《Phoenix Ascending》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1: Country and Home Are Lost


    Western Que, the royal pce.


    Soldiers and weapons shed fiercely as danger crept in on all sides.


    ¡°Royal mother, I¡¯m not going! I want to be with you and royal father! I¡¯m not going!¡± Jun Huang¡¯s tears trickled down her face like pearls from a broken ne. The pce gates had been broken through and Western Que was facing its doom. Far more than the cursed invaders, the one she hated the most was herself. Her helplessness. That she would be forced to cling to survival in the shadows.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going either!¡± Six year old Jun Hao didn¡¯t understand much of the world yet, but he too maintained a death grip on the hem of his mother¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°Hao¡¯er, be good. Go with your sister.¡± Tears sparkled in their mother¡¯s eyes as she picked up Jun Hao¡¯s little hand to ce it in Jun Huang¡¯s. ¡°Huang¡¯er, Hao¡¯er is still young. If not for yourself, you must leave for him. You must make it out.¡±


    ¡°Royal mother! Royal mother!¡± Jun Huang shook her head fiercely, her throat constricting in grief. She couldn¡¯t squeeze any more words out.


    ¡°My love, take Huang¡¯er and Hao¡¯er and quickly leave through the hidden tunnel!¡± A man who exuded killing aura strode into the room. He was the emperor of Western Que, Jun Hongmo. Even the blood that matted his face couldn¡¯t conceal the weariness between his brows, but his tone brooked no opposition. ¡°Yinyun!¡± he roared out in sternmand. ¡°Protect the empress, prince, and princess in their escape!¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡± Yinyun growled, voice as hard as flint.


    ¡°Huang¡¯er, you will always be a princess of Western Que.¡± Her mother kissed Jun Huang¡¯s forehead, sorrow suffusing her gentle eyes. ¡°Go! Live!¡±


    ¡°Royal mother!¡± Jun Huang clenched her fists tightly, her nails biting deep into her flesh and carving out trails of blood. Bam! She dropped to the floor and kowtowed heavily thrice towards her mother and Jun Hongmo. She enunciated each word with painstaking rity, as if swearing a vow, ¡°Royal father, royal mother, Huang¡¯er will protect her little brother well!¡±


    Jun Hongmo turned the dragon throne around to reveal a concealed passage, a flicker of emotion rippling across his resolute face. A final word escaped his lips, just loud enough for her to hear. ¡°Live!¡±


    Jun Huang grasped Jun Hao¡¯s hand tightly and walked into the tunnel without another nce back. She couldn¡¯t look back; she had to stay alive with Jun Hao.


    ng! She heard the doors to the hall being smashed open. The armies of Eastern Wu had arrived, but her mother and father were still inside the hall! She whipped her head back, only to see in thest moment before the door closed, her fifth royal brother Jun Yu leering as he plucked out the tendons in her father¡¯s hands and feet. She also saw her mother draw a longsword and take her life in front of the throne, her blood drawing a long arc through the air.


    ¡°Father! Mother!¡± She screamed her life out in the tunnel, her tears reddening with blood. Father and mother are dead, Western Que has fallen.


    ¡°Your Highness, the Eastern Wu armies will soon be upon us. We must flee!¡± Yinyun had to hold Jun Huang back with all his might. Right, she had to make it out! She had to live! It was the only way she could make those people who¡¯d destroyed her family and home pay in blood!


    The tunnel made for the mountains in the back and was designed with various traps and mechanisms. Although the traps were sophisticated enough to momentarily trip up the enemy, they still weren¡¯t capable ofpletely halting the pursuit. Jun Huang fled in a panic through the tunnel with Jun Hao in tow. They exited the tunnel and stopped at a crossroads, but didn¡¯t even have a chance to catch their breath before they heard the sounds of pursuit growing closer. ¡°This won¡¯t do. At this rate, we¡¯ll be caught sooner orter,¡± Jun Huang grit her teeth. ¡°Yinyun, take Hao¡¯er away with you. I¡¯ll go divert them!¡±


    ¡°Your Highness! Then you¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hao¡¯er is Western Que¡¯s only royal bloodline, he has to live!¡± Jun Huang stooped down and lightly caressed Jun Hao¡¯s small face. ¡°Hao¡¯er, you must live, okay? You have to live!!¡± Her voice trembled slightly.


    ¡°Big sister, big sister!¡± Jun Hao seemed to have realized something. He threw his little arms around Jun Huang and started to bawl.


    Jun Huang used all the strength in her body to push him away. She didn¡¯t dare look at her brother again, for fear of losing her resolve. Her voice came out as a rasp, ¡°Take him away!¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Yinyun couldn¡¯t bear to look at her as he scooped Jun Hao up in his arms. He bounded into the shrubbery by the side of the road, disappearing in a few moments. Jun Huang looked deeply in the direction that Jun Hao had disappeared in, then turned and ran in another direction.


    The enemy was drawing closer. Jun Huang could almost hear the jingling of weapons and armor. She skidded to a halt as she stared at the sight in front of her. A deep abyss confronted her, so deep that she couldn¡¯t see its bottom. It seemed like the entrance to hell. With the enemy so close on her heels, she couldn¡¯t go back. It seemed this would be the end of her road. She closed her eyes, and opened them, her eyes hard and determined.


    ¡°Come at me then!¡± She unsheathed her long sword, cold light glinting off the de and onto her face. Her blood-dyed robes fluttered even in the absence of any wind.


    The enemy troops arrived in full battle gear. It was quite a scene; one diminutive girl standing surrounded byyers uponyers of soldiers. Two luxuriously d men emerged from their ranks. ¡°All the birds of the sky sang in unison seventeen years ago. Even as natural phenomena danced across the earth and sky, they heralded and weed the birth of the ¡®blood phoenix¡¯.¡± The emperor of Eastern Wu sized up Jun Huang with a calcting eye. ¡°It¡¯s said that whoever possesses the blood phoenix would also possess the world. Surrender to Eastern Wu, and you have Our personal guarantee of a life of untold wealth and fortune.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, sixth sister! His Majesty is mighty and wise beyond measure, destined to conquer the fournds. He will surely treat you well if you defect to Eastern Wu!¡± From just behind the emperor, the second man, Jun Yu, made sure to bring his two cents of ttery.


    ¡°Animal! Traitor who colluded with the enemy and unfilial bastard whomitted patricide, where is your heart?!¡± Jun Huang red at Jun Yu, her eyes bloodshot from anger and hate. Her own brother had incited civil unrest in Western Que, colluded with Eastern Wu to destroy Western Que, personally killed their father and forced her mother to take her own life! Now he wanted her to defect to the enemy?!


    ¡°Die!¡± Jun Huang threw caution to the winds as she let loose a battlecry and charged at Jun Yu. Her sword flickered through the air, seeking the taste of his blood. The civil unrest that Jun Yu had carefully cultivated hade to a head the previous night. In a disy of impable timing, Eastern Wu¡¯s armies also descended upon their kingdom the same night. Faced with external pressure and internal troubles, the kingdom could only hold on for a single night before Easternn Wu had overwhelmed the pce gates. The culprit behind all of it, the one who had started this cascade of dominoes, was none other than her own brother¡ªJun Yu!


    ¡°Sixth sister, Western Que is no more. Why don¡¯t you submit to Eastern Wu? You won¡¯t be treated any worse than how you were as a princess of Western Que!¡± Jun Yu parried her blows desperately, but somehow found the breath to keep up a steady stream of persuasive words.


    ¡°Piss off!¡± Jun Huang was half crazed with bloodlust, and it began to show itself in her swordy as her skillful strikes gave way to unstoppable swings that battered away at Jun Yu¡¯s guard. Onest blow broke his stance and guard, and she swung her sword down, aiming for his throat. Far too off bnce to recover, her brother¡¯s eyes widened. He could only watch as the longsword approached with the finality of an executioner¡¯s de.


    ¡°Guh!¡± Half an inch away from Jun Yu¡¯s throat, the longsword faltered and missed. Jun Huang clutched her chest and staggered back, falling to her knees. A dark red stain appeared around her fingers, and blood began to flow freely. She raised her head to re at the emperor of Eastern Wu, ¡°Despicable, petty viin!¡±


    ¡°The poison from that concealed weapon has only one antidote, and it is in Our hands.¡± Emperor Zhou Xiaotian raised a hand to stop the first line of troops from charging forward. He looked down at her from his lofty position, ¡°You will receive the antidote,nds, and a title of king if you defect to Eastern Wu. Well?¡±

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2: Salvation


    One should die on the sands of the battlefield, fighting for one¡¯s country and honor! What need is there for one¡¯s body to be returned with pomp and circumstance?


    ¡°You destroyed my Western Que, killed my royal father, and still dare dream that I would fall at your feet?¡± Jun Huang¡¯sugh was a cold bark. She swayed on her feet for a second, and quick as thought, lunged towards Emperor Zhou. Her sword screamed through the air as she stabbed straight at him.


    The emperor hadn¡¯t thought that Jun Huang would still have strength left in her after taking the blow from the concealed weapon. In that crucial moment, he yanked Jun Yu, who¡¯d been standing next to the emperor, in front of him to take the blow. des go only where they aremanded, and Jun Huang¡¯s full strike cut deeply into Jun Yu¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Ah!¡± A ghastly scream ripped through the air as Emperor Zhou saw Jun Yu¡¯s arm hacked off. He lifted a foot and kicked ruthlessly at Jun Huang. Pain exploded from her abdomen and she lost her grip on her sword, flying backwards through the air as she spewed out a mouthful of blood.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you onest chance.¡± The emperor¡¯s expression was dark. ¡°Surrender, or die!¡±


    The cliff was behind her. Jun Huang wiped off the blood on her lip with a swipe of her hand and threw her head back in augh. ¡°Surrender?¡± She painfully mbered to her feet, her face a mocking parody of the emperor. She was one person against thousands of cavalry, but not a hint of fear could be found on her face. Her tiny figure seemed to glow with a heroic air that towered to the skies that made it difficult for someone to look directly at her. Framed against the sky and the earth, her expression and posture could only be described with one word... brilliance.


    The light in Emperor Zhou¡¯s eyes suddenly dimmed. He¡¯d always dismissed the saying that one who possessed the blood phoenix would have the world, but he¡¯d finally found an inkling of understanding in that moment. ¡°But what about a dead blood phoenix?!¡± His expression was dark as he clenched his fist to give the order. Spears in hand, his men surged towards Jun Huang like an unending wave.


    I was born a citizen of Western Que, and I will die a ghost of Western Que! As if she¡¯d let herself fall into enemy hands even in death! ¡°Although I die here, my vengeance for the crimes against my family and home will never abate!¡± Jun Huang¡¯s words, along with herughter, was heartbreaking to hear. With thatst threat left ringing through the air, she turned on a single foot and leaped off the cliff without the slightest hesitation.


    Emperor Zhou¡¯s expression changed drastically. He charged right up to the edge of the cliff, but Jun Huang had already been swallowed up the darkness of the abyss. Seemingly bottomless, there seemed to be no way that Jun Huang would possibly survive!


    ......


    Meanwhile, outside the capital of Western Que.


    A troop of cavalry quickened their paces and flew towards the direction of the Western Que capital.


    ¡°Report!¡± A scout quickly galloped towards the rear with an urgent report. ¡°We¡¯ve discovered the armies of Eastern Wu ten kilometers ahead! There are roughly five thousand men advancing on our position!¡±


    ¡°Eastern Wu is retreating?¡± The leading general asked in a low voice, ¡°Western Que has fallen, is there news of its princess?¡±


    ¡°No sign of a prisoner carriage, no prisoners of war!¡± the scout replied swiftly.


    The general remained silent for a moment and suddenly gave the order, ¡°All troopsy in wait, we await the enemy!¡±


    ......


    The two armies shed together and gave birth to rivers of blood.


    ¡°How goes counting the prisoners?¡± The heavily armored general¡¯s footsteps were sure and strong.


    ¡°In response to the general, we captured 324 enemy soldiers. Themander of the Wu army has fled, Commander Meng Yao is in pursuit.¡±


    ¡°Have you learned of the whereabouts of Princess Jun Huang of Western Que?¡± The man took off his helmet and revealed a handsome face with clearly delineated features. It was a shockingly young face with highly spirited brows, bright eyes, a high nose, and thin lips. However, there wasn¡¯t the slightest expression on his resolute face, and he was as cold as nine meters of hard stone.


    ¡°This subordinate has interrogated the prisoners, the princess of Western Que was... forced off a cliff.¡±


    ¡°Off a cliff?¡± The man¡¯s footsteps halted as the look in his eyes sharpened. ¡°Send out search parties! I want to see her if she¡¯s alive, and her corpse if she¡¯s dead!¡±


    ......


    ¡°I live deep in the mountains,didadida~ I don¡¯t close my doors at night, lodidodido~¡± A white haired old man was wearing a wicker basket on his back and humming a strange tune, threading through the forest with a meandering route. Although his hair was white, his face was youthful and he was wearing clothing of white hemp. He had a piercing gaze as sharp as a hawk¡¯s. ¡°Eh? Wait!¡± He suddenly halted and wrinkled his nose, his brows slowly knitting together. ¡°The smell of blood?¡±


    He began searching as he muttered to himself, suddenly glimpsing a bloody person hanging off a tree branch. The sight shocked him into violently retreating a few paces. However, randomly strewn rocks were behind him and he was instantly tripped with this motion, crashing to the ground as he lost his bnce.


    ¡°Oh my bones, oh my waist!¡± He cried out in pain and rubbed his butt, ring ferociously at the person in the tree. ¡°How dare you scare me! How dare you! I¡¯m going to fix you up right and proper, I am!¡±


    When he looked closely, he realized that it was an injured girl.


    ......


    The white-haired old man hauled Jun Huang onto the bed with much effort, panting with great exertion. ¡°Now I¡¯m darned tired! How many herbs and medicines will I need to recover from this?¡± He took Jun Huang¡¯s pulse as he sighed over his hardships for a while. However, his expression suddenly grew serious. ¡°Tsk, now this pulse doesn¡¯t seem right! She¡¯s definitely poisoned, but it¡¯s a kind I¡¯ve never seen before!¡± He tugged his ears and scratched his sideburns for a while, musing, ¡°Whatever, I¡¯ll try some medicines first. You darned chit, how dare you scare me! See how I¡¯m going to fix you up right and proper!¡±


    He trotted off to fetch arge amount of herbs, ¡°This is for nourishingher regions and lungs, let¡¯s try that first! ...no reaction? This is for rxing tendons and promoting cirction¡ªwill she die from blood loss after losing all that and then using this? Ah whatever, let¡¯s just try it first. ...still no reaction? Then this...¡±


    He filled the girl up with an endless stream of medicines, but the girl on the bed had no reaction whatsoever. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh with amazement, ¡°This chit is something huh! Any ordinary person would be screaming and begging for death after all of these medicines, but you don¡¯t make a peep...¡±


    His eyes suddenly lit up with a gleam as he pped his thigh, ¡°Ah yes! I happen tock a test subject! You¡¯ll make the perfect one since you can take them all so well!¡±


    In the depths of the night and pearly splendor, the pure moonlight travelled through the windowsill to spill over the diminutive body on the bed. Her ashen face seemed even more fragile beneath the moonlight. ¡°Royal father, royal mother, no, no! NO!!¡± Jun Huang abruptly sat up in bed, her chest heaving. The ghastly deaths of her father and mother in her dreams were tormenting her almost to the brink of insanity. Western Que was no more, her royal parents had died in a devastating way, her baby brother was missing, and she... she had nothing anymore.


    The scenes from her dream repeated themselves and roiled in her mind over and over again, with the faces of the emperor of Eastern Wu and Jun Yu switching out for each other over and over again. She stared nkly outside but started with a shake of a head. She... wasn¡¯t dead!


    She stared at her hands with incredulous disbelief. She was alive! She¡¯d jumped down from a cliff, but she was alive!


    ¡°Ha, haha! Hahaha!!¡± Sheughed lowly at first, as if possessed by an internal demon, and her voice grew louder and ever more heart wrenching. The heavens had taken pity on her and left her alive! Since she was alive, she had to avenge Western Que and find her brother!


    ¡°And what¡¯re you carrying on about in the middle of the night! How is anyone supposed to sleep through all this racket!¡± The door banged open as a white-haired old man with youthful features came charging in huffily. He pointed at Jun Huang¡¯s nose and started cursing loudly.


    Jun Huang had long since noticed that her wounds had all been dressed. She knew that the person in front of her had saved her. She took a deep breath in, ¡°Many thanks for your kind act in saving my life. I have important matters about me and dare not disturb further. I will leave now.¡±

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3: The entric Old Man in the Mountains


    ¡°Leave?!¡± The old man widened his eyes, bawling incredulously, ¡°You¡¯re my test subject and you dare think of leaving!¡±


    ¡°The call of vengeance for my family and nation must be answered!¡±


    ¡°Fine! Go! Go right now then!¡± The old man was literally hopping mad, ¡°With that kind of a rare poison in your body, you¡¯ll be dead in three days if you step foot outside this house. Hurry up and leave then!¡±


    Jun Huang started, vaguely recalling that the concealed weapon that the Eastern Wu emperor had thrown at her on the cliff had been poisoned. The heavens had left her alive, but only given her a few days to live. Since she couldn¡¯t take revenge, what was the point of living? Her mood quickly plummeted as grief threatened to overtake her mind.


    ¡°Haha, feeling scared now, aren¡¯t you!¡± The white-haired old man was quite proud of himself. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you something else. Other than me, those who can cure your poison in this world are few and far in between! You¡¯d best be a good test subject if you don¡¯t want to die! I might cure your poison if I¡¯m in a good mood.¡±


    Jun Huang caught the key points of the old man¡¯s proud speech, and her eyes lit up. ¡°You can cure my poison?¡±


    ¡°Of course! There¡¯s no poison in this world that I, Ole Cragfiend, can¡¯t cure!¡± The old man crowed proudly, ¡°I¡¯ll cure your poison if you be my test subject!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t stay, I have things to do!¡± Jun Huang grit her teeth, ¡°Cure my poison and I¡¯lle back to be your test subject when I¡¯m done with what I need to do.¡±


    ¡°No way! What if you don¡¯te back after I cure your poison?¡± Ole Cragfiend was obviously no fool. ¡°You be my test subject and I¡¯ll cure your poison. You¡¯re not allowed to go anywhere!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be your test subject for a month and then leave for my business afterwards. If I¡¯m still alive once that¡¯spleted, I will surely return,¡± Jun Huang was forced topromise. She had yet to recover from her grave injuries, and she still didn¡¯t know what the situation was out there. It would indeed be dangerous if she recklessly charged out. It wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad idea to spend a month beneath the foot of the cliff.


    Ole Cragfiend scratched his head and finally made up his mind, ¡°I don¡¯t know how long you¡¯ll take to settle your matters. A year, that¡¯s all I¡¯m giving you! If you don¡¯te back after a year, you¡¯ll die!¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Jun Huang heard herself agree.


    ......


    The moon was very clear and bright as the shadows of the trees danced on the ground. Jun Huang was curled up at the head of the bed, her gaze deep as she looked outside the window. She seemed to glimpse her mother¡¯s gentle face in the rocky reaches of the far mountains. Her world and nation had changed drastically overnight. She¡¯d fallen from a princess of Western Que, recipient of the adoration of thousands to an orphan with no home to return to. ¡°Royal father, royal mother,¡± she murmured, an emotional tear slowly sliding down her face. ¡°Huang¡¯er will always be a princess of Western Que. Huang¡¯er will find Hao¡¯er and avenge Western Que!¡±


    ......


    The bottom of the cliff.


    A man was holding a torch, personally leading his men in a search pattern in the dead of the night.


    ¡°General, over here!¡± a soldier suddenly cried out with surprise.


    The man instantly shed over to the speaker when he heard this, suppressed agitation in his cold voice, ¡°Found her?¡±


    ¡°In response to the general, just this...¡± The soldier hesitantly offered up the item in his hand. It was a blood-dyed white shirt made of extremely fine material. The man immediately recognized it as cloth found only in Western Que¡¯s royal pce. He took the shirt and was silent for a while before asking softly, ¡°Where did you find it?¡±


    ¡°In response to the general, over there,¡± the soldier pointed at the tree over his head. The man hoisted the torch up high and inspected the scene closely. The branches and ground were spattered with blood traces, the deep crimson of fresh blood particrly eye-catching beneath the moonlight.


    ¡°General, many wild animals pass through the depths of the mountains. It¡¯s most likely that the Western Que princess is...¡± The soldier hesitated when he saw the man¡¯s ugly expression, and swallowed the second part of his words.


    The man had already guessed that chances were slim for Jun Huang to have survived such a high fall, but regret still filled his heart when his guess was verified. Western Que had fallen, and thest of the royal bloodline was also gone. He¡¯d still been a step toote.


    ¡°General?¡± The soldier couldn¡¯t help but call out when he saw the man fall into silence.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± the man closed his eyes. Remoteness suffused them when he opened them again. ¡°Hold a funeral in the Western Que capital for their emperor and empress in three days. Western Que is in national mourning!¡±


    ......


    The straw hut, beneath the cliff.


    A night had passed, and Jun Huang had thought that Ole Cragfiend would immediately start testing medicines on her, but the old man disappeared after flinging a few medicine books at her. Although she was befuddled by his behavior, Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. The books were handwritten, and although they covered profound topics, they were written in a very easy to understand manner. After a day of study, she found that she understood most of the subject matter.


    The old man finally came back in hot pursuit of the setting sun as dusk turned into night. He was carrying an enormous wicker basket filled with herbs on his back, and immediately sank to the ground after entering the hut. His energeticining belied the exhaustion his body disyed, ¡°I¡¯m old, old I am! Damn old! How many medicines will I need to recover my energy after the hardships of these past two days?! Oh my waist, me poor waist!¡±


    Jun Huang showed her consideration and offered him a cup of water. As she held it out to him, she peeked inside the basket, curiosity ripe in her voice, ¡°Did you go out picking herbs today?¡±


    ¡°Damned tarnation, what do you think?? How am I supposed to test medicines without herbs?!¡± The old man red huffily at Jun Huang and snatched the cup from Jun Huang¡¯s hands, gurgling the water down. Jun Huang¡¯s eye twitched. Ole Cragfiend¡¯s answer made sense, too much sense for her to retort back.


    After the old man had rested for a while, he¡¯d finally regained the mood to talk to Jun Huang, ¡°How did your reading go today?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve just about understood it all,¡± Jun Huang responded honestly. She didn¡¯t know who¡¯d written those books, but they were all written very clearly and logically despite the mountains of content within. Jun Huang possessed a quick mind, so she understood most of what was written within in a short period of time.


    ¡°You understand them after just a day?¡± The old man huffed indignantly, ring at Jun Huang. ¡°Fine then, I¡¯ll test you! What are the eight extraordinary meridians?¡±


    ¡°The Conception Vessel, the Governor Vessel, the Thoroughfare Vessel, the Girdling Vessel, the Yin and Yang Lin Vessels, and finally, the Yin and Yang Heel Vessel Meridians.¡±


    ¡°Eh? Not bad. Then what of the three yin meridians in the hand?¡± The old man¡¯spliment wasced with surprise.


    ¡°The Tai Yin, Shao Yin, and Jue Yin meridians,¡± Jun Huang responded.


    ¡°The attributes of the five organs?¡±


    ¡°The heart is of fire and governs the mind; the liver is of wood and governs the digestive functions and blood flow; the lungs are of metal and regtes breathing as well as the administration of respiration; the spleen is of earth and governs digestion and purification of the blood, the kidneys are of water and holds the essence of life and qi.¡±


    ¡°You actually do understand!¡± The old man leapt to his feet in excitement and stared at Jun Huang incredulously. ¡°You really understand them all after a day!¡±


    Jun Huang thought back carefully and shook her head, responding honestly, ¡°It¡¯s more that the books you gave me had everything all written out very clearly. I only needed to read them all once to remember most of it.¡±


    ¡°Damned tarnation, I wrote those books!¡± The old man circled Jun Huang, examining her in astonishment, tsking in amazement. ¡°You¡¯re a rather good seedling for medicine, but a pity, what a pity!¡± He suddenly smacked his head, ¡°Damn it, I almost forgot! Quick, go and fetch some hot water!¡±


    He hastily lifted an enormous wooden bucket and ced it in the middle of the room. He rummaged around, chuckingrge handfuls of herbs inside of it.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4: Leaving the Mountain


    Although Jun Huang was mystified, she still docilely fetched a few pails of hot water.


    ¡°Alright, off with your clothes and get in.¡± Ole Cragfiend tested the water temperature and spoke with malicious enjoyment, ¡°All the herbs today are to strengthen bones and tendons. Hop in for four hours; this will only bring benefits and no drawbacks.¡±


    ¡°Take off my clothes?¡± Jun Huang looked hesitantly at the old man.


    ¡°What, you want to sit in a medicinal bath with your clothes on?!¡± The old man¡¯s crankiness immediately started to boil over.


    Jun Huang saw that the old man hadn¡¯t even given a thought for her privacy, so she hesitantly spoke up, ¡°A distinction should be made between males and females, if you don¡¯t mind...¡±


    ¡°How dare you throw me out!!¡± Ole Cragfiend was hopping with fury even before Jun Huang could finish speaking. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll leave, I¡¯ll leave!¡± he yelled irately and threw in anotherrge handful of herbs. He jabbed at the wooden tub with his finger as he spat. ¡°You stay in there four hours! Don¡¯t you dare get out before four hours, or I won¡¯t cure you of that poison!¡± He threw the door open and stalked out, his muttering still audible, ¡°How dare she want me to leave, how dare she throw me out of my own house...¡±


    Jun Huang sighed resignedly as she watched the departing figure. The old man wasn¡¯t a bad person, but that mercurial temper of his... She shook her head and softly closed the door before she turned to the tub with a frown. The water within was already turning ck. She didn¡¯t doubt his words; this concoction definitely would strengthen her bones and tendons, but when she thought back to the look of malicious glee on his face, she felt that she was overlooking something. But, she didn¡¯t have any other choice, did she?


    She took off her clothes and sank into the tub. The water temperature was just hot enough to befortable as the water swirled around her like a warm hug. She could feel her tendons slowly rx under the effects of the medicinal bath. She was warm all over, and the fatigue from the day¡¯s studying ebbed out in one long sigh offort.


    But in the next second, the warmfort was reced by piercing difort that radiated from her meridians. It felt like thousands of ants were gnawing at her bones. That heart-wrenching pain drilled into her entire body. Jun Huang gritted her teeth, but cold sweat still slowly poured down her face.


    Pain. It was so painful that even breathing was umonly difficult. She finally understood what that expression on the old man¡¯s face meant. She screwed her eyes shut and clenched her fists tightly. Her nails dug deep into her flesh, carving out ravines of blood in her palm. But what was this painpared to the vengeance of family and home?


    Ole Cragfiend kept busy outside the hut, but his eyes kept flitting back to the hut every so often. There was nothing out of the ordinary after an hour, and he still didn¡¯t hear any cries of pain after two hours. It was still dead silent after three.


    Bam! He suddenly flung the herbs in his hand onto the ground and looked huffily in Jun Huang¡¯s direction. The herbs he¡¯d added were quite potent, and he was well aware of how much it would hurt if someone was immersed in an herb infused tub. But that chit was holding up through the pain! She¡¯s taking the pain! Soon, four hours had passed and he still hadn¡¯t heard anything. He finally couldn¡¯t sit still and kicked open the door to his room with a loud bang. Sleepsleepsleep! That darned chit, she can take this much pain, huh!? You watch how I¡¯m going to increase the dose tomorrow! Let¡¯s see if she begs for mercy then!


    ......


    A month passed by in the blink of an eye. In the first half of the month, Ole Cragfiend would toss several books of medicines or poison to Jun Huang at the crack of dawn every day, then headed into the mountains alone to harvest herbs. He would then return at sunset to prepare medicinal baths for Jun Huang. By the second half of the month, she¡¯dpleted her studies of the books and would apany him on his daily harvest, continuing the tradition of the bone piercing medicinal baths at night.


    A monthter.


    The agreed upon date was here before they knew it. Ole Cragfiend shoved arge packet of medicine for injuries at Jun Huang, nattering nonstop, ¡°This is medicine for cuts and scrapes. This is confusion powder¡ªit¡¯s far too dangerous outside without these. This is axative, dump some into whoever irks you, their butthole will wish they¡¯d never been born! This is...¡±


    Jun Huang put away the packet, her heart suddenly tightening when she noted the unconcealed concern within the old man¡¯s eyes. Although he usually would ramble and hop around in irritation, always showing a vicious attitude towards her, she was well aware that he had taught her all he knew in this month. He hadn¡¯t held anything back, and even that gut wrenching nightly medicinal bath had been just for her benefit. She¡¯d thought that she would be forever alone after her home and country were lost. Just what had she ever done to deserve such heartfelt treatment from Ole Cragfiend?


    ¡°And what are you looking me like that for?!¡± The old man quickly took a step back when he happened to glimpse Jun Huang¡¯s gaze. He immediately tried to cover his tracks, ¡°Don¡¯t get any funny ideas! I¡¯m only giving you this because I¡¯m worried about my test subject dying! Don¡¯t think too much!¡±


    Jun Huang knew that the old man was crusty on the outside, but extremely soft-hearted. She paid his bluster no mind and thanked him sincerely, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Thank your butt! Just hurry up and beat it!¡± Ole Cragfiend tamped down the yearning in his eyes and kept pushing Jun Huang out the door.


    She took a look at the straw hut that she lived in for the past month. It was raggedy and run down. In every aspect, it couldn¡¯tpare to the pce of her youth, but it was still umonly warm and cozy. It¡¯d been her only safe harbor during her most difficult time of need.


    The old man had said he was going to throw Jun Huang out, but he couldn¡¯t help but pause his rant when they reached the door. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re going to do, but I can tell that it¡¯s something dangerous. You must be careful ande back alive no matter what!¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± A wisp of a smile drifted onto Jun Huang¡¯s face with this raw disy of affection from the old man. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Go on, go on. Remember toe back in a year!¡± Ole Cragfiend sighed and waved his hand.


    Jun Huang walked to the door and recalled her time with the old man during the past month, feeling an upswell of sadness and yearning now that they were about to part. Although he had been extremely strict with her and the daily baths had been very painful, it really had been all for her own good. Her injuries had all been healed within a month, and even her own constitution had been vastly improved. Apart from this, he¡¯d diligently taught her medicine and poison from his various tomes and books. Even though he¡¯d bluster and harrumph whenever she didn¡¯t understand something, he¡¯d still exin things patiently to her.


    ¡°Master!¡± Jun Huang looked at Ole Cragfiend, standing there and sending her off with his gaze. She finally couldn¡¯t help but turn to face him and fall to her knees, kowtowing solidly three times in a row. She¡¯d long since taken the old man as her master in her heart, even though he had a mercurial temper and ordered her around. She was well aware of his concern for her.


    ¡°And who the hell¡¯s your master!¡± Ole Cragfiend might have yelled back, but his eyes were rimmed with red. ¡°Hurry up and go! Remember, you only have one year before you get your butt back here!¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and stole onest nce at the straw hut, striding off without another backward nce.


    Eastern Wu, Western Que, Northern Qi, and Southern Mu were once the four great countries of thends. Now Western Que was no more, and Southern Mu didn¡¯t have any rtions with the fallen nation. Only Northern Qi had kept good rtions with Western Que. If she sought revenge, she wouldn¡¯t achieve it by herself. So she set a course for Northern Qi.


    Jun Huang changed into men¡¯s robes deep in the mountains and took a deep look in the direction of the pce. With a final nce, she turned resolutely and started her journey for Northern Qi. She really wanted to keep staring at her home, but her nation was nothing but a name right now. She still hadn¡¯t exacted revenge. What face did she have to go home?


    Father. Mother. She silently vowed in her heart. Jun Huang will always be a princess of Western Que. Jun Huang will not set a foot into Western Que before the call of revenge has been answered!


    She walked off into the distance, her lonely shadow lengthened by the setting sun with each step she took.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5: War God of Northern Qi


    Saddletown, courier station.


    Saddletown was amon destination for any travelers going from Western Que to Northern Qi. The west passage led to Western Que and the north passage led to Northern Qi, so traders and travelers alike used this town as a waystation. Jun Huang had just ordered some random dishes in an inn in Saddletown when she heard some traders conversing loudly at the table next to her.


    ¡°The Northern Qi border skirmishes have started again! I passed through there this morning, and guess what I saw!¡± One of the traders spoke mysteriously.


    ¡°War¡¯s never stopped on that border. Fights break out every few days, do you really need to be so surprised?¡± One of the other guests snorted disdainfully.


    ¡°Those are just small scuffles, but guess what I saw this time?¡± the trader replied emotionally. ¡°The Nan troops! That war god prince of Northern Qi!¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s hand hesitated for a second as she picked up some food with her chopsticks, her forehead knitting together slightly. Nan Xun, titled Prince Nan. If the rumors were true, even as a young man, hemanded three armies and was undefeated in battle. He roved thends freely, and all his enemies quailed and cowered at his arrival. He was the war god of northern Qi. But why was such a heroic character getting involved in the scrapes of the border?


    ¡°Ohe off it. What kind of character is General Nan Xun? How would he possiblye to this tiny ce?¡± Another trader skeptically voiced Jun Huang¡¯s thoughts at that moment.


    ¡°Oh, oh, you don¡¯t know, do you?¡± The previous trader was quite proud of himself. ¡°Did you know that Western Que has been destroyed, and there are no survivors of the royal n? So who do you think held the funeral for Western Que Emperor Jun Hongmo?¡±


    Another trader detected the connotations behind these words. ¡°You mean to say that Nan Xun held the funeral?¡±


    Jun Huang started as her chopsticks ttered to the ground. ¡°What did you say?!¡± She surged to her feet and stared hard at the trader. ¡°Nan Xun held a funeral for the ruler of Western Que?¡±


    The trader hadn¡¯t anticipated such an exaggerated reaction and blinked in surprise. He still replied, ¡°Yeah, apparently the funeral was quite something. Every ce within Western Qu hung white veils for half a month to mourn their fallen emperor.¡± He sighed at the end. ¡°They all say that the prince is cold-hearted and brutal, but to think that he was the only one who rushed to Western Que after it was destroyed...¡±


    Complicated emotions shed through Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. Indeed, how tragic andughable was this? Western Que had stood strong for almost a hundred years, and ity in ruins after only a night. She¡¯d thought that her father and mother would remain unsated, vengeful souls in the underworld, but someone had actually held a funeral for her royal parents!


    ¡°Where did you say you saw the Nan troops?¡± Jun Huang took a deep breath in and looked at the trader again. Logically and emotionally speaking, she should personally thank Nan Xun after he¡¯d treated Western Que thus.


    She left Saddletown and headed north, making fast time. After a while on the road, Jun Huang could make out bodies lying scattered on the ground ahead. She sped up and ground to a halt next to them. Her heart anxious, she hastily turned over the nearest body. Her expression changed drastically when she recognized the uniform and insignia of a Northern Qi soldier. Moreover, there was arge ¡°Nan¡± emzoned on his chest. The Nan troops! Jun Huang hurriedly flipped over multiple bodies. All of them had ¡°Nan¡± on their chests. Had the Nan troops lost this battle? What of Nan Xun? She suppressed the anxiety in her heart and began searching the battlefield closely. The piercing smell of blood and gore filled her nose, inciting the urge to vomit more than a few times.


    She¡¯d never met Nan Xun, but as the leader, his outrements would certainly be different from ordinary soldiers. She frantically searched through the wreckage of the battle and finally found a man slumped over in a corner of the battlefield. He was wearing a suit of armor reserved for generals.


    This was a handsome young man. The lines of his face spoke to his determination, and his eyebrows extended vigorously towards his sideburns. He overflowed with strong male charisma, and his heavy armor was stained with blood. He looked like a Shura god who had crawled out from hell. Jun Huang¡¯s breath caught, and she hastily extended probing fingers towards his nose.


    Thank goodness, he¡¯s still breathing. He¡¯s alive. Jun Huang sighed with relief, but also knew that no more dys could be brooked. Someone coulde over at any time; she had to leave right away. The man was too heavily injured, so she didn¡¯t dare walk too far. She hastily found a discreet cave nearby and hauled the man into it after expending all the strength in her body.


    His wounds had to be treated immediately. Thankfully, the month she¡¯d spent devouring medicinal books with Ole Cragfiend wasn¡¯t for nothing. With therge packet of medicines that the old man had given her when she left, it wasn¡¯t a difficult process to treat him.


    The wounds on the man¡¯s upper body were soon dressed, and Jun Huang blushed as she looked at his thigh, still seeping blood. The wound in his lower body was in an awkward ce, but his life would be in danger if she didn¡¯t do something about it. She hesitated, then ducked her head with a murmured apology, taking a deep breath and reaching towards his crotch.


    Just as Jun Huang touched the man¡¯s pants, a hand snapped out like lightning, catching hers. At the same time, his other hand closed around her neck. Cold eyes met her startled ones. It seems that Nan Xun had woken up some time ago. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Let... let go of me...¡± Jun Huang was startled and the look in Nan Xun¡¯s eyes grew savage, his expression even colder. Her hand seemed ready to snap in his, and her lungs were beginning to protest as his hand around her neck tightened. Her struggles grew fainter, and she almost couldn¡¯t speak.


    In the moment that she thought that she would die from suffocation, the strength binding her abruptly ceased. Nan Xun had fainted just as suddenly as he¡¯d awoken.


    Jun Huang heaved and sucked in great gasps of air, her brain still struggling to react. She¡¯d really felt that she was facing the god of death in that split second. She hadn¡¯t felt that kind of suffocating despair even when she¡¯d been surrounded by enemy soldiers on the cliff. This man waspletely unfathomable. She couldn¡¯t oppose him no matter what! Jun Huang didn¡¯t have any other thoughts after that, and she swiftly applied medicine to the rest of his wounds.


    By the time she¡¯d tied off thest bandage, it was almost dusk. Jun Huang looked at the unconscious Nan Xun and weighed the situation. She decided to find some food first.


    ......


    Jun Huang turned over the wild rabbit she¡¯d caught. The flesh was nicely browned now and a delicious scent filled the cave, tempting one¡¯s appetite. Nan Xun slowly came awake, his mind still groggy. His nose twitched as he inhaled the delicious smell of the rabbit. His eyes snapped open, and flicked from side to side, taking in everything around him. The ruthlessness in his eyes dissipated as he realized where he was.


    This wasn¡¯t the battlefield, but a cave. There was only a man dressed in white facing away from him in this ce.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Nan Xun watched Jun Huang¡¯s back warily, his voice low and hoarse.


    ¡°Awake hmm?¡± Jun Huang looked back and saw that Nan Xun didn¡¯t seem in immediate difort. She casually tore off a piece of meat and threw it to Nan Xun. ¡°Eat something, you¡¯ve been out for most of the day.¡±


    It was only then that Nan Xun saw the man¡¯s face and blinked. This man is stunningly beautiful. ¡°You saved me?¡± Nan Xun narrowed his eyes at Jun Huang as his memories started toe back to him. His tone was quite certain, even though he¡¯d framed it as a question. Even though he¡¯d been unconscious, he still remembered that brief brief moment of lucidity. He remembered someone drawing near him and how he¡¯d wrapped his hand around the person¡¯s neck. In his injured haze, he only remembered a set of pure and clear eyes, the same eyes that the man in front of him now sported.

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6: Pursuit


    ¡°Nan Xun, Northern Qi¡¯s very own war god. It¡¯s said that you¡¯ve never been defeated, so what dire straits befell you here?¡± Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond, but mocked him instead. She¡¯d put on male clothing to make her travels more convenient after leaving the mountain, so it was no wonder that Nan Xun hadn¡¯t recognized her.


    ¡°What is your goal?¡± Nan Xun¡¯s face suddenly darkened as killing intent shed through his eyes. Since this man seemed to know him, it was imperative that he find out this man¡¯s motives.


    ¡°I would¡¯ve killed you a long time ago if I wanted to, alright?¡± Jun Huang rolled her eyes at the murderous intent in Nan Xun¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s chat about what happened here. You¡¯ve already entered Northern Qi territory, so why were your losses so severe?¡±


    Nan Xun took a deep look at Jun Huang, not a flicker of expression crossing his face as he seemed to weigh the veracity of Jun Huang¡¯s words. ¡°There was a traitor in the army. We were ambushed.¡± He glossed over the specifics, not mentioning who the traitor was or why they¡¯d been ambushed. However, Jun Huang could confirm her own suspicions through his words and sighed inwardly, looking at Nan Xun with a gaze of unspeakableplexity.


    ¡°What?¡± Nan Xun frowned, feeling quite ufortable from Jun Huang¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Have you ever considered...¡± Jun Huang broached the subject delicately, ¡°Why you weren¡¯t ambushed in Western Que, but attacked within Northern Qi borders instead?¡± Regardless of the reason, Nan Xun had held a funeral for her royal father and mother. She owed him a debt of gratitude, and thus couldn¡¯t just ignore his precarious situation.


    ¡°Oh? Why¡¯s that?¡± Nan Xun¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but his heart sank. Someone who would pose this kind of question would certainly have a certain answer in mind. The only issue that remained was the goal of this slender and beautiful man?


    ¡°The Nan troops have battled for many years without suffering a single defeat. All who hear of your name tremble in fear. Your reputation in Northern Qi is even a bit higher than the imperial family¡¯s¡± Jun Huang ground out through gritted teeth. ¡°The Nan troops ze so gloriously, but is the general aware that an emperor would never allow one of his subjects to shine more brightly than him?¡±


    ¡°And what of that!?¡± Nan Xun red coldly at Jun Huang. ¡°I am a citizen of Northern Qi and naturally should ensure peace for my country.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Jun Huang was incensed to the point of speechlessness. She hadn¡¯t thought that Nan Xun would remain such an unmoving block of wood even when she¡¯d spoken so inly. Western Que was no more, Eastern Wu was on the run, and Southern Mu had never cared enough to be involved in anything. The only one who would ambush the Nan troops in Northern Qi territory was Northern Qi itself!


    Nan Xun was a general of Northern Qi, but his reputation had long since eclipsed that of the royal family¡¯s. How could the emperor bear this thorn in his side? It went without saying that the mastermind behind this ambush was most likely the Northern Qi royal family!


    Jun Huang had wanted to offer a reminder to Nan Xun to be wary of the Northern Qi emperor, but his response was wholly diffident, whether on purpose or of true naivety. A thick silence descended on the cave as neither of the two spoke.


    In the end, Jun Huang was the one who broke the heavy atmosphere. She walked over to Nan Xun, medicine in hand, and looked down at him from her lofty position, speaking awkwardly, ¡°Your wound needs to be dressed again. Lie down, I¡¯ll do it for you.¡±


    Nan Xun was disbelieving, but he stilly down docilely. No matter what this man¡¯s goal was, Nan Xun couldn¡¯t do anything with his heavy injuries. I might as well go along with the flow.


    The general had been unconscious when Jun Huang had treated him earlier, so although she¡¯d felt awkward, she¡¯d only blushed slightly. However, she could feel Nan Xun¡¯s gaze trained on her body this time. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help but stiffen all over, as even her fingers began uncontrobly trembling.


    ¡°Why are you trembling?¡± A breath of suspicion graced Nan Xun¡¯s brows when he saw Jun Huang¡¯s shaking hand.


    ¡°Who¡¯s, who¡¯s trembling?!¡± Jun Huang red ferociously at Nan Xun to cover up her emotions, but her face still zed hotly. She admonished herself to focus and repeated Buddha¡¯s names over and over again in her heart, finally managing to calm down.


    Nan Xun stared at Jun Huang¡¯s movements with a furrowed brow, feeling something off about them. His eyes happened to flit past to her earlobes, where they widened with sudden shock. ¡°You¡¯re a woman?¡± He scrambled a half step back and looked at Jun Huang¡¯s obviously pierced ear lobes with stunned surprise.


    Jun Huang was also startled by his sudden action and spilled the medicines all over the floor. ¡°I-I¡¯m not¡ªah!!¡± She waved her hands frantically, but hadn¡¯t anticipated on Nan Xun suddenly dodging away. His leg caught hers, knocking her off bnce. With a startled exmation, she fell forward,nding straight into Nan Xun¡¯s embrace.


    The strong scent of a male assaulted her senses. Jun Huang could feel Nan Xun¡¯s broad chest, and her ears were filled with the strong thud of his heartbeat. She could feel a fire erupt from the backs of her ears and travel swiftly throughout her body, tinging her entire face a rosy red.


    Pin drop silence reigned in the cave. Jun Huang was the first to recover her senses as she sprang out of Nan Xun¡¯s embrace. Her eyes darted to and fro as she stammered out an exnation, ¡°I... I didn¡¯t mean to do that. I was j-just...¡±


    Nan Xun actually felt a sudden sense of loss when the warmth in his arms slipped away, but his expression abruptly froze in the next second as he thought of something. ¡°Who are you, and what is your goal?¡± He suddenly wrapped his hand around Jun Huang¡¯s neck, ring viciously at her.


    Jun Huang had rxed her guard for a second and had actually ended up being captured again. She red straight back, squeezing her words out with effort, ¡°Let go, I¡¯m... not... an enemy...¡±


    ¡°Not an enemy? Then why did you disguise yourself as a man to get close to me?¡± Nan Xunughed coldly and increased the strength in his hand. ¡°Speak, or die!¡±


    ¡°I... I...¡± Jun Huang was more mad at herself than anything else. She knew from the beginning that although Nan Xun was injured, he was no ordinary character. How had she let her guard down again?


    ¡°Where d¡¯ya think that Nan¡¯s hiding? We searched that entire battlefield but found no trace o¡¯ him.¡± Sounds of other voices swept in at that moment. The two within the cave froze, and Nan Xun rxed his grip slightly. Jun Huang took advantage of his momentarypse to slip out of his grasp and suck inrge mouthfuls of sweet air off to the side. Nan Xun¡¯s expression changed, and just as he was about to leap into action, she waved her hand to tell him to hide quietly.


    The two hid in the cave, soundlessly listening to the conversation outside.


    ¡°Who knows? Master said he wants to see the man if alive, the body if dead. We best hop to it!¡± The other fellow blustered back. The duo were drawing closer, and it seemed that they would soon find the cave.


    ¡°They¡¯re looking for me, you go.¡± Nan Xun had chosen a stick for his weapon, since there were nothing else suitable nearby. It moved easily in his hand as he stared at the cave entrance, his entire posture on high alert.


    ¡°Your injuries are severe, so you¡¯re more than likely doomed if they find you.¡± Jun Huang took a look at Nan Xun and seemed to make a decision. ¡°I¡¯ll go draw them away, you stay here.¡±


    A thread of incredulity shed through Nan Xun¡¯s eyes as he looked into Jun Huang¡¯s resolute ones. ¡°There¡¯s many of them outside.¡±


    There¡¯s many of them outside, so you may very well die if you go out.

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7: Counterattack


    ¡°I know.¡± Jun Huang didn¡¯t have time to speak further. She¡¯d made up her mind, so she didn¡¯t hesitate any longer. She yanked Nan Xun¡¯s cloak¡¯s off him and tugged it into ce around her, adopting a cat posture as she prepared to leave the cave. Nan Xun had held a rich funeral for her parents; it was a debt she had to repay. Saving his life would count as her discharging said debt.


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯t thought that Jun Huang would set out without a second¡¯s hesitation. An inexplicable emotion shed through the depths of his eyes. ¡°Why?¡± he heard himself ask lowly. He had rampaged through the field of battle for years, killing and maiming without hesitation. His heart had long since cooled to a lump of iron, but something stirred right then, deep within.


    ¡°Think of it as thanks.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s footsteps paused as she responded seriously. ¡°You¡¯re a good person.¡±


    A good person? He had spent a good half of his life inmand of the army. To him, a human life was no different than a stalk of wheat to be reaped. He didn¡¯t even frown at the sight of a dying man. Was he still worthy of beingbeled a good person? Nan Xun wanted to say something, but by then, Jun Huang had already disappeared from view.


    ¡°Over there!¡± He heard a loud shout that was quickly followed by scattered footsteps. The one who¡¯d been drawing close to the cave mouth took off running in another direction. Silence once again descended on the cave, but that of a different kind. Nan Xun closed his eyes, the faint smile from the girl when she left appearing once more in his mind, as well as that heartfelt, ¡°You¡¯re a good person.¡±


    There were a dozen enemy troops, and Jun Huang drew them far away whilst wearing Nan Xun¡¯s cape. Once they were far enough, she put on a burst of speed and concealed herself in the dense forest. In thetter half of the month she¡¯d spent below the cliff, she¡¯d gone out to pick herbs with Ole Cragfiend everyday. She was exceedingly familiar with mountain terrain, and it was an easy feat for her to hide within the flora.


