdom had a rule: once a guard's face was exposed, it meant they had lost their anonymity and would be dismissed from the palace.
Their lives might even be in danger.
Therefore, Pei Lie's obstruction was entirely justified!
"My guard shall not have his face seen by anyone without my permission." Pei Lie's gaze was icy as he looked at the butler, a clear threat in his eyes. "If you insist, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
But the more Pei Lie refused, the more the butler insisted. "Today, even if Your Highness were to punish me, I must see!"
"For the sake of the royal family, for the safety of the princes, I am willing to accept punishment!"
"You!"
"Your Highness," a slightly hoarse male voice sounded.
The butler paused.
Pei Lie, however, suddenly turned to look at the "guard." Had he misheard? Did this person just make a man's voice?
The "guard" said, "Your Highness, since the butler wishes to see, let him see."
"You..." Pei Lie said sternly, "Don't forget the royal family's rules for guards. Removing your mask means expulsion."
He deliberately emphasized the word "expulsion."
Even if Shen Qingqing could imitate a man's voice, the face beneath the mask was still hers.
With a woman's enchanting beauty that surpassed all others, the butler, unless blind, could not fail to notice.
The "guard" raised a hand. Both Pei Lie and the butler's gazes fell upon it. The fingers were slender but not as thick as those of other men from H Kingdom.
The skin was dark, and the nails were neat, appearing clean.
That hand covered the mask, moving on both sides of it. There were two clasps here that secured the mask tightly to the face, along with the hat.
But if the clasps were opened, the mask would instantly fall off.
The moment the mask left the face, that hand gripped its edge, and the hoarse voice spoke, "The butler may look, but what if I am not the person you are looking for?"
The butler raised an eyebrow. "You know who I am looking for?"
"I don't know, I'm just guessing. You are so certain someone would endanger the royal family that you must know who this person is and what they look like, otherwise, you wouldn't demand I remove my mask."
These words were flawless.
The butler could find no fault with them and huffed, "If you're not the one, then you're not. I can apologize to you."
"No, I don't want an apology."
"Then what do you want?"
"Kneel."
The butler was stunned, and anger slowly surfaced. "What did you say?"
"I said, if you are wrong, you will kneel." The hoarse voice paused slightly, seemingly with a hint of doubt and a trace of provocation. "Or are you afraid to agree?"
A provocation.
The butler knew it was a provocation, but he had to admit that often, the most unrefined tactic, provocation, was also the most effective.
"Fine, but if you are, I will have my terms."
"Please, state them."
"I want your life." For the first time, the refined and gentle butler revealed a fierce expression.
"Agreed."
With that, the "guard" decisively removed the mask. At that moment, Pei Lie averted his gaze, unable to bear watching.
However, he did not hear the butler's triumphant cry, only silence.
He looked back strangely and saw a face with extremely ordinary features, dark skin, large eyes, but no matter how he looked, this face was not beautiful.
There was also a scar on the left cheek, incredibly ugly and terrifying.
The butler frowned. He saw no familiarity in this face, it was completely strange. This was not Shen Qingqing.
Something was wrong.
Someone had reported that Pei Lie was missing. Had he not gone to the dungeon?
"Butler, have you seen clearly?" the hoarse voice sounded again, with hidden amusement. "It's time for you to fulfill your punishment."
The butler's face was stiff, motionless.
The "guard" did not press the issue, simply standing there and looking at him. His gaze was filled with mockery, contempt, and a hint of understanding.
As if he had known from the start that the other party would break his word.
Pei Lie said sternly, "Does my word no longer hold any weight?"