    Having lost sight of her, the soldiers decided to take advantage of their numbers to split up into search parties. ¡°You, you, and you! Go over there. You guyse with me, and the rest go that way.¡±


    Jun Huang could see from her hiding ce that the enemy had split into three groups, roughly four or five to a group. She started formting a n. She wouldn¡¯t have been able to take any action if they¡¯d stayed grouped together, but now that they¡¯d split up, she had an opportunity to take them out one by one.


    The three groups went off into different directions, with one group just so happening toe Jun Huang¡¯s way. She¡¯d actually already formed a rough strategy when she was drawing the enemy away. Armed with the confusion powder from Ole Cragfiend and the knowledge from the medicinal tomes, she felt that she had a decent chance of victory. She fished out the powder, ripped off part of her hem and coated it in the powder. She stilled as the soldiers grew closer, and after a long tense moment, picked up their trail as they passed her hiding spot.


    The skies had darkened, and the soldiers were clearly not enthused about their mission. They were a bit weary from the day of searching. Jun Huang quietly snuck up behind thest soldier. Her hand moved like lightning and covered the solder¡¯s nose and mouth with the cloth. Ole Cragfiend¡¯s powder was certainly potent. The soldier didn¡¯t even have time to cry an rm before he went limp, falling softly to the ground.


    Jun Huang silently lowered him to the ground and drew the sword at his waist. When the sword brushed past the soldier¡¯s neck, he died a soundless death. She hid the body behind a bush. No one in the group noticed that they had lost one of their own. Jun Huang went through two of the pursuing groups using the same tactic, annihting them both.


    RUMBLE. Thunder ripped through the sky and lightning snaked across the horizon. Heavy rain started to cascade down. The remaining group was just ahead! Jun Huang wiped the rain off her face and slowly crept up behind thest group.


    ¡°Damn it, it started raining! It¡¯s freaking pitch ck here, is there anywhere we can get out of the rain?¡± A soldier cursed loudly. Jun Huang could recognize the speaker as the one who¡¯d suggested splitting up. He must be the leader of the group.


    ¡°Boss, I think I saw a cave back when we first split up. It¡¯s dark now and with so much rain, we won¡¯t be able to make it back to camp tonight. Let¡¯s just take shelter in the cave tonight.¡± One of the soldiers suggested.


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart sank. The soldier was talking about the cave Nan Xun was hiding in. She¡¯d thought that these soldiers would go back to their camp when night fell, but if they headed for the cave instead, Nan Xun was dead beyond a doubt. He was still too injured. I can¡¯t let them pass!


    Jun Huang made up her mind in a split second. There were only five in this group, and although she had strengthened her body, she wasn¡¯tpletely assured of sess if she were to face five at once. She decided to continue using the same strategy. After all, it had served her well up to this point.


    The rain poured down as thunder and lightning raged across the skies. Jun Huang had silently ghosted in behind thest person in this group, and suddenly pped her hand over the nose and mouth of the soldier. The longsword in her hand shed towards the soldier¡¯s neck, but the powder didn¡¯t take immediate effect this time. The soldier actually whipped his head around after Jun Huang had pped her hand over his face and stared at her with widened eyes.


    ¡°Found him! He¡¯s here!¡± He managed to tear his face away from the cloth long enough to yell before everything went ck before his eyes. This time, the soldier fell heavily to the ground. Jun Huang¡¯s expression changed drastically. She¡¯d used too much of the powder earlier and hadn¡¯t factored in the dosage being diluted as she¡¯d used it. This one had enough time to warn the others!


    ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± The four ahead instantly turned around when they heard the noise and saw Jun Huang wearing Nan Xun¡¯s cloak.


    She had no time to think as she quickly shed downwards, slitting the throat of the unconscious soldier. She then lifted her head and coldly stared down the four enemy soldiers.


    RUMBLE!!


    Another bolt of lightning split the skies, illuminating the scene of a bloodstained Jun Huang wielding her longsword. She looked quite bedraggled as water and blood dripped from her robe, but her eyes were those of a demon from the abyss, cold and cruel.


    ......


    The crack of thunder, jagged stripes of lightning, and thunderous downpour of rain all pounded on Nan Xun¡¯s heart. The fire within the cave had long since been extinguished because ofck of fuel, and the dying embers reflected its owner¡¯s uneasy emotions. It¡¯s been eight hours hours already, why hasn¡¯t shee back? Can it be... Nan Xun¡¯s heart spasmed when he thought of the unknown girl perishing because of her decision to save him.


    The curtain of night rolled back as the rain finally ceased. White was already being slowly brushed onto the horizon in the distance.


    Jun Huang still hadn¡¯t returned.


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯t been able to sleep all night, and he could no longer sit still. He struggled to his feet, dragging his bad leg behind him as he limped to the cave entrance. Even a girl thought nothing of life or death. He was a man amongst man, how could he cower behind others and let a woman risk her life for him?


    His wounds were not yet healed, and had in fact worsened after a night in the cold. The bandaged wound on his leg split open again and crimson red dyed his shirt, the bright red hue creeping quickly through the cloth. He used the wall for support as he pulled himself forward, taking almost fifteen minutes for just a few meters to the cave entrance.


    ¡°General, General! Are you here?? General!!¡± A shout suddenly sounded from outside.


    ¡°Meng Yao!¡± Joy shed through Nan Xun¡¯s eyes after a momentary pause when he recognized the voice.


    ¡°General!¡± The voice became agitated, and a figure barreled through the entrance. A tall and fit young man, he was wearing blue armor, equipped with a longsword, and had a thick, fierce aura about him. Yet, his aura didn¡¯t seem that of aggression.

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8: Saved


    ¡°General, what¡¯s happened to you?¡± Meng Yao¡¯s eyes reddened with anger when he saw Nan Xun¡¯s body covered with wounds. ¡°Who did this! I heard you were ambushed, who¡¯s the bastard who dared to do such a thing?! My surname isn¡¯t Meng if I don¡¯t find the snake and take his skin off!¡±


    ¡°Forget that, hurry and help me find someone.¡± Nan Xun halted Meng Yao¡¯s chatter with a rasp. ¡°A girl¡¯s wearing my cloak, but she¡¯s dressed as a man. She should¡¯ve headed north. Send people north. You have to find her!¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡± It was a rare sight to see Nan Xun so anxious, so Meng Yao froze for a moment.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you moving yet!¡± Nan Xun raised his foot to kick Meng Yao, but the movement tugged at the wound on his leg, making him hiss with pain.


    ¡°Alright alright alright, I¡¯ll go right now. There¡¯s a carriage below the mountain, I¡¯ll have someone escort you there. Your wounds need to be tended to...¡± Meng Yao quickly shut his mouth when he saw Nan Xun¡¯s gaze turn increasingly unfriendly. He swiftly scuttled off to carry out his orders.


    Below the mountain, in a horse carriage.


    Meng Yao had juste back with his search party. He didn¡¯t even have time to catch his breath before Nan Xun asked anxiously, ¡°Where is the person? Did you find them?¡±


    ¡°I found them, I found them! They¡¯re right here, aren¡¯t they?¡± Meng Yao rolled his eyes and waved at his soldiers to carry a body forward. Jun Huang was covered in blood and had long since passed out. Her pale face made her seem all the more fragile.


    Nan Xun¡¯s face nched when he saw therge patches of fresh blood. He whispered, ¡°Is she... dead?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s alive, don¡¯t worry.¡± Meng Yao yanked the cloak off without another thought. ¡°Even though she¡¯s practically dripping in blood, most of it isn¡¯t hers. As far as I can tell, she¡¯s only got a few scrapes and a twisted ankle. She¡¯s running a bit of a fever from lying out in the rain all night long, but that¡¯s the only reason she¡¯s still unconscious.¡± He tsk¡¯ed with amazement as he looked down at her figure. ¡°This woman is something else alright. She took out a dozen elites! General, where did you find such an amazing woman? She¡¯s practically...¡±


    Meng Yao¡¯s heart spasmed with shock when he glimpsed Nan Xun¡¯s expression. He hastily mped his mouth shut.


    ¡°Bring her up to my carriage. We return to Saddletown.¡± Nan Xun kept his eyes fixed on Jun Huang¡¯s small, pale face as he enunciated each word very clearly.


    ¡°Oh, understood...¡± Meng Yao only reacted halfway through his response, surprise coloring his voice, ¡°What? Yourcarriage?¡±


    Nan Xun red coldly at Meng Yao, not a hint of emotion to be found in the depths of his eyes.


    ¡°Okay okay I got it. Your carriage, right? Immediately, right away. Sir, yes sir!¡± Meng Yao didn¡¯t dare utter another word and arranged for Jun Huang to rest in Nan Xun¡¯s cart at the speed of light. However, he kept up a silent stream of gossip inside. Just which family¡¯s girl is she to ride in the general¡¯s carriage? He¡¯s never had anything to do with women! Honestly, the general¡¯s about as romantic as a block of wood! Oh, wasn¡¯t there that one woman in the capital who¡¯d wanted to get close to him and found her way into his carriage? If I remember right, he actually kicked her out of his carriage in broad daylight. Into the street and in front of a crowd no less!


    Nan Xun hurriedly had his guards locate a doctor when they rode into Saddletown, prompting Meng Yao to go, ¡°Wait, general, your wounds are also severe. You should...¡± He hastily shut his mouth again when Nan Xun¡¯s unfriendly re swung across to him.


    ¡°How is she?¡± Nan Xun looked at the pale-faced girl and felt his heart clench over and over.


    ¡°In response to the general, there¡¯s nothing much wrong with the young miss.¡± The doctor carefully tucked Jun Huang¡¯s hand back beneath the nkets. ¡°There are only a couple of minor wounds on her. A night out in the rain is the main culprit behind her cold and why she¡¯s been sleeping. She will wake on the morrow at thetest if she takes some medicine.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart could finally settle down in its proper ce after he heard the doctor¡¯s assessment.


    ¡°Alright alright, since she¡¯s fine,e take a look at the general, doctor. General, you¡¯re far more injured than that tomboy!¡± Meng Yao immediately tugged the doctor over to Nan Xun¡¯s side when he finally heard the all clear for Jun Huang. Nan Xun didn¡¯t protest this time. The doctor took his pulse and then carefully looked at the wounds on his body, his brow slowly furrowing over time.


    Meng Yao thought that the situation was dire when he saw the doctor¡¯s expression. ¡°What is it, doctor? Is the general in a serious condition?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no mistaking that the general¡¯s wounds were serious, but they¡¯ve already been treated and dressed quite well. They¡¯re actually already starting to heal after just a day!¡± The doctor shook his head and praised, ¡°I wonder who made this medicine, it¡¯s so miraculous! Wondrous, simply amazing!¡±


    Nan Xun started, his gaze involuntary flitting over to the girl on the bed. She hadn¡¯t paid heed to her own injuries, risked death to save him and had such miraculous medicine on her. Just who was she?


    ¡°General, that Eastern Wu dog got away. We couldn¡¯t track down Jun Yu either. The capital¡¯s sent word for you to return as soon as possible.¡± Once he saw the doctor off, Meng Yao adopted a rarely seen serious tone.


    ¡°Mm.¡± Nan Xun gave a nomittal response as he nodded, looking down at Jun Huang on the bed. ¡°Have someone investigate her background. And, don¡¯t tell anyone that she¡¯s a girl wearing men¡¯s clothes.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡± Meng Yao rolled his eyes. She¡¯s a girl, but she¡¯s dressing in these crude male clothes. She must have grown up a rough tomboy...


    The room became stiflingly quiet when Meng Yao left. Only Nan Xun and Jun Huang remained in the room. Dressing as a man, able to cut to the heart of the matter with just a few words, and carrying extraordinary medicine with her. How could she possibly be an ordinary person? Nan Xun looked at Jun Huang¡¯s ghostly pale face, all sorts of emotions he¡¯d never experienced before rippling through him. ¡°Just who are you, and why did you risk your life to save me?¡±


    The person on the bed naturally didn¡¯t respond. A smile drifted across Nan Xun¡¯s face. No matter what, I will repay this debt of gratitude of saving my life. He took a deep look at Jun Huang and tucked her nkets in more securely. He was about to leave when he glimpsed a crimson red symbol out of the corner of his eye. That¡¯s... a phoenix!


    Nan Xun started and abruptly flipped over the nkets covering her feet, only to be greeted with the sight of a glorious phoenix unfurling its wings on the back of her foot, proud and upright, about to take off.


    Seventeen years ago, natural phenomena had descended across thends as every bird had cried out in unison. The ¡°fire phoenix¡± hade into the world in Western Que. Western Que ¡°Fire Phoenix¡± princess Jun Huang had been umon from birth, carrying the birthmark of a crimson red phoenix on her feet. She was hailed as the one selected by the fates, and it was said that whoever possessed her would have the world. It was because of this that the three other nations had always coveted her.


    So... she¡¯s the Western Que princess Jun Huang? Nan Xun cast aplicated look at the unconscious Jun Huang. He recalled how serious her tone had been when discussing the debt of gratitude, and when she said ¡°You¡¯re a good person¡±. He gently tugged down her pant leg and arranged the nkets around her again, covering the phoenix about to soar into flight. He could now guess at Jun Huang¡¯s mission to Northern Qi. He could protect her from one danger, but could he protect her forever? He took another deep look at her before turning to leave the room.

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9: Crown Prince Qi Yin


    Three dayster.


    Jun Huang stretched like a cat before walking out of the room with a yawn. She¡¯d only been unconscious for a night and had in fact been awake for two days at this point. Nan Xun had happened to casually ask where she was headed, which is how they¡¯d ended up traveling to the Northern Qi capital together. With a good night¡¯s sleep under her belt after the hardships of the road, Jun Huang felt invigorated. She saw Nan Xun as soon as she entered the main hall.


    ¡°Morning!¡± Jun Huang waved her hand and greeted Nan Xun. His nod back was his usual form of greeting. As she continued into the main hall, his eyes followed her, tracking every move. She was wearing her usual men¡¯s outfit, her movements roguish with ir. Apart from her delicate features, there was nothing out of the ordinary with her act.


    The scent of breakfast wafted over the hall, rousing Jun Huang¡¯s appetite. After greeting Nan Xun, she wielded her chopsticks and began tucking in with great gusto.


    ¡°Eat slowly, don¡¯t choke.¡± Nan Xun looked on in amusement at Jun Huang scarfing down everything in sight. He poured a cup of water and handed it to her. There was a tenderness in his eyes that he himself didn¡¯t even realize.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Jun Huang took the cup without much ceremony and chugged down the contents. Once they¡¯d been fed and watered, the servants cleared the table. Jun Huang hesitated and then finally said, ¡°I¡¯ve been a burden to you these days. Now that we¡¯re at the Qi capital, I think I should...¡±


    ¡°His Highness the Crown Prince!¡±


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t finished speaking before arge crowd suddenly surged inside. A tall, well built man wearing a ck robe with a gold cor led the group. His features were well defined and handsome, and great vigor emanated from his eyes.


    Jun Huang started in surprise, but Nan Xun had already stood to wee the neer. ¡°Your Highness.¡±


    This is Crown Prince Qi Yin of Northern Qi? Jun Huang took a careful look at him. There was a bright smile on his face, seemingly in good spirits. His every movement and gesture spoke of an innately noble bearing.


    ¡°No need to stand on ceremony, Prince Nan! My royal father has heard of the ambush you suffered on the way back and specially sent this prince tofort you.¡± Qi Yin smiled broadly and turned back to instruct, ¡°Bring the items over!¡±


    Several guards walked over, bearing fiverge, redwood trunks. Qi Yinughed, ¡°It¡¯s all gold, silver, and jewelry! Although Prince Nan was unable to save Western Que, you held a grand funeral for her deceased ruler, Jun Hongmo. You have raised Northern Qi¡¯s glory in doing so and should be rewarded!¡±


    Jun Huang had a rough idea of what was going on at this point. Although Qi Yin wasplimenting Nan Xun on a job well done with regards to the funeral on the surface, he was actually jeering at the general¡¯s ipetence. Nan Xun had traveled all the way to Western Que and not only failed to save the country, but had even fallen victim to an ambush on the way back! It would seem that the ambush Nan Xun suffered on Northern Qi borders has much to do with the crown prince.


    ¡°Your Highness tters me.¡± Nan Xun didn¡¯t even blink. It was as if he hadn¡¯t heard the mockery in the crown prince¡¯s words.


    Qi Yin seemed to have anticipated Nan Xun¡¯s diffident response as his face darkened briefly before swiftly returning to its previous expression. He casually looked around, his eyesing to rest on Jun Huang off to the side. ¡°Who are you, and why do you not bow when you see this prince?¡±


    Nan Xun frowned and was about to speak when Jun Huang gracefully got to her feet. ¡°Greetings to Your Highness.¡± She bowed at the waist as a greeting. ¡°Thismoner is Feng Baiyu. Please forgive my ignorance in not knowing Your Highness would be here today!¡± She was dressed in a man¡¯s clothing, so her name of Jun Huang would no longer be appropriate. 1 Thus, she¡¯d chosen the name Feng Baiyu. 2


    ¡°Feng Baiyu.¡± Qi Yin¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed. ¡°You¡¯re the one who risked your life to save Prince Nan?¡±


    ¡°That would be thismoner,¡± Jun Huang responded. It was highly likely that the capital had learned of her saving Nan Xun whilst she¡¯did unconscious in Saddletown. Besides, it wasn¡¯t like she had wanted to keep it a secret either.


    ¡°Saving Prince Nan is a great feat. You should be rewarded!¡± Qi Yin held out a hand, and a guard instantly ced a gift box in them. ¡°This is fine jade that the Wu country sent over as tribute a few days ago. There is only this one piece in all thends.¡± Qi Yin opened the box and took out the jade inside. The white jade was wless, perfect even, and glowed faintly with a cold light. It was as Qi Yin had said, a fine piece of jade.


    ¡°Prince Nan is an important subject of Northern Qi. In saving him, you have rendered a service to Northern Qi. This jade is hereby bestowed upon you in gratitude.¡± Qi Yin offered the jade to Jun Huang as he spoke.


    Qi Yin¡¯s attitude was a bit off, and Jun Huang subconsciously flicked a nce at Nan Xun. His brow was slightly furrowed, but the general didn¡¯t say anything. She weighed things internally and decided to hold her hands out to ept the gift. ¡°Thismoner thanks Your...¡±


    She¡¯d just started to speak when she happened to see the ruthlessness at the bottom of Qi Yin¡¯s eyes. A frisson of rm struck her heart, and she was just about to back away, but Qi Yin moved even faster than her.


    Crack! The fine jade hit the ground and instantly shattered into shards. Qi Yin¡¯s angry roar burst out, ¡°Feng Baiyu, I bestowed upon you a piece of beautiful jade in gratitude, yet you shatter it in public! Men, arrest him!¡±


    Everything happened in the blink of an eye, with guards immediately charging forward to take down Jun Huang as soon as the Crown Prince spoke.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes sank. I see. So this was Qi Yin¡¯s n all along! He wanted Nan Xun dead, but I saved Nan Xun and now he can¡¯t do anything to the general. Therefore, he can only do something to me. So he used the jade to frame me!


    ¡°Hold!¡± Nan Xun¡¯s hand came down in front of her as he stepped in front of Jun Huang, a cold light glinting in his eyes. ¡°Your Highness seeks to arrest my savior in my own manor. Where is the respect for this prince?¡±


    ¡°A meremoner dares smash the fine jade that I personally bestowed! Where is his respect for this seat?!¡± Qi Yin pointed at Jun Huang. ¡°Take him!¡±


    The look in Nan Xun¡¯s eyes grew frosty as he readied himself to erupt into action, but Jun Huang tugged lightly on his sleeve. ¡°To think that the crown prince of Northern Qi is so narrow-minded and petty!¡± She looked coldly at Qi Yin.


    ¡°How dare you!¡± Qi Yin quailed internally at the sound of the usation, but stered an expression of immense fury on his face. Indeed, he was acting quite ungraciously, but this fellow was just amoner! How dare he publicly oppose me!


    Nan Xun looked at Jun Huang with a frown. He didn¡¯t say anything, instead solidly cing his body in front of hers. Jun Huang looked back at Nan Xun. ¡°Prince Nan has spent most of his life on the back of a warhorse rampaging through the battlefields to conquer newnds for Northern Qi. His achievements are numerous, and it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to call him the foremost subject of Northern Qi. But now¡ª¡° She suddenly looked at Qi Yin, her tone severe, ¡°Prince Nan has just returned after a brush with danger and hasn¡¯t even had time to recuperate yet, but youe to Prince Nan Manor to arrest his savior for considerations of face¡ª¡° Jun Huang drew close to Qi Yin, naked interrogation in her phoenix eyes, ¡°Is Prince Nan¡¯s life worth less than even a piece of fine jade to Northern Qi?!¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Qi Yin¡¯s face flickered through a variety of expressions before he finally ground out, ¡°Prince Nan is a beloved subject of Northern Qi, how would a piece of fine jade beparable to him?¡±


    ¡°Then may thismoner be so bold as to ask,¡± Jun Huang backed up and raised her hands in a cupped fist salute, her tone still cold, ¡°Does Your Highness still wish to throw thismoner into the dungeons?¡±


    ¡°Naturally, you have rendered a great service to Northern Qi in saving Prince Nan and should be richly rewarded.¡± Qi Yin looked at Jun Huang meaningfully and suddenly calmed down. ¡°Come, reward Feng Baiyu with jade, a thousand taels of gold and silver, and a hundred bolts of silk!¡±


    The look in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes flickered briefly. It seems she¡¯d underestimated this Qi Yin a bit. There were several reasons he¡¯d wanted to capture her earlier. Venting his displeasure was one of them, but he could also set a public example for Nan Xun too. But, her eloquent counter had only caused a brief moment of panic before he¡¯d quickly made the best decision he could in the circumstances. It looks like he has some abilities to his name, as expected of the one who holds the position of crown prince.


    Jun Huang no longer kept up her verbal offensive as she raised her hands in a gesture of thanks. ¡°Many thanks to Your Highness!¡±

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10: The Test of Three Questions


    After sending off the crown prince, Jun Huang started nning on how she would take her leave of Nan Xun. She¡¯de to Northern Qi in order to destroy Eastern Wu for revenge. This journey would no doubt be fraught with peril. Although Nan Xun had a strong faction in Northern Qi, his enemies were everywhere. If she stayed in Prince Nan Manor, she would certainly bring untold trouble to him.


    ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Nan Xun asked faintly when he noticed Jun Huang seemingly biting back words. Western Qu¡¯s princess is indeed extraordinary. She managed to send the crown prince packing with just a few words. Nan Xun was abruptly revising his impression of Jun Huang yet again.


    ¡°Just now... thank you,¡± Jun Huang responded. Nan Xun was a prince of Northern Qi, but he had openly defied the crown prince for her, amoner. She had to express her gratitude for his protection just now.


    ¡°It was nothing,¡± Nan Xun shook his head.


    Nevertheless, what needed to be said still had to be said. Jun Huang took a deep breath in. ¡°Since we¡¯ve already reached Northern Qi, Baiyu dares not impose further. And so, I think I should take my leave today...¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Nan Xun responded.


    ¡°I came to Northern Qi to... wait, you said alright?¡± It took a while for Jun Huang to realize that Nan Xun had already agreed. Her eyes widened in surprise.


    ¡°I know that Sir Feng is no ordinary character. Furthermore, a character of your stature would not stay long in Prince Nan Manor. I¡¯d just never thought that Sir Feng would take his leave after a night¡¯s stay.¡± Nan Xun exined his reaction patiently.


    ¡°Oh, I see...¡± Jun Huang responded absentmindedly, an intangible sense of disappointment in her heart. She¡¯d thought that Nan Xun would seek to keep her when she raised the issue of leaving, and she¡¯d gone to the effort of brainstorming a treasure trove of excuses to use. She¡¯d also been conflicted for such a long time as to how she could broach the matter, but... he¡¯d already thought of the reason for her!


    The corner of Nan Xun¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but curl when he saw how disappointed she seemed. ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re parting forever. You¡¯re wee toe find me here whenever you run into trouble.¡±


    It was just that one sentence, but it somehow cheered up Jun Huang¡¯s mood. She couldn¡¯t help but blush at the realization. What¡¯s gotten into me? Jun Huang hastily flung out a quick, ¡°Then thanks!¡± and ran out hastily, as if there were ghosts chasing her out of the manor.


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes followed her until she vanished outside the front door, theughter hovering at the corners of her lips vanishing instantly. ¡°Wuqing, Wushuang!¡± hemanded in a low tone.1


    ¡°Master.¡± Two shadowy figures appeared soundlessly in front of Nan Xun.


    ¡°Follow her,¡± Nan Xun ordered coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t appear unless her life is in danger.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡± Wuqing and Wushuang responded, melting away into the shadows. Nan Xun took a long look in the direction that Jun Huang had disappeared into, the look in his eyesplicated and hard to define.


    ......


    To know one¡¯s enemy as well as one knows thine self, that is the foundation for continued sess on the battlefield. Therefore, Jun Huang had already plotted out what she would do after reaching the Qi capital along her journey. There were three princes of the blood in Northern Qi. Of the three, only Crown Prince Qi Yin and Second Prince Qi Chen could help further her ns. She¡¯d already met the crown prince; the two had left a mutually unfavorable impression on each other. Therefore, there was only choice left, Second Prince Qi Chen.


    The biggest question now was how she could obtain Qi Chen¡¯s trust. Jun Huang pondered the matter after leaving the Prince Nan Manor, slowly ambling her way to the Prince Chen Manor. However, she had yet to reach it when she saw arge gang of people gathered in front of it from afar.


    ¡°So many answers, but not a single one chosen!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that so! These three questions look simple, but one needs a wealth of knowledge to answer them!¡±


    ¡°Whoever can solve these questions is certainly a wise talent unparalleled by any other!¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes gleamed when she took in the chatter around her. Her feet quickened their pace. Prince Chen had set questions for which to recruit strategists with! And here she was fretting on how to obtain his trust. This was a perfect opportunity.


    There was a high stage set up outside the princely manor with a signboard nailed down in the middle. Prince Chen¡¯s questions were inscribed on that signboard. Off to the side stood a gong. Anyone who felt that they could answer the questions only needed to bang on the gong.


    Jun Huang drew close to the stage and started to peer at the questions. When she saw them clearly, her lips curved upwards in a slight smile. These questions were indeed easy. Those who¡¯d gone beforehand had failed likely because they hadn¡¯t urately fathomed Prince Chen¡¯s intentions.


    There were three questions:


    What is loyalty?


    What is filial piety?


    What is justice?


    Indeed, she¡¯d made the right choice ining to find Prince Chen. Goooong~ A schr d in white robes rang the gong as she was thinking. At longst, someone was finally making another attempt. In that moment, the white robed schr was the center of everyone¡¯s attention. Jun Huang also paused her ruminations and raised her head to see how the schr would respond.


    The schr took the stage, raised a cupped fist salute, and took a deep breath before beginning his answer. ¡°The first question of loyalty. Of all the virtues in the world, there is none greater than loyalty. Loyalty should be sincere andmitted from the bottom of one¡¯s heart. The second question of filial piety. Filial piety is the root of all virtue. To honor one¡¯s parents and abide by their will is filial piety. The third question of justice. Justice is following what is appropriate, being truthful, and following through with one¡¯s promises.¡± He raised his hands in a cupped fist salute again when he was finished.


    The apuse beneath the stage was thunderous as the audience discussed this answer with great interest.


    ¡°His answers were good! He fully exined loyalty, filial piety, and justice!¡±


    ¡°More than that! He connected all of the questions together, what a wondrous feat!¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    The light in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes twinkled as she shook her head on the inside. Although the answers had been good and even exemry in many regards, there was a fatal w to his answers¡ªthey weren¡¯t what Prince Chen wanted!


    Indeed, although the audience was in an uproar over these answers, the examiner on stage was still very calm. He slowly pronounced the results when the hubbub had slightly receded. ¡°This gentleman answered in an ingenious fashion with his own take on loyalty, filial piety, and justice. However, this gentleman¡¯s definition of them all is too narrow. You may take your leave.¡±


    The audience immediately red up into an uproar. This kind of answer still wasn¡¯t satisfactory?? Then just what kind of answer would be epted?!


    This result was within Jun Huang¡¯s expectations, and she ran over her answer in her mind once more. After doing so, she walked forward confidently and rang the gong.


    Goong~ The sound of the gong ringing silenced the crowd for a moment before the din returned in full. The person who¡¯d gone before had such a perfect answer, but he still hadn¡¯t qualified! And here was someone daring to challenge these three questions again? Was this neer full of hot air or did they really possess the ability to be so confident?


    ¡°What answer might this gentleman have?¡± The examiner was unperturbed by the crowd¡¯s voices as he maintained his calm demeanor.


    Jun Huang raised her hands in an assured cupped fist salute, sweeping her gaze beneath the stage. When the crowd noted how at ease Jun Huang seemed to be, they slowly simmered down and waited quietly for her response. She didn¡¯t speak until she¡¯dmanded everyone¡¯s attention. Jun Huang answered slowly, ¡°Although Prince Chen has listed three questions, they are in fact all rted to one another. Therefore, I only have one answer.¡±


    ¡°One answer? One answer is good enough for all three questions?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s just boasting, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what he says first. What kind of answer does he have to make the ludicrous im that one answer is good enough for all three!?¡±


    ¡°......¡± Those beneath the stage began murmuring again after hearing Jun Huang¡¯s words. They were all waiting to see if she was just boasting emptily or really did have some skill to her name.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11: Prince Chen


    Even the collected examiner was a bit surprised. ¡°Will this gentleman be so kind as to borate on your answer?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s lips curled upwards as she slowly enunciated her response. ¡°To use house rules to govern a home and a nation¡¯sws to govern a country. What is appropriate for the home is not for thend, and what is suitable for managing the entire world does not fit a kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Marvelous, how marvelous! Compared to this, the previous answer was as if a grain of rice vying with the moon for splendor!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d thought he was an arrogant cock, but he actually possesses brilliance!¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    The audience instantly became lively after Jun Huang delivered her answer. Many apuded her loudly and showered her withpliments. She took in the crowd¡¯s reaction and looked sidelong at the examiner with a faint smile. ¡°May I inquire if this lowlymoner¡¯s response is satisfactory?¡±


    ¡°Well...¡± The examiner paused as he stroke his beard, not having reached a decision yet. Just then, a pageboy suddenly ran out from the Prince Chen Manor and bowed towards Jun Huang. ¡°His Highness invites this gentleman inside.¡±


    ¡°He passed, he passed! He actually passed!¡±


    ¡°The prince is personally receiving him, he¡¯s going to soar into brilliance from now on!¡±


    ¡°Do any of you know who he is?¡±


    ¡°......¡±


    The audience beneath the stage instantly ignited into an uproar, looking at Jun Huang with expressions of respect and admiration.


    Jun Huang followed the pageboy into the manor, who stopped in front of a pavilion after taking few turns. The pageboy turned to bow, saying respectfully ¡°Sir, the prince is inside.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Jun Huang nodded and walked towards the pavilion after the pageboy had left. The pavilion was situated in the middle of a pond, and the lotus flowers around it were in full bloom. Jun Huang was crossing the wooden bridge to reach the pavilion when the sounds of a zither abruptly rang out. The music hung in the air long after they had been yed, resonating in her ears. Her steps slowed as she listened to the notes.


    There was a zither with edges made of burned Chinese parasol wood 1 ced in the middle of the pavilion. A lit brazier was simmering beside it, and a man in luxurious clothing sat there, his hands strumming away at the strings. He had ck hair and was dressed in white clothes, with handsome features and a striking air about his face. He exuded a natural sense of nobility, and the gentle melody coaxed out of the zither by his fingertips added a trace of serenity and distance to him.


    Jun Huang stood silently to the side, only making her greeting after Qi Chen had finished. ¡°Your Highness is an open and forthright person. Although your music evokes a distant mindset, it is quite grand. Your Highness must be an amiable and easygoing person.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Does the gentlemen possess some knowledge of music?¡± Prince Chen gently arched an eyebrow, but his tone was as calm as ever.


    If the three questions Prince Chen had set before was the first test, then this performance was the second test. Jun Huang was well aware of this, but responded humbly, ¡°My knowledge scratches but the surface.¡±


    Prince Chen¡¯s eyes creased as he smiled, but inwardly, he was shaking his head. He¡¯d thought that this person would possess some wisdom, but who would¡¯ve thought that he would be no different from the ones who¡¯de before?


    Jun Huang¡¯s lips curved into a smile as she slowly walked into the pavilion, leisurely building her exnation. ¡°Your Highness¡¯ song is one of peace and detachment, and it seems to speak of an otherworldliness that pertains to nature, but there is a towering and lofty vibrancy within it as well. It can be seen from this that although Your Highness appears to yearn for the countryside, in reality...¡± She suddenly paused here and stared directly at Qi Chen. ¡°...your heart belongs in the imperial court.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s gaze sharpened as his expression changed slightly. ¡°What is your name?¡±


    ¡°In response to Your Highness, thismoner is Feng Baiyu.¡± Jun Huang responded smoothly as she performed a bow.


    ¡°Feng Baiyu?¡± Qi Chen narrowed his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re the Feng Baiyu who saved Prince Nan?¡±


    Jun Huang responded with a question instead, ¡°Does Your Highness know which of thismoner¡¯s answers just now was the most important?¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± The look in Qi Chen¡¯s eyes sparkled, but he didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°One governs the world with the system most suited for it!¡± Jun Huang knelt on the ground, enunciating each word clearly. ¡°Thismoner is willing to help Your Highness gain the world!¡±


    ¡°Does this gentleman know that your words are high treason?¡± A deep emotion shed through Qi Chen¡¯s eyes for an instant. But one couldn¡¯t discern even a sliver of emotion in his dispassionate tone.


    ¡°If Your Highness¡¯ heart does not reside in the imperial court, then thismoner is willing to ept any punishment.¡± Jun Huang returned Qi Chen¡¯s gaze without fear.


    Qi Chen¡¯s slender fingers tapped lightly on the table as he was silent for a moment. He suddenly spoke up, ¡°The annual royal hunt will take ce three days from now. You will apany me.¡±


    ¡°Thismoner thanks Prince Chen.¡± Jun Huang knew that her goal had been achieved. A trace of a smile shed through her eyes.


    Qi Chen¡¯s three questions had seemed ordinary and unimaginative, but the topics of ¡°loyalty¡±, ¡°filial piety¡±, and ¡°justice¡± had all implied his ambition for the throne. Although previous answers had spoken eloquently about the three concepts, they had not managed to discern or speak of the concepts in a way that would help Qi Chen gain the throne. Whereas, while Jun Huang¡¯s answers looked like they were speaking to the letter of ¡°loyalty¡± and ¡°filial piety¡±, her allusion to the proper method for managing all facets of the world just so happened to give a nod to the ambition of ascending the dragon throne. This was why Qi Chen had been willing to see her.


    He still hadn¡¯t trusted her after seeing her, and so had used the zither as an indication of his sentiment. He¡¯d only begrudgingly believed her after hearing her answers. As for how much he believed her... Jun Huang didn¡¯t care about that at all, because her goal had never been second prince Qi Chen.


    The royal hunt was a major spectacle that would take ce for three days straight. Almost everyone with power and authority in Northern Qi would be present. Jun Huang knew that this was also Qi Chen¡¯s third test for her, and for better or worse, her performance would cement her position in the prince¡¯s heart. Therefore, after some thought, she decided to impart to Prince Chen some of her stratagems the day before they departed.


    ......


    The day of the hunt arrived in the blink of an eye, and Jun Huang apanied the second prince to the hunting grounds as his strategist. She purposefully refrained from dressing up in hunting gear,2 and wore a simple, in white garment instead.


    When they reached the hunting grounds, Jun Huang immediately picked out the handsome and striking Prince Nan. He was wearing crimson hunting gear and mounted on the back of a fine cherry-colored horse. He was sitting upright, his face without the slightest hint of an expression, and thus easily stood out from the crowd of courtiers and officials. She didn¡¯t brashly walk up to greet him, but rather casually observed those present instead.


    The one at the head of the group was naturally the emperor of Northern Qi, Qi Qiang. He was different from what Jun Huang had imagined. Although no longer young, his body was still hale and hearty. He was wearing the attire of a chieftain and rode his own horse, cutting quite a grand figure. The Northern Qi princes followed behind him, and Jun Huang¡¯s wandering gaze suddenly sharpened when she swept past one of them.


    This person wasn¡¯t wearing any hunting gear, but was dressed in purple court robes. There wereplex patterns of flowers, birds and clouds printed on his robes. He wasn¡¯t riding a horse, but standing beside Qi Qiang. From the faint aura of sickliness wreathed around his ashenplexion, he was someone who had a chronic reliance on medicines. This was Northern Qi¡¯s most unfavored prince¡ªQi Yun.


    Jun Huang had never thought that after just a handful of years of seeing him, her country would be no more and Qi Yun¡¯s circumstances would be so dire.


    ¡°It¡¯s only been a few days, but Sir Feng¡¯s abilities truly cause this seat topletely appraise you anew!¡± A voice suddenly rang out from behind Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang retracted her gaze and looked at who¡¯d arrived, tamping down the surging emotions in her heart. ¡°Greetings to the crown prince.¡±


    ¡°Sir Feng was still Prince Nan¡¯s honored guest three days ago, and yet you are now second royal brother¡¯s strategist. The gentleman is certainly extraordinary alright.¡± Qi Yin appraised Jun Huang with narrowed eyes, not giving anything away with his tone.

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12: Third Prince Qi Yun


    ¡°Thismoner and Prince Nan were but chance acquaintances. I was so lucky as to receive Prince Chen¡¯s recognition and now have the chance to serve him,¡± Jun Huang responded nomittally. She¡¯d known that Qi Yin would be sure to test her. She¡¯d saved Prince Nan, and his protection of her had been obvious at his manor. She¡¯d arrived at the Qi capital for less than a day before throwing herself under Prince Chen¡¯s banner. Qi Yin would certainly suspect a rtionship between Nan Xun and Qi Chen.


    ¡°You are too humble. I am well aware of your abilities.¡± Qi Yin snorted and changed the topic before Jun Huang could respond. ¡°It¡¯s the royal hunt today and so I will not intrude further. I hope the gentleman will have a good time.¡±


    ¡°Many thanks to Your Highness.¡± Jun Huang frowned imperceptibly. It was apparent that in saving Nan Xun, denying Qi Yin face at the Prince Nan Manor, and then entering Second Prince Qi Chen¡¯s camp, she had thoroughly offended Qi Yin. Jun Huang could now absolutely guarantee that the one who most wanted her dead in the entirety of the Qi capital currently was Crown Prince Qi Yin.


    The hunt began soon after the brief interlude with the crown prince. Emperor Qi Qiang led the crowd, a group of princes and officials following close behind. Jun Huang stood in the rear, silently observing Qi Yun send off the group with a smile. He coughed a few times after covering his mouth and slowly drifted off in the direction of the tents.


    Jun Huang thought for a moment and followed in his footsteps. Indeed, her target wasn¡¯t Crown Prince Qi Yin, or Prince Qi Chen, but Third Prince Qi Yun. The third prince was the most unfavored in the pce, and it showed in the remote location of his tent. Her heart couldn¡¯t help but ache when she followed far behind the prince.


    She and Qi Yun were actually old acquaintances. When she was young, Qi Yun had oncee as an envoy to Western Que. He¡¯d spent two years in Western Que, and the two had be the closest of friends during this time due to congenial personalities. This was how she¡¯de to know of the hardships of his life. Qi Yun¡¯s mother was amoner and had been forcefully taken as a noble consort due to the emperor¡¯s favor. She was titled Consort Yu and gave birth to Qi Yun a yearter.


    However, the imperial harem was rife with plots and discord. Consort Yu had enjoyed the exclusive favor of the emperor and thus had attracted much jealousy from all quarters. Therefore, the mother of the crown prince, Consort Ping, and mother of the second prince, Consort Zhen, came together in a rare alliance and doomed Consort Yu to death. And so Qi Yun lost his mother when he was young, and given Consort Yu¡¯sck of background, it was easy enough to imagine how difficult his life in the imperial harem subsequently had been. In order to eke out a life, Qi Yun could only continuously pretend to be sick and shore up his reserves in private, hoping and wishing that one day he could have the chance to obtain revenge for his mother.


    Qi Yun had already entered his tent while Jun Huang was lost in her recollections. She retrieved her wandering attention and also lifted up the tent p to enter. Immediately after she took a single step in, a hand cut through the air. Before she could blink, her neck was caught in stone-like grip.


    ¡°Who are you? Why are you following me?¡± Qi Yun waspletely different from his previously sickly persona. His eyes were cold and calcting as they stared into Jun Huang¡¯s, and he seemed to willing to snap her neck without hesitation if she said the slightest wrong word.


    Jun Huang was only momentarily surprised. She didn¡¯t even grow angry when she took note of her situation. A smile floated onto her face instead. It seems like Qi Yun hasn¡¯t been gathering his strength in vain all these years. Although I was restrained because I was distracted, it¡¯s a good thing that he¡¯s so alert.


    Qi Yun¡¯s gaze darkened a bit when he saw that Jun Huang was refusing to respond. He increased the strength in his hand, ¡°Speak!¡±


    ¡°Does the third prince wish to seek revenge for Consort Yu?¡± Jun Huang came back to her senses and responded unhurriedly.


    Qi Yun started, his hand subconsciously loosening a bit, which allowed Jun Huang to break free of his death grip. ¡°Who are you and why do you know this?¡± Qi Yun frostily sized up Jun Huang, his expression so dark that it almost blended in with the shadows of the tent.


    ¡°Thismoner is Feng Baiyu and wishes to help Your Highness gain the throne. Then, those who¡¯ve hurt you will yearn for death!¡± Jun Huang knelt on the ground and spoke in a low voice.


    ¡°You and what army?¡± Qi Yun snorted with disdain. Revenge? What an easy thing to speak of. He¡¯d thought of revenge for more than a decade now, but no such opportunity had ever risen in front of him. And now, this fragile, willowy man in front of him dared speak of it like a bauble bought in a street stall?


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t nned on immediately winning Qi Yun¡¯s trust. She took out a jade pendant. ¡°Does Your Highness recognize this?¡±


    Qi Yun¡¯s expression instantly changed as he snatched the pendant. The murderous intent in his eyes frothed even more as he red at Jun Huang. ¡°Who are you?!¡±


    Jun Huang sighed. ¡°Your Highness once stayed in Western Que and was good friends with the princess. You left this pendant before your departure, and the princess has always thought well of you since then. She was worried of your circumstances in Northern Qi, but it was a pity that she never had the chance to see Your Highness again before her passing.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re a refugee from Western Que?¡± Qi Yun paused.


    ¡°Thismoner was once the Western Que princess¡¯ bodyguard. Now that Western Que has fallen, thismoner is willing to assist Your Highness in seizing the throne.¡± Sorrow and anger colored each of Jun Huang¡¯s words. ¡°Thismoner only requests that when you ascend the throne, please take revenge for Western Que on behalf of the princess!¡±


    ¡°Jun Huang... how... is she?¡± Qi Yun¡¯s voice trembled.


    ¡°The princess... was forced off a cliff to her death by Eastern Wu¡¯s armies.¡± Jun Huang suddenly seemed to travel back to the day when her country was destroyed. That day, she¡¯d watched her royal father die horrifically, her mother take her life in front of the throne, and her own brother force her off a cliff. The heavens had left her a life, and on her back she carried a deep seated hatred that stemmed from blood debt. What right would she ever have to go home if she didn¡¯t exact her revenge?


    The tent fell into silence as both of them walked through their memories. Qi Yun was the first to break the silence. ¡°That you¡¯vee to find me means that you have a n?¡± He had a ratherplicated expression on his face when he looked at Feng Baiyu. Jun Huang had been his only friend in thest ten years, and when he¡¯d heard of Western Que¡¯s destruction, he couldn¡¯t help but worry for her. He knew that the chances of survival were slim, but he¡¯d still wished for a miracle. And now... now that he heard of Jun Huang¡¯s death with his own ears, he could only feel a purposeless sense of loss grip him.


    Jun Huang cleared her mind of emotions and gathered her thoughts, exining her n in detail. Before they¡¯d set out for the hunt, she¡¯de to Qi Chen with a n. The second prince should find a viper to bite the emperor during the hunt, upon which Qi Chen wouldy down his own life to save the emperor. The emperor was certain to highly value Qi Chen if the prince is willing to be poisoned in his stead. What Qi Yun was to do to was provide an antidote for Qi Chen after the poisoned second prince is brought into the pce. Qi Yun would then quietly leave when the second prince wakes. ¡°Although Prince Chen will save the emperor, the emperor is no fool. He is certain to have his suspicions about the entire matter. On the other hand, Your Highness¡¯s long habit of taking medicines is widely known. It¡¯s quite normal for you to carry antidotes about you. In leaving quietly after saving Prince Chen, you will leave only the image of a good brother in the emperor¡¯s mind.¡±


    ¡°What other ns do you have afterwards?¡± Qi Yun narrowed his eyes, quietly changing his assessment of Jun Huang. He¡¯d thought this person to be weak and fragile in body and mind, and hadn¡¯t thought that he¡¯d have such stratagems to him. This man had announced his desire to help the third prince, but had thrown himself in front of Qi Chen¡¯s doors upon arriving in the Qi capital. It was impossible for Qi Yun to not suspect something else afoot.


    Jun Huang curved her lips in a smile. ¡°Amongst the current Northern Qi princes, Crown Prince Qi Yin and Second Prince Qi Chen¡¯s factions are the strongest. Your Highness will only have a chance if both of them are wounded.¡±


    ¡°Hurry! Hurry! Something¡¯s happened at the hunting grounds!¡±


    ¡°Doctors!! Where are the doctors!¡± At that moment, a loud hubbub arose on the outskirts of the tents.


    Jun Huang and Qi Yun looked at each other, with the former offering up a pill. ¡°Your Highness, that should be the sign of the second prince¡¯s sess. You need only enter the pce at noon to deliver this medicine.¡±


    Qi Yun¡¯s eyes narrowed as he epted the pill, his expression difficult to read.

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13: Schemes


    With such a prominent event as a prince being poisoned, the royal hunt was naturally cancelled. The emperor took the second prince into the pce, and Jun Huang retreated back to the Prince Chen Manor, seeing that her work was done.


    ......


    Midday, the pce.


    ¡°Trash! It¡¯s been six hours, why is Chen¡¯er still not awake!¡± Qi Qiang swept his arm across the table, sending the tea cup on the table crashing to the floor.


    ¡°Mercy, Your Majesty! Prince Chen has fallen victim to an unknown poison, and we are all doing our best!¡± Various doctors kowtowed on the ground for mercy, their bodies unable to stop shaking.


    ¡°You cannot even save Our son! What use do We have for you?!¡± Qi Qiang simply burned with fury. A poisonous viper had suddenly appeared as they were hunting, and if it hadn¡¯t been for Qi Chen desperately protecting the emperor, it would likely be Qi Qiang lyingatose on the bed right now.


    ¡°Your Majesty, the third prince is outside of the hall requesting an audience.¡± An eunuch had swiftly trotted in to make this quiet report, afraid of disturbing the emperor.


    ¡°And what is he here for when Chen¡¯er lies in aa?! I won¡¯t see him!¡± The emperor immediately declined this request for an audience, given how irritated he was.


    ¡°Your Majesty, the third prince says he possesses medicine that can save Prince Chen.¡± Although the eunuch was afraid, he still delivered the message.


    ¡°What kind of medicine can he have?¡± Although the emperor spoke dismissive words, he still let Qi Yun in.


    ¡°Greetings to my royal father.¡± Qi Yun didn¡¯t dally and immediately offered up the pill. ¡°Royal father, your son has been gued with illnesses for many years and so often keeps many medicines about me. I happened to have a pill that can cure numerous poisons, and havee to offer it when I heard of second royal brother being poisoned.¡±


    ¡°You have put forth much effort.¡± Qi Jiang nodded and gestured for the eunuch to ept the pill from Qi Yun. The eunuch fed it to Qi Chen with the aid of a ss of water. Everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on Qi Chen, looking for any signs of his condition¡¯s improvement. His paleplexion started to show hints of rosiness after less than fifteen minutes. It was apparent that the pill was having an effect. The eyes of the assembled lit up, and the emperormanded sternly, ¡°Imperial doctor!¡±


    A doctor swiftly strode up to take Qi Chen¡¯s pulse, and a hint of joy floated onto his face. ¡°Your Majesty, the poison within Prince Chen¡¯s body has been eliminated, and he will awaken within the hour!¡±


    ¡°Very good!¡± The emperor was immensely pleased. ¡°Yun¡¯er has rendered a service of great merit in saving your brother! I must reward you handsomely. Speak of anything you want!¡±


    Qi Yun shook his head. ¡°Royal father, it is but my duty to save my second royal brother. Your son asks for no favor. Since second royal brother is now out of danger, then I will take my leave.¡±


    ¡°It turns out that you¡¯re the most mature of all!¡± The emperor indeed looked at Qi Yun with satisfied eyes when he heard his son¡¯s reply. ¡°However, the rewards shall not be stinted. Come, reward the third prince with a thousand taels of golden beads and a hundred bolts of silk!¡±


    Qi Yun didn¡¯t continue to turn the honors down and knelt down to express his thanks, ¡°Many thanks to my royal father!¡±


    The Prince Chen Manor.


    Qi Chen returned in full glory when it was almost dusk. ¡°Sir Feng possesses great schemes alright! My royal father has heavily rewarded this prince and various courtiers have all begun seeking my favor. This is all due to Sir Feng!¡± Qi Chen immediatelyughed heartily after setting foot inside his doors.


    Jun Huang rose to tender her felicitations. ¡°Congrattions to Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to stand on so much ceremony, you will be an honored guest of the Prince Chen Manor from now on!¡± Qi Chen helped Jun Huang to her feet and spoke grandly.


    ¡°Your Highness, please keep in mind that this is just a beginning. The Crown Prince still reigns supreme in the imperial court, so Your Highness must remember to keep your light under wraps,¡± Jun Huang offered the following reminder.


    ¡°The gentleman speaks truly, I am getting ahead of myself.¡± Qi Chen brought his jubtion under control. ¡°What ns might the gentleman have afterwards?¡±


    Jun Huang had long since anticipated Qi Chen¡¯s question. ¡°Although Your Highness has earned the emperor¡¯s favor today, your chance will remain forever extinguished as long as the crown prince remains in the picture.¡±


    ¡°Then the gentleman means to say...?¡±


    ¡°Now that Your Highness has found favor, the crown prince will certainly be put out. With his arrogant and sinful lifestyle, he will certainly seekfort in the pleasure district.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s lips curved into a smile as she bent towards Prince Chen¡¯s ear and continued in a low voice, ¡°When that happens, all we need to do is...¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard Jun Huang¡¯s new n. He immediately apuded loudly, ¡°This is a marvelous n, and I leave it all in your hands! If you are able to help me gain the throne, rest assured, I will not mistreat you!¡±


    Jun Huang backed up a step to make a bow, ¡°Thismoner will not maltreat Your Highness¡¯ trust!¡±


    ......


    Prince Nan Manor.


    ¡°You say that Feng Baiyu sought out Third Prince Qi Yun today as well?¡± Nan Xun lightly set down the teacup in his hand, his tone unfathomable.


    ¡°Yes, master.¡± Wuqing responded, his head still bowed.


    Nan Xun was silent for a moment as a hint of a smile slowly floated up in his eyes. She is the fire phoenix of Western Que alright. Her ns and schemes are on apletely different level. She appeared on the surface to be Prince Chen¡¯s strategist, but in reality she wished to advise third prince Qi Yun. With her by the second prince¡¯s side, the second prince and crown prince would fight each other to the death like a snipe and m locked inbat, whereas the third prince would be the fisherman benefiting off to the side. She¡¯d been in the Qi capital for a mere three days, but had already surprised him so many times. He could hardly contain his curiosity and wonder what Jun Huang would do next.


    ¡°Send a few more men and make sure to protect her well.¡± Nan Xun ordered, ¡°Remember, do not appear unless her life is in danger.¡±


    Northern Qi had been stuck in a quagmire for far too long. The arrival of the Western Que princess might very well be the catalytic piece that throws the chessboard into disarray.


    Qi Capital, Ladies of the Lake. 1


    Ladies of the Lake was Qi capital¡¯srgest brothel. Each of thedies inside were alluring in their own way, and stunning to behold. Many royals and courtiers liked to drink a cup or two here, but the most important fact to note was that this was Qi Yin¡¯s favorite haunt.


    Jun Huang sat,ckadaisical as ever, in front of the window, wlessly engaging the officials at her table in conversation whilst keeping an idle eye on the front door. Now that the second prince had found great royal favor, anyone at court with the slightest presence of mind had started making overtures to the second prince. As Prince Chen¡¯s only strategist, it wasn¡¯t too difficult for Feng Baiyu to arrange for a meeting with some officials. She didn¡¯t have to wait long to see Crown Prince Qi Yin walk through the front doors.


    He didn¡¯t have the best expression on his face, and was immediately surrounded by swirling silks and simpering voices when he entered. Within a few steps, he had his arm flung around two different girls and was kissing both of themsciviously as he eagerly walked towards his room. When Jun Huang took a close look at the girl in light-green next to Qi Yin, her lips slowly curled up in a smile. He can smile all he¡¯d like now, there will be plenty to cry aboutter.


    ¡°Sir Feng? Sir Feng?¡± Lord Li called out to Jun Huang several times after receiving no response.


    Jun Huang came back to herself and raised her hands in apology. ¡°Gentlemen, I seem to have recognized someone just now. Please excuse me for a moment and record all expenditures on my ount tonight. Please enjoy yourselves.¡±


    ¡°Sir Feng is being too polite. Please go about your business, there¡¯s no need to think further of us.¡± The table chorused back at her.


    After leaving the room, Jun Huang leaned against the door and finally ambled next door when she judged enough time had passed. She¡¯d used the second prince¡¯s name in inviting the officials to dinner tonight and had naturally picked the closest room to Qi Yin¡¯s ustomed one. She had to provide the audience the best seats after all!

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14: The Crown Prince Grounded


    ¡°Get out! All of you! Have your bestdye see me!¡± Jun Huang could hear Qi Yin¡¯s wounded roars of wrath as soon as she approached the door.


    ng! The door suddenly opened as a prostitute hurriedly scrambled out. She was tripped by the doorstep and stumbled, almost falling over.


    ¡°Is it done?¡± Jun Huang caught the girl by the arm, helping her regain her bnce, before asking nomittally.


    The girl hurriedly snuck a peak at Jun Huang and responded lowly, ¡°In response to the gentleman, it¡¯s done.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°Go on. I¡¯ll buy your freedom on the morrow.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir!¡± Gratitude shed through the girl¡¯s eyes.


    The door was still open, so Jun Huang could see clear into the room. Apart from Crown Prince Qi Yin, there were also a dozen cowering prostitutes within. All of them were in various stages of undress. ¡°What a coincidence, Crown Prince. Fancy bumping into you here.¡± Jun Huang affected an expression of surprise and tsk¡¯ed at the crown prince. ¡°It looks like the crown prince has high standards indeed. None of the dozen here catches your eye?¡±


    ¡°Feng Baiyu!¡± Qi Yin¡¯s eyes went bloodshot with rage when he got a clear look at who was at his doorstep. Qi Chen had risked his life to save the emperor a few days ago and won deep imperial favor as a result. Qi Yin¡¯s status as crown prince in the pce had taken a deep plunge, and even his own royal mother hadid a blistering lecture into him this morning. Qi Yin had been harboring a belly of barely suppressed rage and had wanted to forget it in the arms of pleasure, so he¡¯d called for a dozen women. But none of them had stirred his interest! He wouldn¡¯t harden, even when the women stripped themselves naked and posed on the bed! Whether it was the oppressive feelings he¡¯d suffered in the pce or the irritation at Ladies of the Lake, he was firmly cing it all on Prince Chen¡¯s shoulders. And now that he saw Qi Chen¡¯s only strategist in front of him, his rage soared to new heights.


    ¡°Why does the crown prince not make good use of the night with such beauties in his arms, and spend his time raging instead?¡± Jun Huang knew full well what was going on, but continued to purposefully poke the tiger. She¡¯d bought the maid at Qi Yin¡¯s side a while ago, who had secretly dosed Qi Yin with a powder that rendered himid before he did his business with the prostitutes. It would seem that the powder was far more effective than she¡¯d thought.


    ¡°When was it your turn to remark on this seat¡¯s business! Get out!¡± Qi Yin¡¯s face flushed red and white in his rage, and he started huffing heavily from the exertion of his emotions.


    ¡°The crown prince still thinks of the leadingdy of the Lake even with so many beautiful girls in your arms... can it be...¡± Jun Huang looked at the crown prince with a supercilious smile. ¡°The crown prince... isn¡¯t man enough?¡±


    ¡°Feng Baiyu, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± One could almost see steam erupting from Qi Yin¡¯s orifices when Jun Huang hit her target dead in the ck. He grabbed the teapot on the table and hurled it viciously at Feng Baiyu.


    Jun Huang dodged adroitly, the smile on her lips deepening. ¡°Is the crown prince so incensed because of a guilty conscience? Has thismoner hit upon it?¡±


    ¡°Feng Baiyu, I will see you dead today!¡± Reason evaporated from the crown prince¡¯s mind with thatst jab. He drew the sword by his waist without another thought and swung it down on Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang smirked coldly but stayed right where she was. Her gaze contained nothing but disdain and scorn. This was a dandy that would bully the weak and fear the strong, and had nary a thought in his head! How did I ever possibly think before that this crown prince had some ability to him?


    ¡°Stop!¡± A group of people suddenly surged through the door before the prince¡¯s sword could sh down, their eyes all fixing unfriendly stares on the crown prince. Lord Li swiftly strode in, seizing the crown prince¡¯s sword with one hand and surveilling the room with a quick turn of his head. His expression was particrly ugly. ¡°Your Highness, you are, you are simply ludicrous!¡±


    Their room had been just next door, with only a thin wall as a partition. They had all heard the disturbance when the crown prince had thrown the teapot earlier, and everyone had clearly heard himter on when he had voiced his desire to kill Feng Baiyu. They had alle over and immediately taken in the situation in the room. There were a dozen indecently d women, the crown prince waving his sword and dering his desire to kill the second prince¡¯s strategist... They¡¯d seen and heard all of this for themselves, and so now everyone believed that the crown prince¡¯s lewdness and ludicrous behavior was without parallel!


    Color instantly drained from the crown prince¡¯s face when he saw the dozen or so great officials who¡¯d rushed into the room. ¡°Lord Li, I... I...¡± He tried to stammer out an exnation.


    ¡°Your Highness.¡± Jun Huang didn¡¯t feel like the mes were quite hot enough and decided to add a dash of oil to the fire. ¡°As the noble crown prince of our Northern Qi, you should lead by example. It¡¯s truly inappropriate to act in such ascivious manner.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t umon for noble scions toe out and make merry, but the act of demanding ten girls in one go wasn¡¯t something that could be simply described as lewd. The officials¡¯ expressions all darkened as they looked at the crown prince with identical expressions of disappointment and disgust. ¡°Your Highness, how can you do this as the sessor to Northern Qi!¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Qi Yin was at a loss at how to respond to the condemnation. Would he say that he hadn¡¯t been hard enough to do the deed? How could he possibly do that?! No man would ever admit that!


    Jun Huang knew with a single nce what the crown prince was thinking of. She looked at his lower body with sudden enlightenment. ¡°Your Highness summoned so many girls but didn¡¯t take it further? Could it be... Your Highness is unable to do so?¡±


    ¡°Feng Baiyu, just you wait!¡± Qi Yin flushed hot and cold as he viciously spat out these words. Gathering what shreds remained of his dignity, he left without another nce. This Feng Baiyu¡¯s wrecked my ns before even arriving in the capital. I¡¯ll get him for this if it¡¯s thest thing I do!


    The next day, the Prince Chen Manor.


    Feng Baiyu had just set out some tea when Qi Chen came striding in with great fanfare. ¡°Wonderful plot, what a simply marvelous plot!¡± Glee was written all over Qi Chen¡¯s face as he looked at Jun Huang with utter admiration.


    ¡°Please have some tea, Your Highness.¡± Jun Huang smiled faintly and handed a cup of the prepared tea to Qi Chen.


    Qi Chen quaffed it in one go and continued, his voice betraying his excitement. ¡°All of the officials in morning court today gathered behind Lord Li to present a singr petition denouncing the crown prince¡¯s ludicrous actions and character. The crown prince has been grounded! This is all thanks to you!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too early for Your Highness to be happy.¡± Jun Huang shook her head with a slight smile.


    ¡°Why do you say this?¡± Qi Chen blinked, taken aback. He was in the throes of royal favor at the moment. Wasn¡¯t it a great opportunity to advance now that the crown prince had been tripped up?


    ¡°Your Highness forgets that the Northern Qi crown prince is still Qi Yin.¡± Jun Huang spoke slowly, ¡°Even with a dozen officials uniting behind a petition, the emperor has merely grounded him. Does thismoner still need to point out the crown prince¡¯s importance in the emperor¡¯s heart?¡±


    Qi Chen finally came back to himself as a wry knot rose in his heart. He¡¯d finally won his father¡¯s favor after risking his life, but the crown prince hadn¡¯t done anything to be met with such deep-seated protection. Yet he¡¯d only been grounded after such arge hubbub. Father is truly biased.


    ¡°Your Highness has no need to worry. I wonder, does Your Highness know what rumors are currently flying around in the capital?¡± Jun Huang was well aware of the need to offer something sweet after a stinging rebuke. She¡¯d pped the prince some, so it was time to reward him.

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15: Assassination


    ¡°Does it have to with the crown prince?¡± Qi Chen guessed as he focused his gaze on Jun Huang.


    ¡°The crown prince called for almost a dozen girlsst night at Ladies of the Lake, but couldn¡¯t have his way with them. Everyone¡¯s saying now that the crown prince isn¡¯t man enough to do the deed.¡± Jun Huang poured another cup of tea. ¡°The people are the foundation of the country. Is it not a good thing that the crown prince¡¯s image has plunged in their eyes?¡±


    ¡°The gentleman has good schemes indeed!¡± Qi Chen instantly reacted.


    Jun Huang smiled faintly in response and offered the tea cup to Qi Chen. She enunciated each word clearly, ¡°As long as Your Highness doesn¡¯t treat me as an outsider and trusts me, I will plumb the depths of my abilities to help Your Highness gain the throne!¡±


    ¡°Good, good, very good!¡± Qi Chen repeated himself. ¡°This gentleman is wise and knowledgeable, and with your help, how will this prince fear not gaining the world? From today forth, you are my brother! You need no longer to call yourself ¡®thismoner¡¯, this prince is a few years older than you, so you may call me Brother Qi!¡±


    ¡°Elder brother Qi.¡± Jun Huang immediately changed her title of address.


    ¡°Younger brother Feng!¡± Qi Chenughed heartily.


    ......


    In the depths of the foggy night, Jun Huang was reading at a table, amp merrily lit in front of her when a thought struck her. She suddenly looked outside. The shadows of the trees thrashed wildly as the branches danced in the night wind beneath the moonlight. She could see nothing out of the ordinary. However, Jun Huang trusted her intuition. She thought for a moment and lightly put down the scroll in her hand. She rose to open the door to take a look for herself.


    She¡¯d just cleared the corner when a longsword suddenly whistled through the air. Thankfully, Jun Huang was very alert, deftly dodging the stab by weaving.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± She narrowed her eyes at the assassin, her tone cold.


    The assassin was garbed in ck from head to toe, revealing only two eyes. Discovery seemed to only make him more fearless as he raised the longsword in his hand, viciously stabbing towards Jun Huang again.


    The look in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes sharpened as she no longer pulled her blows. Although she didn¡¯t have a weapon in hand, she¡¯d practiced martial arts since she was young. Since she was also equipped with poisons, dealing with a mere assassin wasn¡¯t a problem for her. Jun Huang quickly restrained him after a few exchanges and threw him up against a wall. She yanked off the cloth covering his face. As she thought, it revealed an unfamiliar face. ¡°Who sent you!¡±


    The assassin didn¡¯t respond, but an ominous feeling suddenly welled up in Jun Huang¡¯s heart. Almost subconsciously, she threw herself to the side, barely dodging a couple of silver needles as she did so. Sharp thuds echoed through the room as they buried themselves in the wall in front of her. Jun Huang whipped around just in time to see the assassin¡¯s mouth leak a few drops of blood. He wasn¡¯t breathing anymore.


    The Prince Nan Manor.


    Nan Xun¡¯s face was so dark after hearing his daily report that he almost blended into with the shadows of the room. ¡°You say that Feng Baiyu was attacked tonight?¡± Absolutely murderous fury uncoiled around every word. It was enough to make listeners shudder at the very sound.


    ¡°Yes, master. Sir Feng only suffered some bruises and scrapes. She wasn¡¯t seriously injured,¡± Wuqing responded.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t say anything, the surging emotions in his eyes the only testament to the wrathful me that burned in their owner. ¡°Dismissed! Stray not even a foot from her side!¡± He finallyid down a curt order after a long silence.


    ¡°Yes, master.¡± Wuqing bowed and slowly vanished from behind Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun remained with his fists tightly clenched, the nails sinking into his flesh and drawing deep trails of blood. He¡¯d thought he¡¯d only just admired Jun Huang, but fear had actually slipped into his heart when he heard the concealed guards say that she¡¯d been attacked. It¡¯s a good thing she¡¯s alright, otherwise...


    ¡°Qi Yin.¡± A bloodthirsty smile suddenly blossomed on his face. In all of the capital, only Qi Yin would raise a hand against Jun Huang at this moment. A frosty light glinted out of Nan Xun¡¯s deep eyes. Aren¡¯t you something, Your Highness? Jun Huang has just given you a minor setback, and look at you in such a hurry to give her a warning!


    He let out a short sigh and unconsciously picked up the brush on the table, penning down a word on the clean paper after dipping it in ink. A meaningful smile graced his face when he looked at the result. Since you¡¯ve started it, Your Highness, I¡¯ll help you continue this game. Since you¡¯re making moves against Jun Huang in the dark, I¡¯ll just have to help her in a simr fashion.


    On a dreary and rainy day, the sky was several degrees darker than usual. The emperor had set a heavy guard outside the crown prince¡¯s pce to keep Qi Yin under lock and key during his confinement. The pce was much quieter since the crown prince had been grounded. All of the servants in the pce were the ambitiously materialistic sort, so who woulde fawn over the crown prince when they saw how he¡¯d fallen out of favor?


    Crack~


    A serving girl pushed open the door to Qi Yin¡¯s room, allowing her lithe figure to sashay into view. ¡°Your Highness, we¡¯re here with your breakfast.¡±


    Another maid entered with clothes in hand as she snuck a quick look at Qi Yin. He didn¡¯t look at either of them and remained sitting in front of his desk, responding lowly, ¡°Just leave it there!¡±


    The second serving girl, garbed in pink, ced the clothes down and reported to Qi Yin, ¡°Your Highness, Consort Ping is worried about you and speciallymanded us to deliver this clothing for you.¡±


    Qi Yin nodded after taking a look at the garment. ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Mdy says that she is afraid the garment may not be the right fit, and so wishes this servant to help the crown prince dress.¡±


    Qi Yin still didn¡¯t feel anything untoward about this. He couldn¡¯t leave the pce at the moment anyhow, so he had the two serving girls help him change. When the two finished helping him behind the changing screen and he was fully d, the pink d girl surreptitiously stepped on the hem of the other girl. The other girl stumbled into Qi Yin¡¯s embrace, ¡°Ah...¡±


    Soft, panicked breaths aroused certain thoughts in Qi Yin as the two girls immediately dropped to their knees, begging for forgiveness. ¡°We know our guilt, please forgive us, Your Highness!¡±


    Qi Yin waved his hand lightly as a smirk graced the face of the pink d girl. She immediately withdrew outside the door. He reached forth and his finger traced the remaining girl¡¯s face, turning her face to his. Things were different from the Ladies of the Lake, as Qi Yin was finally man enough in his own pce.


    It was a pity that good times don¡¯tst for long. Just as the two were having a good tumble in the sheets, Qi Yin began to itch all over. He scratched himself to and fro to try and alleviate it. The girl in his arms even asked, ¡°Your Highness, what is it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I feel strangely itchy all of a sudden.¡± He kept scratching himself even as he spoke. The girl soon started itching as well, and the two were soon so itchy that they couldn¡¯t stop scratching. It got so bad that they dug furrows into their skin, and blood started flowing freely.

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16: Itching Powder


    Qi Yin¡¯s face wasn¡¯t spared the reaction, so unintentionally, the crown prince¡¯s face was criss-crossed with bloody welts as well.


    In the Prince Nan residence, Nan Xun was quietly painting by himself in his study. A guard walked in to report, ¡°Your Highness, Miss Shangguan has sent someone to say that the crown prince matter has been handled appropriately.¡±


    ¡°Oh? How so?¡± Nan Xun responded carelessly, without lifting his head. He wanted to know exactly how Qi Yin had suffered bodily harm.


    The guard did his best to stifle a smile as he continued, ¡°When Miss Shangguan entered the pce to pay respects to the empress, she had her maid bribe one of the pce maids to scatter itching powder inside the clothes that Consort Ping dispatched to the crown prince. The crown prince has probably scratched himself bloody by now!¡±


    ¡°Hahaha... Miss Shangguan had a marvelous n indeed. The crown prince is in for it this time. It¡¯s likely the first time he¡¯s felt the pain of being unable to voice an indiscretion, and no ce to vent his grievances!¡±


    ¡°We have also received word that he showed favor to a serving girl, so the two of them should be suffering the same symptoms at the moment.¡±


    Although Nan Xun felt that to be a delightful oue, he still wanted to make further use of the rumors that Qi Yin wasn¡¯t man enough. ¡°Is that so?¡± He¡¯s certainly in good spirits to want to roll in the sheets with a serving girl after being grounded! You¡¯re having a grand time, Your Highness!


    ......


    In the Prince Chen Manor, Qi Chen had just risen when the servants reported news that Sir Feng had been attacked by assassins during the night and had been injured. The news badly startled him, but his surprise quickly gave way to fiery wrath. ¡°The manor¡¯s security is particrly heavy, how could assassins have slipped past?! Investigate this well and find the hole in our security!¡±


    Assassins skilled enough to slip into the Prince Chen Manor would not be ordinary characters, and by extension, their patron was likely equally umon.


    ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯m afraid that there¡¯s no way to investigate this. The assassin who attacked Sir Feng also diedst night.¡±


    ¡°Well, well we can¡¯t have Sir Feng just suffer this blow!¡± Qi Chen mmed his hand down hard on the side of the bed. Without a doubt, this was an added debt on Qi Yin¡¯s head. Qi Chen sat there silently for a while before summoning a serving girl, intent on paying a visit to Jun Huang¡¯s house after dressing himself.


    Jun Huang was sitting in front of the desk, her left arm already dressed and bandaged. Her head was low, gaze fixed on a point on the table as she carefully went over the events of the previous night. She¡¯d picked up the sword after the assassin¡¯s death and drawn it down her left arm before letting it tter to the ground. Grasping her arm tightly, she¡¯d then called for the Prince Chen manor guards and had them take care of the assassin.


    Qi Chen arrived just as she was deep in her recollection. She could hear his scattered footsteps before he even walked in. When the prince failed to glimpse Jun Huang on the bed, he called out softly, ¡°Sir Feng, Brother Feng...¡±


    It was then that Jun Huang lifted her head and put on an unconcerned smile, ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯m over here.¡±


    When Qi Chen looked over, the first thing he noticed was Jun Huang¡¯s bandages. ¡°I heard that you were attackedst night and injured. I wanted to see how you were.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s but a small injury, Your Highness. It won¡¯t prove to be a big hindrance. There¡¯s no need for Your Highness to be so worried. However, when the assassin came in, he actually mistook me for you. I¡¯m afraid that the person who sent him must be a fearful character...¡± Jun Huang looked at her left arm after speaking, reminding Qi Chen that the assassin hade to kill him.


    ¡°Brother Feng is quite loyal to this prince. You have suffered this injury for me, and I shall remember this dearly.¡± Qi Chen turned back to bark an order, ¡°This prince has words for Sir Feng. You are all dismissed.¡±


    ¡°This is but a small matter, Your Highness. Not at all worth mentioning.¡± Jun Huang gracefully took her seat again when the servants had all left. She took the opportunity to pour Qi Chen a cup of water.


    ¡°It looks like this prince needs to arrange some guards for you after this matter, so that I may keep you safe and sound.¡± Qi Chen mused as he sipped on the proffered cup.


    Jun Huang decided to press her advantage when she saw how worried Qi Chen looked. ¡°Guards? It could be that mere guards won¡¯t be enough. Who does Your Highness think sent the assassin?¡± She couldn¡¯t be too obvious. What she wanted was more than just a few bodyguards. She wanted power.


    ¡°I too would like to know. This matter can¡¯t be this simple. However, the assassin is dead and we have no leads. But don¡¯t worry, Brother Feng. I won¡¯t let you suffer this for nothing.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s title of ¡®Brother Feng¡¯ gave Jun Huang a great excuse. After all, she couldn¡¯t remain idle by his side. How would she gain any benefits otherwise? ¡°What does Brother Qi seek to do?¡±


    A mysterious smile appeared on Qi Chen¡¯s face. What should he do? He hadn¡¯t actually thought that far. ¡°You¡¯ve just offended the crown prince at Ladies of the Lake. Although he¡¯s been grounded, there¡¯s still his mother. Logically speaking, if he didn¡¯t send the assassin, then following the train of thought, we can postte that his mother did, to seek justice for her son.¡±


    Jun Huang maintained aposed and leisurely expression on her face as she chatted with the second prince, but her mind was furiously racing through all the possible angles. She hadn¡¯t considered the fact that Qi Yin was currently grounded. Regardless, whoever the culprit ultimately was, the crux of the matter stilly with Qi Yin.


    ¡°Whether it was the mother or the son, it was all for the crown prince.¡± Jun Huang suddenly changed the topic when she saw that Qi Chen had rxed his guard. ¡°Since Your Highness views me as a brother, I will certainly serve Your Highness at all times. Although I need to recuperate at the moment, I still wish to think of ns for Your Highness.¡±


    How would Qi Chen not want Jun Huang to keep working for him? It was just... this person was already injured, so he had to be careful not to overly use them! ¡°The crown prince has been grounded anyhow, so nothing else will crop up. Just be at ease...¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s words seem to have anotheryer of meaning to them.


    ¡°Be at ease? I could never be at ease with regards to the prince¡¯s matters. Since Your Highness treats me as a brother, I naturally want to do something for Your Highness, no matter the time...¡± Jun Huang gave another long sigh and shook her head weakly, dejection clear in her eyes. ¡°But I haven¡¯t the slightest bit of power in my hands right now, so I have no way of helping Your Highness even when I wish to.¡±

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17: The Price for Distrust


    As much of a fool Qi Chen might have been, he understood the meaning behind Jun Huang¡¯s words. She looked at his eyes, waiting for his response. Indeed, he took the hint. After all, he still wanted her continued help. ¡°If that is all that concerns you, Brother Feng, it¡¯s nothing important. We are brothers. I¡¯ll give the order to split half of my power with you so you can go about your business.¡±


    Jun Huang was quite satisfied by this, but she couldn¡¯t let the prince see that she desperately wanted the power in his hands. She still had to put on a show of refusal and immediately painted a look of surprise on her face. Apprehension blossomed like a flower on her features, ¡°Brother Qi, this won¡¯t do! Will your men even listen to me?¡±


    This question hadn¡¯te out of nowhere. After all, she wouldn¡¯t able to deploy his men as easily he could. However, she wanted the power in his hands for another reason entirely.


    ¡°Since Brother Feng calls me Brother Qi, then don¡¯t be a stranger. What¡¯s mine is yours. If they don¡¯t listen to you, then they are disrespecting me as well.¡± Qi Chen held Jun Huang¡¯s arm and promised with high spirits.


    Jun Huang smiled, secretly satisfied. Those were precisely the words I wanted to hear, Your Highness. ¡°I¡¯ll be at ease with Your Highness¡¯ words then.¡±


    ¡°Please recuperate at ease within the manor over the next few days. I¡¯ll need them to make arrangements for these things.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart grew uneasy again when she heard Qi Chen¡¯s dying tactics. She was afraid that the prince would see through her intentions. ¡°Your Highness, it is of the utmost importance that we strike while the iron remains hot. We cannot drag our heels regarding the crown prince. As time passes, the emperores ever closer to forgiving him. If he is released from imprisonment, all our efforts will have been for naught.¡±


    At that moment, Jun Huang seemed to have misspoken as a tinge of warning prickled Qi Chen. Why did it seem that Brother Feng was even more urgent about the crown prince¡¯s matter than himself. He looked at Jun Huang with slightly narrowed eyes as his tone began to change. ¡°It looks like Brother Feng is more anxious about this matter than even this prince!¡±


    Logically speaking, Qi Chen was the second prince, and the throne was of great temptation to him. He should¡¯ve been far more eager to take down the crown prince than Jun Huang, but why did things seem reversed at the moment?


    Jun Huang sensed the sudden shift in temperature in Qi Chen¡¯s words as well. Am I being too hasty? ¡°Your Highness has given me the privilege of being brothers. Your matters are my matters. I am anxious for Your Highness! After all, the person who benefits the most in the end after taking down the crown prince won¡¯t be I, Feng Baiyu!¡±


    Jun Huang concealed the urgency in her heart and attempted to wear the most casual look she could muster. It was a lot more difficult to establish trust between the two than she¡¯d thought. Instead of pattering on with pretty words and trying to win a little bit of trust from him that way, why not go about it from a different angle? If Qi Chen didn¡¯t trust her, then she¡¯d only be inviting a group of spies and informants by her side even if he split his power with her. They would certainly only listen to the prince; she¡¯d never be able to control them. If she couldn¡¯t obtain the prince¡¯s trust, then those beside her would only trip her up and be of no help.


    ¡°Your words are quite right.¡± However, the suspicion shing through Qi Chen¡¯s eyes still caused Jun Huang unease. Since she¡¯d decided to help Qi Chen, she would never allow Qi Chen to both use and suspect her.


    She put down the tea cup in hand and looked solemnly at the prince. ¡°It looks like Your Highness has started to suspect me. Even if I swear to the heavens or say that time will bear witness to the veracity of my heart, Your Highness is unlikely to believe me.¡± She cleared her throat and looked at Qi Chen, ¡°One trusts those they use and does not use someone they distrust. If Your Highness has begun to doubt my heart, then you might as well not use me.¡±


    When she finished, she rose and walked to the study table, seemingly losing herself in painting andscape, leaving Qi Chen at the tea table feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles. As he looked at Jun Huang¡¯s almost nonchntlyposed figure, he too was wondering, is this person in front of me greatly loyal, or harboring great treachery behind great loyalty?


    ¡°Your Highness... it looks like I need to spend a few days recovering from the wound on my arm. Since the crown prince has been grounded and his reputation ruined, he shouldn¡¯t be much of a threat to Your Highness in the future. The matter between Your Highness and the crown prince is one between brothers. I fear I am unable to do anything further.¡± There was an imprable frostiness to Jun Huang¡¯s face. She wasn¡¯t angry about Qi Chen¡¯s suspicions. Rather, her heart and mind had descended into an icy calm.


    ¡°Unable to do anything further? This prince doesn¡¯t think so. Previous matters have gone well enough, haven¡¯t they?¡± It was Qi Chen¡¯s heart that hung in the bnce now. He was starting to regret his earlier suspicions. If it hadn¡¯t been for Feng Baiyu¡¯s help, things with Qi Yin definitely wouldn¡¯t have proceeded so smoothly.


    Jun Huang was happy to hear these words, since they indirectly indicated that she¡¯d subtly regained the upper hand in the conversation. ¡°What does the matter between Your Highness and the crown prince have to do with me? I am but amoner. I am an honored guest here only due to Your Highness¡¯ favor. In the end, this is an affair between you brothers. It¡¯s more than inappropriate if I be involved.¡± Jun Huang lightly pursed her lips and furrowed her brow, shaking her head as in greatly resigned.


    Such simple words did indeed pierce to the heart of the entire matter. Qi Chen certainly felt that they made sense. What he and Qi Yin were fighting over was the throne, which had nothing to do with Feng Baiyu. Thetter was helping him for some unknown reason, but Feng Baiyu was just one person and had no other power or followers. It was actually a good thing for Qi Chen.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Brother Feng. This prince still needs your help in the future...¡± Qi Chen had started to run out of things to say. Fine beads of sweat were beginning to form on his forehead. Just who was Feng Baiyu? He didn¡¯t know, but the man was able to deftly grasp the heart of matters and cut through them with precision and surety. It would be great trouble if a man like Feng Baiyu became his enemy instead.


    ¡°Your Highness is the biggest benefactor of these actions. Just treat that happened before as me misjudging the situation. There are many royal sons, wouldn¡¯t it be the same if I switched to helping another master?¡± Jun Huang flicked a nce at Qi Chen after speaking and smiled winsomely. Let¡¯s see who¡¯s the nervous one this time.


    Qi Chen walked up to Jun Huang and no longer spoke with the same edge he had previously. ¡°The gentleman speaks truly. I¡¯ll have someone make the arrangements straightaway. We should follow your views for the crown prince and strike while the iron¡¯s still hot.¡±


    Jun Huang still remained at the desk, her hands still painting. She was suddenly struck by the urge to tease Qi Chen good and proper when she heard hisst words. ¡°It¡¯s too risky for a meremoner like me to undertake such things, Your Highness. Your Highness should undertake action personally in your own affairs to be most assured of the result.¡± She elegantly put the the brush away, and turned to meet Qi Chen¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m afraid my wounds have sapped my energy, Your Highness. Please do as you will.¡±


    Qi Chen withdrew in order to give Jun Huang space to calm down when he saw how detached she had be. ¡°Then rest well Brother Feng. I will do for you what I¡¯ve promised you.¡± With those words, he departed Jun Huang¡¯s house.


    A slightly malicious smile graced Jun Huang¡¯s lips as she watched Qi Chen leave. For me? Qi Chen, just who is this all for, hmm?


    ......


    In the depths of the night, Jun Huang stood at her window and tilted her face up to stare at the bright moon. I wonder where my parents are at a time like this... and my brother?


    Movement in a dark shadow outside the door caught her attention. She hastily stuffed the pillow on her bed into the nkets, creating the illusion of a sleeping body. She took up a guard position in the shadows, wanting to see who this unwee guest was.


    Jun Huang slipped into the study, standing behind the divider and silently observing the movements of that shadow. The shadow spent quite a while outside, but eventually slipped inside, silently closing the door after it. It only approached the bed after looking around to make sure that no one had tailed it. What surprised Jun Huang was that although the shadow carried a sword, it made no move to draw the weapon or point it at the bd Rather, it lifted the nkets and raised both eyebrows with surprise after seeing the pillow. ¡°Sir Feng, Jun Huang... why isn¡¯t she here?¡±


    Jun Huang started when she heard her name murmured in the dark. Who is he and why does he know I¡¯m Jun Huang?

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18: A Visit in the Night


    Who can he be? Could the emperor of Eastern Wu know that I¡¯m not dead, and so sent men to assassinate me?! The shadow turned, and she caught a clear glimpse of the its face. Ah... it¡¯s Nan Xun. A relieved smile crept onto her face. But what¡¯s he doing in the Prince Chen Manor at this time of the night?


    Jun Huang walked out from behind the divider and coughed lightly. ¡°I¡¯m over here.¡± Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t harm her.


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes picked up Jun Huang¡¯s figure as he followed the sound, sighing with relief. ¡°What are you doing over there in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t light themps as the two of them took a seat. Despite the oddity of their circumstances, their conversation was oddly rxed. ¡°I hadn¡¯t gone to sleep yet and saw a shadow outside. I thought it was another assassin and took shelter. As for you, what are you doing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping in your own manor?¡±


    ¡°I heard you were injured and wanted toe see you.¡± Nan Xun knew that Jun Huang hadn¡¯t been seriously injured. He¡¯d just wanted an excuse to see her.


    She looked at the wound on her arm and smiled gently, ¡°No worries, I did this to myself. I know where my limits are.¡± But her face soon took a grim turn as she asked Nan Xun seriously, ¡°When did you know of my identity?¡± She felt that Nan Xun was a bit frightening. Since he¡¯d known, why had he pretended like he didn¡¯t know?


    ¡°I know regardless, so what does it matter how early orte I found out? As keen as your eyes are, you should already know I wouldn¡¯t harm you.¡± Jun Huang could indeed only see a bit of heartfelt sympathy and sincerity in Nan Xun¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I understand. But this is the Prince Chen Manor, you shouldn¡¯t stay long.¡± As Nan Xun took his leave, Jun Huang returned to bed and flopped down to sleep.


    ......


    Jun Huang recuperated by herself in the house, but not less than two dayster, Qi Chen came to visit with a man and a women in tow. Jun Huang could see with a single nce that the two following behind Qi Chen weren¡¯t ordinary servants. They should be Qi Chen¡¯s trusted subordinates.


    ¡°Greetings to Your Highness.¡± Jun Huang bowed to Qi Chen. Looks like he¡¯s here to introduce his people to me. I just wonder how much of his power he¡¯s chosen to share with me.


    Qi Chen personally helped Jun Huang up. They took a stroll, chatting as they did so. ¡°These are my people. Together they hold at least half of my authority. If you have any matters you¡¯d like to aplish, you can leave it to them.¡±


    Jun Huang was well aware that these two would listen to her only because of the prince. If what she wanted to do didn¡¯t benefit the prince, they wouldn¡¯t listen to hermands. She nodded in response and roughly sized up the two behind Qi Chen. Turns out there is a woman he trusts. I wonder if she¡¯s here to seduce me or to help me. ¡°Many thanks to Your Highness. Your people will certainly be of extraordinary help.¡±


    It was Qi Chen¡¯s turn to pour tea for Jun Huang, and the two sat down together. ¡°This is something this prince has promised you and will naturally aplish.¡±


    ¡°This subordinate is Wei Qian.¡± The woman, Wei Qian, spoke respectfully.


    ¡°I won¡¯t stand on ceremony since His Highness has given you to my care.¡± Jun Huang nodded at the two of them and smiled her first genuine smile.


    ¡°His Highness has given orders that Sir Feng¡¯smands are his in the future.¡± Wei Qian smiled gently, a certain dashing air in her face.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t entranced by pretty words. Qi Chen¡¯s people would only be loyal to him; she was just a mouthpiece.


    ¡°This prince has already made all the arrangements. Just give your orders to them and they¡¯ll handle everything for you.¡± Qi Chen fished out a token from his waist and handed it to Jun Huang. ¡°This is the token with which you canmand my people. They will all work for you as long as you hold it.¡±


    Jun Huang epted Qi Chen¡¯s token. So he was only giving her two people to work with and wasn¡¯t truly taking her into his inner circle. Well well Prince Chen. Aren¡¯t you being cautious! This time however, Jun Huang didn¡¯t turn down this small favor. With this opening, she was sure that she could create opportunities in the future to swap out a great majority of his people.


    ¡°Many thanks for Your Highness¡¯ trust.¡± Jun Huang purposefully emphasized the word ¡°trust¡±, making Qi Chen feel a bit guilty. It would seem that Sir Feng wasn¡¯t too satisfied with these two people.


    The prince gave Wei Qian and the other a meaningful look in front of Jun Huang and the following order, ¡°The gentleman shall do whatever he wants. His words are just as if mine.¡±


    ¡°Many thanks for Your Highness¡¯ favor.¡± Jun Huang casually mouthed a pleasantry.


    ¡°It is I who should give thanks. May your affairs be fruitful soon.¡± How would Jun Huang not understand the meaning in Qi Chen¡¯s eyes?


    She immediately spread out her hands. ¡°Your Highness, we cannot be overly hasty in this matter. The emperor is has only just reached middle age, and you cannot wish him any ill. After all, the crown prince has only been grounded. All else remains unchanged.¡±


    ¡°The crown prince? And what right does he have to be that? He¡¯s not born of the empress, nor does he have virtue or wisdom. He sits sofortably in that position all these years just because he was born earlier.¡±


    How could Jun Huang not understand how much anger Qi Chen¡¯s heart held? He likely resented the timing of his birth with every fiber of his being. A mere year was the difference that kept him from the throne. She too had grown up in the imperial harem. She had heard and seen too many of these matters.


    ¡°Indeed! And the crown prince¡¯sck of redeeming qualities is the sharp de in Your Highness¡¯ hand. After all, it makes perfect logical sense to make the eldest son the heir if he hasn¡¯tmitted any wrongs.¡± Jun Huang carefully tasted the tea in her hands. She purposefully chose her words to seem a bit provocative.


    ¡°However, apparently the crown prince itches all over at the moment. He¡¯s reduced himself to a sorry state indeed with all the scratching he¡¯s done. Although I haven¡¯t seen him, it¡¯s a darned good feeling to know he¡¯s suffering. This counts as karma for him harming you.¡±


    Jun Huang only smiled leisurely when she heard Qi Chen mention that. She didn¡¯t feel any glee at all. ¡°Thank you for keeping the matter on your mind, Your Highness. I just wonder which benefactor bestowed this condition onto the crown prince.¡±


    Only when Jun Huang pointed it out did Qi Chen suddenly realize that this condition hadn¡¯t spontaneously appeared on Qi Yin. Someone in the shadows must be behind this. He suddenly looked at Jun Huang, traces of rm in his eyes. ¡°Do you mean to say that another hand is also moving against the crown prince?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded lightly and looked at Qi Chen with great conviction. The coollyposed look on her face made Qi Chen feel like she was feeling happy for him. ¡°That¡¯s precisely what I mean, but doesn¡¯t Your Highness think this is a good thing? The crown prince is a fat piece of meat, and someone is alreadying to split it with Your Highness. It looks like more than one person wants the dragon seat.¡± ording to Jun Huang¡¯s spections, the crown prince being grounded was akin to many pushing down a wall. Even if Qi Chen didn¡¯t make a move against Qi Yin, someone else would just as well.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. Doesn¡¯t that mean less effort for me if someone else also puts in work to pull down the crown prince?¡± Last time¡¯s matter had been the first time that Qi Chen had done anything along those lines, and he still felt it¡¯d been quite risky. It¡¯d be much easier if he just fought for the position after someone else took down Qi Yin.


    ¡°Your Highness mustn¡¯t think this way. No one would be willing to see all their efforts end up benefiting someone else.¡± Jun Huang shook her head as she disagreed with Qi Chen. ¡°Your Highness is wise, but so are others. You must do what you have to do, and needs so to know who wants topete with Your Highness.¡±


    Her words opened Qi Chen¡¯s eyes. He stared at her for a second before nodding . ¡°Brother Feng speaks truly.¡±


    He left shortly afterwards, but Jun Huang remained in her seat, musing. She had to use his people if she wanted to make it into the prince¡¯s inner circle. But now that she was in the Prince Chen Manor and his people were by her side, how would she slip away to meet with Qi Yun? She couldn¡¯t just keep Qi Chen¡¯s people by her side. She¡¯d have to ce some of her own as well.


    ¡°Sir Feng, it¡¯s time to change the dressing on your wound.¡± A maid walked in. Jun Huang nodded and allowed her to tend to the wound.

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19: Strategy


    She could¡¯ve healed the wound on her arm a long time ago with some of her own medicines, but hadn¡¯t done so, allowing those doctors to make their own prescriptions. She didn¡¯t care at all that the wound was healing very slowly. As the bandages around her arm were slowly unwrapped, the clotted blood began pulling at her wound. Pain was inevitable, but not even a crease appeared on her brow. The maid inwardly winced for Jun Huang. She¡¯d served in the crown prince¡¯s manor for a while and remembered when the crown prince had bruised his leg once after a fall. He¡¯d howled and moaned for quite a while after that.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyelids were partially closed. The pain from her arm was nothing to her. She¡¯d once been a test subject for medicines after all, and the pain from when her master Ole Cragfiend had tackled her poison had been particrly soul wrenching. She¡¯d long since grown used to pain.


    She slowly opened her eyes after fresh bandages had been wrapped and dismissed the maid. Once the maid left after putting everything away, Jun Huang sat up from the bed and flung back the light nkets. She walked up to the window and looked out at the nts in the garden, gazing down at the people Qi Chen had just brought over.


    The man and woman were quietly talking to each other. On the surface, it looked like Qi Chen was afraid something would happen to her again and had sent them to make sure everything stayed fine and proper for her. Jun Huangughed to herself when her thoughts travelled here. Who could easily harm her these days? But she was quick witted and had already perceived the importance of these developments. She had to update Qi Yun on this as soon as possible. Jun Huang closed the window as she frowned in thought and returned to the study to take out a brush and paper 1.


    She only put brush to paper after mulling over her words many times. Elegant letters flowed from her brush, as she made sure to use moderate force and concisenguage in her note. After finishing and putting away her tools, Jun Huang put away the note in a fragrance pouch that she always carried on her, flung on an outer coat and prepared to go on her way.


    ¡°Where is the gentleman headed to?¡± Wei Qian quickly walked over when she saw that Jun Huang was about to set out.


    ¡°What, do I need thedy¡¯s permission before going anywhere?¡± Jun Huang arched her eyebrow. She knew full well that she couldn¡¯t afford to indicate weakness in front of Wei Qian.


    ¡°Wei Qian is just worried for the gentleman¡¯s health and means nothing else. If anything happens to you, His Highness will never forgive us.¡± Wei Qian gave a cupped fist salute upon hearing Jun Huang¡¯s words.


    Both a hard and soft approach, she¡¯s definitely someone that Qi Chen¡¯s taught, alright. Jun Huang smirked coldly inwardly, looking steadily at Wei Qian. After a long moment of staring, thetter frantically ducked her head and looked down at the ground. Wei Qian never been assessed like this by a man, and her heart felt like it would pound straight out of her chest. A blush streaked up her neck as she lost her words for a moment.


    Seeing that she¡¯d attained the result she wanted, Jun Huang curved her lips. ¡°I¡¯m just finding it a tad stuffy after staying within the manor for so long. The doctor has also said that I might develop new ailments if I spend too much time indoors. If you¡¯re not at ease letting me go out by myself, then you can follow me.¡±


    Wei Qian took in the nomittal expression on Jun Huang¡¯s face and weighed all aspects of the situation. At longst, she finally nodded and followed Jun Huang out of the manor.


    The streets were filled with a lively hubbub as various vendors cried for attention. Although night had fallen, there were still many who were shopping the night market. Numerous stalls, filled with pretty baubles, enticed passersby to pause and take a look. Wei Qian hadn¡¯t anticipated so many people outside and tensed up, afraid that danger would find Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang, on the other hand, waspletely rxed. She was having a grand time strolling through the streets. The gentle night breeze was veryfortable, and she actually felt a bit speechless at Wei Qian¡¯s nervousness.


    ¡°This gentleman,e take a look at my hairpins! You can give one to the beautifuldy behind you.¡± A street vendor specializing in jewelry suddenly called out to Jun Huang. Jun Huang paused and tilted her head in a sideways nce, noting that the girl waving to her was actually one of Qi Yun¡¯s subordinates. She was using their agreed upon sign. Jun Huang immediately understood the girl¡¯s intentions and led Wei Qian over.


    Wei Qian wasn¡¯t like any of the other girls on the street, her gaze had never once wandered too far away from Jun Huang as she monitored the immediate premises. She didn¡¯t pay any attention at all to the stall. Jun Huang was quite resigned and could only lower her head to look at the exquisitely crafted hairpins. She selected one of the simpler ones at random and stuck it in front of Wei Qian, ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    Wei Qian hadn¡¯t thought that Jun Huang would ask her a question so suddenly and involuntarily took a step back in her surprise. But she soon recovered enough to cough lightly, ¡°The gentleman should pick what you like. This subordinate has no ce to use this in normal circumstances.¡±


    Although that was her response, Jun Huang was insistent on gifting it to her. Wei Qian had no choice but to ept. However, she knew that this was a show of favor that she would have to return to Sir Feng someday in the future. She looked down at the wooden hairpin in her hand, lost in thought. Jun Huang reached for her fragrance pouch without a change in expression and handed the note over along with her money.


    She was now in noticeably much better spirits now that she¡¯d gotten her message out. Wei Qian however, thought that Jun Huang was in a happier mood because she¡¯d seen the night scenery of Northern Qi.


    The breeze began to grow stronger as night began to deepen. Jun Huang began to grow tired after yet more strolling and returned to the Prince Chen Manor. She went to bed not long after returning to her residence.


    Wei Qian looked closely at the wooden hairpin in her hand under the candlelight. She didn¡¯t know what Sir Feng had meant by this. Had he given it to her because he wanted to bribe her, or because he liked her. The thoughts of a girl swirled, unreadable on her face, but she put away the hairpin carefully in the end. She would even take it out from time to time to wipe it off as she was afraid that it would get dusty.


    ......


    Jun Huang¡¯s wound had mostly healed over after a short period of time. On one particr day, Qi Chen sent servants early in the morning to invite her for tea and breakfast. Jun Huang didn¡¯t decline the invitation and headed directly over after dressing appropriately. Qi Chen walked over to greet her personally when he saw her arrive. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Brother Feng. I¡¯ve waited a while for you.¡±


    Jun Huang exchanged a few simple pleasantries with Qi Chen before taking her seat. The two chit chatted on and off for a few minutes. After roughly ten minutes, a pageboy came in to report that servants hade from the pce. The emperor had summoned him to discuss some important matters.


    Qi Chen looked at Jun Huang with furrowed brows. She took another sip of tea before speaking slowly. ¡°The emperor is surely summoning Your Highness because of the natural disaster on Northern Qi¡¯s borders.¡±


    ¡°Right, that must be the case. There¡¯s been an endless stream of reports about this disaster over the past couple of days. Royal father must be summoning me to discuss it. Then what does Brother Feng think should be done here?¡± Qi Chen looked at Jun Huang meaningfully, wanting her to brainstorm a n for him on the spot.


    ¡°Chaos encroaches on the world these days, and hearts are even more frightened on the border. The timing of this disaster will naturally affect them even more. If a viin were to purposefully cause trouble at this moment, Northern Qi may lose the support of its people. So the most pressing concern at the moment is to calm the people¡¯s hearts.¡± Jun Huang responded thoughtfully after a few minutes of musing.


    ¡°Then does Brother Feng have a good strategy?¡± Qi Chen nodded after hearing these words, feeling that Jun Huang made a lot of sense.


    Jun Huang dimpled and drew close to Qi Chen, murmuring lowly in his ear for a while. Qi Chen¡¯s brows slowly rxed from its tightly knit position as he listened. He pped Jun Huang¡¯s shoulder when she was finished and grinned brazenly. ¡°That is a wonderful n! My royal father will certainly be happy to hear it. Then I¡¯ll be on my way to the pce.¡± Qi Chen stood up and left, all smiles.


    Jun Huang remained in the pavilion and smiled. As she sipped her tea, she mused to herself. Qi Yun should¡¯ve received my note by now. I just need to wait for the opportunity to meet him and insert some of his men into Qi Chen¡¯s circle.


    bel><bel>

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20: Trip to the Border


    Qi Chen rushed to the pce without pause. His steps were hurried as he wished dearly to meet with the emperor now and alleviate some of his burdens. When he saw Nan Xun in the hallway, the look in his eyes grew deep.


    ¡°Your Highness, the emperor will see you now.¡± An official close to the emperor walked over to Qi Chen.


    Qi Chen¡¯s eyes snapped away as he nodded. When he entered the pce, he saw the emperor seated in front of a table with a deep frown, reports scattered all around him.


    ¡°This subject greets my royal father.¡± Qi Chen raised his cupped hands, respect radiating from every fiber of his being. It was only then that Qi Qiang finally raised his head and took note of his son, waving his hand to indicate that Qi Chen could dispense with the ceremony.


    ¡°Is something guing my royal father?¡± Qi Chen feigned ignorance and asked in confusion.


    ¡°A natural disaster is guing the borders and the people are in abject misery. Chaos threatens the region, and the officials only know to send me a mountain of reports. None of them offer any solutions. It¡¯s indeed a tragedy that such arge nation as ours has no one who can offer up a good stratagem.¡± The emperor sighed and reached to try and smooth out the creases on his forehead. Many days worth of fretting had caused a tiredness to start to settle in his bones, but he still hadn¡¯te up a decent n.


    ¡°Royal father, your son has an idea, but I¡¯m not sure if I should speak of it.¡± Qi Chen smiled.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±


    ¡°The best n would be to send someone from court to the borders. No matter what, calming the people should be the priority, as well as helping them rebuild their homes.¡± Qi Chen recounted Jun Huang¡¯s n just as she¡¯d told it to him.


    ¡°Although your n sounds good, who would be willing to journey to that poor, remote region? The imperial treasury is also rather lean at the moment. From where would we obtain the gold and silver to help them rebuild?¡±


    When Qi Chen saw how meticulous the emperor¡¯s thoughts were and how he was already considering all aspects of the situation, he was deeply gratified that Jun Huang had foreseen the emperor¡¯s concerns and prepared the appropriate responses. He offered up the following after a moment of thought, ¡°The border citizens are also people of Northern Qi. How can we sit by and do nothing in their time of need? There are so many rich merchants in the capital who request our protection. Now that the country is in need, how can they not step forth and offer aid? I feel that we should increase the taxes levied on the richest merchants and request donations from the most senior officials. That would be the best n.¡±


    ¡°Your words make sense, but who might you think would be the most suitable person for this?¡± Qi Qiang asked.


    ¡°If royal father trusts me, I am willing to go forth on your behalf.¡± Qi Chen¡¯s gaze was resolute and his tone even moremitted. Appreciation appeared for the first time in Qi Qiang¡¯s eyes as he looked upon his son. He walked over to Qi Chen as he took a proper look at his son for the first time. They¡¯d rarely met, but now Qi Chen had finally grown up and learned to take on some of the emperor¡¯s burdens.


    ¡°You¡¯ve indeed grown up and are capable of sharing some of my burdens.¡± A fatherly smile still on his face, Qi Qiang patted Qi Chen¡¯s shoulder and sighed.


    Qi Chen only felt bitterness in his heart, but epted the emperor¡¯s sentiments without a flicker in his expression. He smiled along with the emperor, the irony of the situation weighing heavily on him.


    An official came in to indicate that it was time for lunch. Qi Chen wanted to take his leave, but the emperor had him stay. As Qi Qiang sat at the carved wooden table, he asked, ¡°My son, it still worries me a little if you head for the border region by yourself. How about this, I¡¯ll have Nan Xun apany you?¡±


    ¡°All shall be as royal father decides.¡± Qi Chen nodded.


    The emperor¡¯s smile grew even more gratified. Qi Chen departed the pce in wonderful spirits after lunch. He had sworn silently when his father had looked at him with that gratified expression that he would handle this matter properly, so that his father wouldmend and recognize him even more.


    Upon return to his manor, Qi Chen had someone summon Jun Huang. She didn¡¯t have much of a reaction when he ryed the emperor¡¯s words. All that had happened had been within her expectations. When Qi Chen saw how insightful and bold Jun Huang was at such a young age, he truly felt that Sir Feng was a stroke of good fortune that the heavens had sent him. He couldn¡¯t stop smiling in his delight. ¡°Brother Feng, you are truly my lucky star. I would have you join me on this trip to the border. What are your thoughts?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and flicked a nce at her healed arm, seemingly unconsciously reminding Qi Chen of the importance of maintaining hisposure and being patient. If anyoneid hands on any of his secrets at this time or others, he would end up the same as the crown prince. She raised her head to look at Qi Chen, a curve on her lips. ¡°Whatever Your Highness decides.¡± She wasn¡¯t opposed to going to the border, she¡¯d just felt slightlyplicated emotions when she heard that Nan Xun would also be going.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t detect Jun Huang¡¯s shift in emotions and happily went out the door. As Jun Huang watched his figure grow smaller in the distance, her smile turned a bit cold. She naturally knew that it wouldn¡¯t be easy to uproot the crown prince. But in order to help Qi Yun, she would need to borrow Qi Chen to eliminate the crown prince¡¯s faction.


    The money was quickly gathered for the campaign. As the border citizens were still sunk in agony, the emperor had Qi Chen set out with all due haste. Qi Qiang saw them out of the capital, and the entourage began their arduous journey to the border.


    This particr region of Northern Qi was covered with mountains of yellow sand. The drought had caused even hardy grass to wither, and dried creeks and riverbedsy exposed beneath the sun. There wasn¡¯t the slightest hint of green for miles. Which was no surprise, since not a drop of rain had fallen from the skies in months. The people had even dug out all of the grass roots and eaten thend clean. Jun Huang quite empathized with the people as she traveled over the barren soil. She¡¯d long heard of the long drought on the borders this year, but had no idea it had grown this bad. It was as if thisnd had never flourished with life, sending one¡¯s thoughts spiraling. The fierce sun overhead elicited even more pity for the barren scene before them. Having experienced the fall of her country, Jun Huang could deeply empathize with the citizens when she witnessed this ravagednd.


    Nan Xun followed behind them on his tall, stocky horse, a slight frown on his forehead as he monitored the slender man up front. He really couldn¡¯t understand why Qi Chen had brought Jun Huang to such a ce. He remembered that Jun Huang had been injured, how could she suffer through such hardship?


    Jun Huang was mounted atop a fine specimen of a steed and looked very dashing. Meanwhile, Qi Chen, ustomed to a life of easyfort, actually had someone prepare a luxurious carriage. He didn¡¯t look like he was going to help at a disaster zone. The entire entourage looked more like a rich dandy going on vacation. Some shook their heads internally. Most knew that Qi Chen was just here for show. How would someone like him truly care about the the life of the refugees?


    Qi Chen had likely never imagined that he would one day be standing on such poor soil. Thanks to Jun Huang, he was being battered daily by the dust stirred up from the dry wind. Qi Chen covered his nose and mouth, ¡°To think that my Northern Qi would have such a ce!¡±


    Jun Huang vaulted off her horse and walked up to Qi Chen, looking into the heart of the area in front of them. Things were much more severe than she¡¯d imagined. The people were barely clothed in rags and tatters, their waxyplexions and malnourished appearances inviting pity. There were children sitting on copsed walls and wailing. Perhaps due to the longck of water, they weren¡¯t shedding any tears. They were merely keening brokenly.


    Apart from the yellow sands filling the air, there were many shrieking ck crows soaring overhead. They hovered and refused to leave, since every so often someone would topple over. Then they would swoop down, their sharp beaks piercing through skin to consume the flesh of the newly deceased.

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21: Severe Disaster Zone


    ¡°Do you see, Your Highness? This is the border of Northern Qi. The people here are your people as well. Your Highness¡¯ goal here is to rebuild their homes.¡± Jun Huang remarked faintly.


    ¡°B-brother Feng, d-don¡¯t make jokes like this... this ce...¡± Qi Chen stammered, his face knit in a frown as he pointed at the scene before him that looked like it came straight out of hell.


    Jun Huang walked two steps forward and seemed like she was about to fall down the slope. Nan Xun shifted his weight forward, ready to pull her back, but breathed a sigh of relief when she halted.


    ¡°Does Your Highness think I am joking? Heh, I don¡¯t know if Your Highness is joking with me, or if I¡¯m joking with Your Highness. In the current situation, the people¡¯s days are filled with fear and agony. Their only hope is that the imperial court will help them in their time of need, and not just leave them to rot in their misery.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s every word pierced straight through to the heart, her eyes a frozen tundra.


    Nan Xun gazed at Jun Huang¡¯s profile, marveling that there was still someone in this world who cared so much for the people of the country. He couldn¡¯t help but curve his lips slightly into a smile. ¡°Feng Baiyu speaks truthfully. Since Your Highness has promised the emperor that he would travel to the border, it would greatly disappoint him if you were to do nothing.¡±


    Qi Chen looked at Nan Xun with gritted teeth, unable to say a single word in response. Thismon born prince had always been more influential at court than Qi Chen. So many people fawned over him, hoping against all odds for closer ties. That alone was enough for the second prince to hate Nan Xun. Who didn¡¯t know of Nan Xun in Northern Qi? He possessed stunning skill in martial arts at his young age, and everyone spoke highly of him. Several royal princes wanted to recruit Nan Xun, including Qi Chen, who had once sent gifts. But the general had actually returned the second prince¡¯s gifts without even opening them. It was an enormous p to the face, and Qi Chen had viewed Nan Xun as an enemy ever since.


    Jun Huang tilted her head to look at Nan Xun. It was a single nce, but an absolutely spellbinding sight. With lowered eyes, she opened her jade fan with a crack and descended down the slope by a path to the side, truly setting foot onto Northern Qi¡¯s border territory.


    The people had long since heard that the imperial capital was sending people and many supplies to their aid. They¡¯d been waiting on the edges of the destend for a long time, and their eyes brightened when they saw Jun Huang and the others.


    ¡°They¡¯re here, they¡¯re here! The people from the imperial court are here! We¡¯re saved!¡± Tears streaked down a woman¡¯s face. Dressed in tattered clothes, she clutched a newborn, not even a year old, to her chest. In their eyes, Jun Huang and the others were saviors sent by the gods, here to lift them out of their current situation.


    The group was surrounded by people before they even reached the city gates. Nan Xun subconsciously shielded Jun Huang behind him and looked coldly at the refugees. Perhaps due to his frigid stare, none of the refugees dared make too much of a fuss. Jun Huang coughed lightly and spoke to them, ¡°Worry not. We¡¯re here now and won¡¯t allow you to drift further along in homelessness.¡±


    They entered the city surrounded by people. Qi Chen sent someone to find a clean (but sadly run down) inn to arrange for their quarters. Jun Huang and Nan Xun walked the streets, taking in they of thend. Their hearts ached slightly when they saw the number of people slumped by the side of the streets. Nan Xun cocked his head after walking for a while and saw that Jun Huang¡¯splexion had turned a bit ashen. He asked worriedly, ¡°Are you tired after the long journey?¡±


    She shook her head and didn¡¯t stop walking. ¡°I just hadn¡¯t thought I¡¯d see such sights.¡±


    They quickly arrived at the yamen.1 Porridge was already being distributed as Qi Chen had already sent messengers with money over a while ago. But when Jun Huang noted that only clear broth and rice was being served, she frowned.


    Nan Xun also furrowed his brow and pulled aside the yamen runner next to him. ¡°Was the relief support not enough or what? Why is this the only thing offered?¡±


    The runner was caught off guard at the sudden action, and was badly startled when he looked up at the imposing appearance of the man who had grabbed him. His eagle eyes were so sharp that it seemed like they could kill. The runner stammered out, ¡°I-I¡¯m only f-following orders. This is what my superiors gave me. It¡¯s nothing to do with me!¡±


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes and looked at the opulent yamen buildings. The county magistrate here must lead a rich life. Nan Xun restrained her just when she was about to charge in. ¡°Things aren¡¯t clear at the moment. We won¡¯t get a satisfactory answer if we demand an exnation now.¡± He led Jun Huang by the wrist away from the location and heard Qi Chen¡¯s voice just as they rounded the corner.


    ¡°Ah, Your Highness has arrived! My house¡¯s master has been anticipating your arrival!¡± The yamen runner was wreathed in smiles as he showed Qi Chen inside. Jun Huang and Nan Xun took in the scene from not too far away. Both of them understood what was going on, but didn¡¯t bother putting it into words.


    When Nan Xun asked Jun Huang if she wanted to head back to the inn, she shook her head. ¡°I want to take a walk.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll keep youpany.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t turn down his offer and allowed Nan Xun to follow along. She knew that danger always lurked in the shadows of a ce like this, so it was a good thing to have someone by her side. And so, the two began their inspection tour.


    They walked for a long while and saw no end of copsed houses and people who were skin and bones by the side of the street. When these people saw Jun Huang and Nan Xun, they didn¡¯t even have the strength to wave. They could only murmur that they were hungry and wanted food.


    After a round of questioning, the two learned that the local officials weren¡¯t taking care of the people at all. The porridge distribution today had just been a show put on for the group from the capital. This vast border region had turned into a living hell. There were no hospitals and no one teaching them how to ward off pestilence. None of the houses had been repaired, and there wasn¡¯t a single drop of water to be found for the crops.


    A little girl tottered her way to Jun Huang¡¯s side when they were talking to the people and tugged on her sleeves. ¡°Big brother, please give me some water.¡± The little girl¡¯s eyes were bright, but her face was smudged and dirty. Her lips had cracked open and her voice almost a rasped whisper. One could tell that she hadn¡¯t had water in a very long time. Nan Xun immediately took off the water bottle attached to his waist before Jun Huang could even react, handing the entire thing to the little girl.


    Jun Huang stood in the city, taking in the scenes of devastation and couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡°Why are things like this? It¡¯s heart wrenching to see the people so destitute.¡±


    Nan Xun tilted his head at Jun Huang and saw tears welling up in her eyes. In those eyes was deep pity for the unfairness of the world. He sighed, ¡°Why feel this way? We knew something like this would happen.¡±


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go back.¡± Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to say anything else and turned in the direction of the inn, Nan Xun following behind her.

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22: Lurking in the Shadows


    Qi Chen had already returned when they went back. They could clearly see that he was in a great mood after his trip to the yamen. The corners of his eyes were creased with joyous smiles. Jun Huang looked at Qi Chen remotely. ¡°Did Your Highness see the state of the city today? And for what matter does Your Highness smile so happily for?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Qi Chen frowned, unhappy with Jun Huang¡¯s tone.


    ¡°Your Highness naturally knows what I mean.¡± Jun Huang looked coldly at Qi Chen,pletely undaunted.


    ¡°Feng Baiyu, don¡¯t think you can act this way just because this prince favors you! You better remember who you¡¯re talking to!¡± Qi Chen mmed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, pointing at Jun Huang, possibly stung by the directness of her words.


    The corner of Jun Huang¡¯s mouth tugged upwards, as if she¡¯d heard the most ludicrous joke in the world. She knew what was appropriate, and that she should stop. She naturally hadn¡¯t forgotten the purpose of her trip this time and didn¡¯t go into details. Jun Huang left with a flourish of her sleeves.


    It was well into night as this point, masking the turmoil of emotions in Jun Huang¡¯s heart. Although she knew that Qi Chen wasn¡¯t suited to rule, she hadn¡¯t known it was to this degree. She felt rather sour at the realization.


    Nan Xun was unable to sleep that night and rose to leave his room. He glimpsed from afar that Jun Huang was sitting on the steps, her head flung back to gaze into the vastness of the night sky. She looked umonly at peace with the starlight spilling onto her face. He was halted in his tracks for the moment.


    She turned her heard when she heard footsteps and saw that it was Nan Xun. Jun Huang wiped the deeply troubled look on her face away and patted the space next to her, trying to make her movements as open as possible. Her status was different now, after all, and she couldn¡¯t invite suspicion. Nan Xun smiled inwardly but didn¡¯t show any emotion, and didn¡¯t call her out on her act. He made a beeline for her and imitated Jun Huang in sitting on the ground, not caring in the slightest that the dust and soil would dirty his brocade robe.


    The moonlight imparted a deste feeling to the scene as the cold wind whistled past them. Jun Huang hugged her arms tightly to herself. ¡°Everyone says that Your Highness is prime talent for the nation. You have mastered both the civil and military subjects. What insights might you have on what¡¯s happened today?¡±


    ¡°What we need to do now is to investigate where the imperial funds have gone to. Only then will we be able to resolve the situation.¡± Nan Xun responded seriously.


    Jun Huang nodded in agreement and gave a long sigh. She didn¡¯t speak again as she looked up into the starry heavens. It was rather Nan Xun who tilted his head and looked at the girl, his eagle eyes assessing her closely. Jun Huang coughed lightly and looked elsewhere when she detected his attentions.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never looked so closely at you before. The gentleman is as exquisite as ady,¡± Nan Xun joked.


    Jun Huang reddened and appeared a bit off bnce, but kept herposure with effort. She changed the subject, ¡°Heh heh, Your Highness certainly likes to jest... what ns might you have?¡±


    ¡°Regardless of anything, I think the magistrate is a good way into this matter.¡± Nan Xun didn¡¯t remain on the previous topic because he knew of Jun Huang¡¯s taboos. He lowered his head and thought deeply for a while before he answered.


    ¡°The magistrate is just someone who helps the tiger pounce on his victims. I think things aren¡¯t as simple as what meets the eye.¡± Jun Huang nodded, feeling that Nan Xun¡¯s analysis made a lot of sense.


    Nan Xun nodded as well in agreement and sank into silence again. The two sat next to each other, no one speaking again.


    .......


    The next day, Nan Xun ordered his people to take what money they had and purchase dry rations and prepare simple porridge. He was doing what he could to help the people. Jun Huang on the other hand, set up a small tent next to the porridge distribution center, teaching citizens how to ward off sickness. She would also help them if any of them were suffering from any colds or small illnesses. Nan Xun looked over a few times during breaks in porridge distribution and smiled slightly when he saw Jun Huang taking pulses and giving out prescriptions.


    Qi Chen came over a few times and felt that their efforts were utterly useless, but didn¡¯t say anything. He¡¯d someone gotten his hands on some fine wine and a group of them were drinking at the yamen. He¡¯d lost all traces of princely dignity after leaving the capital.


    Once the distribution was over, Nan Xun went to stand beside Jun Huang. He watching her check a child¡¯s body when one of his men silently crept up to him and whispered something by his ear, causing Nan Xun¡¯s brows to knit together tightly.


    ¡°Has somethinge up?¡± Jun Huang asked in confusion after the hidden guard left. Nan Xun nodded but didn¡¯t respond. She knew that it wasn¡¯t the proper time to chat now and didn¡¯t press on with her questions.


    When the day¡¯s work was over, the sun was already setting to the west in splendid glory. Jun Huang and Nan Xun walked side by side in the fading light, looking to be a perfect pair from far away.


    When they reached a low hill, Jun Huang looked at Nan Xun, waiting for him to speak. Nan Xun gathered his thoughts for a moment before starting slowly, ¡°Just as you thought, there¡¯s something else going on.¡±


    Jun Huang had spected early this morning that something greater was going on behind the scenes. It was impossible that the magistrate would be so bold as to embezzle funds just like this. Add to that the close interactions between Qi Chen and the magistrate these two days, and the fact that Qi Chen had been the one to send over the funds... Jun Huang naturally felt there was something suspect with the situation and the Qi Chen was likely behind the magistrate¡¯s actions. Nan Xun had sent someone to investigate this, and they¡¯d actually been able to confirm that this was so, as well as find out where the silver and gold was being hidden.


    ¡°What do you think we should do now?¡± Nan Xun tilted is head at Jun Huang. He was very curious about her insights.


    Jun Huang thought for a moment and responded, ¡°Since the second prince is so daring in this matter, this means his faction has significant power at the moment. We might be buried here at the border city if we go about this brashly.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded in agreement. ¡°Then you have no need to be further involved. You¡¯re a guest at Qi Chen¡¯s at the moment, after all. You won¡¯t gain anything if you set yourself against him now. Just leave it all to me.¡±

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23: The Missing Relief Funds


    ¡°Oh? What kind of ns do you have now?¡± Jun Huang arched an eyebrow.


    Nan Xun¡¯s only response was a wordless smile. His expression was indifferent as he watched the light fade from sunset, and the asional brisk breeze would toss up the jet ck locks scattered over his shoulders. Jun Huang flicked a sidelong nce at Nan Xun. His usual imposing aura was gone from him for the moment, and the opulent brocade robes he wore only heightened his looks. This waspletely different from the innate sense of awe and might he constantly projected in the capital, and Jun Huang actually found herself a bit entranced.


    When she came back to her senses, she realized that Nan Xun was looking back at her with interest. Their eyes met, and Jun Huang¡¯s heart skipped a beat in surprise. She subconsciously backed up a step, but her foot came down on air. She was about to tumble off the hill when Nan Xun frowned, and swiftly reached out. He pulled her in by the waist and drew her away from the edge.


    Startled, Jun Huang leaned on Nan Xun¡¯s chest. When she regained her senses and realized how inappropriate their position was, she hastily pushed Nan Xun away. A deep blush colored her cheeks and she refused to look at his smiling eyes. Instead, she began to worry at her lip and stared at the sandy ground, taking a deep breath in an attempt to adjust her mental state. She raised her eyes to meet his only after her pounding heart had settled, as if nothing had just happened.


    ¡°It¡¯ste, let¡¯s go back. The second prince will be suspicious if we¡¯re anyter.¡± Jun Huang descended down the hill via a small path as Nan Xun bought up the rear.


    ¡°Has the wound on your arm healed fully?¡± Nan Xun pretended to be artless as he casually asked on their way back.


    ¡°How did you know the injury was on my arm?¡± Jun Huang furrowed her brow and halted when she heard his question.


    ¡°Qi Chen happened to mention it one day.¡±


    Jun Huang was even more suspicious of that answer. She didn¡¯t think that Qi Chen would mention to Nan Xun that she had been injured. She was skeptical, but didn¡¯t say anything else and responded faintly, ¡°The wound on my arm is mostly healed. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.¡±


    Nan Xun opened his mouth, wanting to say something more. But after a thought struck him, he didn¡¯t voice it. The two didn¡¯t speak again on their way back to the inn.


    That night, Jun Huang tossed and turned on her bed as sleep continued to evade her. She finally sat up and happened to notice that the window hadn¡¯t been closed. When she walked up to the window to close it, she nced outside and happened to see a man dressed in ck sneak into Nan Xun¡¯s room. Jun Huang frowned, feeling something afoot. She weighed the decision for a moment, but in the end turned to reach for the clothes on the rack behind her. After fixing her hair, she slipped out of her room and slowly approached Nan Xun¡¯s room.


    ¡°Your Highness, we¡¯ve already found out where the second prince is hiding the silver.¡± The hidden guard reported to Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun had yet to go to bed and had been reading when the guard snuck in to report. He put down his book and looked at the guard. ¡°Where?¡±


    The guard was about to respond when a ck cat suddenly darted through the darkness. Jun Huang gasped softly in her surprise, but the sound traveled to the ears of the two inside.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± Nan Xun¡¯s eagle eyes went t as he leaped to his feet. The guard¡¯s hand was already on his sword hilt as he sprang silently to the door, unsheathing his de in the same moment he yanked the door open. The cold st of air from the sword froze Jun Huang¡¯s words in her throat. No matter what, she couldn¡¯t summon a single sound in her defense.


    Nan Xun had been hot on the heels of his guard. A sigh of relief escaped him as he recognized Jun Huang. He gestured for the guard to stand down after a quick look around, and pulled her into the room.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you slept yet?¡± Nan Xun asked. Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond or change her expression in any way as she sized up the guard. Judging from Nan Xun¡¯s behavior, the guard knew that she was one of them and raised his hands in a cupped fist salute as a greeting. She nodded in response and looked at Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun knew what she was asking and didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°I know where the silver is.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± Jun Huang asked reflexively, realizing her anxiousness only after the question left her mouth. She couldn¡¯t help but want tough. Howical that I¡¯m so worried on behalf of a bunch of strangers after my home and country were lost. However, Nan Xun didn¡¯t feel the same way. He was looking at Jun Huang and sighing internally. No matter how savage her recent experiences have been, it seems it hasn¡¯t extinguished the innate kindness in this girl. Aplex knot of emotions tugged at his heart, one that he had no way to describe. After a moment of silence, Nan Xun recollected his thoughts and looked at the hidden guard, wanting him to exin.


    ¡°After two days of surveince, we are certain that the second prince has stashed the additional silver in the yamen.¡±


    ¡°Are you certain?¡± Jun Huang frowned. The guard nodded. She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then looked to Nan Xun. ¡°So you¡¯ve already thought of a n?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have one to begin with. We can¡¯t go interrogate Qi Chen; he might bite us in return. The only solution is to take it forcefully.¡± Nan Xun ryed his thoughts honestly.


    ¡°Take it?¡± Jun Huang was confused.


    ¡°We¡¯ve already prepared everything. We¡¯re going to dress up as robbers and break into the yamen.¡± Nan Xun nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s not breaking and entering, we¡¯re just taking back what belongs to the people.¡± Jun Huang smiled. After a quick second to think, she added, ¡°I¡¯m in as well.¡±


    ¡°No, you aren¡¯t.¡± Nan Xun refused without a second¡¯s hesitation. His furrowed brows and strong attitude projected the air that his decision was not up for debate, but was Jun Huang any ordinary person?


    She red ferociously at Nan Xun and crossed her arms. ¡°I must go. If you don¡¯t take me with you, I¡¯ll tell Qi Chen.¡±

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24: Fake Robbers


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry at her unreasonableness. In the end, he could only agree. He was well aware that Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t really tell on them, but she would also never drop the matter if he didn¡¯t agree. She might even go so far as to sneak into the yamen herself, and possibly put herself in even more danger.


    Once she¡¯d reached her goal, Jun Huang quickly returned to her room and fished out a set of ck clothes, suitable for sneaking around at night. After she changed clothes, she reconvened with Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun was also dressed in ck, but his hair was tied up. He almost disappeared into the shadows when he stood still. He was holding a dirk in his hands which he shoved into Jun Huang¡¯s hands after seeing her, telling her to keep herself safe. Jun Huang didn¡¯t stand on ceremony, epting the dirk and deftly sheathing it at her waist. Her lips curved into a smile when she saw the band of ¡°robbers¡± standing behind Nan Xun. They set off without a word, Jun Huang following in the rear.


    Since Qi Chen had stashed his embezzled funds in the yamen, he¡¯d naturally put a guard detail to watch it. Jun Huang originally wanted to scatter some confusion powder and take all the guards out, but Nan Xun stopped her from doing so.


    ¡°Apparently there are lots of local robbers and thieves around here. All of them have set their sights set on the yamen in one way or another. But when they make their move, they rarely use drugs. We just need to barge in. No need to arouse unnecessary suspicion,¡± Nan Xun spoke.


    Jun Huang looked at Nan Xun through her veil and nodded, putting her powder away. A harsh whisper was the trigger for the group to break out in a silent charge.. Perhaps they¡¯d grownx after such a long period of peace, but the drowsy guards jerked awake a beat toote when they saw that robbers hade calling. They were all a-fluster and were quickly restrained after a panicked scramble. Worried that too much chaos would create danger for them, Nan Xun and Jun Huang stood guard outside while the rest of the men snuck in. It wasn¡¯t the proper time to reveal themselves either.


    Jun Huang was a bit worried as she clenched her fists, peering anxiously inside from time to time. Sweat soon greased her palms as she waited for Nan Xun¡¯s band of men to return triumphantly. Nan Xun reached out to grasp her cold fingers when he noticed her nervousness. He squeezed them twice in soundlessfort. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine, don¡¯t worry too much.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯sposed tone was calming when it registered in her ears. Jun Huang nodded, taking a deep breath in but keeping her eyes on the yamen, waiting for those inside to emerge. It didn¡¯t take long for a hubbub to start and grow louder, as mes started to illuminate the night sky. The sounds of swords and des shing together made hearts jump in fright. A small frown creased her forehead as Jun Huang asked, ¡°Is something the matter?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s brow was likewise knit together. He stepped forward and patted Jun Huang¡¯s shoulder after a moment¡¯s thought. ¡°Wait here. Return to the inn immediately if I don¡¯te out in twenty minutes.¡± He shifted his weight forward as he prepared to leap in.


    ¡°And where are you going?¡± Jun Huang reached out and snagged Nan Xun¡¯s hand, uneasiness clear in her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m just going to take a look, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Nan Xun didn¡¯t linger after reassuring Jun Huang and charged straight in after gently disengaging.


    Fear and apprehension still swirled within Jun Huang as she pulled out the dirk that Nan Xun had given her earlier and clutched it tightly. The beads of sweat on her forehead followed the creases of her frown as they made their way down her face, but she didn¡¯t feel them at all until moisture started to blur her vision. She raised her hand to rub roughly at her forehead before continuing to maintain her stance leaning against the wall,pletely motionless.


    She hadn¡¯t manned her post for long before a man in the yamen¡¯s uniform ran out. He took a moment to get his bearings before bolting in the direction of the inn. Jun Huang looked at the yamen, then back at the yamen runner who was about to disappear from view. After swiftly debating the pros and cons of a few decisions, she resolutely took off herself, taking advantage of a shortcut to get back to the inn. She had to get back before the runner and somehow buy some more time for Nan Xun and the group. They had to obtain the silver. The citizens were waiting for the money.


    Jun Huang picked up the pace as her mind sped through these thoughts and identally tripped over a tree root on the ground. Pain shot up her knee and knocked loose a grunt from her throat. She scrambled back up to her feet instantly, enduring the pain with a frown, and limped the rest of the way to the inn in a hasty trot. She slipped back into her room unnoticed and changed her clothes, removing any trace of her fall. By the time she wa once again presentable, the runner had arrived and started to knock on Qi Chen¡¯s door.


    It was almost midnight, so Qi Chen was fast asleep. He was naturally somewhat displeased at being woken up in the middle of the night. When he saw the yamen runner kneeling beside his bed with an anxious look, the prince suppressed the anger in his heart. ¡°What are you doing here sote?¡±


    ¡°Your... Your Highness, something bad has happened! A group of robbers have broken into the yamen and now...¡± Before he could finish, Qi Chen had leaped up from the bed, sending the runner sprawling with a kick. His fists curled into fists as his face turned vicious. It was at this moment that Jun Huang knocked on the door, pretending to have just woken.


    As she walked in, her eyes first found the the yamen runner cowering on the ground, then Qi Chen, who looked to be in a towering rage. Jun Huang snorted derisively inside but didn¡¯t betray the slightest hint on her face. ¡°Why is Your Highness so angry?¡± She asked, feigning surprise.


    Qi Chen naturally wouldn¡¯t tell her that his embezzled funds was currently being stolen by robbers. He could only gnash his teeth and swallow his anger. He took a deep breath to try and settle his emotions and forced a smile, ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. I¡¯d just heard that the magistrate¡¯s been broken into by some robbers. I¡¯m just punishing the servants for being useless.¡±


    ¡°This matter is of grave importance. Your Highness, shall I apany you for a visit?¡± Jun Huang nodded and pretended to understand.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Qi Chen gave orders to get his clothes ready. Once he was dressed, he led Jun Huang to the yamen. Nan Xun and the others had already left, leaving behind nothing but broken fragments everywhere. It seemed that no one had died or even been injured. Jun Huang took a moment to inwardly sigh with appreciation at Nan Xun¡¯s methods, but still maintained a firm poker face.

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25: Restoring Livelihood to the Border


    They headed inside and made their way to the magistrate¡¯s bedchambers. The man was wearing a thinyer of bedclothes, on his knees outside another room¡¯s door. It looked like the origin of the fire had been in this room, and had been extinguished. Nevertheless, the magistrate still looked defeated and forlorn. When he saw Qi Chen arrive, it was as if he¡¯d glimpsed his savior. The magistrate crawled to Qi Chen¡¯s side, the tears streaming down his face actually invoking some genuine pity. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Your Highness!¡±


    Qi Chen looked at Jun Huang. She understood his meaning and casually spoke of looking around to see the extent of the damage. When she left, Qi Chen gestured for some people to follow her and took the magistrate into another room.


    The prince sat in the main seat, looking frostily at the magistrate kneeling in the middle of the room. ¡°Worthless thing! What are good you for?!¡± He couldn¡¯t help but curse loudly.


    ¡°Forgive me, Your Highness. Please spare me, Your Highness!¡± The magistrate could hear the murderous intent in the prince¡¯s tone and crawled over to Qi Chen in abject terror, tugging on the hem of the luxurious robes for mercy.


    Qi Chen sent the magistrate flying with one kick and took a deep breath in before asking slowly, ¡°Was it really robbers?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, Your Highness! They were all ferocious and without parallel. They¡¯re definitely robbers who live in the mountains.¡± The magistrate swallowed hard. His back was already soaked with sweat, and he shuddered when he looked at the vicious expression on Qi Chen¡¯s face. He was deathly afraid that the prince would want to kill him. But Qi Chen wasn¡¯t even thinking about the magistrate at all. He was still trying to console himself over his lost silver.


    Jun Huang looked at the fellow discreetly tailing her and sneered. She actually did take a walk around the yamen,forting the terrified servants whenever she encountered them. The sky had already brightened when she left. She rubbed her temples and went back to her room to sleep for a few hours.


    It was already noon when she next opened her eyes. Qi Chen had left with his men, leaving only her and Nan Xun in the inn. Nan Xun was waiting for her downstairs, and apanied her when she went in search of food. She took a seat across from him, ¡°Has everything been taken care of?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°It actually was real bandits who¡¯d broken inst night. They¡¯d likely been oppressed too long by the local nobility and had been driven to the point of robbing the yamen. They¡¯ve should¡¯ve distributed the silver to help the people.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not really at liberty to do anything in this situation either, so it¡¯s just as well that they¡¯re taking action for themselves.¡± Jun Huang remarked.


    Nan Xun looked at Jun Huang and saw that his lunchpanion was now focused on her tea with a lowered head. She didn¡¯t seem to be in good spirits. ¡°Are you alright?¡± He asked, frowning.


    Jun Huang lifted her head to look at him and tugged one corner of her lips upwards. ¡°I just hadn¡¯t thought that the second prince would leave so many people to live and die like so in the name of personal wealth. I just find it rather sad.¡±


    ¡°Human nature is greed incarnate. Why take it to heart?¡± Nan Xun responded faintly. Jun Huang smiled softly in response, but didn¡¯t say anything else. Her heart felt as bleak as the destendscape outside.


    Perhaps the heavens were touched by the pair¡¯s actions. After many months of drought, the skies relented and a downpour of rain starteding down that night. Fat droplets plonked onto the yellow dirt, turning sandy holes into murky ditches of shallow water. The people hadn¡¯t seen water in such a long time, and everyone turned out to revel in the rain, shouting and roaring with joy.


    Jun Huang and Qi Chen stood beneath an awning, looking at the celebrations from afar. The rain was a bit noisy as it rattled the roof, forcing them to raise their voices. ¡°What does Brother Feng think we should do now?¡±


    ¡°The people are exulting in the water sent by the heavens. Your Highness should make providing for them your first priority. This subordinate feels that we should help build shelter.¡± Jun Huang responded seriously.


    Qi Chen mused thoughtfully, pausing when the rain sshed onto his brocade robes, leaving behind a muddy stain. He couldn¡¯t bear to stay in this ce any longer and approved Jun Huang¡¯s proposal, giving her full authority to handle this matter.


    The downpour continued for almost half a month, and the dried, cracked riverbeds didn¡¯t take long to return to their original condition. Jun Huang had thought that the rain would dy the building project, but the citizens were in fine fettle when they heard that the imperial court was going to help repair their homes. Adult men started showing up at the inn and volunteering to help with the rebuilding efforts. And so, construction that was originally nned to take a month waspleted in half a month. The rain came to a stuttering halt just as most of the houses were rebuilt. It was time for Qi Chen¡¯s entourage to return to the capital.


    The people sent them off for a hundred miles, with Qi Chen hugely enjoying the love and adoration of the crowds. He¡¯dpletely forgotten that he¡¯d once embezzled the relief funds. Yet at certain moments, he couldn¡¯t help but feel aggrieved at the fact that his silver had flown the coop. He didn¡¯t suspect Nan Xun at all, naively thinking that Nan Xun had no idea what the prince had done. Nothing will reach my royal father¡¯s ears. Qi Chen was in better spirits as he considered the overall situation. He waspletely disengaged on the return journey, a far cry from his high spirits when he was traveling to the border. He stayed in the carriage all day, whereas Nan Xun and Jun Huang¡¯s horses took the lead as usual.


    ¡°This matter is finally over,¡± Jun Huang reflected.


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°Indeed, the people have gone back to their normal lives, and should trust the imperial court more after this matter.¡±


    ¡°How will Your Highness report to the emperor about the second prince embezzling funds?¡± Jun Huang looked back at Qi Chen¡¯s carriage andpressed her lips with disapproval.

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26: The Officials Waver


    Nan Xun seriously considered the question and analyzed the current situation. In the end, he had to shake his head. ¡°This matter is too important, we need to n for the long term.¡±


    The return trip passed in a sh as the retinue arrived at the capital in short order. Qi Chen had taken care of an urgent matter for the emperor this time, and had done so quite well. The emperor was immensely gratified and smiled broadly, even personally weing Qi Chen early in the morning as part of the party outside the city.


    Qi Chen was well aware of what Jun Huang meant to him and his ambition, so although the two had had their disagreements in the past, he couldn¡¯t put on airs right then. Instead, he invited Jun Huang to avoid the toils of travel and join him in his carriage. He only did this when they were about ten miles out from the capital. The scenery that greeted their eyes around them was currently one of peaceful lushness. Jun Huang alighted from her horse with ir and entered the carriage, only to see Qi Chen seated inside with a teacup in hand. The tea in the cup sloshed back and forth with the motion of the carriage, closely resembling a lively river.


    ¡°What might Your Highness need me for?¡± Jun Huang asked Qi Chen.


    The prince smiled fawningly and ced the tea cup on a low table. The rocking from the carriage immediately spilled some tea onto his robes, but Qi Chen paid no heed. He warmly greeted Jun Huang and had her sit down for a discussion. Jun Huang didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and took a seat across from Qi Chen, waiting for him to state his intentions.


    ¡°Brother Feng knows of my status in my royal father¡¯s heart. You¡¯re also on good terms with Nan Xun. I hope you talk some sense into him so that he won¡¯t tell my royal father about the robbery at the yamen. Please do this favor for me.¡± Qi Chen even raised a cupped fist salute to Jun Huang, a look of utmost seriousness on his face.


    Jun Huang sneered inwardly, but maintained her usual indifferent expression. She nodded, ¡°Leave it to me. Although I don¡¯t have much to do with him, I¡¯m still willing to try on behalf of Your Highness.¡± She responded very openly and subtly drew a line between herself and Nan Xun at the same time. She couldn¡¯t have Qi Chen suspect the rtionship between the two of them just yet.


    Qi Chen heaved a sigh of relief after receiving Jun Huang¡¯s affirmative response. She no longer had a reason to exchange superficial pleasantries with him and rose to take her leave. HOwever, right when she was about to alight from the carriage, she paused and turned with a smile. ¡°Might I beg a jug of wine off Your Highness?¡±


    Qi Chen blinked, but hastily passed over a jug of wine. Jun Huang left in style after receiving the white jade jug. When she came down, she happened to meet Nan Xun¡¯s eyes, thetter still mounted on his white horse. She curved her lips and raised the jug in her hand. Nan Xun reined in his horse, waiting for her to rejoin him on her horse.


    The twogged behind as they approached the capital and finally dismounted beneath a towering tree. They took seats on the ground, with Jun Huang having scrounged up two white jade cups from somewhere. She handed Nan Xun a cup after filling it with wine.


    ¡°What did Qi Chen want with you earlier?¡± Nan Xun asked after epting the cup.


    ¡°He wanted me to ask you not to mention to the emperor that the yamen was robbed.¡± Jun Huang didn¡¯t hide everything and spoke bluntly.


    Nan Xun was slightly taken aback, but immediately gathered his thoughts, shaking his head with a smile. He took a sip of wine and spoke, ¡°I hadn¡¯t nned on doing so either. There¡¯s no need for the emperor to know of this matter.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. You were supposed to be the robber, so how would you tell the emperor of that endeavor? You might as well let this matter pass and do me a favor.¡± Jun Huang nodded in agreement and grinned widely. She raised the cup to toast Nan Xun with a deep look and flung her head back, draining the contents.


    Nan Xun only rose when the jug was empty and stood still for a moment as Jun Huang also elegantly got to her feet. He decided to fill Jun Huang in after some thought. ¡°I didn¡¯t discuss this with you before, but I sent some men back to the capital a while ago and had them spread the news about Qi Chen embezzling the relief funds. I think that apart from the emperor, everyone in Qi Chen¡¯s faction at court knows of his actions by now.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned as she looked at him, then nodded her head after a moment of thought. ¡°That¡¯s fine, we should¡¯ve done it anyways. It¡¯s about time that we start to work on the firm wall behind Qi Chen.¡± She smiled mischievously, throwing Nan Xun for a loop. In that moment, just that moment, he actually really wanted to see Jun Huang dressed as a girl. But it was just a fleeting thought, as ephemeral as the wind.


    The two didn¡¯t speak any further, just standing there silently for a while longer. They mounted their horses and swiftly caught up to the main group who were just about to enter the capital. We won¡¯t be able to see each as often any longer.Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at Jun Huang many times, with her none the wiser.


    The emperor was particrly happy about how this matter had been settled, and was waiting outside the pce gates with arge group of officials. Qi Chen had switched to a white horse after entering the capital and had someone take his carriage back to his manor.


    ¡°Greetings to my royal father, long live the emperor!¡± Qi Chen jumped off his horse and bent a single knee to the ground, the very picture of respect.


    ¡°Hurry and rise my son, you¡¯ve had a long journey.¡± The emperor was dressed in golden dragon robes and personally stepped forward to help Qi Chen stand. He brushed his gaze across those behind the second prince. Jun Huang was acting as one of Qi Chen¡¯s hangers-on, and while she was his strategist, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for her to appear at an asion like this. She¡¯d returned to the Prince Chen Manor after entering the city. However, as someone personally appointed by the emperor for this mission, Nan Xun had to present.


    The group entered the pce after exchanging some greetings, and an expressionless Nan Xun walked at the very rear, listening in on the conversations of the great officials around him.


    ¡°I hadn¡¯t thought that the second prince would be someone so despicable! We put forth all our efforts on his behalf, but he stillmits these baseless acts. This truly disheartens me.¡±


    ¡°And isn¡¯t that the truth! The future emperor should be someone who views his life as dependent on the people, not someone who only seeks to profit. The emperor cannot be a wanton cretin who cares nothing for the people!¡±


    ¡°It looks like we need to find a wiser prince to back.¡± The officials walking at the front hadn¡¯t noticed Nan Xun inconspicuously walking behind them. Nan Xun smiled and continued to follow them silently without a hint of his usual dominating aura. He was quite delighted. Everything was proceeding ording to n.

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27: Suppressing Qi Chen


    It wasn¡¯t just Nan Xun who¡¯d noticed the officials¡¯ attitudes, but Qi Chen as well. He¡¯d sought out hispatriots for a drink during the celebration banquet that the emperor was holding for him, but all of them had actually fobbed him off with various excuses! This greatly irritated him, but he could let his anger roil within him for the time being. He had no idea why the officials who were normally close to him were avoiding him like they would a snake or scorpion. He cornered the Senior Grandmaster 1 when the banquet was over, someone who¡¯d once heroically dered that he would follow the second prince.


    ¡°And where might Your Honor be headed to?¡± Qi Chen was the picture of genteel grace, a weing smile on his face without the slightest w. It was as if the greedy yboy he was in private was but an illusion.


    The Senior Grandmaster hadn¡¯t thought that he¡¯d be cornered so quickly and mutely watched his fellow officials quietly disperse from around him. They offered him nothing more than a helpless look as they deftly made themselves scarce. He himself wanted to cry, but raised his hands in a cupped fist salute. ¡°What might Your Highness need from this old official at such ate hour?¡±


    Qi Chen sneered inwardly as he studied the official¡¯s face, but kept his own expressionless. ¡°This prince would only like to know why Senior Grandmaster and the other officials avoid me like one would when faced with a snake or scorpion.¡± By the end of his words, his tone had hardened to that of wintry ice. ¡°Have you and the others forgotten all about me in the time that I was gone?¡±


    The Senior Grandmaster shuddered as he looked down at the ground. His knees gave way as he sank to the ground. ¡°Your Highness speaks too harshly, how would we dare?¡±


    ¡°Then you better give me a reasonable exnation. Otherwise, your death will be long and agonizing!¡± Qi Chen¡¯s tone was low and vicious, as if newly risen from the depths of hell.


    The Senior Grandmaster was prostrate on the floor, shaking as beads of sweat dripped into the dust. However, he didn¡¯t say a word. At that moment, Qi Yun walked over leisurely. He took one nce at the Senior Grandmaster sprawled on the floor, and his eyes flicked toward his second brother Qi Chen. Heughed softly, covering his thin lips with a brandish of his fan, leaving two long and narrow eyes rippling like a water¡¯s surface above it. He spoke slowly, ¡°Second brother has just made his triumphant return, and our royal father has rewarded you heavily. How has the Senior Grandmaster vexed you?¡±


    There was no love lost between brothers in an imperial family. There were simply too many instances of fratricide for the dragon throne. Qi Yun had always given off the impression of a recluse set apart from matters of the court, but Qi Chen was particrly sensitive in this regard. He¡¯d always felt that some obscure power had to be backing Qi Yun¡¯s detached indifference. In fact, the second prince had mentally ced the strength of this power on par with that of the one backing the crown prince.


    Qi Chen looked at the Senior Grandmaster at his feet, then at Qi Yun who stood concealed in the shadows. He smiled, ¡°This prince was only joking with the Senior Grandmaster, but it seems I¡¯ve rather frightened him instead.¡± He even bent down and reached out to pull the old official up. How would the Senior Grandmaster dare speak of the truth? He cowered and nodded, his court robes covered with dust as he reached a shaking hand to wipe off the cold sweat on his brow.


    Qi Yun looked at the old man and spoke nomittally, ¡°Since royal brother was joking, then you don¡¯t need to overly worry. Senior Grandmaster, it¡¯s alreadyte, please take your leave.¡±


    The Senior Grandmaster instantly nodded and bowed at Qi Yun¡¯s words, running off before Qi Chen even drew a breath to speak.


    ¡°Third brother is as nosy as ever. Don¡¯t you know that many troubles are born like this? You should spend more time in your residence.¡± Qi Chen spoke coldly.


    Qi Yun smiled and responded in a neither humble nor arrogant manner. ¡°Many thanks for second brother¡¯s teachings. I will surelymit them to heart.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Qi Chen snorted coldly and left with a flourish of his sleeves. Qi Yun remained behind, still standing in the darkness. There was a pond next to him, and the lotus flowers within were in full bloom, glistening with the faint moonlight that spilled out over the ground.


    Nan Xun was standing in the pavilion in the middle of the pond. He¡¯d seen everything just now, but hadn¡¯t revealed himself. In fact, he¡¯d hid himself behind the pavilion when Qi Yun looked in his direction. He only slowly walked out after Qi Yun left, lifting his head to gaze upon the night sky. The skies in the imperial capital weren¡¯t as bleak as the ones outside. There were fires andmps a-plenty in the royal pce, so it was much less destepared to the borders. After a brief moment of contemtion, he too departed the pce. His face betrayed no hint of his emotions or thoughts as he made his way home.


    ......


    Qi Chen rose early the next day, taking a walk in the gardens in his court robes as he waited for morning court to begin. Jun Huang was used to rising early and came out for a look when she heard that Qi Chen had risen.


    ¡°Why have you risen so early, Brother Feng? Why not rest some more?¡± Qi Chen asked curiously when he saw Jun Huang.


    ¡°I have nothingmanding my time, or it could be that I¡¯m used to rising early. I find it hard to sleep once the sky has brightened. Instead of lying in bed, whiling the hours away, I might as well get up and walk around.¡± Jun Huang responded coolly and then frowned when she saw Qi Chen¡¯s court robes. ¡°Are you headed to the pce, Your Highness?¡¯


    ¡°Royal father sent eunuchs to the manor early this morning to convey that he wants me to enter the pce earlier.¡± Qi Chen nodded, a proud smile on his lips.

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28: Winds of Trouble Rise


    Jun Huang understood why Qi Chen was so happy. Princes couldn¡¯t freely enter and leave the pce without the emperor¡¯s decree, so this was an honor. Not to mention that Qi Chen had resolved a pressing matter for the emperortely, so they would definitely make a big deal out of it all.


    The sun had fully emerged in the sky, marking mid morning. Qi Chen left the manor with arge entourage, heading for the pce in a carriage. He arrived quite early, and so ended up waiting outside with a gaggle of officials. He snorted derisively when he saw the Senior Grandmaster again. He doesn¡¯t treat me with the proper respect! His ire from yesterday started to rise once more. Qi Chen really wanted to give the old official a hearty kick after seeing his face.


    The Senior Grandmaster didn¡¯t dare say a word to the prince. He was cowering in a corner, holding his breath and deathly afraid that Qi Chen woulde find him again. However, to be entirely honest, he was feeling quite aggrieved about the entire situation. He wasn¡¯t the only one who¡¯d left Qi Chen, but he¡¯d been the only one who¡¯d been caught. This situation was an utter tragedy.


    Nan Xun held an important position at court and thus attended every court session. He struck a striking figure in court robes, and the intimidating aura that emanated from his body instantlymanded respect from all those present. His eagles eyes swept over the assembly, and anyone hiding secrets all involuntarily shrank into themselves, not daring to meet his eyes.


    ¡°Court convenes.¡± A eunuch had walked to the doors of the hall before the subtle ebbs and flows of the situation could erupt into the open. He announced the beginning of morning court in a shrill voice and had everyone enter.


    Morning court consisted of the usual trifling and misceneous matters. Many officials knew of Qi Chen embezzling the relief funds, but they also knew that the second prince currently enjoyed great favor in front of the emperor. Therefore, all of them bit their tongues on what they truly wanted to speak of and cooperated to conceal the matter. When all business had been attended to, the emperor looked at Qi Chen standing amongst the officials with a gratified smile. He cast a nce at a eunuch next to him, prompting the eunuch to unfurl the imperial decree in his hands.


    The eunuch cleared his throat before announcing, ¡°The second prince was fearless in the face of hardship and handled disaster relief in an exemry manner at the border, resulting in love and adoration from the people. We hereby bestow upon second prince Qi Chen a pair of ceremonial jade scepters and a thousand silver ingots...¡±.


    Everyone looked at each other, speechless. Some even started feverish whispered discussions. They all felt that Qi Chen didn¡¯t deserve an honor like that, but they didn¡¯t dare voice their thoughts.


    ¡°And just what capabilities does this second prince have? If the emperor conducted a thorough investigation, he¡¯d easily find that the prince had embezzled funds.¡± The Senior Grandmaster snorted derisively and spoke in a soft tone to a nearby colleague.


    ¡°Does the Senior Grandmaster not realize that disaster stems from one¡¯s words? Or have you forgotten the events ofst night?¡± Qi Yun, also attending court, shook his head with a smile.


    The official gave an immense start as sweat started to bead on his forehead again. He looked guiltily over in Qi Chen¡¯s direction, only to see the prince proudly disying the jade scepters. He hadn¡¯t noticed the muttering from the corner. The old man heaved a sigh of relief and subtly cupped his fists at Qi Yun. ¡°Many thanks for the fourth prince¡¯s reminder. I will remember this well.¡±


    Qi Yun merely smiled and took a look at his royal father, seated on his lofty throne. He silently exited the hall as he fanned himself with his hand fan.


    After morning court, Qi Chen led the servants bearing the emperor¡¯s gifts to his manor. On the way, he happened to run into Jun Huang. Jun Huang was returning from a trip outside with Wei Qian, and cupped her hands in greeting when she saw Qi Chen. ¡°Congrattions to Your Highness, I heard about what happened today.¡± Jun Huang smiled.


    Qi Chen was in excellent spirits and didn¡¯t ask where Jun Huang had been. He just pulled her into the garden and excitedly shared with her thepliments he¡¯d received, as well as the gratified smile on his father¡¯s face this morning. Qi Chen had never experienced these simple delights between father and son, and he even seemed to tear up a little as he spoke of them. Jun Huang felt pity for Qi Chen as she listened to him describe his happiness, but felt even more so that those who invoke pity also have aspects to them that attract hate.


    ¡°The crown prince has thoroughly broken father¡¯s heart these days, and he must be thinking that the crown prince is inferior to me. I only need to show father more of my positive aspects now and I¡¯m sure that I¡¯ll be crown prince sooner orter!¡± Qi Chen didn¡¯t conceal his ambitions at all in front of Jun Huang.


    She listened silently, and finally spoke when Qi Chen paused for a cup of water. His mouth had run so fast that it had gone dry. ¡°I deeply admire Your Highness¡¯ grand ns, and my heart is full of the hope that you will realize them and prioritize the love of the people. I sincerely believe that Your Highness will be a wise and noble ruler if you take the throne one day.¡±


    ¡°Your words please this prince greatly. You may have one of the jade scepters I received.¡± Qi Chen opened the silk covered box he was holding as he spoke and took out a pale green scepter, handing it to Jun Huang. She made an effort to refuse it, but had to ept it in the end. As she held it, the jade felt quite cool to the touch.


    The crown prince¡¯s punishment had finallye to an end, and Qi Yin heard of Qi Chen¡¯s recent favor before he even left his manor. The emperor hadn¡¯t even mentioned the crown prince in court as ofte!


    Qi Yin sat in his main hall, teeth grinding in anger as his hands folded into fists. His knuckled popped and cracked with the force he exerted. The mes of fury in his chest seemed ready to erupt at any second. The servants were trembling as they knelt in the hall, not a one daring enough to look up at their master. They were afraid that Qi Yin would end their lives at the slightest provocation.


    ¡°How could Qi Chen have gained father¡¯s eye in such a short time? He¡¯spletely useless! And you, you worthless trash, hurry up and tell this prince what¡¯s happenedtely!¡± Qi Yin¡¯s rage-filled eyes swept the servants. It almost seemed like sparks were flying from his eyes.


    Yet, even in the face of such obvious rage, an ordinary looking man kneeling in the far corner seemed to have no fear at all. He was the only who dared lift his head, his eyes bright, when no one had the courage to raise their eyes and look at Qi Yin. His tone was neither terrified or fawning as he spoke up, ¡°Your Highness, the second prince has gained His Majesty¡¯s favor because of the drought on the border. The second prince traveled to the border under imperial order and handled the matter well. Therefore...¡±


    ¡°Bullshit! How would I not know what kind of person Qi Chen is? How would he possibly be willing to go to a ce like that and suffer?¡± Qi Yin interrupted the man¡¯s words without even a thought, feeling that the man was running his mouth.

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29: Setting Up the Pieces


    He had grown up with Qi Chen and they had shared the same teachers, thanks to the emperor. Although he knew from young that the other was an enemy and not a brother, how would he possibly not be familiar with Qi Chen¡¯s habit and personality after spending every day together? In Qi Yin¡¯s heart, he felt that there was no way that Qi Chen would go to somece like the border.


    An old butler off to the side couldn¡¯t withstand the situation any longer and sighed. ¡°Your Highness, this really is the case. The second prince had a sudden change in personality for some reason and actually requested to go to the border. The emperor was quite delighted, and since Your Highness has recently spent the majority of recent time at home, the emperor is naturally biased towards the second prince,¡± he said hoarsely. This old butler had been with Qi Yin since young, and that along made the crown prince half believe his words. He frowned and thought deeply on this.


    ¡°Qi Chen, do you really think that my position will be yours just because you¡¯re made father happy? Hmph! Your current glory will be your future pain. I won¡¯t let you live easy with this!¡± Qi Yin spoke coldly.


    Qi Yin¡¯s confidante walked over at this time and whispered lowly into his ear, ¡°Your Highness, a woman¡¯s been spotted around Feng Baiyutely, should we kill her as well?¡±


    ¡°Leave Feng Baiyu be for now. You just keep an eye on Qi Chen for me at the moment.¡± Qi Yin shook his head after a moment of thought.


    ¡°Understood.¡± The man who¡¯d spoken possessed quite a high level of martial arts. Even though Qi Yin had purposefully lowered his voice, the man had still heard everything. He smiled and spoke again after a short while, ¡°Your Highness, this servant has also heard that the second prince didn¡¯t have the... cleanest of hands when he went to the border. Everyone knows that he embezzled the relief funds, but due to his highly favored status at the moment, no one dares tell the emperor.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Qi Yin arched a brow and snorted inwardly. I knew it. How would someone like Qi Chen do something so selfless? He¡¯d likely made out like a bandit from the disaster relief this time.


    The old butler nodded and took control the conversation, ¡°Rumors are rampant outside right now, but no one dares tell the emperor. Add to that the fact that the second prince isn¡¯t someone to provoke lightly... the officials can only seek self preservation. No one wants to be dragged into this matter. Please forgive this old servant¡¯s nosiness, Your Highness, but you must not mention this to the emperor either.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! What am I, afraid of Qi Chen?¡±


    ¡°This old servant didn¡¯t mean that at all! It¡¯s just that the situation is very disadvantageous towards Your Highness at the moment. Things will backfire if you are in a rush for results. Besides, why do all the officials know of this matter, but refrain from reporting it to the emperor? They all understand that the second prince enjoys great imperial favor at the moment. There¡¯s no telling what the emperor might think if they brashly broach the subject. The current n of action should be to take each step with care and caution.¡± The old butler gave his opinion solemnly, offering sound advice with every word.


    As headstrong as Qi Yin might be, he understood that the old butler meant well. But that didn¡¯t mean he wanted to leave Qi Chen to enjoy the limelight! Sadly, there was nothing he could do at the moment, so he waved his hand and dismissed the servants in a fit of dejection. Qi Yin sat in the hall by himself, sulking.


    The man in the corner looked at Qi Yin, and a sly light shed through his eyes. He went straight for the main doors after leaving the hall, giving out a prepared excuse and making directly for the most famous tavern in town. Nan Xun had been waiting for a long while.


    ¡°My lord, it¡¯s done.¡± The man said respectfully over cupped fists.


    Nan Xun turned to look at the man and nodded. ¡°You have no need to return to the crown prince¡¯s manor. You only need to keep Feng Baiyu safe from now on.¡±


    The man left swiftly after receiving his orders, leaving Nan Xun staring off into the distance outside the window. He reflected with great emotion that Jun Huang was indeed a wise strategist. This n for brother to turn on brother had been her creation, and the sad thing was was that both had fallen into her trap.


    Qi Yin greatly disliked Qi Chen to begin with, and who would¡¯ve thought that his second brother woulde calling at lunch time? The crown prince smashed the porcin bowl he was holding when he heard the servant¡¯s report. ¡°He wants to enter my manor? Have him wait outside!¡±


    The servant could only leave and ry apprehensively to Qi Chen, ¡°His Highness is not able to receive guests at the moment. Please wait here a moment, Your Highness.¡±


    How would Qi Chen not understand Qi Yin¡¯s thoughts? He nodded and really just stood there beneath the zing sun. His confidante was holding an umbre, but the shade didn¡¯t protect him from the re overhead. His back was soaked with sweat, but it was as if he didn¡¯t feel any of that at all.


    Qi Yun finally came strolling out after roughly forty five minutes. He adopted a lofty stature and looked down at Qi Chen, inwardly sniffing coldly but not showing any of it on his face. He walked down with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve kept you waiting, second brother.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no matter, no matter at all.¡± Qi Chen smiled, as if it really didn¡¯t matter.


    ¡°What might second brother need from me?¡± Qi Yin didn¡¯t have the slightest intention of inviting Qi Chen inside. He stood at his doors with his arms crossed.

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30: Setting Up the Pieces 2


    Qi Chen pursed his lips and took a deep breath, barely managing to suppress his anger. ¡°Big brother has been grounded for so long,¡± he said. ¡°Today is the day you¡¯re freed from your confinement. I, naturally have to pay you a visit.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that second brother has been busytely. I didn¡¯t expect you to still be keeping an eye on my manor. If someone with ulterior motives were to hear about this, rumors may start.¡± Qi Yin stared at Qi Chen, his tone purposefully calm, but every word out of his mouth was a jab at Qi Chen. ¡±It is best for second brother to stop fooling around. Read some more books, even. Still better than dreaming of impossible things. Does my brother agree with me?¡±


    Qi Chen balled his hands up tightly into fists, his fingernails digging into his palms. He clenched his teeth and took a moment to calm himself before saying, ¡°Big brother has spoken correctly. I will keep your words in mind.¡±


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t want to stand around embarrassing himself any further. He was about to take his leave when someone from the pce bumped into them.


    ¡°Well, well, both princes are indeed here,¡± the eunuch said with a high-pitched voice, fawning over Qi Chen. ¡°This old servant has been looking for the second prince for quite some time.¡±


    Qi Chen frowned. ¡°May I ask why you were looking for me?¡±


    ¡°The crown prince has been ungrounded. His Majesty asked me to invite the two princes to the pce for tea.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded and turned to look at Qi Yin. ¡°Big brother, let us hurry and enter the pce together.¡±


    The eunuch was an observant one. He knew that even though Qi Chen was the favored prince now, as long as the emperor did not make someone else the crown prince, Qi Yin maintained his title. If one day Qi Yin inherited the throne, he would be the one in charge.


    The eunuch put on a smile and approached Qi Yin. ¡°Your Highness, is there anything you need to prepare for?¡±


    Qi Yin cursed the eunuch under his breath for being a petty brown-nose. He huffed and left with a wave of his sleeve. The eunuch pursed his lips and followed.


    Qi Chen scoffed silently. Qi Yin had been grounded once already, and still he was so prideful. He still considered himself superior to everyone.


    Qi Chen could already picture the moment Qi Yin fell from grace in his mind. Oh, how desperate would he be! An indescribable rush of ecstasy suddenly hit him. He could barely stop himself from dragging Qi Yin down right this moment and have him at his mercy.


    When they arrived at the pce, the emperor and Qi Yun were watching a y in the theater garden. The eunuch took the princes straight to them.


    Qi Chen went straight for the seat right next to the emperor ¨C during the time when Qi Yin was grounded, he was considered to be of the second highest rank here. That was why he got used to taking the second most important seat. Seeing this, Qi Yin sneered, ¡°What does second brother take me for?¡±


    Qi Chen suddenly realized that things had changed as Qi Yin had left the crown prince manor today. He hurriedly stood up and was for a moment too embarrassed to do anything. Qi Yun picked up the teacup and took a sip, watching them with cool eyes.


    The emperor looked at Qi Yin with a frown before shifting his gaze to Qi Chen. It made Qi Chen¡¯s skin crawl. After weighing his options, he dropped down to his knees before the emperor. ¡°I beg Royal Father for forgiveness. This son of your¡¯s did not mean to offend his big brother ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Enough. Say no more. I have made my own conclusion. At ease.¡± The emperor looked over at Qi Yin and sighed. ¡°Yin¡¯er, it seems that even after your punishment, you still don¡¯t know how you should carry yourself.¡± His tone was dripping with disappointment. ¡°Ah, what should I do with you?¡±


    Only then did Qi Yin figure out that Qi Chen was setting him up. Angered boiled up in his head, but on the surface, he had to pretend to be apologetic. He lowered his eyes looking at Qi Chen. ¡°I was impulsive. I didn¡¯t mean to put second brother on the spot.¡±


    ¡°Big brother worries himself too much,¡± said Qi Chen. He took the seat next to Qi Yun and left the one next to the emperor to Qi Yin. Qi Yin did not hesitate before sitting down with his head held high. This spot was meant to be his.


    Qi Yun put down the teacup and looked at Qi Chen. The gears in his head were turning, but he chose to stay on the sideline and quietly observe everyone.


    Earlier, before Qi Chen and Qi Yin arrived, the emperor had a private meeting with an official. Qi Yun tried to find out the official¡¯s identity, but the emperor gave him no clear answer. Instead, he talked quite a bit about Qi Chen.


    The emperor said that he had wronged Qi Chen, that Qi Chen was loyal and level-headed, that he took after the emperor himself. All these proved that the emperor valued Qi Chen greatly, which led Qi Yun to the conclusion that the official must have been one of Chi Chen¡¯s confidantes. But s, he would never know who it was.


    During the performance, the emperor did not say anything to the recently freed Qi Yin. And afterwards, he only asked Qi Chen to stay. That added fuel to the fiery resentment Qi Yin harbored towards Qi Chen.


    On the way out, Qi Yun trailed after the others, his steps unhurried. He cut a calm and elegant figure. On the contrary, Qi Yin was at the front of the group, boiling with rage. He even ended up taking his anger out on the flowers in the garden, sending flower petals flying everywhere.


    Qi Yun let out a sigh while he approached Qi Yin. ¡°Big brother is upset, but why take it out on innocent nts? I have no other matter to attend to. If big brother is free, may I have a drink with you?¡±


    Qi Yin turned to look at Qi Yun. He took a deep breath to bottle up his rage. ¡°I have matters to deal with at my manor. Third brother is free to do as you please.¡± With that, he left immediately.


    Qi Yun looked at him go. He took a moment to think. Then he left the pce and went straight to where he had agreed to meet Jun Huang. As he walked, his thoughts became more and more of a tangled mess.


    It may be that Feng Baiyu looked simr to Jun Huang. It may be that Feng Baiyu himself was a sight to behold. Either way he couldn¡¯t help but want to get close to him.


    When Qi Yun reached the meeting point, Jun Huang was waiting for him.


    ¡°My apologies. Have I kept you waiting for long?¡± Qi Yun stopped next to Jun Huang. Again, the only thing he could focus on was her familiar eyes.


    ¡°Let us get down to business.¡± Jun Huang said without ceremony. ¡°Have you received the letter I sent you a few days ago?¡±

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31: Meeting with the Senior Grandmaster


    Qi Yun nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t concern yourself with this matter. Your priority now is to protect yourself. I¡¯ll insert my people into my second brother¡¯s circle.¡±


    ¡°As you wish.¡± Jun Huang didn¡¯t argue. There was nothing else she could do to help.


    ¡°Moreover, my second brother¡¯s power cannot be underestimated,¡± said Qi Yun. ¡±There must be someone in a higher ce supporting him behind the scenes.¡±


    ¡°My thoughts exactly. After he was caught for embezzlement, I expected him to be abandoned in court. Someone, however, secretly gained many officials¡¯ support for him, and when they were asked about that person¡¯s identity, they gave no answer. It must be someone with great power.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s expression was severe. Dealing with Qi Chen had be a more and moreplicated matter. It was a gift that kept on giving.


    Qi Yun felt a pang of frustration at the sight of her tightly-knitted eyebrows. He spent years cultivating his power. And now here he was, needing the help of a fragile schr. This shouldn¡¯t be a burden for this gentleman to bear.


    Qi Yun patted Jun Huang on the shoulder and sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Now we just have to wait and see. The rest we¡¯ll considerter.¡±


    ¡°How about the crown prince?¡± Jun Huang asked.


    Qi Yun let out another sigh and told her about what had happened. Jun Huang broke into a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the crown prince to end up like this. Still, it¡¯s good news. Finally he got a taste of his own medicine.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Qi Yun. We can¡¯t stay here any longer. Qi Chen must have left for his manor now. If I¡¯mte, he will be suspicious of me again. You better return to your manor as well.¡± After that she took her leave.


    A sense of loss suddenly hit Qi Yun. He let out a sigh filled with mncholy, whipped open his fan, and returned to his manor. His dreams and ideals were long lost; now he was only an ordinary man trying to survive in a war between brothers.


    As Jun Huang expected, she arrived about the same time as Qi Chen did. He was carried here from the pce in a sedan chair ¨C a clear sign he now enjoyed the emperor¡¯s favor.


    ¡°Brother Feng, where did you go?¡± Qi Chen spotted Jun Huang at a distance. Hemanded the carriers to let him down. Then he ran up to Jun Huang, his eyes crinkled. It was clear from his expression that he was again praised by the emperor.


    Jun Huang changed the subject and asked the obvious question. ¡°I went for a walk. Did Your Highness just return from the pce?¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°I was paying the crown prince a visit when Royal Father invited us to the pce. Then, Royal Father asked me to stay for a talk. He praised me for a job well done for what I did at the border.¡±


    ¡°I believe that brother Feng¡¯s talent should not be overlooked. If you are willing, I¡¯ll say some good words for you before Royal Father. You can be an official too.¡±


    That got a reaction from Jun Huang. Immediately she replied, ¡°Your Highness, you must not do this. I only want to offer my service to you. If the emperor is to grant me a position in the pce, it would be near impossible for me to continue being your strategist.¡±


    What Jun Huang said made sense to Qi Chen. He nodded and entered the manor side by side with her. He even invited her to share a meal with him. Their talk was pleasant enough. Originally, Jun Huang intended to get some information out of him. Unfortunately, in his excitement he got drunk and passed out not long after. There wasn¡¯t anything Jun Huang could do.


    After getting Qi Chen settled, Jun Huang went to her own building. Wei Qian was waiting for her at the door.


    ¡°Where did the gentleman go?¡± she asked.


    Jun Huang was amused. Normally she would just make up an excuse, but today she felt like teasing Wei Qian. She affected a cold tone and said, ¡°Did the prince ordered you to keep an eye on me?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Wei Qian nervously said, worried that Jun Huang would get the wrong idea.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I don¡¯t have to answer your question. I¡¯m tired now. You can leave as you please.¡± She walked into her room and chuckled as she shut the door.


    In Prince Nan Manor, a shadow guard stood beside Nan Xun, awaiting his order. After some consideration, Nan Xun took out a pen and a piece of paper and wrote down a few words. He handed the paper to the guard. ¡°Take this to Prince Chen Manor and gave it to Feng Baiyu. Remember, Qi Chen must not know about this.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± The shadow guard took the paper and left silently.


    Night fell. Within the imperial city only the night watchmen1 still walked the street. The shadow guard¡¯s footsteps were quick but soundless. He reached Prince Chen Manor promptly.


    He considered the high wall. A push of his foot and he leaped into the air,nding on the tiles making a quiet noise.


    Wei Qian was well-trained, and she wasn¡¯t deep in sleep. Immediately her eyes snapped open and she rushed to Jun Huang¡¯s room. After a moment of hesitation at the door, she knocked. ¡°Has the gentleman gone to bed?¡±


    There was the rustling sound of clothes. Then the candles inside the room were lit. In the dim light she saw Jun Huang getting off the bed anding to get the door.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Jun Huang asked blearily, rubbing her eyes. She had a gown wrapped around her body, and her hair was a little messy. Her face remained passive as Wei Qian gave her room a once-over.


    ¡°It was nothing.¡± Wei Qian looked away and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m only here to check up on the gentleman.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Then Wei Qian would take her leave.¡± She turned around and walked away. Jun Huang¡¯s eyes followed her until she went back into the side room. Jun Huang shut the door after herself.


    The shadow guard had left, leaving the window open. Jun Huang frowned, a little bewildered. Then she noticed a slip of paper on her desk.


    ¡°Qi Chen now holds power over the imperial court. Even though the embezzlement is a stain on his reputation, there are still people supporting him behind the scenes. Now the only viable n is to convince someone whose loyalty to him has already wavered. This I cannot do myself. I¡¯ll leave it in your capable hands. Tomorrow, the Senior Grandmaster will be at the tavern waiting for you.¡±


    The letter was written in strong and decisive strokes. Jun Huang considered the situation carefully. This was a good move on Nan Xun¡¯s part. She took another look before holding the paper over a candle. Her mind was clear as the paper turned into ashes.


    The next day, Jun Huang woke up at the crack of dawn. Wei Qian would be apanying Qi Chen today, and Qi Chen normally let Jun Huang freely go as she pleased. There was nothing stopping her from leaving the manor.


    It was still early when she got to the tavern. Jun Huang told the clerk to brew her a pot of tea, then she sat on a stool and started drinking it. She looked at home where she sat. Her violet silk gown was fanciful, but not mboyant. Her skin was fair, and the white jade cap framing her ck hair was fairer.


    That was what the Senior Grandmaster saw when he arrived. He had never met Jun Huang before, and was rendered speechless for a moment, unsure of what to do. Jun Huang gave him a smile and put down the tea cup before standing up.


    ¡°This gentleman is Feng Baiyu. I have been waiting for you, sir.¡± She cupped her hands in greeting with a disarming smile; the Senior Grandmaster visibly rxed.


    He took his seat. Jun Huang poured him a cup of tea. ¡°Sir, this is Bamboo Leaf Green tea of the highest quality. I¡¯ve heard that it¡¯s a favorite of yours.¡±


    The Senior Grandmaster didn¡¯t expect this young man he¡¯d just met to know his preferences. He took the cup with a smile and took a whiff. He knew it was a rare premium breed even before he tasted it.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡± Jun Huang asked.


    ¡°The smell doesn¡¯t fade as time goes by.¡± He took a sip. ¡°And the taste lingers in my mouth. Indeed a good tea.¡± He was generous with his praises, but Jun Huang still had a calm expression on her face, as if she had anticipated his reaction.


    She lowered her eyes and blew the tea leaves floating on her tea. Then she took a sip and smiled at him. ¡°Good things should be left for the person who deserves it. Do you agree, sir?¡±


    The Senior Grandmaster frowned. He wasn¡¯t sure what she meant by that.


    ¡°I will stop beating around the bush here. There are things we both know that don¡¯t need to be brought up. Today I came to meet you, sir, because I want to make a deal with you.¡±


    ¡°What deal?¡±


    ¡°I heard that in your early life you were unable to fulfil your potential. It was because of second prince Qi Chen¡¯s support that you became the Senior Grandmaster. To you, Qi Chen was your Bo Le2, the one who discovered your talent. Or have I perhaps been mistaken?¡± Jun Huang met his eyes. Everything she said was the truth.


    The Senior Grandmaster broke out into cold sweat, soaking his cors. He didn¡¯t know how to react in order to not raise any suspicion. Jun Huang, however, wasn¡¯t looking at him. Instead, she walked to the window and looked out over the imperial city.


    ¡°I also heard that you, sir, were troubled by Qi Chen¡¯s embezzlement. This gentleman knows that you are a good official who truly cares about the people. Naturally, you cannot stand for what Qi Chen did.¡± Jun Huang turned to look at him with a soft smile. Senior Grandmaster was shocked. He had not expected anyone to understand him so well. It was as if she was a part of him.


    It made him wary. He could feel his heart pounding against his ribcage. Who was this person, exactly? ¡°I wonder what gentleman Feng asked me to be here for. There is no need for pretense.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled. ¡°I only wanted to find out if you are on my side.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The world is now governed by three countries, and the three are at peace. But for how long, do you think? Northern Qi is in good hand for the time being, but how about the next emperor? Do you still think that the second prince will be a good leader?¡±


    ¡°The crown prince is a failure and is not suited for the position. The second prince, however, is willing to sacrifice the wellbeing of the people for his own gains. I¡¯ll ask you one thing: If he bes the emperor, will the nation be at peace? Will the people be cared for?¡± Jun Huang grew more and more agitated as she spoke. Qi Chen¡¯s crimes were many, and they filled her with rage.


    The Senior Grandmaster fell silent. What Jun Huang said was the hard truth. It hit him where he was most tender. Qi Chen¡¯s actions were intolerable. If someone like him became the emperor, it would be bad news both for Northern Qi, and for its people.

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32: Warning


    Jun Huang looked at the Senior Grandmaster. She could see he was wavering. She gave him a few moments to think before she continued her exnation. ¡°Among the princes in the imperial court, sir, I believe only the fourth prince Qi Yun can assume this heavy mantle.¡±


    ¡°The fourth prince?¡± The Senior Grandmaster thought back to the handsome young man who helped him in the pce that day. With a slight frame and delicate features like that ¨C would he really be able to stay on the throne if he was crowned?


    ¡°The fourth prince is an extraordinary genius. Northern Qi must be lead by him.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s tone was determined and unhesitant. Steely, even. Which made it difficult to deny what she said.


    The Senior Grandmaster fell silent. He was inclined to agree with her, but Qi Chen was the one who made him who he was today. He couldn¡¯t reconcile with the fact that he would ever turn on his benefactor.


    He couldn¡¯t settle on a decision.


    Jun Huang could see right through him. ¡°Do you really think that the fact you owe the second prince a debt is enough justification for him to take leadership of the country? Shouldn¡¯t you choose a good emperor for the people?¡±


    The Senior Grandmaster¡¯s head snapped up, his eyebrows furrowed, ¡°Gentleman Feng mentioned a good emperor, but how do you know the fourth prince will be the right candidate? It¡¯s all guesswork, both for me, and for you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯smon knowledge that the fourth prince cares deeply about the people. If not for what the mothers of the crown prince and the second prince did, he wouldn¡¯t have been trapped in his manor. In your heart you already know what the right thing to do is. I cannot stay any longer. Allow me to take my leave.¡± Jun Huang cupped her hands and left without letting him argue.


    The Senior Grandmaster considered the matter in the tavern for a long time. Still he could not make a decision. In the end he did choose Qi Yun, but that happenedter.


    When Jun Huang returned to Prince Chen Manor, she was stopped by Wei Qian before she could get in. Jun Huang stared at her with a frown. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°The prince asked for you.¡± It seemed that Wei Qian wanted to say more, but chose not to in the end. She only said that Qi Chen had been waiting for her in the main hall for long, and asked her to see him once she was back.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what he wanted, but for now she couldn¡¯t afford to offend him. So she followed Wei Qian to the main hall.


    Her worries were not unfounded. Qi Chen sat on the main seat with a dark expression, his fingers tight around the teacup. Any moment the teacup could break.


    ¡°Does Your Highness have any urgent matter?¡± Jun Huang asked while approaching.


    Qi Chen looked up at her. ¡°Where did brother Feng go?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t falter. ¡°Just wandering about.¡± She was sure that no one had seen her at the tavern, so she didn¡¯t hesitate before answering.


    Qi Chen looked at Jun Huang¡¯s bright eyes as if he was going to look into her soul, but he saw nothing unusual. He put down the teacup. ¡°I heard that recently brother Feng has been going out quite frequently. Is something the matter?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°Thank you for your concerns, Your Highness, but this gentleman was just enjoying the good view of the imperial city.¡± She knew that she could not let this conversation go on in this direction, lest Qi Chen notice something amiss. She changed the topic. ¡°I heard that the crown prince has been quite rude to Your Highness recently. Is that true?¡±


    Jun Huang must have hit a nerve; Qi Chen forgot to ask what Jun Huang had been busy with and broke the teacup in his hand.


    Jun Huang watched him calmly. Qi Chen¡¯s distorted face was a horrifying sight, but if she was affected at all, it didn¡¯t show.


    After a good while, Qi Chen looked up at Jun Huang and asked, ¡°The crown prince has crossed the line. First he shamed me in public. Then he acted like he was better than I am several times, embarrassing me. Yes, he is the crown prince, but that¡¯s only because he is my older brother. Someone like him cannot shoulder such a responsibility.¡±


    ¡°What does Your Highness have in mind?¡± Jun Huang shifted her eyes to him, waiting for him to tell her what ambition he had.


    Qi Chen looked back at her. A murderous gleam shed through his eyes. ¡°I want to teach the crown prince a lesson.¡±


    Jun Huang scoffed inwardly. Qi Chen¡¯s ambition was still too petty. She thought for a moment with her eyes downcast. Then, reaching a conclusion, she smiled, leaned into him, and murmured, ¡°Your Highness, if this gentleman has a n for you to eliminate this trouble of yours once and for all, what do you say?¡±


    That caught Qi Chen off guard. He looked around at the servants and maids nervously, but at the same time he felt an adrenaline rush. He told everyone to leave the room and asked Jun Huang to sit down.


    When the room was cleared, Qi Chen said, ¡°It sounds like the gentleman has a n already.¡±


    His voice was light and his eyes were brighter than usual. He even forgot to call her his brother. He held her hand in his, trembling with excitement.


    Jun Huangmented the fact that people¡¯s desires could be so destructive. Even blood brothers would turn on each other like this. She sighed inwardly, but it didn¡¯t show on her face. She gave Qi Chen a nod. ¡°I have a n. No one will find out about it, but Your Highness will have to do it yourself.¡±


    Qi Chen frowned at Jun Huang, trying to determine how truthful she was being. But then he remembered that it wasn¡¯t easy for her to make up schemes for him, and she had helped him many times. There was no reason for him to doubt her. Weighing his options in his mind, he nodded in the end. ¡°As the gentleman wishes. If this is a sess, I will award you with beautiful women and riches. I hope you won¡¯t deny me then.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled and took a sip of her tea. She didn¡¯t continue. Qi Chen was getting impatient.


    When he couldn¡¯t bear her silence any longer, he finally asked, ¡°What n do you have to eliminate the crown prince secretly?¡±


    Jun Huang took another sip of her tea. ¡°It is simple, actually. The crown prince is but a lecherous man.¡±


    Qi Chen frowned. He still didn¡¯t get what she meant. ¡°May the gentleman exin?¡±


    Jun Huang put down her teacup and decided to stop talking in riddles. ¡°The crown prince is lustful. If you want to get rid of him without being noticed, you use women. I have been all over the world. I have met many strange people and witnessed many strange things. Once I was taught by a teacher about poison. I know how to make a type of poison that could kill the crown prince instantly. However...¡±


    ¡°However what? The gentleman can just tell me.¡± Qi Chen was getting more and more antsy, He was unwilling to even look away from her.


    Jun Huang sighed. ¡°There is an ingredient that Ick. Without it, this is all but a pipe dream.¡±


    Qi Chen urgently took her hand. ¡°Just tell me what you need. If I don¡¯t have it here, I will find it somewhere else.¡±


    ¡°It is something in your possession.¡± Jun Huang looked at him, a cunning sh appeared briefly in her eyes, but Qi Chen didn¡¯t notice.


    ¡°What is it? I can tell people to retrieve it.¡±


    Jun Huang stood up. ¡°Sometime ago the emperor awarded Your Highness with a box of fava beans. They are edible, but added in with other ingredients, it bes a potent poison.¡±


    There were no native fava beans in Northern Qi because of its geographical location. The nts are delicate, while the climate here was harsh. Fava beans, therefore, had to be imported from other countries. As a result, they were rarely seen here. Only the emperor had the luxury to enjoy them.


    Earlier some were imported, and the emperor awarded a few to Qi Chen to let him have a taste. However, Qi Chen didn¡¯t like the taste, so they were left in the manor.


    ¡°The gentleman can just take the beans. I¡¯ll tell people to retrieve them for you.¡± Qi Chen smiled brightly. Jun Huang nodded. She didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen to be so willing to give her the emperor¡¯s gift.


    After some more talking, Jun Huang took her leave. Qi Chen made good of his promise and had people retrieve the fava beans for her.


    When she got them, she almostughed. This man really would not make a good crown prince. He was ambitious, but reckless. He could be clever at times, but he was so easy to deceive. Everyone knew that other than the emperor, only Qi Chen had any fava bean. If this one little fava bean was used to make poison, it would be easy for others to find out. Then it would be Qi Chen¡¯s worst nightmare.


    After days of sleepless nights, Jun Huangpleted the poison. She was about to ask Wei Qian to hand it to Qi Chen when Qi Chen came to her on his own in his impatience.


    ¡°Has brother Feng made the poison?¡± His voice reached her before he himself could. Jun Huang put down the white ceramic bottle in her hand and walked out slowly.


    ¡°This gentleman has been waiting for Your Highness.¡± Jun Huang smiled and invited him in. She poured him a cup of tea before picking up the ceramic bottle. ¡°I made this. Once the crown prince consumes it, it won¡¯t take long before he dies.¡±


    Qi Chen put down the teacup without drinking and took the bottle, his eyes shining with a strange light. ¡°Is this thing really so effective?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°It¡¯s very dangerous. Please be careful.¡±


    Qi Chen was just about to smell the poison when she said that. He quickly put it down. Then, as if an idea just struck him, he pped his hands. A woman dressed in pink silk walked out. The bells on her ankles chimed. Soon a faint fragrance filled the room.


    ¡°What does brother Feng think of this woman?¡± Qi Chen asked.


    Jun Huang took a moment to look her over. The woman¡¯s features were delicate, and her eyes were bright and dreamy. Her dark hair was held up by a wooden hairpin. Simple, but elegant. ¡°Thedy is very attractive. A rare beauty of this world.¡±


    Qi Chen smiled as if it was him Jun Huang was praising. He looked at the woman, then at Jun Huang. ¡°If brother Feng were born a woman, you would be an extraordinary beauty,¡± he said, stroking his chin. ¡°No women covered in powder and cosmetics would be able to rival you. A shame that brother Feng was born a man.¡± He sighed like this was truly a great misfortune to Jun Huang.

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33: A Woman¡¯s Revenge


    Jun Huang smiled in response and asked, ¡°Does Your Highness n to have thisdy sound the death knell for the crown prince?¡±


    Qi Chen smiled. ¡°Brother Feng is indeed observant. I can¡¯t hide anything from you.¡± He looked smug all of a sudden. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know why.


    Qi Chen handed the ceramic bottle to the woman. She took it and left without a word. Qi Chen left as well after a few more words with Jun Huang.


    After leaving Prince Chen Manor, the woman in pink went straight to the tavern. She was told that Qi Yin had been here since morning. Indeed, she saw him drinking on his own in a booth on the second floor.


    Qi Yin was again scolded by the emperor for his misconducts, and as before, the emperor kept saying that Qi Chen was so much more considerate, and that Qi Yin was such an embarrassment. Filled with frustration, he drank faster and faster. Soon it was clear that he was drunk.


    ¡°Are you alone?¡± the woman asked. Her voice clear like a water spring. It was captivating.


    Qi Yin looked up and saw a woman as beautiful as a goddess. He stared at her, ck-jawed. The woman took the seat next to him, chuckling, her soft eyes meeting his gaze. Before he came to his senses, she sneakily opened the ceramic bottle and poured the amber liquid into the wine.


    ¡°If the gentleman is alone, this woman will have a drink with you.¡± The woman picked up the jug and was going to pour him a cup, but he grabbed her hand and she couldn¡¯t break out of his grip.


    ¡°Would the gentleman like a drink?¡± The woman covered up the disgust in her eyes and picked up the half-filled cup, pushing it against Qi Yin¡¯s lips. Entranced by her beauty, Qi Yin had lost the ability to think properly. He opened his mouth to swallow down the liquor, his hands stroking the woman¡¯s cheek.


    She looked at him with steely gaze. Suddenly, Qi Yin¡¯s face turned an unhealthy color and breathing became difficult for him. He held onto his neck, unable to say a word. The woman got to her feet and smiled at him.


    Jun Huang was resting in her room when she heard a loud noiseing from the outside. She frowned and went out to check.


    ¡°Where did youe from? Get out of my way.¡± An expensively dressed woman harshly said, pointing at Wei Qian. Her tone suggested that she was the master here, and Wei Qian only a lowly servant.


    Jun Huang had seen Qi Chen¡¯s mother before ¨C a woman with too big an ego. She walked up to her with a smile. ¡°May I ask why Consort Zhen hase to my ce?¡±


    Consort Zhen pointed at Jun Huang with a trembling finger. ¡°Feng Baiyu, do you know what you have done? You¡¯re putting my dear son in danger.¡±


    Wei Qian watched her like a hawk, worried that the consort may hurt Jun Huang. She must protect Jun Huang from any harm.


    ¡°This gentleman does not know what you meant.¡± Jun Huang frowned. There was no fear in her eyes, which made Consort Zhen even more furious.


    She raised her hand like she was going to p Jun Huang. Qi Chen arrived just in time to stop her. He sighed. ¡°Mother, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°My son, he has put you in a difficult position.¡±


    ¡°What does mother mean?¡± Qi Chen frowned.


    Consort Zhen red at Jun Huang, who pretended to be confused as well.


    ¡°I¡¯m also at a loss of what the consort meant. Would you be so kind to exin?¡±


    ¡°In Northern Qi, only the emperor and my son own any fava bean. If it is discovered that Qi Yin died of it, who will the emperor suspect?¡± Consort Zhen¡¯s re grew even colder, her eyes filled with usation.


    Jun Huang made a split second decision and, before Qi Chen could react, dropped down to her knees. The sound of her knees smashing into the floor was loud enough to draw every pair of eyes in the room. She looked at Qi Chen with a pale face and said carefully, ¡°I was only thinking about eliminating an enemy for Your Highness and made a mistake. I did not intend to put you in danger. If Your Highness doesn¡¯t believe me, my life is in your hand.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s words were uttered with conviction, which worried Wei Qian. She knelt down beside Jun Huang. ¡°Your Highness, the past couple of days the gentleman had been working hard to make that poison without much sleep. He really was only trying to help Your Highness. Your Highness knows better than anyone what he has done for you.¡±


    Looking at Jun Huang and Wei Qian, Qi Chen sighed and turned his gaze to his mother. ¡°Mother, brother Feng didn¡¯t think this matter through, but as he said, the fava bean is a necessary ingredient of the poison. There is no other way.¡±


    Consort Zhen looked at Jun Huang. Once she had calmed down she knew it wouldn¡¯t help to put all the me on Feng Baiyu. Moreover, she heard that it was his idea for Qi Chen to go to the border. He was useful. It may be better to let him off the hook this time.


    ¡°This ends here. Listen carefully, Feng Baiyu. You better not turn on us, or I will tear you to pieces.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    At this moment, a page boy watching the door rushed in. He cupped his hands and bowed, panting. ¡°Your Highness, thedy sent a message saying that the crown prince has passed away. The body was taken by someone from the pce.¡±


    Qi Chen paled. In panic, he took the consort¡¯s hand. ¡°Mother, what should I do? If Royal Father finds out about the truth, he will have me killed. Mother, you must help me.¡±


    Consort Zhen was more experienced and wasn¡¯t panicked like he was. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. ¡°Good thing that I have made preparations. My son, don¡¯t worry too much. If someone asks you anything, just say you know nothing. The rest I will take care of.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. It suddenly felt like he was a little child again. Every time he got into troubles, he could only hide behind his mother and cry helplessly.


    After that, Consort Zhen left with her entourage, and Qi Chen went with her, leaving only Jun Huang and Wei Qian. Wei Qian stood up and helped Jun Huang up. Only then did Jun Huang realize that she had used too much force and scraped her knees. The stabbing pain made her wince. She returned to her room with Wei Qian¡¯s assistance.


    It turned out that Consort Zhen had nted her own people at the crown prince manor. The emperor had ordered the royal doctor to check Qi Yin¡¯s body and fava bean was found in his system. Naturally he suspected Qi Chen. Then, however, the consort¡¯s spy told the emperor that Qi Yin had sent people to buy fava beans from a country that produced them.


    ¡°Is that true?¡± the emperor asked with a frown.


    The page boy took out a piece of paper and handed it to a eunuch. ¡°This is the receipt of their transaction.¡±


    ¡°No. It can¡¯t be true. My son would never do something like that. Everyone knows that secretly buying products from other countries is felony. Yin¡¯er would never be so foolish.¡± The empress copsed onto the ground and started sobbing.


    The emperor only felt annoyance. He didn¡¯t want to stay here with the empress any longer, so he left, leaving the others to console the empress for her loss.


    The empress just sat there. The servants didn¡¯t know what to do. After a long while, the empress slowly stood up and red angrily at the outside. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯ll believe what a lowly peasant said? Qi Chen, you and your mother will pay for this.¡±


    She clenched her teeth, seething in rage. None of the servants dared to approach her, afraid that she would take her anger out on them. Then the royal uncle walked in. He gestured at the servants to leave them.


    ¡°Little sister, what happened?¡± Looking at the empress¡¯s bloodshot eyes, the royal uncle asked with knitted eyebrows.


    At the sight of her own brother, the empress started tearing up again. She struggled to his side and sobbed, ¡°Big brother, Yin¡¯er died. He was murdered. What should I do? What should I do?¡±


    Her brother sighed and patted her on the back. ¡°Stop crying. I will get to the bottom of Yin¡¯er¡¯s death. Those murderers will get what they deserve.¡±


    The empress nodded.


    The royal uncle¡¯s people started to pressure Qi Chen, obstructing him at every move.


    The imperial court was dead silent. The emperor just lost a son and was depressed. The officials didn¡¯t dare to say anything. Qi Chen, on the contrary, was delighted, but on the surface had to pretend that he was devastated as well.


    ¡°My condolence, Royal Father. Brother ¨C he would not want Royal Father to be overwhelmed with sorrow and harm your body.¡± Qi Chen choked, as if he was on the verge of crying.


    ¡°The second prince is too cold-blooded. After all the crown prince was the emperor¡¯s first son. Of course a father will mourn the loss of his eldest son. We are deeply disappointed that the second prince is acting like this.¡± The royal uncle covered his face and started crying.


    Many officials were filled with a tangled mess of emotions. The crown prince had just been freed, but now he was in a different world. A young man passed away just like that. It was such a tragedy.


    Qi Chen remained silent. He balled his hands up and looked at the people crying for the crown prince with clenched teeth. In his mind he was scoffing. Qi Yin was no more. Henceforth, he would be the crown prince.


    Qi Chen¡¯s supporters, of course, could not let Qi Chen be attacked like that. One of them said to the royal uncle, ¡°No one wanted the crown prince to die. He himself bought items from other country, which led to his death. What does that have to do with the second prince?¡±


    ¡°What are you saying?¡± the royal uncle eximed. ¡±Do you mean to say the crown prince brought this to himself?¡±


    ¡°Enough! Now we should let the crown prince rest in peace.¡± The Senior Grandmaster could not bear it no more. He spoke up with a sigh.


    Qi Chen threw him a icy nce. Ignoring the prince, the Senior Grandmaster faced the emperor and said, ¡°May Your Majesty leave the crown prince¡¯s burial to this official?¡±


    Everyone frowned. This should be left to the Ministry of Rites. Besides, anything rted to the crown prince invited troubles. No one wanted to deal with it. Yet the Senior Grandmaster volunteered to take on his burial?


    ¡°Then I will leave this matter to the Senior Grandmaster.¡± The emperor himself didn¡¯t want to get involved, so he followed the current and gave the official the opportunity.


    When the meeting was over, Qi Chen stopped the Senior Grandmaster, looking at him coldly. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re doing?¡±

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34: Alliance


    The Senior Grandmaster met Qi Chen¡¯s eyes without fear, very much unlike his cowardly past self. It was as if he¡¯d suddenly grown a backbone.


    A long silence lingered in the air, only to be broken when he said, ¡°The gods see everything. I know what I¡¯m doing. But how about you, Your Highness? I hope you know what you¡¯re doing as well.¡±


    A coward like the Senior Grandmaster going against him like this? Qi Chen did not expect it. He balled up his hands and red at the Senior Grandmaster as he left. Their rtionship ended here. From this moment on, they were no longer friends, but enemies.


    With his arms crossed, Nan Xun watched as everything unfolded. He quirked his lips into a lopsided smile. Jun Huang indeed had a good eye for character. The Senior Grandmaster was not a brave man, but he cared about the people and loved the people. It was inevitable that he would part way with Qi Chen one day. Now it seemed Qi Yun was the best candidate they had.


    After he left the pce, his shadow guard came up to him. ¡°Your Highness, brother Feng invited you to meet him at the tavern.¡±


    It¡¯s been a while. Nan Xun smiled and nodded. After changing out of his court attire, he went straight to the tavern.


    Not too long ago Jun Huang still considered the tavern a ce for thugs and troublemakers, while he believed it was the safest ce for conversations. Now, however, Jun Huang often asked him to meet her at the tavern when there were matters she wanted to discuss with him. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help but smile a little.


    Around the same time, Qi Yun, who was drinking tea in his garden, received Jun Huang¡¯s invitation as well. He put down the teacup and made arrangement for the meeting.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Nan Xun to reach the tavern. When he arrived, Jun Huang was on her own, a distant look in her eyes. Hearing him approach, she turned around and smiled with the sun shining on her from behind. The image was forever burned into Nan Xun¡¯s memory.


    ¡°Your Highness came sooner than I expected.¡± Jun Huang looked at Nan Xun with her lips curved. Her silk robe fluttered in the wind. She wore a white jade cap to hold her hair up, and there was a fine green jade pendant on her waist. At this moment, she did look like a handsome gentleman.


    Nan Xun returned her smile and approached her slowly. The smell of tea wafted in the air. He stood there, looking at Jun Huang. His eagle eyes were not sharp like they usually were, but as soft and tender as water. Unfortunately, Jun Huang had turned around to look at other things and missed it.


    ¡°How has the situation in the pce been?¡±


    Nan Xun huffed, then sighed. ¡°The imperial court is split into a couple factions. The death of the crown prince threw the royal uncle¡¯s people into disarray. And now the second prince is rising in power. However...¡±


    Jun Huang frowned at him. ¡°However what?¡±


    Nan Xun was silent for a moment. ¡°The royal uncle¡¯s people believe that Qi Chen was behind the crown prince¡¯s death, but they have no real evidence. They can only try to pressure Qi Chen in the court.¡±


    ¡°Recently, Qi Chen has been trying to please the emperor, so he spoke of rebuilding the border. This proposal was vetoed by the royal uncle, stating that the treasury was too empty for this to be a good idea. The emperor stood on the sideline without intervening. And the empress was in a secret war with Consort Zhen.¡±


    The imperial court was not Jun Huang¡¯s domain, so she didn¡¯t know well the way it operated. Bewildered, she asked, ¡°Then why doesn¡¯t the emperor take action?¡±


    Nan Xun scoffed, his eyes turning sharp. ¡°The emperor does not get involved in matters like this. It¡¯s the modus operandi of the royal family. Do you think the emperor isfortable on that throne of his? He wants courtiers to keep fighting among themselves.¡±


    Then, a server took a young man in fine clothes to them. It was Qi Yun. He greeted them with a smile with a foldable fan in his hand, his eyes as bright as the stars. He was like water, its taste mild and longsting. Nan Xun, on the other hand, was hard liquor. Cool and refreshing. His sculpted features demanded attention, and attention he got.


    ¡°Someone came early.¡± Qi Yun chuckled, eyeing Nan Xun openly. Nan Xun looked at the often housebound fourth prince, a polite but distant smile catching at his lips. Proper, but not how he was usually like.


    Qi Yun looked away and smiled at Jun Huang. ¡°Now you remember to invite me? And with someone else here?¡±


    Jun Huang smiled awkwardly. She didn¡¯t expect Qi Yun to talk like this. Today she invited them to discuss business. If they continued to treat each other this way, they would not get along.


    Jun Huang decided to break the ice herself. She cleared her throat and asked them to take their seat. ¡°I invited you here for a reason. Now that Qi Chen is in power, there¡¯s no telling what he would do in the future. The important thing now is for you two to form an alliance.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun. ¡°Nan Xun, you don¡¯t want Northern Qi to fall in the hand of someone like Qi Chen, do you? You know better than anyone that Qi Chen cares nothing for the people. He cannot be allowed to gain the throne.¡±


    ¡°Besides, the emperor has always been wary of you. Who knows what Qi Chen will do to you in order to be the crown prince? If you and Qi Yun be allies, you won¡¯t have to fight on your own in the imperial court.¡± Jun Huang said what she said out of her heart, but it was Nan Xuan who would make the final decision. Nan Xun, however, continued to drink his tea without so much of a reaction.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t do anything but sigh. She got to her feet, troubled. ¡°The way you two are behaving ¨C we might as well surrender now. You talk things out on your own. I¡¯ll be outside.¡± With that, she left, her face dark.


    Qi Yun looked up at Nan Xun and chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s how Baiyu always is. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Nan Xun said. With the way Qi Yun talked, it was obvious he was close with Jun Huang. For reasons he couldn¡¯t fathom, he felt a little jealous.


    Seeing the changes in his expression, the smile on Qi Yun¡¯s face became wider. He couldn¡¯t hide it anymore, and he didn¡¯t try to. He wanted Nan Xun to notice. Nan Xun¡¯s responding cold gaze did not intimidate him the slightest. He remained calm as he drank his tea and observed Nan Xun.


    After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, there was amotion outside. Without exchanging a word, they stood up and rushed out.


    Jun Huang was upset. Originally she was going to encourage Nan Xun to unite with Qi Yun, which would help them gain a foothold in the imperial court. But both of them were being so difficult about it. She had said what she had to say, and still they pretended to not know what she was suggesting.


    As she walked downstairs, cursing Nan Xun and Qi Yun under her breath, she mistakenly stepped into the territory of a group of drunk men.


    A man who was clearly from an esteemed family stood up in stupor. A whip of his wide sleeve brought the wine on the table down to the floor. Suddenly the smell of alcohol filled the room. He grabbed the hand of a songstress next to him, uttering obscenities with a lecherous smile on his face. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t just watch and do nothing. She walked up to them, trying to rescue the songstress, but had her wrist grabbed by the man herself.


    ¡°Such a prettydy. Are you alone?¡± The man was clearly drunk. He leaned into Jun Huang and took a deep breath. The faint smell of flower on Jun Huang¡¯s body was in stark contrast with the smell of alcohol in this chaotic space, which filled him with want. He wasn¡¯t willing to let go. The songstress was long forgotten.


    Jun Huang had never encountered anything like this, and she felt flustered all of a sudden. She struggled to break out of the man¡¯s grip, her eyebrows furrowed. ¡°The gentleman must be drunk. Let me go. This is inappropriate.¡±


    The man wasn¡¯t listening. He wanted more. He looped his arm around Jun Huang¡¯s waist, trying to pull her closer. Jun Huang was not one to let others take advantage of herself. She pushed the man away with all her force, jabbing the man with a silver needle to force him to let go.


    ¡°Where do youe from? So vtile. But I like it.¡± The man rubbed at the shoulder that got stung by the needle, his smile growing even more obscene. People around them stood up to watch everything y out like it was the best show in town. They looked between Jun Huang and the man. The man really was too drunk ¨C He called a gentleman ady!


    Again the man grabbed Jun Huang by the wrist. This time he even tried to drag her outside. Jun Huang called for help, but all around her people just watched without even trying to intervene.


    Some pointed at Jun Huang and asked how a man could be so weak. Others said something even more offensive. Just when Jun Huang was starting to feel helpless, Nan Xun and Qi Yun dropped down from the air in front of them.


    Earlier they were on the second floor. Nan Xun saw that someone was taking advantage of Jun Huang and, in his haste, he leaped straight down to the first floor. Qi yun was not willing to fall behind, so he followed suit.


    ¡°Who are you bastards?¡± asked the drunk man, pointing at Nan Xun and Qi yun. ¡±Leave now, or I¡¯ll have my people beat you up so hard your parents won¡¯t even recognize you.¡±


    Nan Xun red at the man, his eyes as cold as ice. Anyone sane would have trembled under his gaze. The man, however, was too drunk to see him clearly. He made a even bigger fuss.


    ¡°Why waste your time? Just beat him until he can¡¯t stand up.¡± Qi Yun whipped open the fan and stepped forward. Without another word he kicked the man down and quickly grabbed Jun Huang. He pulled her into his arms. His left hand naturally fell under her armpit,ing into contact with the side of her breast.


    Jun Huang pushed him away the moment she noticed, but it was toote.


    ¡°You ¨C ¡± Qi Yun stared at his hand. Then he looked at the part of her body he just touched. A blush crawled onto his face.


    Feng Baiyu... is a woman? And she looks so much like Jun Huang ¨C Feng Baiyu <i>is</i> Jun Huang!


    Qi Yun¡¯s mouth curled upwards. ¡°Jun Huang isn¡¯t dead...¡± he muttered to himself.


    Jun Huang patted herself on the chest and took a deep breath. ¡°Good thing you¡¯re here,¡± she said with a smile.


    Her hair was a little messy, and her cap had fallen onto the ground and shattered into pieces. Her long hair was tied on top with a headband, which made her look a little ridiculous, but no one was paying attention.


    The drunk man was clearly no ordinary civilian. His people had been waiting outside the tavern. A gesture from him and a group of men rushed in, surrounding Nan Xun and the others.


    The man pointed at Qi Yun. ¡°If you¡¯re smart, you¡¯ll leave thedy here and get going. Otherwise I¡¯ll have your face punched in.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll like to see you try.¡± Qi Yun¡¯s eyes grew murderous, but Jun Huang grabbed his wrist and shook her head at him, silently telling him to not kill anyone.


    Qi Yun bristled. He couldn¡¯t let what the man did to Jun Huang go, but still he nodded as an agreement. After exchanging a look, he and Nan Xun stepped forward, leaped into the air, and kicked a few people down.


    The men didn¡¯t even had the time to react before they were knocked to the ground, making a fool out of themselves. One of them gained a cruel gleam in his eyes. He got to his feet with clenched teeth, grabbed the stick lying next to him, and swung it at the onlooking Jun Huang.

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35: Truth


    In that split second Jun Huang could only watched as the stick came closer and closer. She squeezed her eyes shut and braced for the pain, but it never came. Instead, she was pulled into a warm embrace. There was a quiet gasp of pain.


    When she opened her eyes, what she saw was Nan Xun¡¯s handsome face, his eyes closed and his lips pursed. The vein on his forehead throbbed. He had shielded Jun Huang with his own body, getting hit right in the back. Before the attacker could react, Qi Yun hit his neck with the fan, and the man copsed onto the ground.


    Qi Yun rushed to their side. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head, her face pale. Her heart ached as she helped Nan Xun up. ¡°I¡¯m fine, but Nan Xun got hit. I don¡¯t know if he is alright.¡±


    In her anxiety she even forgot that she knew medicine. When she remembered, Qi Yun had already taken care of everyone, and Nan Xun seemed a lot better.


    He coughed and spit out a mouthful of blood, and Jun Huang was barely keeping herself together. With trembling hand, she took his pulse. Only after making sure that all was well did her heart settle.


    She helped Nan Xun back to their booth on the second floor. Qi Yun followed behind them. He looked at Nan Xun and asked, ¡°You alright?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Qi Yun took his word for it. Jun Huang, on the other hand, was still worried. Qi Yun couldn¡¯t help give her an eyeroll and sighed. ¡°Baiyu, people trained in martial arts know their own bodies. Besides, that man didn¡¯t hit him that hard. No need to worry so much.¡±


    Jun Huang scratched her head awkwardly and let go of Nan Xun¡¯s arm, looking away with a blush. For a moment, none of them talked.


    They stayed at the tavern to give Nan Xun time to rest. When they left, Nan Xun felt his back had just about recovered. Jun Huang, however, babbled endlessly about what he had to be aware of with his injury. Nan Xun nodded at the right moment, trying to rx her.


    A woman jogged up to them ¨C it was the songstress Jun Huang saved. She looked at Jun Huang shyly and couldn¡¯t say a word. She ended up scurrying away after shoving a handkerchief into Jun Huang¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Baiyu is indeed popr,¡± Qi Yun teased. Jun Huang pursed her lips and put away the handkerchief. It was a sincere gift from a young woman after all.


    ¡°Be at ease. The fourth prince and I have reached an agreement. We will cooperate when needed. You don¡¯t have to worry. Just be careful when you¡¯re with Qi Chen.¡± Nan Xun sighed, watching Jun Huang. He was worried for her safety.


    Jun Huang humored him with a smile. ¡°I know. Nothing will happen to me. Qi Chen still needs me to make ns for him.¡± She gave Nan Xun and Qi Yun a worried look and said seriously, ¡±You two, on the other hand, are in a vtile imperial court. A wrong move may get you killed. You have to be careful.¡±


    Qi Yun told her to not be too concerned before taking his leave back to his manor. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t walk Jun Huang back to Prince Chen Manor, so he told the shadow guard to follow her discreetly before leaving.


    When Qi Yun returned to his manor, the man he sent out happened to be back as well. He asked everyone except for the man to leave.


    ¡°Did you find anything?¡± Qi Yun asked with a frown.


    The man hesitated. It was difficult for him to tell Qi Yun what he found. Under Qi Yun¡¯s insistence, he finally answered, ¡°Halfway through my investigation, I got to a dead end. So I diverted some of my people to look into Consort Yu¡¯s living days. I heard...¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°That her death was not a natural one.¡±


    Qi Yun lowered his eyes and looked away. His mother¡¯s death was suspicious. Of course he knew someone was behind it. He, however, had no real clue. After years of investigation, he still couldn¡¯t find anything useful.


    The more he thought about it, the more agitated he became. In his rage, he swept the teacups off the table and they shattered on the floor.


    His fingers couldn¡¯t help but tremble, and his chest felt tight. Silently, he promised to himself that one day, he would find the truth and make whoever got his mother killed pay.


    He was more and more determined to get to the bottom of her death. On the other hand, Jun Huang was meeting different officials for Qi Yun, trying to gain more allies in the court for him.


    When she saw Qi Yun again, he had lost weight, and his face was an unhealthy color. In order to investigate his mother¡¯s death, he hadn¡¯t been sleeping very much. Now he even took the risk to visit herte at night.


    ¡°What happened? Did you encounter a problem?¡± Jun Huang frowned worriedly at Qi Yun.


    He looked at Jun Huang and reluctantly said, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to trouble you with this, but I¡¯m at a dead end. So ¨C I hope you¡¯ll be willing to help me.¡±


    ¡°Just tell me what happened, Qi Yun. If there¡¯s something I can do, I will do it.¡±


    Qi Yun exined everything to her. He had always thought that his mother¡¯s death was suspicious, but he had no evidence. Jun Huang had heard rumors as well. It was said that Qi Yun¡¯s mother passed away suddenly one night in the pce. Even though a maid hade out and said that the empress and Consort Zhen was behind it, the emperor did nothing. Jun Huang didn¡¯t understand why. Everyone knew the emperor favored Qi Yun¡¯s mother, but her burial was done without care. It didn¡¯t add up.


    In the wavering candlelight, Jun Huang looked at Qi Yun¡¯s face. He was not a carefree child anymore. Losing his mother, struggling in thisrge pce that left no one intact ¨C who knew what he had been through?


    Qi Yun looked at Jun Huang with such hopeful eyes; she couldn¡¯t possibly deny him. She nodded and let out a sigh. ¡°Rest assured, I will do all I can to find out the truth.¡±


    After that, Jun Huang started the investigation. All day long she was away from Prince Chen Manor, but Qi Chen had been too busy winning people over, so he didn¡¯t pose much restriction on her. Before, when she left the manor, Wei Qian would always ask where she was going. Now she said nothing.


    Jun Huang knew that in thisrge imperial city, she alone could not really achieve anything. In the end she had to turn to Nan Xun for help.


    When Nan Xun heard what Jun Huang was here for, he frowned like this was something particrly difficult. For a long while he didn¡¯t respond. When he turned to look at her, however, he couldn¡¯t say no to her. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have gotten involved in matters of the royal family...¡±


    ¡°The truth of Consort Yu¡¯s death can¡¯t just be left undiscovered like this. Besides, I have made Qi Yun a promise. I will help him no matter what.¡± Jun Huang looked at him, her voice determined.


    ¡°You must know that her death happened years ago. Neither of us can foresee what we will find. Will you not regret it if we get into trouble?¡± Nan Xun looked deep into Jun Huang¡¯s eyes, his eyebrows tightly knitted. He really was worried for Jun Huang¡¯s safety.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to be so hesitant and indecisive. She was just about to leave when Nan Xun stopped her.


    ¡°I will help you,¡± he said with a sigh.


    Jun Huang broke into a smile. ¡°Thank you for doing this. Qi Yun will appreciate your help as well.¡±


    Nan Xun waved his hand, a touch of resignation in his smile. He didn¡¯t know when it started, but he could no longer deny Jun Huang anything.


    Jun Huang bid him farewell afterwards. Nan Xun stood at the spot watching her leave, shaking his head. After a while he summoned the shadow guard and sent him to find out where the maid serving Qi Yun¡¯s mother was now.


    Nan Xun¡¯s influence in the imperial city could not be underestimated. Soon he got some information. He sent a message through a pigeon to Jun Huang, who almost jumped up in joy when she received it, very much unlike her usualposed self.


    Deep into the night, Jun Huang changed into an all-ck outfit and sneaked out, going straight to the meeting point mentioned in the letter ¨C a refugee shelter in the southern part of the city.


    Jun Huang had never been here before. At night saw the cold wind increased in frequency. It was a little terrifying. Jun Huang could feel her heart in her throat. She dared not to even breathe heavily.


    Nan Xun stood under a roof, watching Jun Huang tip-toeing around. He couldn¡¯t help but smile. He waited a few moments before walking towards her, his footsteps loud on the fallen leaves. Hearing this, Jun Huang turned around and let out a sigh of relief when she saw it was Nan Xun.


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d nevere,¡± she said.


    Without a word, Nan Xun took Jun Huang¡¯s hand and led her to the front yard. There was a woman who looked close to forty at the door, watching them approach. It was apparent that Nan Xun had been here earlier.


    The woman smiled at Jun Huang and made a bow like someone from the pce would. Surprised, Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun for answer.


    ¡°She was the personal maid of Consort Yu. She had been serving her since she was little. After the consort died, she escaped from the pce and settled down here.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. There were still questions left unanswered. She followed the woman into the house. Nan Xun entered as well after checking the parameter. He sat down next to Jun Huang.


    The woman poured a cup of tea each for Jun Huang and Nan Xun. She then took a sip to clear her throat. Looking up at Jun Huang, she began to tell them about the memory that had been buried deep in her heart for decades.


    ¡°The emperor favored the consort. In a ce like the pce, it was all infighting and scheming. No one could stand on the sideline. The consort was kind-hearted. She never hurt anyone, but in the end she was hurt by others... That day, the emperor visited. He had a few drinks with the consort. Afterwards the consort said that she felt unwell... in the afternoon the empress and the Consort Zhen came as well. They asked the consort to watch a y with them. It was very unusual. They just happened to visit the consort on thest day of her life...? At night, the consort started throwing up. Before the royal doctor coulde, she ¨C passed away.¡± The woman choked and started to cry, her old eyes became framed by a few more wrinkles.


    ¡°Do you mean that ¨C not only were the empress and Consort Zhen involved, but the emperor as well?¡±


    The woman looked down without a word. Silence filled the room. In the bellowing wind tree branches shook like the shadow of ghosts. Jun Huang¡¯s palms were damp, and cold sweat began to streak down from her forehead.

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36: Pulling the Strings


    Nan Xun frowned at Jun Huang¡¯s pale face. It was clear that Jun Huang could not ept this answer. He sighed and held her cold fingers in his hand. ¡°I know you want to help Qi Yun find the truth, but truth is often cruel. At the moment Qi Yun may not be able to bear it. Maybe it¡¯s better to keep him in the dark. If he knows that the emperor was involved in his mother¡¯s death, what do you think he¡¯ll do? He¡¯ll resent the emperor, which will prevent him from gaining the throne.¡±


    Jun Huang closed her eyes and took a deep breath. For the longest time she had thought that the emperor was a kind leader, but no emperor could really be kind, could they?


    She sat there, trying to calm down. The tea had long gone cold. When her heart finally stopped racing, she picked up the cold cup of tea and swallowed it down. She tried a smile, shaking her head at Nan Xun.


    She stood up and looked at woman who was old before her time.


    ¡°Thank you for your help. We will take our leave now.¡± She walked outside.


    Nan Xun sighed and said to the woman, ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯d like to ask you to please keep our visit today a secret. Thank you.¡±


    The woman nodded. She was no stranger to conflicts within the royal family. Those were exactly what she escaped the pce to avoid. She had chosen to live under a different name so that she could stay away.


    When Nan Xun bid her farewell and left, Jun Huang had already walked quite a long distance. She walked along the dimly-lit street, the expression on her face cold and distant. Nan Xun jogged up to her.


    ¡°Wait.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t stop. Instead, she continued forward. Nan Xun frowned. He knew that what he told her had hurt her genuine heart, but there were too many things one could not avoid in life. No one could remain unchanged.


    He grabbed Jun Huang by the wrist and stopped her. She frowned at him. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°What are you doing? Why are you here for?¡± Nan Xun¡¯s tone was harsh. He stared at Jun Huang like he wanted to see through her.


    Meeting Nan Xun¡¯s eyes, Jun Huang suddenly came to her senses. Her overreaction came out of nowhere. It wasughable, really. She quickly regained herposure and broke out of Nan Xun¡¯s hold. A small smile appeared on her face. ¡°I have embarrassed myself in front of Your Highness. It¡¯ste. I will take my leave now.¡±


    Jun Huang gradually disappeared into the light in the distance. Nan Xun sighed. This woman wore her heart on her sleeves, but who could keep her bleeding heart from hardening for a lifetime?


    That night, Jun Huang twisted and turned on her bed. Her head kept spinning. After a whole night of consideration, she agreed with what Nan Xun said. The world was unstable enough as it was, and Qi Chen was ambitious. This really wasn¡¯t the time to tell Qi Yun the truth. In order to help Qi Yun obtain the throne, she had to keep it from Qi Yun.


    It wasn¡¯t until dawn that she finally fell asleep. And when she woke up, it was past noon. After resting, she ceased dwelling on what happened yesterday. She was even unconsciously suppressing the memory.


    Now the imperial court was split into a few factions, all of which were at conflict with one another under the table, and they would stop at nothing. Qi Chen even tried to instigate Qi Yin¡¯s remaining people to eliminate royal uncle¡¯s supporters once and for all.


    Ever since Jun Huang made the poison that killed Qi Yin, Qi Chen had be closer to her. Every once in a while he would invite Jun Huang for tea. Jun Huang always epted with a smile and went back to her building with light footsteps.


    Qi Chen now held considerable influence in the court. If left unchecked, he would be a serious threat. Jun Huang knew that very well, so she had someone keeping tab on the empress. When she heard that the empress was going to send Qi Yin off in the Buddhist temple in the city tomorrow, she started making preparations.


    In the early morning, Jun Huang left Prince Chen Manor for the temple. Because of the empress¡¯s visit, there were suddenly a lot more guards on the street. The empress did not prohibit other people from going into the temple, though. The general public could still enter, but they needed to be checked beforehand.


    Jun Huang was sharp, and she was instantly likable in conversations. When she was stopped at the door by a guard, she lowered her voice and said with a smile, ¡°Big brother, I am an upstanding citizen. I¡¯m here just to gain some blessings. You know how it is in the imperial city. Women only have the princes in their eyes. Amoner like me can only pray to be luckier.¡±


    The man had had simr experience. He patted her on the shoulder. ¡°I get it, brother. Don¡¯t rush. No one knows when love may knock on your door. Besides, you¡¯re a handsome man. You¡¯ll find a good wife in the near future. Go on.¡± He let her in. Jun Huang smiled at him and entered.


    Her smile disappeared once she got into the temple. Looking around, she set her gaze on the rear building, which was limited to the royal family. No one else was allowed to enter.


    Jun Huang ran to the entrance of the building and pretended to be panting. She even wiped at her forehead like she was wiping away sweat. ¡°Big brother, this little brother is lost and doesn¡¯t know where he should go. May I ask for the direction?¡±


    The man she stopped was a little annoyed. He pointed at the side. ¡°Go. That¡¯s the exit. This is no ce for amoner like you. Go now.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course. I¡¯ll leave now.¡± Jun Huang bowed as she spoke, at the same time taking a look at the inside. The room was filled with incense smoke. The empress, dressed in a robe, knelt before the statue of Buddha to pray for her son. There were tears streaking down her face. It was a pitiful sight.


    This ce was heavily guarded. Jun Huang could not meet with the empress in person. When she was trying toe up with an alternative, she happened to spot the personal maid of the empress. The maid was probably on a short break. There was a pendant from the pce on her waist.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath, preparing herself mentally. She curled up the corner of her mouth and approached the maid. The maid, who was in a light yellow dress, felt her heart skipping a beat at the sight of this handsome gentleman. She had never met a man with such fine features and such elegance.


    Jun Huang¡¯s smile widened when she reached the maid. ¡°This gentleman saw from a distance that thedy is here alone. You seem lonely. That¡¯s why I approached you. I hope you don¡¯t find me too intrusive.¡±


    ¡°No, the gentleman is ¨C the gentleman is too hard on himself.¡± The woman blushed and dared not look at Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. She wrung her hands and bit into her bottom lip. It was clear that she was feeling shy.


    Jun Huang had a little talk with her, who waspletely unsuspecting. Also, Jun Huang was careful with her words and never crossed the line. Very soon she had gained the maid¡¯s affection.


    After about the time to finish a cup of tea, Jun Huang looked up at the sky and said disappointedly, ¡°It¡¯ste. I have to leave now. It¡¯s my pleasure meeting you today. But the gods do not change their ns for us mortals. I can only pray to Bodhisattva. I hope we¡¯ll have the chance to meet again.¡±


    ¡°This is the sachet that I always have on me. I¡¯ll give it to you today. Let us hope fate will bring us together again.¡± Jun Huang took off the sachet she had prepared for this moment and handed it to the woman. Without another word, she turned around and left.


    The maid watched her with the sachet in her hand. She suddenly realized that she had not asked for the gentleman¡¯s name. She looked down at the sachet, unsure of how to feel. It wasn¡¯t until the housekeeper called out from behind her that she came to her senses. The sachet dropped down to the ground and the herbs inside scattered, revealing a slip of paper.


    The maid picked it up and immediately, her face paled. The housekeeper frowned at her. ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°Granny, look ¨C ¡± She fearfully handed the slip of paper to the housekeeper, whose face gone white as well. They rushed to find the empress.


    The empress saw how frantic they were and asked with a frown, ¡°What¡¯s gotten to you?¡±


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, you need to see this.¡± The housekeeper handed the paper to the empress. She ttened it and took a look.


    ¡°Fava beans are only avable in other countries. In Northern Qi, only the emperor has the privilege to enjoy any. The emperor awarded some to the second prince, who didn¡¯t like the fava beans. Now it was found in the crown prince¡¯s body. It is because the second prince wanted him dead. Other people say that the crown prince bought the fava beans himself. However, it is way past the season for fava beans. Our neighboring countries aren¡¯t willing to just sell the beans. This is a scheme of a malicious man. The empress must not be cheated. The murderers have to be caught.¡± The empress wavered as if she was going to fall. The housekeeper went up to support her immediately, her face concerned.


    After a while, the empress spoke up, ¡°Where did thise from?¡±


    The maid lowered her head, her cheeks red. ¡°This servant was waiting outside and met a ¨C a man. He gave this to me.¡±


    The empress frowned. ¡°A man? Where is he?¡±


    The maid shook her head. ¡°He left already.¡±


    The empress tightened her grip on the paper. Her resentment towards Qi Chen and Consort Zhen grew stronger and stronger. She wanted nothing more than to tear Qi Chen into pieces in order to quell this anger in her heart.


    It took a long time for the empress to calm down. Her eyes were cold. She turned to the housekeeper. ¡°Tell everyone to return to the pce at once.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± The housekeeper left. The maid supported the empress as the two of them walked out of the temple. They got into a sedan chair to go back to the pce.


    Jun Huang was watching from behind a stand. She smiled. Everything went ording to her n. Now it was up to the empress to change the emperor¡¯s mind.


    As expected, once the empress returned to the pce, she went straight to the emperor¡¯s bedroom. She barged in sobbing, giving the emperor, who was approving reports, quite a scare. He never expected the empress to cry like she was drowning in sorrow. For a moment he didn¡¯t know how tofort her.


    After a while, the emperor asked, ¡°My beloved empress, what is the matter?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, you have to find justice for this wife of yours. You have to find justice for our dead son.¡± The empressy on the floor and sobbed. Her voice had gone hoarse. It sounded like she was coughing blood.


    The emperor still had no clue what she was talking about. He went to help the empress up, but she wasn¡¯t willing to get up. Instead, she pulled at his sleeve and continued sobbing. ¡°If Your Majesty does not find justice for Yin¡¯er, this wife will kneel here until she dies.¡±

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37: Rivaling Beauty


    The emperor sighed. ¡°My dear, why do you do this to yourself? Yin¡¯er got himself killed eating what he shouldn¡¯t have... I am disappointed in him.¡±


    The empress snapped her head up and handed the slip of paper to the emperor. ¡°Qi Chen was behind Yin¡¯er¡¯s death. He disregarded their bond as siblings and got Yin¡¯er killed.¡±


    The emperor took a look at what was written on the paper, his eyebrows furrowed. He knew Qi Chen had something to do with Qi Yin¡¯s death, but what else should he do? He had lost the crown prince; he couldn¡¯t possibly kill his other son as well.


    The emperor stood up without a word. His silence was enough to wound the empress. She struggled to her feet. ¡°How can you let Qi Chen get away with this? Wasn¡¯t Yin¡¯er your son as well? Do you know ¨C do you know that Yin¡¯er was my everything? Now I don¡¯t have a son anymore. What do you want me to do?¡±


    ¡°Stop with this nonsense. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you and your brother have been doing recently. I didn¡¯t say anything, but that doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t know anything. I don¡¯t me you because you have just lost your son. But now you dare to criticize me?¡± The emperor¡¯s tone was steely. Tears streaked down the empress¡¯s face, but she didn¡¯t say another word. Instead, she huffed and quietly left the pce.


    The emperor looked at the slip of paper again, his chest tightened. Then a eunuch entered and reported that Qi Chen was here. He could feel his temples throbbing.


    ¡°Your Majesty, should I let the second prince in?¡± the eunuch looked at him and asked carefully.


    ¡°Forget it. Tell him to leave. I¡¯m tired and don¡¯t want to see anyone.¡±


    The eunuch left to tell Qi Chen the emperor¡¯s order. Qi Chen frowned and stopped the eunuch from leaving. ¡°Do you know what Royal Father is concerned about?¡±


    The eunuch shook his head and said that he didn¡¯t know why the emperor turned Qi Chen away. Qi Chen had no choice but to leave.


    Since that day, the emperor grew more and more distant to Qi Chen. It wasn¡¯t obvious. But he no longer asked Qi Chen for opinions in private. Qi Chen was caught off guard. The officials started to think that Qi Chen was losing his influence over the court.


    Qi Chen clenched his teeth. An emperor could not be predicted. But it was still difficult to lose the emperor¡¯s favor so suddenly. On top of that, the royal uncle¡¯s people had been riling him up. It was only natural that Qi Chen would be angry.


    ¡°Please control your anger, Your Highness. It¡¯s bad for your health. Tomorrow is the banquet of a hundred families. Your Highness must remember to attend. You can rx there.¡± The director of the ministry of rites approached Qi Chen, trying to get on his good side.


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry. I will be there.¡±


    The banquet of a hundred families was held yearly. Most attendees were young men from esteemed families. On that day, they would all gather in one ce. Some young women from rich families woulde to meet with the young men as well, trying to find a good husband.


    Unmarried women would do anything they could to be noticed by the ones their hearts belong to, trying to be chosen by them. And men could not only find a woman they liked, but also find friends who shared their values. It was therefore a very lively event. Apanied by beautiful people and good wine ¨C it was a guaranteed good time.


    After returning to his manor, it came to Qi Chen¡¯s mind that Jun Huang had done a lot for him, and should be allowed to attend the banquet with him. For as long as he knew Jun Huang, Jun Huang wanted neither money nor status. If he could find Jun Huang a good woman, it would be ideal.


    Without notifying Jun Huang beforehand, he sent for a tailor toe to the manor and make two outfits for Jun Huang. Jun Huang was born good-looking and shouldn¡¯t be overlooked because of clothes.


    Soon, the tailor was here. After understanding the requirements, the tailor promised to deliver the outfits tomorrow morning. He left Prince Chen Manor with some silver.


    Around the same time, Jun Huang was resting in her ce. Her beautiful eyes were half-closed, concealing the brightness underneath. Her clothes fluttered in the wind as shey on the empress chair. On the teapoy next to her were a pot of tea and some pastries. She couldn¡¯t look more rxed.


    Wei Qian was watching Jun Huang in a hallway far away from her. She didn¡¯t get closer. Neither did she say anything. Her eyes, however, never left Jun Huang.


    The next morning, Jun Huang was still asleep when there was a knocking sound. Being a light sleeper, she immediately jumped off the bed and got changed. After getting herself presentable, she opened the door. There were a couple beautiful women right outside. One of them had a bowl of water in her hand. Another was holding some clothes. They each took a side, while Wei Qian stood at the front, blocking them.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Jun Huang blinked. This was inappropriate.


    One of the women rolled her eyes at Wei Qian before turning to Jun Huang with a sweet smile. ¡°Your Highness asked us to help the gentleman get changed.¡±


    Jun Huang was even more confused. She had told Qi Chen she didn¡¯t like being served, and still he did this? She wondered what he was up to.


    ¡°Put the things down and leave me. I can get ready myself.¡±


    The women shared a look. They didn¡¯t dare to push it, so they nodded and left. Jun Huang threw a nce at Wei Qian. ¡°Thank you for stopping them froming in.¡± Then she went back to her room, leaving the surprised Wei Qian outside.


    Jun Huang changed into the clothes Qi Chen had people make. She wore an elegant violet robe made of silk, her dark hair held up by a white jade cap. In her hand she was holding a foldable fan. She looked like a handsome young man. Her eyes were as bright as the stars. Her smile could captivate an entire city.


    Qi Chen stood dumbfounded for quite a while when he saw Jun Huang. Then he pped. ¡°Like the finest jade, the gentleman¡¯s beauty is unrivaled. Brother Feng is indeed handsome. I cannot help but envy you.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness is too kind.¡± Jun Huang smiled with her eyes downcast, waving the fan in her hand. Wei Qian had already fallen hard for her, her heart pounding and her eyes unable to meet Jun Huang¡¯s. Qi Chen, on the other hand, looked appreciative.


    After breakfast, Jun Huang asked, ¡°Today Your Highness sent in this new outfit and asked me to put it on. I wonder what the asion is?¡±


    ¡°It is the yearly banquet of a hundred families in Northern Qi. I myself have not found a good spouse yet and wanted to find one today. Brother Feng is also of the age when you should think about marriage. Besides, brother Feng is talented. You need someone who will appreciate you. If you don¡¯t mind, I will find you a beauty that understands you at the banquet.¡±


    Jun Huang knew what Qi Chen actually meant. The emperor had started to be wary of him. Qi Chen wanted to find someone who could make him more powerful. Finding Jun Huang a match was only the cherry on top.


    ¡°This gentleman is but a lowly peasant. I have nothing. No woman will consider me a good match. I only hope they won¡¯t waste their time.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. If brother Feng does find someone, it would be a worthy story to tell.¡±


    Jun Huang only smiled, disregarding what he said.


    After some preparations, Qi Chen and Jun Huang got into a coach and headed for the banquet. It was held in a famous tavern in the imperial city. When they arrived, there were already quite a few people there. These sons from high ss families greeted one another with cupped hands and engaged one another in lively conversations.


    Qi Chen got off the coach first, then Jun Huang, too. When she did, Qi Chen was talking to a group of people close to his age, a wide smile on his face. He waved her over and introduced Jun Huang to the others. ¡°This is the Feng Baiyu I¡¯ve told you about. He is an honored guest at my manor.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded at them in greeting. Qi Chen treated them as equals. It was obvious that these men¡¯s families held formidable influence in the court.


    A fair-skinned schr greeted Jun Huang. ¡°I have heard of gentleman Feng¡¯s name, but I didn¡¯t know the gentleman is so handsome. Meeting you is a great fortune in all three lives of mine.¡±


    ¡°The gentleman is too kind.¡± Jun Huang said in response. She treated people the way they treated her.


    There was a ruckus. Then Jun Huang saw Nan Xun through the crowds. He stood there like a god descending from heaven. The silk robe he wore made him look a touch more mortal. His loosely tied hair flew in the wind.


    His appearance provoked screams of excitement from the women on the balconies. The handkerchiefs they threw fell slowly from the sky.


    The elegant fragrance from the handkerchiefs made the men dizzy with want, but Nan Xun showed no reaction. His expression remained calm and collected.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun shared a look across the sea of people. Jun Huang arched an eyebrow, teasing him. In response, Nan Xun curled up his lips into a faint smile, which made even more women fell for his charm.


    Not long after, the emperor arrived as well with the empress. The maid next to her recognized Jun Huang at the first nce and told the empress about it. The empress saw that Jun Huang and Qi Chen appeared to be close, and was unsure of Jun Huang¡¯s intentions. If Qi Yin really was murdered by Qi Chen, however, Jun Huang must have been involved as well. She felt the urge to get Jun Huang killed.


    The purpose of this banquet was for the young men to find their spouse. The emperor and the empress sat on the second floor drinking tea, watching these young people blushed for the subjects of their desires. Many were alsopeting for their target¡¯s attention.


    When Qi Chen was deep in conversation with other people, Jun Huang sneaked to Nan Xun¡¯s side. ¡°Your Highness is indeed an impressive man,¡± she teased. ¡°So many women fell at the sight of you. I wonder who will be able to hold your attention. Does Your Highness have your eyes on anyone? If so, you should announce it, lest the army of women here have their heart broken.¡±


    Nan Xun met her gaze. A smile suddenly appeared on his face. ¡°I don¡¯t care if other people have fallen for me. I only want to know if a certain someone has.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Has Your Highness fallen for a woman already? Would you mind telling me who it is?¡± Jun Huang¡¯s curiosity was piqued. She didn¡¯t expect an iceberg like Nan Xun to be in love with anyone.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t give her a direct answer. Instead, he asked, ¡°I wonder if you have fallen for me?¡± He kept his eyes on Jun Huang like he was determined to get an answer.


    Jun Huang was rendered speechless for a moment. Her heart skipped a few beats and didn¡¯t recover immediately. What did Nan Xun mean? Also, what was he thinking? Someone may overhear and get suspicious! ¡°Your Highness must be joking. I am a man and fall only for women.¡± She gave him a measured smile. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly believe that both men and women will fall for you, can you?¡±

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38: A Prideful Peony


    Before Nan Xun could respond, Qi Chen found his way over here. He frowned at Nan Xun before turning to Jun Huang. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you. Didn¡¯t expect you to be here.¡±


    ¡°I saw Prince Nan and came to greet him,¡± answered Jun Huang.


    Qi Chen nodded, giving Nan Xun a bemused nce. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you of all people to attend today, Nan Xun. You never have.¡±


    Nan Xun took a sip of his tea. ¡°I have never attended before. It¡¯s said that this year¡¯s banquet is especially impressive, which made me curious. You, on the other hand, seem toe every year.¡±


    Qi Chen pursed his lips and didn¡¯t respond. He didn¡¯t want to continue this conversation, so he went elsewhere with Jun Huang in tow, waiting for the young women from rich families to perform.


    The first one on stage was Shangguan Yue, the daughter of the grand chancellor1. She had bright eyes as if they were painted by artists. Her slim body was dded in thin silk. It was difficult to look away from her.


    The light-colored silk bellowed in the wind, dancing with her ck hair. Her makeup entuated her eyes and every minute change of her expression was alluring. Her steps were light and graceful, like a pond full of lotuses blooming one after another.


    How could you not fall for a woman like her? She got everyone¡¯s attention, but if that affected her in any way, it didn¡¯t show on her face. She only had eyes for Nan Xun.


    The incense smoke wavered in the air like a veil. Shangguan Yue leaned in a little, looking up at Nan Xun, then she lowered her eyes. She was adoring. She was shy. But her faint smile was proper. She was shy for the one she was in love with; proper for the others present here.


    ¡°Thisdy is Shangguan Yue, the daughter of the grand chancellor. I¡¯m here to perform a dance number for you today. Hopefully I won¡¯t embarrass myself too much.¡± With her red lips opened, she uttered every word like a sigh. Her gaze at Nan Xun was filled with passion.


    Nan Xun looked on with steely eyes, his face as impassive and cold as ever.


    Not far from him, Jun Huang looked at Nan Xun with curiosity, supporting her chin with a hand. She looked not unlike a roguish womanizer. Qi Chen drank to her every once in a while, while a woman red at Jun Huang as if she had robbed her of a husband.


    The lute yer performed a rxed melody. Shangguan Yue lightly put her thumb and middle finger together, making the shape of an orchid. Her eyes were cool like the winter. She danced to the music on the stage, as lively as a prideful peony.


    Jun Huang watched the performance with calm eyes, but for some, she looked adoring. Qi Chen chuckled close to her ear. Jun Huang turned to look at him with a frown. ¡°What is Your Highnessughing about?¡±


    Qi Chen cocked his head at her, resting his chin on his palm. Heughed a little harder. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect brother Feng to have such good taste. You settled on the famous Shangguan Yue, first beauty of Northern Qi, at the first nce. What a shame.¡±


    ¡°A shame?¡±


    Qi Chen jutted his chin at Nan Xun¡¯s direction. ¡°Everyone knows that Shangguan Yue is in love with Nan Xun. She hopes every year that Nan Xun wille to the banquet, but Nan Xun is not someone who knows how to be gentle with women. Every year Shangguan Yue was left heartbroken.¡± He lowered his voice. ¡°Shangguan Yue originally wanted her father to ask the emperor to arrange their marriage. The grand chancellor, of course, was more than happy to do that. Before Royal Father could bring it up, however, Nan Xun already said no.¡±


    Jun Huang scoffed inwardly. She knew the emperor of Northern Qi was wary of Nan Xun. If Shangguan Yue really got married to Nan Xun, he would attain formidable force at his hands. Someone as untrusting as the emperor would never let that happen.


    As for Nan Xun¡¯s denial, if it had nothing to do with the emperor, then well, sometimes the river did not reciprocate the flower¡¯s love.2


    Nan Xun¡¯s teasing words came to her mind, which upset her a little. She took another sip of her wine, trying to suppress her agitation.


    Shangguan Yue¡¯s performance was almost over. Her face was red like cherry blossom. She walked up to Nan Xun. They were separated only by a stool. She looked down at him and smiled. ¡°Would I have the honor to share thest dance with Your Highness?¡±


    Everyone around them was hollering, waiting for the icy prince to get up for thedy¡¯s smile. Nan Xun, however, was a general after all. He was unfamiliar with matters of the heart and showed no gentleness to women.


    He had always been cold. For one person alone would he melt, would he smile, would he be tender.


    ¡°Sorry. Thedy would have to ask someone else.¡± Nan Xun said politely, paying no mind to the onlookers and Shangguan Yue¡¯s feelings.


    Shangguan Yue stood there helplessly. She was the cherished daughter of loving parents. Never had she been denied so directly before.


    People were watching Shangguan Yue and Nan Xun curiously. Nan Xun, however, resumed his drinking and did not spare Shangguan Yue even a nce. The grand chancellor, who was with the emperor, was already seething with anger, but didn¡¯t dare to make a scene. Otherwise he would havee down to the first floor and confronted Nan Xun.


    While everyone was looking at Nan Xun, Jun Huang ¨C for reasons unknown to even herself ¨C stood up and approached Shangguan Yue, waving her foldable fan. She greeted her like a gentleman before putting the fan away and extending a hand in invitation. ¡°May this gentleman have the honor to dance with thedy?¡±


    Shangguan Yue threw Jun Huang a nce, her eyes filled with disgust. ¡°The gentleman is making a fool of himself. Who do you think I am? You sons of rich parents are beneath me. Take a look at yourself. You are nothingpared to Nan Xun. If you¡¯re smart, you¡¯ll disappear from my sight. Otherwise I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled, her eyes growing cold. ¡°Thedy is making things difficult for me.¡±


    A woman in light yellow silk robe budged in and threw a re at Shangguan Yue before holding onto Jun Huang¡¯s arm. ¡°Who do you think you are? Brother Nan Xun still doesn¡¯t like you.¡±


    From what she said Jun Huang could deduce that this girl was the little daughter of the emperor. A princess notorious for her difficult personality. Jun Huang was momentarily paralyzed. She couldn¡¯t just pull her arm away from the princess. She turned to Nan Xun for help, but he wasn¡¯t even looking at her.


    Finally, Qi Chen came. He pulled Jun Huang behind him. ¡°It¡¯s not a good thing fordy Shangguan to be so arrogant. You consider my dear friend beneath you? I¡¯d say even if you consider him a good match, he is still too good for you.¡±


    Qi Chen never liked Shangguan Yue. He believed that women should be gentle. They should have soft smile and soft voice, neither of which Shangguan Yue had. Moreover, she was haughty and arrogant just because she came from a good family and because she was beautiful. As dazzling as a peony she was, but a prideful one at that. Unlikable to say the least.


    Shangguan Yue couldn¡¯t say anything in response. She bit hard into her lip and turned to Nan Xun, but he was still drinking calmly like he was an outsider. As if this whole drama didn¡¯t start because of him.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t let Shangguan Yue off the hook. He turned to Jun Huang. ¡°Brother Feng, see what I was saying? Do you believe me now? There are many people here today. And yet no one is willing to offerdy Shangguan an olive branch. You just have to get yourself involved. I don¡¯t know what I should say to you.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness is right to scold me. This gentleman was charmed bydy Shangguan¡¯s beauty. Didn¡¯t expect her to be so arrogant. Thank you for your help.¡± Jun Huang echoed what Qi Chen said with a chuckle. Nan Xun covered his mouth to hide his amusement.


    Shangguan Yue left with a huff. Even her maid couldn¡¯t catch up to her. This must have been a heavy blow to her ego.


    Noticing that the princess was still here, Qi Chen introduced her to Jun Huang. ¡°Brother Feng, this is my sister Wan¡¯er.¡± Jun Huang nodded and greeted her, considering the introduction done. The princess, however, thought otherwise..


    Jun Huang was again grabbed by the princess before she could go back to her seat with Qi Chen. ¡°Does the gentleman intend to find a good match at this banquet?¡±


    Being asked by a young girl a question like this so suddenly was embarrassing. Jun Huang blushed hard, unable to form an answer. Good thing that Qi Chen was an observant man. He stepped in and said, ¡°Ady like you shouldn¡¯t ask a question like that. Why don¡¯t you go back to the second floor? What are you doing here?¡±


    The princess was afraid of Qi Chen. She was mischievous, but she knew when to back away. She pursed her lips and went over to the bottom of the stairs, looking back at them constantly on her way up. Jun Huang let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Thank you, Your Highness, for helping me out.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me. We¡¯re a team. I know you¡¯re not interested in my sister. And I know she¡¯s not exactly a quiet person. Brother Feng of course won¡¯t be fond of her.¡±


    Jun Huang responded with a smile, but she knew in her heart that Qi Chen just didn¡¯t want to get his sister into this whole mess. Seemed like he still retained some of his humanity.


    Going back to her seat, she saw a familiar face walking past the stools they sat on before. It seemed like the woman was trying to hide something. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t recall just where she had known that face.


    Qi Chen followed her gaze and saw the woman. Heughed. ¡°I didn¡¯t take brother Feng to be such a fickle man. You just embarrassed yourself fordy Shangguan. And now you¡¯re staring at the empress¡¯s maid. Do you know she is the empress¡¯s confidante? She¡¯s not someone you should get involved with.¡±


    Jun Huang suddenly remembered their meeting at the temple. She scratched her head bashfully. ¡°I made a fool of myself again. I just thought she looked familiar to me. That¡¯s why I had my eyes on her.¡±


    ¡°Brother Feng must have made a mistake. The maid has been staying in the pce for years. How could you possibly meet her?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and went back to her seat with him, paying no mind to what just happened. They continued to enjoy the performance.

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39: Counting down the Days


    A woman dressed in pink walked out. Her red clothes were too bright, and her makeup too carefully put together. She sauntered onto the stage, her eyes fixed on Qi Chen. ¡°Thisdy is Wei Lanying. I¡¯d like to dance for Prince Chen today.¡±


    That got a reaction out of the crowd. Wei Lanying had been in love with Qi Chen for a long time, and every year at the banquet, she would perform a dance number for him to express her love.


    Qi Chen knew Wei Lanying would do this. There was a faint smile at his lips, revealing nothing about his thoughts. Men were not as good as women in understanding other women. Jun Huang could tell that Wei Lanying was not as harmless as she seemed.


    Wei Lanying threw Qi Chen a long look before walking up the stairs. When she appeared on the second floor, she had changed into an outfit from the western region1, giving her an exotic feel. The bells she wore rang as she walked, the sound drawing everyone¡¯s attention.


    The draping silk obscured the view. Jun Huang looked up and saw only Wei Lanying, her back straight and her head held high. She looked like a being from outside this mortal world.


    Qi Chen had not figured out what Wei Lanying was trying to do yet. He was fascinated by the alluring silk and couldn¡¯t move his gaze away from Wei Lanying. Jun Huang chanced a few nce at him and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. She was afraid that Qi Chen would not be able to handle this woman.


    Wei Lanying, on the other hand, was delighted to draw such a reaction from him. She held onto a strip of silk and flew down from the air, perfectly in control of her body. She made it look as if she was as light as a feather. The crowd erupted into cheers.


    Jun Huang picked up the wine cup and tilted it, chuckling. The wine was clear like a mirror, reflecting her face. She took a sip. It tasted good.


    She chucked the whole cup, then continued to watch Wei Lanying¡¯s performance with a cocked head. Next to her, Qi Chen had fallen head over heels. Jun Huang huffed inwardly.


    On the second floor, the empress had her eyes on Jun Huang. The smile at her lips deepened as she watched Jun Huang swallowing down the poisoned wine. The maid at her side, however, was tortured by guilt, her palms damp with sweat.


    Jun Huang started to feel lightheaded. She frowned. She never was such a light-weight. She took her own pulse under the table and realized that she had been poisoned.


    She looked up at the second floor, her eyes as sharp as a fatal weapon. She knew what had happened. It was the empress¡¯s maid.


    She took a deep breath to suppress the pain in her head, then she got to her feet unsteadily.


    ¡°Who are you? Get moving!¡± A woman eximed. Before Jun Huang could react, she was pushed away by Wei Lanying, copsing onto a stool. The wine on the table spilled all over the floor. The cups too were shattered.


    Wei Lanying looked at her with innocent eyes. Jun Huang pulled herself up and looked back without a word. Qi Chen worriedly came to help Jun Huang up. ¡°Brother Feng, are you alright?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just a little dizzy. I¡¯ll go get some fresh air. Please excuse me.¡± She walked past the stool and went out.


    Qi Chen was going to follow her, but was stopped by Wei Lanying, who looked at him with wide eyes, her adoring look so hard to deny. Qi Chen could only abandon his brother to stay with her.


    He pulled Wei Lanying into his arms and took a deep breath. The elegant fragrance on her body was addicting. He didn¡¯t want to let her go.


    Wei Lanyingy against him, boneless. ¡°Do you love me, Your Highness?¡± she asked bashfully.


    Qi Chen looked down at her as if he was thinking hard about her question, when in reality, he was thinking that her father, Sir Wei, was only a seventh grade schr official2 and wouldn¡¯t be of much help in his fight to be the crown prince. There were, however, quite a few officials who had not taken a stand in the imperial court, and Sir Wei was one of them. If Sir Wei took his side, it could still benefit him.


    He looked at the woman in his arms and smiled. Without any more hesitation, he took Wei Lanying¡¯s hand and led her to the second floor. Everyone was watching them, so no one noticed that Nan Xun had followed Jun Huang out.


    Qi Chen knelt down before the emperor. ¡°Royal Father, this son wants to marry Lanying,¡± he said with much determination.


    The emperor looked at Wei Lanying, then at Qi Chen, frowning. The empress scoffed inwardly. In her eyes, the Wei family was no threat to her. It would be smart to use this opportunity to make Qi Chen owe her a favor.


    The empress got to her feet slowly and bowed at the emperor. ¡°Your Highness, if Chen¡¯er likes her, please let him marry her. Look, a handsome man wants to be with a beautiful woman. They were born a perfect couple.¡±


    The emperor nodded. She was right. And Qi Chen had reached the age for marriage. After some deliberation, he ordered someone to get Sir Wei. Then in front of everyone, he announced, ¡°The gentle Wei Lanying and the handsome Qi Chen have fallen for each other. Today I¡¯m granting them a marriage. A good day would be picked for their wedding.¡±


    ¡°This son thanks Royal Father for granting me my wish,¡± said Qi Chen.


    After leaving the tavern, Jun Huang felt even more dizzy. She leaned against the wall and couldn¡¯t even walk. Soon, she lost consciousness. Fortunately, Nan Xun saw her just in time to catch her, preventing her from falling face first to the ground.


    Nan Xun frowned at the frail Jun Huang in his arms. Her lips were going ck ¨C a clear sign that she was poisoned. He looked around. Because of the banquet, the entrance was blocked. No one irrelevant could enter, and no one should leave without a good reason.


    Nan Xun knew that they couldn¡¯t afford to wait any longer. He put a cape over Jun Huang and pulled her onto his back, nning to take her back to his manor. The royal guards noticed that there was a person on Nan Xun¡¯s back, but they all recognized Nan Xun and didn¡¯t dare to offend him. They muttered among themselves and finally someone approached him. ¡°Where are you going, Your Highness? Is something wrong with this young man?¡±


    Nan Xun threw him a cold nce, which almost made him faint. Then Nan Xun said in steely tone, ¡°He is an honored guest of mine. Drank a little too much. I¡¯m taking him back to my manor.¡±


    The man wiped away his sweat. ¡°Of course, of course. Does Your Highness need a hand?¡±


    ¡°No need. Watch the tavern carefully. If anything is to happen, your heads will fall.¡±


    ¡°Understood. Your Highness is right to warn us.¡± They let Nan Xun pass and watched him leave.


    Anxiousness filled Nan Xun¡¯s heart. Jun Huang¡¯s breathing had be weaker and weaker, as if it was going to stop any moment. He picked up his pace.


    Once he reached his manor, he sent for his personal doctor and took Jun Huang to his bedroom. The alternatives didn¡¯t even ur to him.


    His servants shared a look. They didn¡¯t know who it was that Nan Xun brought back, but they didn¡¯t dare to talk behind Nan Xun¡¯s back. The smart thing to do was to pretend they saw nothing.


    Not long after, the doctor arrived. Jun Huangy unconscious on the bed, her breathing shallow. The doctor could see how nervous Nan Xun was. He took Jun Huang¡¯s pulse with furrowed brows and sighed, shaking his head at Nan Xun without a word. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t bear the silence and grabbed the doctor by his cor. ¡°How is she?¡±


    ¡°Your Highness, this girl slowed her blood cirction the moment she knew she was poisoned. She, however, had been poisoned before. A new poison on top of the old one ¨C and this new one is potent ¨C I¡¯m afraid... that this girl doesn¡¯t have a lot of time left. I will give her some medicine, and hopefully, she will wake up soon.¡± The doctor shook his head again and left, smoothing a hand over his beard, leaving Nan Xun standing motionless on the spot.


    He looked at the almost lifeless Jun Huang. A sharp pain hit his chest. He felt like there was a heavy stone on his torso and he could barely breathe.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t see Nan Xun now. She was trapped in a limbo, back to the day her country was destroyed. Land was ravaged. Blinding fire engulfed the city. Deaths spread like a never-ending epidemic.


    ¡°No... Don¡¯t kill my brother... No!¡± Jun Huang started muttering in her nightmare, her eyebrows tightly knitted.


    That tipped Nan Xun over the edge. ¡°Yournd was lost, yes, but why do you have to live in the past?¡± he clenched his teeth and growled. ¡°The past can¡¯t be changed. Will you just keep pushing yourself until you die in Northern Qi?¡±


    ¡°A gentleman is willing to wait ten years for his revenge. You are dressed like one, but you don¡¯t act like one. If you hadn¡¯t been so impatient trying to get what you wanted, you wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this.¡±


    He didn¡¯t realize how emotional he was being. Unwilling to see Jun Huang in this state, he left with a ir of his sleeves and ordered a maid to take care of Jun Huang.


    It waste at night when Jun Huang slowly came to. She rubbed her throbbing temples and opened her eyes. What she saw made her frown. The room was foreign to her.


    The maid, who was taking a nap, woke up and saw that Jun Huang had regained consciousness. She hurriedly got to her feet. ¡°Miss, you have finally woke up.¡±


    ¡°What did you call me?¡±


    The maid blinked at Jun Huang. ¡°Miss...?¡±


    Jun Huang looked down at herself and saw that she had been changed into women¡¯s clothes, and her hair was down over her shoulders. She blushed and pointed at herself. ¡°Who helped me change?¡±


    ¡°The prince asked me to do so. Don¡¯t worry, miss. You are at the prince manor. No one can hurt you here.¡±


    ¡°The prince manor? Nan Xun?¡± For reason unknown to Jun Huang herself, the first person she thought of was Nan Xun, not Qi Chen or Qi Yun.


    The maid nodded and silently let out a sigh of relief. Her prince and the girl knew each other, so she wasn¡¯t someone the prince took here by force.

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40: Help Me get Revenge


    Jun Huang looked up at the maid. ¡°Where is Nan Xun?¡±


    ¡°The prince is at the pavilion ¨C ¡±


    Jun Huang left before the maid could finish. She felt weak and her steps wobbled a little as she walked, which was only natural; she did just wake up from a poison-induceda. She had to pull herself up against the wall and struggled her way out. Her path happened to cross Nan Xun¡¯s.


    Nan Xun spotted her from a distance. Under the dim light, he could see Jun Huang with her hair down, her face delicate and fine. The clothes suited her well. She looked at him with a hand on the red pir and curved her lips.


    Nan Xun took quick strides to her and supported her slight frame with an arm, scowling. ¡°Why are you not resting in the room? What are you doing outside?¡±


    ¡°Looking for you,¡± Jun Huang said quietly, her voice as light as a falling feather. Nan Xun was distracted by that for a moment, but he quickly recovered.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need toe find me. Just tell a servant to do it. You just woke up and shouldn¡¯t tire yourself.¡± He helped Jun Huang back to the room.


    They didn¡¯t speak on their way back. Jun Huang kept her eyes down, her thoughts indiscernible. Nan Xun, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t stop staring at Jun Huang ¨C this was the first time he¡¯d ever seen her dressed in women¡¯s clothes.


    Once back to the bedroom, Jun Huang took a seat on the bed, her face still a little pale. She looked up at Nan Xun. ¡°I never asked you when you discovered my true identity.¡±


    Nan Xun never intended to keep this from her. ¡°The first time we met, you called me by my name. Then you got hurt because of me. I knew it then.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She was too careless. And to think she had pretended to be a man before Nan Xun for so long ¨C it was such an embarrassment.


    A maid carried a bowl of medicine in. Nan Xun took it and told the maid to leave. He was about to feed it to Jun Huang, but she turned him down with a flushed face. She took the bowl and started drinking, her expression as calm as ever.


    She had been the test subject of her master. Those medicines were truly so bitter you could feel it deep in your bones. This? This was child ypared to what she had had.


    Seeing Jun Huang swallowing down the dark and thick medicine without so much of a frown, Nan Xun felt his chest tightened. He could tell how bitter it was just by the smell. What had Jun Huang been through since her country was lost, and before she came to Northern Qi? What could have turned a beloved princess into a woman like her?


    Jun Huang put down the bowl, noticing that Nan Xun had not taken his eyes away from her. She took a deep breath. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me immediately after knowing my identity? Did you enjoy seeing me making a fool of myself?¡±


    ¡°You must have a reason for keeping your identity a secret. How could I intervene? I didn¡¯t expect you to be so foolish in seeking revenge, however. It still doesn¡¯t make sense to me.¡± Nan Xun couldn¡¯t stop himself from telling her his true feelings. He scowled so hard it was like she had personally offended him with her recklessness.


    Jun Huang opened her mouth, but didn¡¯t know how to defend herself. She could only stare at the floor and chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re not a fish. What do you know about the joy of fish?1 What do you know about the sorrow of fish? Your Highness is not me. What do you know about my pain?¡± She looked up at him with red eyes. Her voice was hoarse as she spoke. ¡°Does Your Highness think that I myself wanted to do what I did? Of course I will like to lead a life of peace, but how can I just forget about the destruction of my family and country? Your Highness has not lived through my pain. You have killed people, yes. But you are a respected war god. How could you possibly understand my fear the day I lost my everything?¡±


    Every one of her questions hit him hard. Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what to say in order to cover up his moment of weakness. He stopped trying and just let her see what he was feeling.


    ¡°If I have a choice, why would I be doing this?¡± Jun Huang¡¯s voice was calm, almost free of emotions, but every word cut through his defense and shook him to the very core.


    ¡°There are things we must not dwell on.¡± That was the only thing Nan Xun could say. Such empty words. Jun Huangughed quietly.


    The poison in her body was spreading. She could almost feel her blood slowly circting within her. She closed her eyes. ¡°Do you know what I have been through, Nan Xun?¡±


    Nan Xun would very much like to know, so he didn¡¯t try to deflect. Instead, he asked, ¡°Tell me, Jun Huang, why were you poisoned? And before you came to Northern Qi, what happened to you?¡±


    Jun Huang smiled bitterly. His questions roused the pain from her past and it swallowed her up like a wave. She held her breath.


    ¡°That day, my family was broken. I was chased down a cliff, hit by a poisoned arrow. I thought it would be my end, but below the cliff was a behemoth tree, which broke my fall. There was an old man living not far from it. He was a master of poison, and he knew how to cleanse poison, too. He realized that my body functioned differently than that of a normal person, so he made me his test subject. He cleansed my poison, and at the same time test poisons on me.¡±


    ¡°I made a deal with him ¨C He¡¯d set me free and teach me medicine. The poison in my body, however, was too potent. It couldn¡¯t bepletely cleansed even after months of efforts. This time, with the two kinds of poison acting up together? I know I¡¯ll never fully recover.¡±


    Jun Huang slowly opened her eyes and met Nan Xun¡¯s gaze. There was no trace of emotions on her face. It was as if she was telling somebody else¡¯s story.


    Nan Xun felt a lump in his throat. Jun Huang made it out to be some simple matter with the way she talked, but he couldn¡¯t stop his heart from aching. He had never met a test subject himself, but he had heard about how painful it was ¨C the pain would be so bad one could feel it in their bones.


    He reached out to stroke Jun Huang¡¯s long hair, his eyes filled with sympathy. He sighed. ¡°The doctor was here. He said that you didn¡¯t have a lot of time left... Why don¡¯t you give up on revenge, and just live a good life in this short period of time?¡±


    Jun Huang clenched her teeth, her eyes fierce. ¡°I have been through so much, and now you want me to give up? Really? To this day, I still want to bleed those murdering bastards and cut out their tendons.¡±


    Nan Xun knew he couldn¡¯t convince her. ¡°Then what do you want to do?¡±


    Jun Huang struggled to sit up, her eyes determined. ¡°I¡¯d like you to help me, Nan Xun. Are you willing to?¡±


    That didn¡¯t surprise him; he had expected Jun Huang to ask for his help. He put an arm around her in support. ¡°How do you want me to help? Do you have a n?¡±


    ¡°I want to find my brother soon and kill Jun Yu for betraying my country. I am, however, but one person. Originally I wanted to ask Qi Yun for help, but the imperial court of Northern Qi is not as stable as it seems to be. He can barely keep his head over the water. Now, I can only turn to you for help.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. ¡°What will you have me do?¡±


    ¡°Eastern Wu has set eyes on their neighboring countries. Soon, they will invade Northern Qi. It will be a good opportunity to kill Jun Yu. Now, however, I¡¯m not sure exactly where he is. Qi Yun has been helping me track him down, but so far, he¡¯s found nothing.¡±


    Nan Xun thought for a moment. Jun Huang was right. After invading Western Que, Eastern Wu had not participated in any of the ceremonies held by the three countries. It was clear that Eastern Wu was trying to conserve their strength for something big.


    He didn¡¯t expect a woman like Jun Huang to be this knowledgeable and brave. She was stronger than even a majority of men. He found himself more and more drawn to her. There was a resilient soul inside her body.


    Jun Huang coughed. It was getting a little cold. Nan Xun grabbed the robeid on the bed and put it around her shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll have people track your brother down.¡± He pped her on the back to help her breathe. ¡°Your priority now is to rest and let your body recover. Otherwise you won¡¯t be able to avenge the lost souls of Western Que.¡±


    ¡°I promise I will do all I can to help you get revenge. You must promise me, however, to never be hasty. If there¡¯s any problem, tell me. Don¡¯t shoulder everything on your own. I¡¯m always here for you.¡±


    He was so gentle Jun Huang felt like she was drowning in his eyes. Somewhere deep inside her heart, a chord was struck. She had been shouldering everything on her own up until this day; she would be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t tired. Now, here was a man who told her that she wasn¡¯t alone. She couldn¡¯t help but be moved.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what had gotten into him that made him say something so sentimental. His life had always been routine and rigid. He thought women were difficult to deal with. Never had he imagined that there would be a woman who allowed him to rx his guard.


    Jun Huang¡¯s determination impressed and fascinated him. And it made him fond of her that she cared so deeply about the people and had a strong moralpass. In this vastnd of Northern Qi, no one other than Jun Huang could attract his attention and make him feel so protective.


    ¡°You care. The gods will not wrong you. One day, you¡¯ll be able to avenge your loved ones.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled, her eyes soft. ¡°Didn¡¯t take Your Highness as someone who believed in gods.¡±


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help the blood rushing into his face. He cleared his throat and turned away from Jun Huang¡¯s knowing smile.


    Before they realized, the night had fallen. Jun Huang sat up in a rush, knocking into Nan Xun¡¯s shoulder, which made him wince. Jun Huang also got dizzy from the sudden movement. She held onto the headboard for support.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Nan Xun asked worriedly, putting an arm around her.


    After regaining herposure, Jun Huang took a deep breath and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. But it¡¯ste. I need to go back to Prince Chen Manor at once. This is a critical juncture. Qi Chen must not suspect me.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and helped her up. ¡°Do you need me to escort you back?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s face became tinted with red. ¡°Would Your Highness please leave for a moment? I need to change.¡±

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41: Qi Chen marrying a Concubine


    Nan Xun realized that Jun Huang was still dressed in women¡¯s clothes. Clearing his throat, he let go of her and called out for the maid to enter, telling her to help Jun Huang change.


    Jun Huang let the maid help her into a purple silk robe. She put her hair up and held it together with a white jade cap. Back to being the handsome gentleman.


    The maid watched her with wide eyes. Earlier when she was helping Jun Huang change, her hair was down, and the maid didn¡¯t look that closely at her. Now, under the candlelight, Jun Huang looked not unlike a celestial being banished to earth.


    Jun Huang turned to face her and let out augh. She considered her outfit ¨C it was good enough. She smoothed out the wrinkles before walking out of the door.


    Nan Xun was waiting right outside. He turned to look at Jun Huang the moment he heard the door creaking, his heart softening at the sight of her. ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too hard at Prince Chen Manor,¡± he gently said. ¡°Be on your guard. Don¡¯t let Qi Chen discover your true identity.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll remember what Your Highness said. Please excuse me. I¡¯ll now take my leave. You don¡¯t need to walk me out.¡±


    Nan Xun stood there watching Jun Huang leave without a word.


    The maid saw him when she came out. She covered up her smile with a hand. Didn¡¯t expect her iceberg of a prince to act like this. Jun Huang, though, was an extraordinary woman. In the whole Northern Qi, she was probably the only one who actually deserved the prince¡¯s affection.


    On her way back to Prince Chen Manor, Jun Huang was deep in thoughts. Originally she was only going to thank Nan Xun for his help, then she would avenge her family on her own, but Nan Xun agreed to help her so easily ¨C he didn¡¯t even stop to consider the matter.


    This time, if not for Nan Xun¡¯s help, she would have died already. She suddenly felt afraid. No one in the world could truly be fearless in the face of death.


    The imperial city seemed particrly empty today. There was no one on the street. It was most likely because of the banquet of a hundred households. She was alone here.


    The tavern that had been filled with people was still open. Some important figure probably reserved the whole ce for a celebration, or some gentleman might have found a good spouse at the banquet. It was a perfect night for drinking and celebrating.


    The pebbled street extended far beyond her sight. Jun Huang¡¯s frame wavered a little, but she couldn¡¯t fall down here. She took a deep breath and looked up at the boundless sky. On that day, so many citizens of her country lost their lives. Their blood painted the whole imperial city. All she could see was red.


    ¡°Hello, which family does this gentleman belong to? Why aren¡¯t you home yet?¡± the old night watchman walked up to her and said, holding a gong in his hand. There was a friendly smile on his face. ¡°It¡¯s chilly at night. The gentleman should take care not to catch a cold.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your concerns. I¡¯m actually on my way home. Please be careful yourself. It¡¯s difficult to see the road at night. Careful not to trip.¡±


    After bidding the old man farewell, Jun Huang picked up her pace and soon reached Prince Chen Manor. The door was shut. Jun Huang had no choice but to knock. A tired voice asked, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°This gentleman is Feng Baiyu.¡±


    The page boy in charge of door keeping immediately opened the door, afraid of keeping her waiting. ¡°Sir Feng, it¡¯s good to see you. The prince was just asking after you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Jun Huang entered the manor and went to Qi Chen¡¯s ce.


    The candles inside Qi Chen¡¯s room were still lit. She knocked on the door and heard Qi Chen¡¯s approaching footsteps. He opened the door with a smile and invited her in.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t say no to him. Qi Chen led her to a divan and poured her a cup of tea. ¡°Try this, brother Feng. This is what I had people buy from an area where it was freezing cold. I heard tea experts saying that tea grown in the cold was bitter with a sweet aftertaste. I wonder if it is true. Brother Feng knows a lot about tea. So have a taste and tell me how it is.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know if she wanted to cry orugh. Who would drink tea sote at night? Qi Chen was probably the only one. But again, she couldn¡¯t say no. She picked up the tea cup and took a whiff. The fragrance was strong. Bitter with a hint of sweetness.


    Under Qi Chen¡¯s close scrutiny, she took a sip and nodded. ¡°It is a rare premium brand of tea. However, it¡¯s better to not drink too much tea at night, or it may harm the lungs and the spleen.¡±


    ¡°My mistake. Brother Feng is right.¡± Qi Chen pped the back of his head. ¡±I¡¯m just too excited and forget myself. I hope brother Feng won¡¯t me me.¡±


    ¡°Of course I won¡¯t. I¡¯m the one who should apologize. I was having such a good time today and forgot howte it was. Didn¡¯t realize I¡¯d be back sote at night. I have made Your Highness worry.¡±


    Qi Chen smiled and patted her on the shoulder, giving her a knowing wink. ¡°There¡¯s no need for brother Feng to exin. We are both men. I know how it is.¡±


    Jun Huang felt her face re up. She wasn¡¯t talking about that! But of course, she wasn¡¯t going to exin. It was better for Qi Chen to think this way. She let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°May I ask who the girl that caught brother Feng¡¯s fancy is?¡±


    ¡°Um... It¡¯s not a done deal yet. Once I¡¯m sure, I¡¯ll let Your Highness know.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°Well, then I won¡¯t ask too many questions. If you need me to y matchmaker for you, brother Feng, just tell me.¡±


    Jun Huang thanked him and pretended to be tired so that she could take her leave. She went back to her building. Wei Qian was still waiting for her.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Seeing that Jun Huang had returned safely, Wei Qian retired to the side room without a word. Jun Huang blinked at her, unsure of what that was about. Then she went to her bedroom.


    She sat on the bed and took out the pill Nan Xun gave her to help control the poison. She swallowed it down dry.


    She didn¡¯t realize how tired she was until shey down. Soon after closing her eyes, she fell asleep.


    Jun Huang wandered to the backyard and saw everyone was busy at work. Normally the servants would stop to greet her, but now they didn¡¯t have the time to do even that. Everyone was rushing around moving things.


    Jun Huang frowned, looking at the decorations put up in the backyard. She was puzzled, but she didn¡¯t ask. When she entered the main hall, however, there were decorations everywhere as well. The red silks covering the wooden hallway made the manor looked like it was straight out of a fairytale.


    ¡°This ce is crowded, sir.¡± the housekeeper of the manor came up to her and said. ¡°You should rest on the side. Otherwise you may get hit identally.¡±


    Jun Huang pointed at the festive ce. ¡°What are all these for?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know, sir? The prince is marrying the daughter of Sir Wei as his concubine. It was arranged by the emperor. Tomorrow is the day they consummate their marriage. You should remember that.¡± The housekeeper went back to work immediately. He didn¡¯t have time to diddle around.


    Jun Huang walked to the side of the room, surprised. She didn¡¯t expect Wei Lanying to get what she wanted. She smiled to herself. After years of performing at the banquet, Wei Lanying only managed to win Qi Chen¡¯s attention now? That didn¡¯t make sense. Qi Chen must have some other motives.


    She couldn¡¯t figure out how a seventh grade schr official could help Qi Chen though. She sighed and went back to her room. Wei Qian happened to be there. Jun Huang jogged up to her.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, sir?¡± Wei Qian asked, looking at her.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you told me about the prince¡¯s marriage?¡±


    ¡°This servant thought that you knew already.¡±


    Wei Qian¡¯s obedient attitude made Jun Huang anxious. She told her to leave before taking a seat in the yard under the sun. Her head was a tangled mess. Not even she knew exactly what she was thinking about.


    Not long after, Qi Chen came to see her. Jun Huang was resting with a hand supporting her head. He walked up to her with a smile. ¡°I was going to tell brother Feng about my wedding the night after the banquet, but I got too excited and forgot to do so. I hope brother Feng won¡¯t me me.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him and smiled. ¡°Why would I? It¡¯s a good thing Your Highness is getting married. I hope she would be an understanding spouse and not a troublemaker.¡±


    ¡°I hope so as well.¡± Qi Chen quirked up the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why isn¡¯t Your Highness preparing for the wedding?¡± Jun Huang asked, pouring a tea for him. ¡°This is not as high ss as your usual, but it is good enough.¡±


    Qi Chen took a sip. It was regr tea drunk by regr people. Jun Huang, however, drank it like it was the best tea she had had. He finished the tea in one go. ¡°No need for that. She¡¯s just a concubine. Not worthy of such effort from me.¡±


    Jun Huang stilled. Qi Chen¡¯s words made her ufortable. Wei Lanying didn¡¯t make a good impression on her, but Wei Lanying was a woman. If she heard what Qi Chen said today, she would be devastated. Qi Chen seemedpletely oblivious to that. He poured another cup of tea and tasted it carefully the way Jun Huang did. He was starting to appreciate the tea as well.


    ¡°Ifdy Wei heard what Your Highness said, she will be heartbroken,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile, drinking her tea with her head low.


    Qi Chen shrugged. He didn¡¯t find it problematic. ¡°So? I¡¯m talking to my brother. How would she hear of it? Even if she does, why would it matter to me? She is a mere concubine.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond. Qi Chen was a heartless man. No use trying to change him. It was better for her to enjoy the tea and cultivate her character.


    After they finished the pot of tea, the housekeeper came to find Qi Chen. ¡°Why is Your Highness still here?¡± he asked with his eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Please follow this old servant to go try on your outfit for tomorrow.¡±

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42: Schemes


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Qi Chen said impatiently. He put down the teacup and stood up. ¡°Brother Feng can stay here and enjoy the view. Don¡¯t forget to attend my wedding tomorrow.¡± He left with the housekeeper, leaving Jun Huang sitting there, watching them hurrying away. She shook her head. Such was the way of mortals, always rushing from one ce to another.


    She put down the teacup and looked up at the sky. Tomorrow would likely be a sunny day.


    The next day, before dawn, there were already people bustling about outside. Jun Huang was woken by the noise and felt a little annoyed. The pain in her temples didn¡¯t help either. She had to take some pills to suppress it.


    The maid who had been serving Jun Huang brought her a bowl of water and left her clothes on the end table next to her bed. She knew how Jun Huang was right after waking up, so she left the room and waited at the door.


    Weddings for marrying concubines weren¡¯t normally thisrge-scale, but Qi Chen had not been married before, so his first concubine was married the way the principle wife would be. She would receive betrothal gifts and be carried here in a bridal sedan chair by eight people.


    Qi Chen left for the Wei Manor on a horse to pick up and lead Wei Lanying back to his manor. Only then did Jun Huang saunter into the main hall. Almost all the sons from important families in the imperial city were present. Who knew, however, how many of them really were here to congratte the couple, and how many were trying to get on Qi Chen¡¯s good side?


    There were many guests wandering about. Jun Huang stayed near the wall, looking at the conversing people with her arms crossed.


    Qi Chen got off his horse and started chatting with the guests. The festive wedding outfit made him look different from his usual self. Wei Lanying, with the help of the matchmaker, crossed the threshold, then the pot of fire.1 The red bridal veil she wore was embroidered with a golden phoenix. The phoenix was so lifelike it seemed like it would fly away any second. Her entire appearance was impressive. Qi Chen¡¯s friends cheered and apuded.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t arrive until halfway through the wedding. He spotted Jun Huang at a distance and went straight to her.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    Jun Huang tilted her head to give him a look. ¡°I¡¯m fine now.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He followed Jun Huang¡¯s line of sight to the main hall. There, a maid was helping Wei Lanying to the marital bedroom, while Qi Chen invited the guests to take a seat and have a drink. He probably noticed Jun Huang¡¯s absence, and was looking around for Jun Huang. When he spotted her with Nan Xun, he walked up to them with a frown.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t brother Fenge in?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have much to do, so I stayed here. Happened to run into Prince Nan. We talked a little.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s face betrayed nothing. She curved up her lips. ¡°Congrattion on your marriage, Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°The banquet has started. Let us go in.¡± Qi Chen led the two of them into the main hall.


    At night, Qi Chen was dizzy with all the alcohol in his system. He might fall asleep any second. The housekeeper nudged him and said, ¡°Lady Wei is still waiting. Please hurry and return to the marital bedroom.¡±


    Qi Chen tilted his head up and threw a nce at the housekeeper. He did have someone waiting for him. He struggled to get to his feet and left for the bedroom with a servant¡¯s help.


    When he reached the hallway, it had started to drizzle outside, washing away the usual smothering heat. The breeze cleared his head a little.


    After telling the servant to leave, he stood in the hallway for quite a while. Then he walked towards the marital bedroom. There was a red character of Xi, which meant joy, on the door. The door curtains had be damp from the rain and seemed like they were barely hanging onto the door frame. Qi Chen was filled with a fleeting sense of mncholy.


    He took a deep breath to clear his thoughts before pushing the door open with a smile. Through the screen depicting mountains and flowers, he could see the silhouette of his spouse, the concubine he married today.


    Hearing the footsteps, Wei Lanying knew Qi Chen was here. She sat upright on the bed, worriedly holding her hands together. Her heart seemed to be pounding in concert with Qi Chen¡¯s footsteps. One beat after another ¨C she could hear so very clearly.


    ¡°I have kept you waiting, my dear,¡± Qi Chen said with a chuckle. He stopped in front of Wei Lanying.


    Wei Lanying looked down at the ck boots lined with golding into her view, a blush finding its way to her cheeks. She blushed even harder when Qi Chen took down the veil over her face. She looked just like any girl who felt shy in face of her loved one. She didn¡¯t even dare to look at Qi Chen¡¯s face directly.


    She never imagined that she would get to realize her dream after years of pining. Finally, the man she was always in love with had be her husband, someone she would devote herself to for her whole life.


    Qi Chen let out a quietugh. ¡°Let me see your face.¡±


    Wei Lanying looked up slowly, biting into her lip. Her cheeks were rosy red and her heart was pounding so hard; it was like it would jump right out of her throat.


    Qi Chen looked at her deeply, approaching her. Then, with a hand on her chin, he forced her to meet his gaze.


    The curtains were dropped. The phoenix cap she wore was taken off and thrown to the floor. All night long they tangled together. The clothes scattered on the floor signified their consummation. The marital wine on the table was left untouched.


    Qi Chen had already left when Wei Lanying woke up. It was early in the morning. A servant told her that the emperor had sent for him, saying that they had matters to discuss. Moreover, she was a concubine and did not need to enter the pce to greet the emperor. Therefore, Qi Chen left without waiting for her to wake up.


    No matter the reason, Wei Lanying felt uneasy. The blood on the bed was like a blooming peony. It unsettled her. After making herself presentable, she hurried outside and got on a coach to Wei Manor without even having breakfast.


    No one at the manor expected thedy that got married yesterday to return so early in the morning. They talked among themselves, saying that Wei Lanying must havee back toin about how unloved she was.


    ¡°Why are you back so soon, Ying¡¯er?¡± Sir Wei scolded her harshly, his eyebrows knitted together. ¡°You are Prince Chen¡¯s spouse now. How can you act so inappropriately?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. Father, yesterday ¨C yesterday the prince mentioned that he wanted to be the crown prince,¡± said Wei Lanying, her brows furrowed in concern. ¡°We have to help him. The emperor sent for the prince earlier for reasons I don¡¯t know about. Father, the crown prince has passed away. Now the second prince is the best candidate. If one day emperor Qi regains his full health, it¡¯ll be toote for us.¡±


    Sir Wei thought about the situation. If Qi Chen became the crown prince, then maybe Wei Lanying would be the crown prince¡¯s wife rather than a mere concubine.


    ¡°Come here.¡± Sir Wei waved her over. They talked in a low voice. The concerned expression on Wei Lanying¡¯s face slowly melt into a smile.


    When she returned to Prince Chen Manor, Qi Chen had also returned. He frowned as she entered. ¡°Where have you been?¡±


    Wei Lanying looked around. This wasn¡¯t a good ce for such conversations. She smiled at him and whispered, ¡°Ying¡¯er went home and brought Your Highness some good news.¡±


    That didn¡¯t answer any aspect of Qi Chen¡¯s question. He led Wei Lanying into the study. ¡°What good news?¡±


    Wei Lanying gave him a seductive smile. ¡°Your Highness saidst night that you wanted to be the crown prince. Are you being truthful? If so, Ying¡¯er can help Your Highness gain the title. What would I receive in return then?¡±


    Qi Chen understood what she meant immediately. Sir Wei really was severely underestimated as a schr official. He hade up with a n so quickly. He knew, however, Wei Lanying could never be his principal wife. This woman was too calcting for her own good.


    The longer Qi Chen remained silent, the less confident Wei Lanying felt. She bit hard into her lip and didn¡¯t dare to even breathe.


    Seeing how nervous she was, Qi Chen smiled and pulled her into his arms. ¡°I will give you anything you want, of course,¡± he gently said. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember the wonderful night we shared? Don¡¯t you know how I feel already?¡±


    Hypnotized by his eyes, Wei Lanying forgot all about her goals. Sheid out Sir Wei¡¯s n. ¡°The crown prince has passed away, and Royal Father is not young anymore. In addition, the world is unstable. Royal Father should choose someone to take the mantle of the crown prince in order tofort the people. My father said that the emperor has not been feeling welltely. Your Highness should tell the emperor that you can help him shoulder the burden. My father also has connections in the imperial court. His friends will support you. As long as Your Highness has achieved something, and the officials met with Royal Father to speak for you, Royal Father will realize that Your Highness is worthy of the title.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness made such great effort at the border to help. Royal Father must know of it. You don¡¯t want your efforts to be in vain, do you? Since the ancient times, there was the belief of following destiny in Northern Qi. Your Highness needs only to spread rumors among the people. Tell them that without a crown prince, Northern Qi will fall into chaos. And give them hints pointing them to Prince Chen Manor. Then Your Highness will reach your goal very soon.¡±


    Qi Chen fell silent. She had thought this through. The crown prince¡¯s death had made residents of the imperial city disquieted. Without a crown prince, they would never be at ease. The emperor, of course, knew this already. If Qi Chen could achieve something now and conjure up a so called heaven¡¯s order, how could the title of crown prince not be his?


    Qi Chen nodded, pleased. ¡°You are right. Do you have a good n?¡±


    Wei Lanying quirked up the corners of her mouth. ¡°Let me do this for you. Your Highness only has to wait for the good news.¡± She walked out of the room and left Qi Chen to his own thoughts.


    Wei Lanying was indeed clever. In only a couple of days, ancient tortoises appeared all around the city with the words following destiny written on their backs. All of them crawled towards Prince Chen Manor and stopped at the door. Suddenly more and more people supported Qi Chen to be the crown prince.


    Jun Huang was caughtpletely off guard. People were saying Qi Chen was born to be the crown prince. If she didn¡¯t want to raise suspicion, she couldn¡¯t deny what they said. Without a good solution, she could only let things y out.


    ¡°Congrattions, Your Highness, the crown prince¡¯s title is within your reach.¡± Jun Huang cupped her hands in greeting, smiling. Her gaze, however, was fixed on Wei Lanying.


    Feeling like Jun Huang was up to no good, Wei Lanying frowned. She then turned to Qi Chen with a smile. ¡°Who is this gentleman?¡±

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43: Driving a Wedge


    Qi Chen helped Jun Huang up and said to Wei Lanying, ¡°This is Feng Baiyu, an honored guest at the manor.¡±


    ¡°Lady Wei,¡± Jun Huang said politely, her eyes cool like moonlight. Wei Lanying took to instantly disliking her despite Jun Huang¡¯s good looks. The fact that Qi Chen looked at Jun Huang with such appreciation alone was enough to make her consider Jun Huang an enemy.


    Someone came to retrieve Qi Chen for the emperor, who had also heard of the rumors within the imperial city. Sir Wei and the other officials were in a heated debate in the imperial court. Still, they could not reach a consensus. After the court meeting, the emperor sent for Qi Chen to enter the pce.


    When Jun Huang was just about to leave after Qi Chen left, Wei Lanying warned, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. You better not y any tricks. If you hurt the prince in anyway, there won¡¯t even be a body left for others to find.¡±


    Jun Huang stopped in her tracks. It defied logic that Wei Lanying should be this hostile to her. ¡°There is no reason for you to say so. This gentleman has been staying in this manor for a long time. If I really wanted to sabotage the prince, why would I let you two get married?¡± She left in big strides, not giving Wei Lanying the chance to respond. Wei Lanying ended up stomping in rage.


    Qi Chen was carried to the pce in a sedan chair. A eunuch led him straight to the royal study. After being granted permission, Qi Chen entered and greeted the emperor. ¡°This son is here to pay a formal visit to Royal Father. Long live Your Majesty!¡±


    The emperor lifted his head up from his reports and looked at Qi Chen, who knelt obediently not far from his desk. An indiscernible look shed through his eyes and he told Qi Chen to get up to his feet.


    ¡°May I ask why Royal Father summoned me here today?¡± Qi Chen looked at the emperor, waiting for him to respond.


    ¡°I have heard of the rumors in the imperial city. As Sir Wei said, a country must have a leader, and I must pick a candidate to be the crown prince. The past couple of days I have let you deal with some official matters, and you have not let me down. Therefore, I will grant you the title of the crown prince.¡± As he spoke, he ordered the eunuch waiting on the side to give Qi Chen the imperial decree. Qi Chen could not be more excited. Even though he tried to control himself, a hint of a smile still showed on his face.


    Soon, everyone in the imperial city knew that Qi Chen had be the crown prince. The royal uncle¡¯s people met with the emperor several times, trying to convince him to retract his decree, but to no avail. The royal uncle even got grounded at his own manor for his efforts. Not even the empress could change the emperor¡¯s mind.


    Qi Chen, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t be more proud. Consort Zhen also grew more and more arrogant within the harem, as if she had be everyone¡¯s master.


    That night, Qi Chen invited Jun Huang to have a drink with him under the bright moonlight. Jun Huang considered him discreetly. She knew that Wei Lanying would be the biggest obstacle in her fight to put Qi Yun on the throne. In just a few days, Wei Lanying had helped Qi Chen be the crown prince. If she did nothing to intervene, he would be the emperor soon. Wei Lanying was not one to be underestimated.


    Noticing that Jun Huang hadn¡¯t been drinking, Qi Chen pursed his lips and said, ¡°I cannot be happier today, so I invited brother Feng here to share my joy. You, however, look only at the moon and pay no mind to the wine. That¡¯s quite rude of you. I¡¯m disappointed.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness¡¯s words wound me. You are the crown prince now. Of course I am happy for you. It¡¯s just that...¡± Jun Huang paused, meeting Qi Chen¡¯s eyes hesitantly.


    ¡°Just what? Brother Feng can be frank with me.¡±


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and thought carefully about what to say. ¡°It is indeed great news that Your Highness has be the crown prince, but Lady Wei is, afterall, a woman. It¡¯s a tradition that women should not get involved in matters of the imperial court. If you continue to let her intervene, it may be detrimental to you.¡±


    Qi Chen considered her words before nodding. ¡°Brother Feng is right. I will remember that. Alright. It¡¯s a wonderful night with good scenery. We should drink up and have fun.¡± He raised the wine cup and smiled at her.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Jun Huang raised her cup as well. She took a sip, keeping her gaze on Qi Chen. She knew that Qi Chen himself was wary of Wei Lanying. He only needed a justification, and she had given him a good one today.


    Wei Lanying was careful. She always had her guard up against Jun Huang. Jun Huang, therefore, could not do anything to her directly. She would have to let Qi Chen put pressure on Wei Lanying.


    They had shared quite a few drinks under the moonlight when Wei Lanying ordered a maid to go get Qi Chen. She was a personal maid that Wei Lanying had brought from the Wei Manor. A clever girl, but she looked at people down her nose.


    She even gave Jun Huang an eyeroll when she saw her. With Qi Chen, on the contrary, she remained respectful. ¡°Your Highness, Lady Wei said that it iste. She has things to discuss with you and wishes you would return soon.¡±


    Qi Chen was a little annoyed. ¡°I know already. Go back. I¡¯ll have a few more drinks with brother Feng.¡±


    The maid couldn¡¯t ept that. She went up to Jun Huang and, without a trace of respect in her tone, said, ¡°Sir Feng, His Highness is now the crown prince. It is inappropriate for him to drink sote at night. Besides, Lady Wei and the prince just got married. Sir Feng shouldn¡¯t dominate all of his time.¡±


    ¡°Where are your manners?¡± Qi Chen scoffed. ¡±Who gave you the right to speak to brother Feng like that? Have you forgotten yourself?¡±


    The maid got on her knees and begged for forgiveness, her eyes red and teary.


    Jun Huang stood up slowly. ¡°Your Highness shouldn¡¯t be so angry. She isn¡¯t wrong. It is my mistake. Alright, I shall take my leave. Your Highness should spend more time with Lady Wei.¡± She cupped her hands and left the pavilion.


    Qi Chen huffed at the kneeling maid. ¡°Clearly servants resemble their masters.¡± He left the pavilion too with a flourish of his sleeve and went straight to Wei Lanying. Let¡¯s see what she has to say.


    Wei Lanying had just finished taking a bath when Qi Chen arrived. Seeing his dark expression, she assumed that Feng Baiyu must have done something to anger him. Her smile grew wider. ¡°What happened?¡± she asked with a sweet tone. ¡±Has Feng Baiyu done something? There¡¯s no need for Your Highness to be angry. If he did anything wrong, you can just kick him out of the manor.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s eyes grew cold suddenly, his gaze as frosty as winter ice. Wei Lanying shuddered, unsure of how she had offended him.


    ¡°If you¡¯re smart, you¡¯d take back what you just said.¡±


    Wei Lanying looked at him in confusion. She opened her mouth, but for a moment nothing came out. ¡°Why is Your Highness so protective of him?¡± she finally said. ¡°Your Highness should trust a woman¡¯s instinct. Feng Baiyu is up to no good. One day he may do something to harm you. What¡¯s best for Your Highness is to kick him out now, rather than arguing with me.¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Qi Chen could not listen to anyone criticizing Jun Huang. He continued, ¡°Do you know how many schemes brother Feng hase up with for me? Without him, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten Royal Father¡¯s trust so easily. You really are just like any woman. Long hair, but short-sighted. Clearly I shouldn¡¯t let you get involved in matters of the imperial court.¡± He left Wei Lanying alone in the bedroom.


    Wei Lanying clenched her teeth, her nails biting into her palms, but she couldn¡¯t feel the pain. At that moment, her hatred for Jun Huang had gone bone deep. She believed with all her heart that Jun Huang would be Qi Chen¡¯s downfall if Jun Huang remained in the manor.


    Qi Chen was even more upset. He wandered around and finally stopped at the side building Jun Huang resided in. Wei Qian was about to shut the door when she saw him. She frowned briefly, but very quickly smoothed her expression into one of indifference. She bowed at him respectfully.


    ¡°Has brother Feng gone to bed?¡± Qi Chen asked.


    Wei Qian looked towards the building and shook her head. ¡°Not yet. He¡¯s drinking tea in the yard.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded and walked to the back of the building. Wei Qian followed closely behind him.


    Jun Huang was looking at the moon with her head tilted up. The silk robe she wore made her seem slightly otherworldly. Qi Chen was a little hypnotized by her looks. Her soft features were especially captivating.


    ¡°Brother Feng really is as beautiful as a fairy. If you were a woman, cities would fall under your smile.¡± Qi Chen approached her,ughing.


    Jun Huang looked towards him and greeted him. ¡°Your Highness is too kind. I am but an ordinary man. That kind of praise doesn¡¯t suit me.¡±


    ¡°Brother Feng is too humble.¡± He sat across from Jun Huang, gesturing at her to sit down. Jun Huang poured him a cup of tea. ¡°Didn¡¯t brother Feng say that it is not good to have tea at night?¡± he said with a frown. ¡°Why are you having it today?¡±


    Jun Huang looked down at her teacup. There were leaves floating on the surface. She smiled a little. ¡°There is nothing to do and I¡¯m having difficulty sleeping. Might as well have some tea. It¡¯s my error. Your Highness should take care not to drink any.¡± Jun Huang was about to throw away the tea in Qi Chen¡¯s teacup, but he stopped her.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m also having trouble sleeping tonight. If brother Feng doesn¡¯t mind, I volunteer to stay here to watch the moon with you.¡± Qi Chen took the teacup back and chuckled.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t particrly want hispany, but she maintained a smile on her face. She nodded and ordered the servants to make some snacks. Qi Chen was rxed. He looked up at the full moon like Jun Huang did, his head filled with thoughts.


    Jun Huang made a goodpanion. She was quiet. When his cup was empty she would pour him tea. When he asked questions she would answer. But she never asked him why he was here.


    What Qi Chen didn¡¯t know was that as clever as Jun Huang was, of course she knew Qi Chen had a fight with Wei Lanying and was feeling upset. She just pretended to not know.


    Qi Chen thought Jun Huang was unaware of their argument, but what did he know about the way a woman¡¯s mind worked?

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44: Rou¡¯er entering the Manor


    Deep into the night, the air turned humid and brisk. Jun Huang, with the poison still in her system, was more susceptible to the cold than others. She trembled and sneezed. Wei Qian quickly took a robe from the bedroom and put it over Jun Huang¡¯s shoulders. ¡°It¡¯ste, sir. You should turn in, or you¡¯ll get sick.¡±


    Jun Huang waved her hand in the air. ¡°I¡¯m fine. The prince is in such a good mood. I wouldn¡¯t want to ruin it.¡±


    Qi Chen frowned. ¡°Wei Qian is right. My good mood isn¡¯t that rare. If brother Feng catches a cold, I will feel guilty. It¡¯ste. Go back to your room and rest.¡± He reached out his hands to help Jun Huang up, but she stood up before he could. His hands brushed against her cool fingertips, which made him even more concerned.


    Jun Huang coughed, her face a little pale. ¡°Then this gentleman will take his leave. If Your Highness doesn¡¯t mind staying here, the servants can prepare a room for you.¡± With that, She returned to her bedroom.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t want to go back to the room he shared with Wei Lanying, so he decided to stay. Wei Qian had a room prepared for him.


    Wei Lanying waited in the bedroom, scowling. Her teeth clenched so hard together that they might break any second. And she had her hand tight around a teacup as if she was going to crush it.


    Her personal maid was worried about her, and she had been scolded by Qi Chen earlier as well. She couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Lady Wei, it¡¯s all Feng Baiyu¡¯s fault. The prince values him too much! It¡¯s a good thing Feng Baiyu isn¡¯t a woman. Otherwise, you¡¯ll have no ce even in this spacious manor. If you ask me, I¡¯d say Feng Baiyu smells of trouble and should be dealt with immediately.¡±


    Wei Lanying turned to look at her and saw the murderous gleam in her eyes. She herself didn¡¯t like Feng Baiyu either, but she didn¡¯t dare to do anything to him with Qi Chen backing him up. Feng Baiyu was not someone she could touch.


    The servant she sent to retrieve Qi Chen came back. He cupped his hands in greeting. ¡°Lady Wei, the prince went straight to the side building after leaving. This servant couldn¡¯t get in, so I waited outside. Now the door has been shut, and still the prince hasn¡¯te out. It seems that he is staying there for the night.¡±


    Wei Lanying widened her eyes, her body trembling in anger. She took a deep breath and shattered the teacup on the floor. The pieces sttered everywhere.


    ¡°Feng Baiyu, from now on you are my enemy. You better not let me catch you doing things you shouldn¡¯t be doing.¡± Her eyes zed with hatred. The people around her shuddered at the sight.


    Wei Lanying couldn¡¯t fall asleep. She was still wide awake even when the day broke. She looked sick. In panic, the maid rushed to the side building and ran into Qi Chen, who just woke up and was about to leave.


    ¡°It¡¯s inappropriate to run around like this,¡± Qi Chen said coolly.


    The maid dropped down to her knees on the pebble road. Even the onlookers grimaced in sympathy, but she didn¡¯t so much as frown. ¡°Your Highness! Your Highness didn¡¯t return yesterday and Lady Wei waited the whole night for you. Even now she isn¡¯t willing to sleep. Please, for the sake of your marital bond, forgive her and tell her to get some rest.¡±


    Qi Chen frowned. It was to Wei Lanying¡¯s credit that he became the crown prince. He couldn¡¯t be so cold-blooded and let her harm herself without doing anything. He followed the maid to the bedroom.


    Jun Huang walked out of her room dressed in a loose robe, watching Qi Chen and the maid leave. An indiscernible smile caught on her lips.


    For the past few days, Jun Huang had been thinking about how she should deal with Wei Lanying. Wei Lanying was troublesome, but it would be a hinder to her cause to waste too much time on Wei Lanying. She had to find a way to divert Wei Lanying¡¯s attention.


    Recently, Wei Lanying had been keeping an unusually close eyes on the side building, as if she was worried that Jun Huang would do something wrong. Qi Chen, for reasons unknown to her, had be more and more distant to Wei Lanying. It¡¯d been days since thest time he visited her in her room. Instead, he had been spending a lot of time here with Jun Huang.


    Qi Yun sent a message saying that he had picked someone to infiltrate Prince Chen Manor. Jun Huang only needed to introduce the spy to Qi Chen. That was her opportunity.


    Jun Huang was in the yard with Qi Chen when she made her first move. ¡°Your Highness ¨C Your Royal Highness. You have been staying here a lottely. Won¡¯t Lady Wei feel hurt?¡±


    Qi Chen waved his hand in exasperation. ¡°Brother Feng is single. You don¡¯t know how difficult marriage can be.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a lowugh. ¡°Your Royal Highness can tell me yourints, but if Lady Wei hears you, she will make a fuss. Women are meant to be spoiled. Your Royal Highness is ¨C ¡±


    ¡°That was what I used to think as well. Wei Lanying, though, isn¡¯t tender at all, nor is she understanding. What else should I do?¡± Qi Chen took the cup of tea that had been on the table for a while and took a gulp, his movement too sudden for Jun Huang to stop him. Immediately, Qi Chen spat out the bitter tea all over the ground.


    Jun Huang covered up her smile. ¡°Your Royal Highness is in a bad mood. How about I apany you on a walk? You may feel better.¡±


    ¡°Brother Feng is right.¡± Qi Chen got to his feet and walked out of the manor with Jun Huang by his side.


    They walked along the busy main street of the imperial city. Qi Chen waved his fan like a young man born into a rich family. Jun Huang, on the other hand, was as elegant as a celestial being. Following behind them was Wei Qian, who carried a sword on her back. They had be the center of people¡¯s attention without realizing it.


    Being a crown prince meant that everyone now recognized Qi Chen. Every once in a while, there would be peopleing up to him to pay respect to him. He always gestured at them to be at ease. It was a rare sunny day. Qi Chen¡¯s dark mood soon dissipated.


    Not far away, there was a woman standing on a bridge, her face obscured by her tears. Her skin was unusually pale. And she was sobbing her eyes out, about to jump into the river.


    There were an army of people trying to convince her to get down. The crowd attracted a lot of attention. Qi Chen¡¯s curiosity was piqued and he jogged up to the crowd, dragging Jun Huang with him. When he got close, he saw how beautiful the woman was. Despite her clothes being made of cheap fabric, she was still a sight to behold with those brilliant eyes of hers.


    Jun Huang recognized her from Prince Yun Manor. They met once before. Now she knew this was a ploy to catch Qi Chen¡¯s attention.


    Men probably all loved a damsel in distress. In no time, Qi Chen had forced his way through the crowd and held onto the woman¡¯s wrist. ¡°Why does thedy seek death?¡±


    The woman looked up at him with eyes filled with emotions. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She was heartbreaking to look at. ¡°The gentleman would not know. I lived in a vige not far from the imperial city. My father was beaten to death by a thug, and the thug tried to assault me. My father once said that we had rtives in the imperial city. I came here as thest resort. Those rtives, however, are selfish and greedy. They would not take me in. I have nowhere to go. It¡¯s better that I die here.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s heart ached for her. He hurriedly said, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, you may stay at my manor for the time being. Don¡¯t do this to yourself. Please get down here. There¡¯s always a way out.¡±


    The woman appeared to be conflicted, but in the end she nodded, wiping her tears away. With Qi Chen¡¯s help, she walked to a tea stand near the bridge. Jun Huang ordered a pot of tea for them, her eyes never leaving Qi Chen and the woman.


    When the tea was served, Qi Chen poured the woman a cup. ¡°What should I call you?¡±


    ¡°The gentleman may call me Rou¡¯er.¡± She lowered her eyes bashfully.


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°I¡¯m Qi Chen.¡± He then pointed at Jun Huang. ¡°This is Feng Baiyu, my honored guest and someone I call brother.¡±


    Rou¡¯er shot up to her feet. The teacup in her hand dropped to the floor, but it was sturdy enough that it didn¡¯t shatter. Rou¡¯er knelt down and lowered her head. ¡°This woman failed to recognize the crown prince. If I have offended Your Highness, I beg you for your forgiveness.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, Rou¡¯er. Be at ease.¡± He helped her get up and even bent down to pat her dress clean. Rou¡¯er seemedpletely overwhelmed and didn¡¯t know what to do.


    Jun Huang gave her a good look and smiled. This woman really was a good actress. A tender woman like Rou¡¯er would be able topete with Wei Lanying for Qi Chen¡¯s attention. She could also be their inside woman. If they needed to nt more people around Qi Chen, Rou¡¯er could do that with a few choice words.


    She would be a great help. Wei Lanying wouldn¡¯t have the time and effort to keep her eyes on Jun Huang anymore.


    Rou¡¯er threw a brief nce at Jun Huang. When Qi Chen straightened up, she blushed at him helplessly, which made Qi Chen feel even more protective of her.


    As Jun Huang expected, after Qi Chen brought Rou¡¯er back to the manor, Wei Lanying immediately pulled away the people she had watching the side building and went straight to Qi Chen¡¯s room. Who the hell is this Rou¡¯er?


    Rou¡¯er had changed into some clean clothes. Wei Lanying red at her. ¡°Where did youe from, you slutty girl? You dare toe to the prince manor and seduce the crown prince? Tell me, who sent you?¡±


    ¡°Rou¡¯er doesn¡¯t understand. The crown prince took pity on me and took the homeless Rou¡¯er in. Rou¡¯er isn¡¯t what thedy said I was.¡±


    Wei Lanying¡¯s eyes grew sharper and she pped her without thinking. Rou¡¯er fell to the floor like a frail girl, trembling. Her tears streamed down her face like a pearl ne with a broken string.


    Qi Chen had witnessed everything from the front door. He rushed in and grabbed Wei Lanying¡¯s wrist, using so much force that he left a mark on her.


    ¡°Wei Lanying, do you know what you¡¯re doing? As a concubine of the crown prince, don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve overstepped your boundaries?¡± Qi Chen flung her hand away and knelt down to help Rou¡¯er up.


    Rou¡¯er looked at him with teary eyes. ¡°You must not get angry at Lady Wei for Rou¡¯er, Your Royal Highness. She must have gotten angry because Rou¡¯er did something wrong.¡±

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45: The Emperor¡¯s Birthday


    Before Rou¡¯er could finish, Qi Chen helped her get to her feet and put an arm around her waist. ¡°I hereby announce Rou¡¯er as my new concubine,¡± he said to the fuming Wei Lanying. ¡°If anyone dares to hurt her, I¡¯ll have them killed. And I meant anyone.¡±


    Wei Lanying copsed onto the ground. He can¡¯t possibly mean it! It was only after Qi Chen and Rou¡¯er had left that she pointed at the door and shouted hysterically, ¡°Qi Chen, don¡¯t you dare forget who it was that helped you be the crown prince! How could you treat me like this?¡±


    ¡°The emperor¡¯s birthday is near,¡± Jun Huang said. It made her pause seeing Rou¡¯er leaning against Qi Chen. She didn¡¯t expect Rou¡¯er to be this good. She gained Qi Chen¡¯s favor in only a few days! ¡±Has Your Royal Highnesse up with a good gift?¡±


    Ever since his fight with Wei Lanying, Qi Chen had not stepped foot into her pce. He wasn¡¯t even willing to see her. Wei Lanying couldn¡¯t possibly hate Rou¡¯er more than she did right now.


    Qi Chen ate the grape Rou¡¯er pushed against his lips and shook his head. He couldn¡¯t think of anything. ¡°I never know what to give Royal Father,¡± he said with a sigh. ¡°Everything in Northern Qi is his. No gift will be of any value to him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. It¡¯s been said that even giving a feather as a gift can mean the world to the receiver1; what matters is the intention. Whatever you give to the emperor, he will like it.¡±


    Qi Chen arched an eyebrow. ¡°What if I really do give him a feather? Will he be happy?¡±


    Jun Huang looked at him with bright eyes and curved lips. ¡°There are many kinds of birds in the world. A phoenix¡¯s feather is one of the most valuable. If you can get your hands on one and give it to the emperor, he will be happy.¡±


    Qi Chen jumped to his feet and didn¡¯t respond immediately. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that phoenixes were only seen in Western Que, and after the country¡¯s destruction, no one knew where they¡¯d gone. None have been seen since then.¡±


    Sorrow shed through Jun Huang¡¯s eyes, but she quickly recovered and pulled out a small bag. ¡°When I was young, I used to travel a lot. Once I was in Western Que and happened upon a phoenix. As it flew into the air, this feather dropped to the ground.¡±


    Qi Chen took the bag and opened it. There was a golden phoenix feather inside. His breath hitched. It was so vibrant he could not take his eyes off it.


    Rou¡¯er narrowed her eyes and gave Jun Huang a questioning look. After Qi Chen had left to search for a decorative box to hold the feather, she stopped Jun Huang from leaving.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Jun Huang looked back at her.


    ¡°You know that Qi Chen is the prince¡¯s enemy, miss. Why are you helping him?¡±


    Jun Huang was taken aback. Qi Yun told her about me? She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t have an answer for you, Rou¡¯er. Hasn¡¯t Qi Yun told you that everything I¡¯ve done, I¡¯ve done on purpose? You don¡¯t have to worry that I will harm your prince.¡±


    Jun Huang was about to leave again when Rou¡¯er murmured, ¡°It¡¯s from Western Que, then it must be the one piece of home you have on you. Don¡¯t you feel regretful for giving it to Qi Chen just like that?¡±


    Jun Huang stopped in her tracks. She was silent for a long while. Just when Rou¡¯er thought that she would not say anything, she opened her mouth. ¡°That¡¯s for me to decide. If I feel like it¡¯s not worth it, then it¡¯s not.¡± She paused before continuing, ¡±There are many pairs of eyes in this manor, Rou¡¯er. You should be more cautious now that Wei Lanying sees you as an enemy. Don¡¯t give her anything to threaten you with. And don¡¯t call me miss.¡±


    Rou¡¯er stood there thinking about what Jun Huang had just said. Who could say Jun Huang was wrong? She let out a sigh, sorrow pulling her eyes downward. She couldn¡¯t figure out why Jun Huang did what she did.


    When she turned around, she saw Wei Lanyinging towards her.


    Wei Lanying looked at her, then she looked around. Qi Chen was nowhere to be seen. Her smile deepened as she walked up to Rou¡¯er.


    ¡°What happened? Why is little sister Rou¡¯er standing here on you own? Has the prince gotten tired of you already?¡±


    Rou¡¯er greeted her. ¡°Big sister should ask yourself that question.¡±


    Wei Lanying sneered, ¡°You really are a spoiled girl. You only just gained the prince¡¯s favor and now you are acting like a savage.¡±


    Rou¡¯er looked at her without a word. Her silence riled up Wei Lanying even more, and Wei Lanying raised her hand to p her. Rou¡¯er cut her off with a chuckle and said, ¡°Big sister should think twice before you act. If you really do p me and I tell the prince about it, he will get mad at you again. Then you¡¯ll never be able to regain his affection.¡±


    Wei Lanying seethed with anger, but she knew she could noty a hand on Rou¡¯er. She balled up her hands into fists andughed lightly.


    ¡°You probably don¡¯t know, but you can¡¯t go to the emperor¡¯s birthday. You are only a serving concubine after all.2¡± She smiled widely at her, her face as vibrant as the cherry blossoms in March.


    Rou¡¯er did not want to waste any more time arguing with Wei Lanying. Besides, why would she care who Qi Chen took to the pce? She gave her a smile and took her leave.


    Wei Lanying watched her go. In her eyes Rou¡¯er seemed upset, which made her feel a little better. She went off to find Qi Chen to talk about the emperor¡¯s birthday gift.


    She was stopped by Wei Qian when she reached the study. Wei Lanying was smart enough to figure out that Jun Huang must be inside. Qi Chen was most likely talking business with Jun Huang.


    After about the time for an incense stick to burn, Jun Huang pushed open the door and walked out. She immediately saw Wei Lanying. It seemed like she had been waiting here for a while. ¡°This gentleman is here to greet Lady Wei.¡±


    Wei Lanying paid her no attention and went straight into the study. Jun Huang nced at the door with a smile before taking Wei Qian back to her building.


    ¡°The gift has been prepared.¡± Qi Chen didn¡¯t even look at her as he spoke. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry.¡±


    Wei Lanying knew that Jun Huang must have given him some advice, so she didn¡¯t dwell on it. She thought carefully about how she should word it. ¡°Ying¡¯er had sent for the most prestigious tailor in the imperial city. Royal Father should have new clothes to wear on his birthday. I came here to ask if you¡¯d like to get yourself measured as well. Then we can have both outfits delivered here.¡±


    Qi Chen turned to look at her. Such a hopeful look. He scoffed inwardly.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay in the manor this time?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You are only my concubine,¡± Qi Chen said coldly, disregarding their marriage entirely. He collected the paper and ink on the desk and left. He had things to discuss with his mother, so he arranged for a visit to the pce.


    Once he arrived at the pce Consort Zhen lived in, he saw the consort ying with some sparrows. She cut a rxed picture. He approached her and greeted her. ¡°This son is here to visit mother.¡±


    Consort Zhen put down the bailey in her hand. She didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen to visit so suddenly. ¡°What is Royal Son here for today?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to discuss with mother.¡±


    Consort Zhen sat down on the divan, waiting for Qi Chen to speak.


    ¡°I had a discussion with brother Feng today. He mentioned the princess of Southern Mu. He said that if I can win over her heart and have her support me in bing the emperor, I¡¯ll have a higher chance of seeding.¡±


    Consort Zhen gave the n some thoughts. It seemed viable. Even though Qi Chen was now the crown prince, the emperor¡¯s heart remained unpredictable. It was always a possibility that he may take away Qi Chen¡¯s title one day. If Qi Chen had something else to depend on, it¡¯d help him greatly in his pursuit of the throne.


    She pushed aside her own biases against Jun Huang and nodded to herself. It could work. But still, a hint of worry remained in her heart. ¡°It¡¯s said that the princess of Southern Mu is difficult and stubborn. Will you be able to handle her?¡±


    ¡°Do not worry, mother. I have a n.¡±


    On the emperor¡¯s birthday, the other two countries naturally had to send delegates to Northern Qi to attend the celebration. Southern Mu sent Nan Jihan3, their first prince, and Nan Guyue, their beloved princess. The two went straight into the pce to attend the banquet.


    Qi Chen gave Nan Guyue a double take when he saw her. He didn¡¯t expect the snobbish Nan Guyue to be so beautiful. It seemed that there was a reason for her difficult personality. He was even more determined to marry her now.


    Qi Chen¡¯s gift pleased the emperor greatly, who praised him in front of everyone. Qi Chen pulled his lips into a open smile, but he kept his eyes on Nan Guyue. He gazed at her so openly that Nan Guyue noticed him immediately and threw him a re.


    When it was time for toasting, Nan Guyue approached Qi Chen with a winecup. Qi Chen was pleasantly surprised. Before he could smile at her, however, she sshed the wine all over his silk robe and ck hair.


    Everyone was stunned silent. They didn¡¯t know what Nan Guyue meant by doing this. Seeing that his sister had made a scene, Nan Jihan quickly got to his feet and cupped his hands. ¡°Please forgive us, Your Royal Highness. My sister did not mean to offend you.¡±


    Qi Chen waved his hand and took the handkerchief one of the servants gave him. He wiped away the wine on his face and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡± Nan Guyueshed out with her hands on her hips. ¡±You kept staring at me. Do you really think Southern Mu is such easy prey? To think the crown prince of Northern Qi can be so lecherous!¡±


    For the sake of the rtion between the two countries, the emperor frowned but didn¡¯t say anything. Nan Jihan, however, went pale immediately and forced Nan Guyue to kneel down with him.


    ¡°Your Majesty, my sister doesn¡¯t know what to say and what not to say. Please forgive her. She really didn¡¯t mean the prince any harm.¡±


    Qi Chen could see that the emperor was offended, so he got up to bow at him. ¡°Please forgive her, Royal Father. I was curious because Princess Nan Guyue was said to be as beautiful as the goddess Chang¡¯e4, so I looked at her a little longer than I probably should have. It is I that have offended her, and the princess is right to teach me a lesson.¡±


    As stubborn as Nan Guyue was, she still knew to back down when it really mattered. She lowered her head and dared not to rouse any more trouble. The emperor didn¡¯t condemn her further.

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46: The Seed of Love


    After being scolded by Nan Jihan, Nan Guyue sat by the koike in the royal garden, angrily tearing petals off a flower, muttering, ¡°Despicable, shameless man.¡±


    Qi Chen happened to hear her as he approached. He chuckled. ¡°I am simply an admirer of the princess, and yet you feel so offended by me. I really know nothing about women.¡±


    Nan Guyue¡¯s head snapped up and she saw Qi Chen looking at her with a bright smile. He had changed into a different outfit. The adorned silky fabric entuated the air of nobility he had as royalty.


    She had just been lectured by her elder brother, and the one responsible for that dared toe mock her as if he had nothing to do with it? Her mood took a downturn. She threw away the flower and shot up to her feet, but her legs were numb from sitting too long, and there was a stabbing pain in her knees. She thus fell towards theke.


    Qi Chen grabbed her arm just in time, but she fell with such velocity that he got dragged into theke with her.


    Nan Guyue couldn¡¯t swim. She struggled and ended up clinging to Qi Chen like an octopus, her eyes squeezed shut in fear. Qi Chen pushed himself to the limit and swam to the shore. The princess was still holding onto him.


    He sighed. ¡°My eight characters of birth must have been in conflict with yours1. Here I am, soaked again.¡±


    Qi Chen carried her to dry ground and took off his robe to cover Nan Guyue up ¨C Jun Huang had told him to be a gentleman. Nan Guyue looked up at him with wide eyes, touched by his consideration.


    A couple of servants had heard themotion and led them to a room to change their clothes. Afterwards, Qi Chen sat in the resting area drinking hot tea. He took out the silver needle he had used earlier, smiling.


    He didn¡¯t miss the soft look in Nan Guyue¡¯s eyes. Good thing that Jun Huang had given him these needles; otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have been able to get closer to the princess.


    In the evening, he returned to his manor and went straight to the side building. Jun Huang was still awake, waiting for him.


    ¡°Brother Feng is indeed clever,¡± Qi Chen said. Jun Huang was very good at predicting what would happen. Everything went ording to her n.


    Jun Huang smiled a little. ¡°Nan Guyue will stay in Northern Qi for a little longer. During this period of time, Your Royal Highness must make her fall for you. Tomorrow you can ask her out. The view at night here is beautiful. It¡¯s perfect for a romantic outing.¡±


    Qi Chen understood what she meant immediately. He patted her on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m fortunate to have a strategist like brother Feng.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her head without a word. Qi Chen left not long after. Once he disappeared from her sight, there was a strange current of wind behind her. She whirled around as quickly as she could, but whoever it was was well trained in martial arts. She was caught and couldn¡¯t move.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Jun Huang said through clenched teeth. ¡°Do you know what ce this is? If you don¡¯t let me go, I¡¯ll call out for help.¡±


    The man easily carried Jun Huang out of the prince manor and didn¡¯t say anything until they reached a river. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± he said quietly, letting her go.


    Nan Xun? Jun Huang recognized his voice. She turned around and it was indeed the man she had not seen for a while. On an impulse, she threw herself into Nan Xun¡¯s arms, giving him quite a shock.


    Nan Xun could feel his heart racing. He didn¡¯t know what to do with his hands and settled on nudging Jun Huang¡¯s shoulders.


    After a moment of silence, he cleared his throat and asked, ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you?¡±


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and let Nan Xun go. She suddenly felt embarrassed as she pulled away. ¡°Sorry, I ¨C well, I have overstepped my boundaries.¡± Jun Huang felt a little wistful. It was difficult to find someone who understood her. Never in her imagination had she foreseen herself acting so boldly towards anyone.


    To break the awkward silence, Nan Xun teased, ¡°You¡¯re a woman, and yet you know so well how to pursue other women.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her head, blushing. ¡°That was how Royal Father treated Royal Mother when I was young. I just learned from them.¡±


    She was again reminded of the family she¡¯d lost and the country that had been destroyed. A somber look appeared on her face. Nan Xun could not bear to see her in pain, but offeringfort had never been his forte.


    After a long stretch of silence, Nan Xun opened his mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. You have to remember, Jun Huang, that we all lose people we love in our lifetime. If you¡¯re sad, your loved ones who have passed away will be unhappy as well. Don¡¯t forget you still have a brother to look for.¡±


    Jun Huang met his gaze and nodded, willing her eyes to stop tearing up with clenched teeth. She swore to herself that she would pay the murderers back in blood; she would make them suffer.


    Nan Xun patted her on the shoulder, relieved.


    They didn¡¯t say anything for a while. Then Jun Huang asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me why I told Qi Chen to win Nan Guyue¡¯s heart?¡±


    Nan Xun hummed. ¡°I know that you never do anything without a good reason. Why would I ask you that kind of question then?¡±


    The next day, Qi Chen had someone give Nan Guyue an invitation letter. She epted without hesitation and even circled around Nan Jihan with her face flushed. Every part of her radiated excitement.


    Nan Xun was the oldest of the siblings. He was a lot more careful than she was. ¡°Do you really want to go, Yue¡¯er?¡± he asked with a worried look.


    Nan Guyue stopped to look at him, pouting. ¡°What does big brother mean?¡±


    Nan Guyue looked so innocent at the moment, Nan Jihan didn¡¯t want to rain on her parade. He shook his head. ¡°Be careful when you¡¯re outside. Don¡¯t get hurt.¡±


    Nan Guyue gave him a long look before nodding obediently. She left with a spring in her steps.


    Back to her bedroom, she had people bring her the finest clothes she owned. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, thinking back to the day she met Qi Chen. He looked at her so openly with a twinkle in his eyes. Then in the royal garden, his clothes were all soaked, and still he teased her good-naturedly with a lovely smile.


    The more she thought about him, the more flushed her cheeks became. There wasn¡¯t even a need for applying blusher anymore.


    Her maidughed. ¡°You look like you¡¯re meeting the man of your dream, princess.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Nan Guyue retorted, but she couldn¡¯t be happier.


    The mood in Prince Chen Manor, on the other hand, was sour. Wei Lanying heard about the budding rtionship between Qi Chen and Nan Guyue. She went to confront him.


    Rou¡¯er robbed her of Qi Chen¡¯s affection. And now Nan Guyue would rob her of her status in the prince manor. Rou¡¯er was a serving concubine with no power; she posed no real threat to Wei Lanying. Nan Guyue, however, was the princess of Southern Mu. If she really got married to Qi Chen, she would be the principal wife of the crown prince.


    ¡°Do you know how much effort I¡¯ve spent to make you the crown prince, Qi Chen?¡± Wei Lanying asked with tears in her eyes. ¡°And now you¡¯re marrying another woman. How can you be so heartless?¡±


    Qi Chen looked at her coldly. She looked like a hysterical hag making a fuss on the floor, undeserving of anyone¡¯s sympathy or love. He no longer looked at her with tender eyes.


    Rou¡¯er watched without any expression. She had been with Qi Yun for decades. This was how the royal family always was. If you considered a man to be your one and only, you¡¯d be aughing stock. After a few hundred years, some may took pity on you and say you were hopelessly in love.


    As a woman, she did find Wei Lanying pitiful, but they were not friends.


    When Jun Huang got there, Wei Lanying was still sobbing on the floor. She frowned and went to help Wei Lanying up. ¡°Please get up, Lady Wei. The floor is cold. You¡¯ll get sick.¡±


    Wei Lanying pushed Jun Huang away, unwilling to ept her help. Jun Huang was caught off guard and fell.


    ¡°It¡¯s your fault!¡± Wei Lanying shouted. ¡°The prince wouldn¡¯t have treated me like this if not for you. And now you try to act all helpful? For what?¡±


    Qi Chen could not bear this any longer. ¡°Enough! If you¡¯re not afraid that I may divorce you, Wei Lanying, you can just leave.¡±


    Rou¡¯er went to help Jun Huang up. ¡°Is the gentleman alright?¡± she asked softly.


    Jun Huang shook her head and brushed Rou¡¯er¡¯s hands away. She took a step back, watching Qi Chen and Wei Lanying with cool eyes.


    Qi Chen took a deep breath and looked over at Jun Huang. At her nod, he left without looking back. Wei Lanying was going to follow him, but Jun Huang took a few quick strides and grabbed her arm.


    Wei Lanying whirled around and glowered at her. ¡°You better let go of me, Feng Baiyu.¡±


    ¡°This gentleman has always considered Lady Wei to be a smart woman. And yet you have angered the prince again and again. If you truly love someone, this isn¡¯t the way to show it. If you don¡¯t change the way you behave, you¡¯ll only be pushing the prince further and further away.¡± She let go of Wei Lanying¡¯s arm. She had made herself clear enough.


    Wei Lanying fell silent. No one knew exactly what she was thinking, but the tears in her eyes were a good enough indication. Jun Huang left with a soundless sigh. Rou¡¯er followed her out and called out for her to wait up.


    She went up to her. ¡°I heard from the servants that Wei Lanying considered Feng Baiyu to be beneath her. And yet today you reached out a helping hand to her. Do you really think it¡¯s worth it?¡±


    Jun Huang rolled her eyes. There was no need for pretense before Rou¡¯er. Jun Huang leveled her with a prating gaze.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t say anything. She looked at the scenery outside the hallway. There was a bird perching on a tree branch. Its chirps were bright and delightful. It was hard not to stop what you were doing to enjoy the view of a garden full of greenery. It was serene.


    Just when Rou¡¯er thought that Jun Huang would never answer her question, Jun Huang said, ¡°There¡¯s no point in asking if something is worth it or not, or if something is regretful or not. Why would you want me to look at the world the way you do? We are strangers walking on different paths. We don¡¯t have to argue about things like this.¡±


    ¡°I still have matters to attend to. Please excuse me. Rou¡¯er is free to do as you please.¡± She left without even a nce back.

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47: The Empress¡¯s n


    Rou¡¯er watched as Jun Huang¡¯s frail form disappeared into the distance. For whom will a woman like Jun Huang smile with her eyes downcast, she wondered, and for what will her heart ache?


    Qi Chen waited outside the ry station Nan Guyue was at for a long time before she finally came out. It was clear from her wide smile that she had lowered her guard for him. She didn¡¯t even have any servants with her.


    ¡°Qi Chen!¡± Her eyes lighted up when she saw him. She jogged up to him and came to a stop. There was a blush on her face. She averted her eyes upon noticing Qi Chen¡¯s gaze.


    Qi Chen wasn¡¯t used to seeing Nan Guyue being so reserved. ¡°The princess doesn¡¯t need to be so formal with me.¡±


    Nan Guyue looked up at him and saw her own reflection in his soft eyes. Her heartbeats quickened. This time she did not look away. She stared and stared, and yet it still wasn¡¯t enough for her.


    The sound of vendors promoting their wares rang through the street. The city was thriving. Nan Guyue could not take her eyes off Qi Chen and didn¡¯t notice there was a coaching her way. Qi Chen rushed to pull her into his arms and worriedly asked, ¡°Are you hurt, princess?¡±


    Nan Guyue lifted her gaze, suddenly seized by fear. She buried herself into Qi Chen¡¯s embrace and shook her head. Qi Chen let out a sigh of relief.


    It was close to evening. One by onemps were lit and the city was glowing with dim light. Nan Guyue was born in a freezing country. She had never seen anything like this. For a moment she could only watch with her mouth agape.


    ¡°Is the imperial city always like this at night?¡± she asked.


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°It is. Does the princess like it?¡±


    Nan Guyue looked up excitedly, but Qi Chen¡¯s tender expression drew her attention and her breath hitched.


    Under the warm glow of themp, her bashful smile burned itself into Qi Chen¡¯s eyes. But among those born in the royal family, who dared to ever fall in love?


    Qi Chen remained emotionally detached. The tenderness on his face belonged to a man that didn¡¯t actually exist.


    It was a wonderful night. Nan Guyue felt her heart flutter. She never thought she would ever fall for someone so easily. This man had such beautiful eyes. Not even the famous Nan Xun could rival him.


    Love works in mysterious way. Nan Guyue had never experienced such a tender kind of love before. She fell, hard. There was no turning back.


    After that day, Qi Chen acted more and more attentive to Nan Guyue, as if there was nothing he wanted more than to give her the stars. Nan Guyue always epted his gifts with a red face.


    Wei Lanying seemed to have taken Jun Huang¡¯s advice. She went back to the way she had been and stayed out of Qi Chen and Nan Guyue¡¯s rtionship. Qi Chen felt morefortable with Wei Lanying now. He even stayed at her ce every once in a while.


    One day, when Wei Lanying was in Qi Chen¡¯s arms, listening to his strong heartbeats with her eyes closed, she suddenly realized that she was still the same woman she was before, but Qi Chen had be a different man.


    Qi Chen had his arms around Wei Lanying, but the one he was thinking about was Nan Guyue. He got distracted and didn¡¯t even notice that Wei Lanying was looking at him.


    Wei Lanying¡¯s heart sank. She took a deep breath and managed a smile. ¡°If Your Royal Highness really does like Princess Nan Guyue, you should marry her. Ying¡¯er will ept it withoutints.¡±


    That surprised Qi Chen. Wei Lanying couldn¡¯t stop him if he wanted to marry Nan Guyue, but he never expected Wei Lanying to bring it up on her own. ¡°Are you being serious?¡±


    Wei Lanying nodded with a faint smile. Inwardly, she was scoffing. She knew it didn¡¯t matter that Nan Guyue enjoyed Qi Chen¡¯s favor now. Qi Chen would be with her when he felt like it, just like the way he was with Rou¡¯er. In no time, though, he would get tired of Nan Guyue. Moreover, she¡¯d heard that Nan Guyue was difficult and stubborn. How long would a man like Qi Chen be able to stand her?


    Qi Chen was going to marry her. So what? After Nan Guyue helped him be the emperor, Qi Chen would have no use for her.


    ¡°I¡¯m d that you can be so understanding.¡± Qi Chen patted her on the shoulders, imagining holding Nan Guyue¡¯s supple body in his arms. He felt a trace of desire in his heart.


    Wei Lanying hade to terms with reality. The empress, on the contrary, smashed everything on her desk after getting the news. Her spy at Prince Chen Manor was trembling on his knees, afraid that she may have him killed in her fury.


    She stared at the mess on the floor, her eyes sharp and her teeth clenched. ¡°Qi Chen could nevere up with a n like that. And he¡¯s always hate snobbish women like Nan Guyue. Why would he take the initiative to pursue her?¡±


    ¡°This servant once heard the conversation between the crown prince and a fair-skinned schr called Feng Baiyu,¡± the spy nervously said. ¡±It was the schr who suggested him to do so.¡±


    The empress¡¯s eyes grew colder. ¡°I knew it! Feng Baiyu is a real troublemaker. I can¡¯t believe he survived the poisoned wine.¡±


    ¡°What does the empress n to do?¡±


    The empress huffed, her eyes growing murderous. ¡°Aren¡¯t they trying to strengthen their power by getting Nan Guyue¡¯s support? Then we¡¯ll destroy Nan Guyue. Let¡¯s see who he¡¯ll marry then.¡±


    The spy looked up in horror, his forehead covered in sweat and his heart filled with apprehension. ¡°What does the empress mean?¡±


    Looking down at him, the empress slid her finger against her throat. Her meaning was clear. ¡°Don¡¯t make a mess. You¡¯ll be heavily rewarded once you seed.¡± The empress stood up with a terrifying smile and threw the man a jade pendant. Then she sauntered out of the room with her entourage.


    The spy suddenly felt weak in his knees. He knew that if he didn¡¯t get rid of Nan Guyue, the empress would not let him live. If he assassinated the princess, however, he would die as well. There was no way out for him.


    Nan Guyue and Qi Chen went outside the city to enjoy the scenery. Jun Huang got on the coach with them. They had a pleasant conversation on the way. Nan Guyue even said that she was going to introduce Jun Huang a good woman from Southern Mu. Jun Huang turned her down with a smile.


    Qi Chen had an arm around Nan Guyue. ¡°You don¡¯t know him, princess,¡± he said,ughing. ¡±Brother Feng is a man with few desires. He¡¯s helped me with many ns already, but he wants neither fame nor fortune. When I told him I wanted to find him a good woman, he said no as well.¡±


    Nan Guyue frowned and pointed at Jun Huang with a finger. ¡°Don¡¯t you like women?¡±


    Jun Huang looked at Qi Chen helplessly. She didn¡¯t know that the princess of Southern Mu was so careless with her words. If someone had heard her, who knows what they would think of Jun Huang?


    ¡°The princess has made me speechless. This gentleman just hasn¡¯t met the right one yet. If I do, it¡¯ll be my luck.¡±


    Nan Guyue nodded with a pout. Then she suddenly turned to Qi Chen and asked, ¡°Am I the right one for you, Qi Chen?¡±


    Neither of them expected Nan Guyue to ask a question like that, and they froze. Qi Chen didn¡¯t have a ready answer for it.


    Jun Huang recovered faster than he did. She gave Nan Guyue a teasing smile. ¡°Doesn¡¯t the princess trust the prince¡¯s feelings for you? You don¡¯t know how obsessed the prince has been with you. Otherwise you¡¯d not have asked that.¡±


    Nan Guyue was not satisfied. ¡°Of course you¡¯d say that with the silver tongue of yours. I heard, however, that Qi Chen was very affectionate with Wei Lanying at first as well. Now he says he loves me. Why should I believe him?¡±


    ¡°The prince is going to feel wounded.¡± Jun Huang gave Qi Chen a look.


    Without missing a beat, Qi Chen said, ¡°If you don¡¯t like Wei Lanying, I¡¯ll divorce her once I return to the manor.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m not stupid. I know your marriage with Wei Lanying was granted by the emperor. If she hasn¡¯t made any mistakes, you can¡¯t just divorce her.¡± She paused before adding, ¡°I was joking. I know how Qi Chen feels.¡± Her cheeks became tinted with red.


    Sitting across from them, Jun Huang smiled a little. She could hear the two of them whispering, but she couldn¡¯t make out the words.


    Suddenly, the coach came to a halt. Jun Huang frowned as she saw the men dressed in ck blocking their way. This is bad. Qi Chen had also sensed their killing intent. He let go of Nan Guyue and got out of the carriage.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± He shouted at them. ¡°You dare to block my way?¡±


    Their leader gave him a murderous look and unsheathed his sword, scoffing. ¡°We are your doom.¡± He led his people towards Qi Chen. All of them had their weapons out.


    Qi Chen looked back at Jun Huang and Nan Guyue, trying his best to remain calm. ¡°Protect the princess for me, brother Feng.¡± He rushed to meet the attack with Wei Qian.


    Jun Huang had been through many life-and-death situations, so she regained her focus quickly. Nan Guyue, on the other hand, had spent her whole life behind imprable walls. She had never encountered anything like this. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t even move.


    A long sword flew towards them from the distance. Jun Huang pulled her close to dodge it. She knew the coach was not a safe ce to be. She dragged Nan Guyue off and into the woods nearby.


    Paralyzed by fear, Nan Guyue let Jun Huang drag her away without resistance. When she recovered, Qi Chen and Wei Qian were nowhere to be seen. She broke out of Jun Huang¡¯s hold. ¡°What are you doing? Qi Chen are still there with the attackers. How can we run away just like that?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know that their target is you? This is not the time to be stubborn, princess. You¡¯ll only be a burden if you stay there.¡±


    Before Jun Huang could finish, Nan Guyue pped her. The sound so loud it scared away the birds perching on the trees. Jun Huang looked at her, wide-eyed.


    Nan Guyue threw her a re. This Baiyu is so full of himself! And so disrespectful! She ignored what Jun Huang had said and ran out of the woods. Jun Huang stared after her for a good while.


    Nan Guyue had not pulled her punches. Jun Huang¡¯s cheek was throbbing from the p. She rubbed at it and sighed. Nan Guyue was her responsibility. She had no choice but to follow.

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48: Marriage Alliance


    Wei Qian was well-trained in martial arts. Qi Chen, however, was no match for the professional assassins. Just when he was going to be hit by a single-edge sword, Nan Guyue tackled him without thinking.


    In that split second, Jun Huang poisoned the attacker to stop him, but she wasn¡¯t fast enough. Fortunately Wei Qian hit the sword with a stone. Nan Guyue was still hit in the back, but only by the back of the de.


    She winced and fell into Qi Chen¡¯s arms, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Her lungs and spleen had been damaged. Jun Huang took out a few silver needles and threw them at the remaining assassins. They widened their eyes in shock and fell to the ground.


    Qi Chen held onto Nan Guyue, his clothes soaked with cold sweat. He looked at her with nervous eyes. ¡°Princess?¡±


    Jun Huang walked up to them with a frown and took Nan Guyue¡¯s wrist to feel her pulse. She let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Your Royal Highness. The princess will be fine. She just lost consciousness from the blow. She¡¯ll soon recover.¡±


    Qi Chen felt tension drain out of his body. He was so close to dying. And he was so close to losing his pawn.


    Wei Qian came up to them and showed them a jade pendant. It was found on the leader of the assassins. She handed it to Qi Chen respectfully. Qi Chen widened his eyes. A whirlwind of emotions shed through his face.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Jun Huang could tell this was no simple matter by Qi Chen¡¯s reaction. She was worried Qi Yun may have sent out the men without fully grasping the situation.


    ¡°This belongs to the empress,¡± Qi Chen said coldly and scoffed. He ordered Wei Qian to escort Jun Huang back to the manor. He himself carried Nan Guyue into the coach and left for the pce.


    Without asking, Jun Huang understood what he was going to do. She sighed. The empress was pitiful, and those who were pitiful were often hateful as well. The fact that she was suffering only attracted more scorn.


    Once in the pce, Qi Chen carried Nan Guyue to the emperor¡¯s bedroom and dropped down to his knees in front of the door. His expression was frosty to the point that it hurt to look at him. None of the eunuchs dared to ask him what happened, but the unconscious Nan Guyue in his arms was a clear enough indication that something was wrong. One of the eunuchs hurried inside to notify the emperor.


    ¡°Your Majesty, the crown prince would like to see you,¡± the eunuch said carefully.


    The emperor looked up from the reports he was approving. It had been a while since thest time Qi Chen visited. He wondered what his son was here for this time. For a moment he didn¡¯t say anything.


    The eunuch saw the change in the emperor¡¯s expression. He took a deep breath. ¡°Princess Nan Guyue was here as well.¡±


    The emperor put down the report. ¡°Hurry and let them in.¡±


    The emperor was shocked when Qi Chen carried Nan Guyue inside. He immediately sent for the royal doctor and helped Qi Chen settle Nan Guyue on an empress chair by the wall. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°This son invited the princess to go out of the city and enjoyed the scenery, but someone sent out assassins to attack us on our way. The princess was hurt.¡± Qi Chen lowered his eyes and took out the dark green jade pendant. How could the emperor not recognize it? He flew into a rage and went straight to the pce the empress resided in.


    It was during daytime. The empress never expected the emperor to take time out of his busy schedule to visit her. She quickly recovered from her shock and bowed to him. ¡°This wife did not know Your Majesty was here. If Your Majesty has felt unweed, I beg you for your forgiveness.¡±


    The emperor looked her straight in the eyes until she started feeling guilty. She was right to be concerned. The emperor threw a pendant at her feet. Her face paled when she saw it.


    ¡°My wife, you have disappointed me. How could you do something so foolish? If Nan Guyue had been murdered here, Southern Mu would wage war against Northern Qi!¡±


    The empress felt weak in the knees and she fell to the floor, her eyes unfocused. She was blinded by her urge to get revenge. Now she could see how big a mistake she¡¯d made. Her neck became visibly soaked in sweat.


    The emperor looked at her. This woman had been his wife for decades. He sighed and shook his head. ¡°For your mistake, I will take away your title as the empress. From now on, you will stay in the pce and behave yourself.¡± He left without a nce back.


    What happened in the pce didn¡¯t just stay in the pce. Nan Jihan came to find Nan Guyue the moment he heard about his little sister¡¯s injury. And he was the first thing Nan Guyue saw when she came to.


    She blinked. Where¡¯s Qi Chen? In panic, Nan Guyue struggled to get up and grabbed Nan Jihan by his arm. ¡°Big brother, have you seen Qi Chen? Is he alright? Where is he?¡±


    Nan Jihan looked towards the door with a scowl. Nan Guyue followed his line of sight and saw Qi Chen pacing outside the room. Her heart soared at the sight of him. ¡°Come in, Qi Chen!¡±


    Earlier, Qi Chen was kicked out of the room by Nan Jihan. Now, hearing Nan Guyue calling out for him, he entered without hesitation. Nan Guyue sat on the bed grinning at him. He rxed, his worried expression melting into a smile.


    The emperor returned not long after. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw Nan Guyue was alright.


    ¡°Do you still feel unwell, princess?¡± the emperor asked.


    Nan Guyue shook her head. She was about to say something when Nan Jihan cut her off. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Your Majesty give us an exnation for what took ce today?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about, brother?¡± Nan Guyue budged in. ¡°What does this have to do with them?¡±


    Qi Chen shifted his gaze to her and took a deep breath. ¡°Everything that happened today happened because of me. I¡¯m willing to take full responsibility.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that!¡± She looked over to Nan Jihan and the emperor. ¡°I hereby announce that I will marry no one but Qi Chen! This has nothing to do with him. I would be dead if not for Qi Chen.¡±


    Everyone was stunned silent. The first to recover was the emperor. ¡°Does the princess mean what you have said?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do.¡± Nan Guyue threw caution to the wind and looked at Qi Chen with a fierce determination. She had a feeling that if she didn¡¯t speak her mind now, she would lose Qi Chen forever.


    Qi Chen held her gaze, his breathing shallow. It took some time for him to regain the ability to think properly.


    Nan Guyue smiled at him. ¡°Qi Chen, I¡¯m asking you to marry me. Are you willing to?¡±


    Nan Guyue¡¯s eyes were filled with emotions. Qi Chen nodded and gave her a brilliant smile. ¡°If the princess is willing to take me as your husband, of course I will take you as my wife.¡±


    The emperor didn¡¯t give Nan Jihan the chance to argue. ¡°Since the princess and Chen¡¯er hold such deep feelings for each other, I hereby approve of their marriage.¡±


    Nan Jihan listened to them rushing to finish each other¡¯s sentences. He could see how happy Nan Guyue was. In the end he didn¡¯t argue. He could only hope that she would be happy. She had chosen her own path and she would have to live with her choice.


    In less than a day, the news that Northern Qi and Southern Mu was going to form a marriage alliance had spread throughout the whole city. Nan Jihan sent a messenger to report this back to Southern Mu. And Nan Guyue waited at the ry station, giddily waiting for Qi Chen to marry her.


    Qi Chen went straight to the side building once he returned to the manor. Jun Huang was watering the nts there. She looked like she was enjoying herself.


    Qi Chenughed. ¡°Brother Feng always looks so at ease.¡±


    Jun Huang turned around to face him, her lips quirked up. ¡°And Your Royal Highness must be happy. Congrattion on getting the girl.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s smile grew wider. Nan Guyue would soon be his. He couldn¡¯t be more satisfied.


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to brother Feng¡¯s n. Otherwise, Nan Guyue would not have agreed to a marriage.¡±


    Jun Huang met his eyes. ¡°If Your Royal Highness is willing to put your trust in me, this gentleman would like to be your wedding nner this time.¡±


    Qi Chen hesitated. He was the crown prince now. His wedding should be held by the Ministry of Rites. Jun Huang, however, had earned his genuine affection. He nodded after some consideration. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it in your capable hands. I know you won¡¯t disappoint me.¡±


    Qi Chen let Jun Huang take full charge of the wedding. And he announced that if anyone defied Jun Huang, he would take it as a personal offense to him. With that, no one dared to say no to her.


    Jun Huang went to visit Rou¡¯er and, without ceremony, she said, ¡°I¡¯m sure the fourth prince has told you about the n. Now that I¡¯m in charge of the wedding, you can go take care of recruiting the right people. I¡¯ll need them tomorrow.¡±


    Rou¡¯er dropped her guise as a frail woman. Her expression turned so cold it made her look like apletely different person. She put amp outside when no one was watching.


    One of Qi Yun¡¯s people had been waiting outside the manor. He saw the signal and went off to make preparations.


    The next day, Jun Huang left the manor early in the morning and went to the ce that sold servants. Indeed, Qi Yun¡¯s people were there. They were all highly skilled fighters, but they looked just like any ordinary citizen within the city.


    Wei Qian, however, was observant. She stopped one of the men Jun Huang picked and hit him.


    She certainly didn¡¯t pull her punches. The man with strong shoulders and arms was knock off to the ground. He spat out a mouthful of blood. All around them people were staring and muttering.


    ¡°What are you doing, Wei Qian?¡± Jun Huang snarled. ¡°Don¡¯t forget what the crown prince said. Are you questioning my decision?¡±


    Wei Qian lowered her eyes. ¡°I have made a mistake. I ask for the gentleman to punish me.¡±


    Jun Huang huffed and helped the man up. Then she left with the people she picked, ignoring Wei Qianpletely. Wei Qian stood there for a long time with a bitter smile. She couldn¡¯t express how helpless she was feeling.

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49: What Can You do?


    Back to the manor, Jun Huang immediately reced many of the servants. She did it so openly, it was difficult to not notice. The housekeeper soon came to her for answers.


    ¡°What is the gentleman doing?¡± he asked.


    Jun Huang stared down the old housekeeper. ¡°Do you really think I don¡¯t know who those servants are?¡± she said slowly. ¡°I heard that you have been working here for many years, and yet you have used your position for personal gains. Your rtives were paid good money, but they haven¡¯t been doing their jobs. Do you have a good exnation for this? Do you think it is wrong for me to rece them?¡±


    The housekeeper shuddered. How did Jun Huang find out about this? She had proven herself to bepetent, and Qi Chen valued her greatly. The housekeeper didn¡¯t dare to offend her, or he would be the next one out of the manor.


    He twisted his mouth into a smile. ¡°The gentleman is right. Those useless fools should be reced. If the crown prince asks about it, this servant will exin to him.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded approvingly. After the housekeeper took his leave, her smile grew wider. She knew how these people thought.


    Not everyone could be convinced so easily, of course. A servant in charge of managing the firewood refused to go. He made a big fuss and the other servants couldn¡¯t talk him down. They turned to Jun Huang for help.


    When Jun Huang arrived, the man was grappling with a couple of other men. She looked on with her arms crossed as if she was watching a good show.


    The firewood keeper ended up being pinned down to the ground. When he noticed that Jun Huang was here, he cursed, ¡°Feng Baiyu, you shameless bastard! I really don¡¯t know why the crown prince keeps you around. Did you please him with that pretty little face of yours? Do you really think you are the master of this manor?¡±


    Jun Huang walked up to him, her face as calm as ever. Letting out a scoff, she squatted down and forced the man to look up at her with the tip of her fan. ¡°Everyone in the manor has to listen to my orders now. What can you do about it?¡±


    She said it so boldly everyone but the man was stunned by her confidence. The man was still struggling, however. ¡°Ha! Who knows if you truly arepetant? Maybe you¡¯ve served him the way only a woman would in order to gain this privilege.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes went icy and she kicked the man in the head. ¡°Beat him up until he can¡¯t say a word,¡± she said to the other servants around them. After taking a few steps, she paused and added. ¡°I want him alive.¡±


    She left without even a stain on her clothes. Pained screams rang through the manor, but she didn¡¯t appear to be affected at all.


    This man had smiles that could captivate a city, but eyes that could freeze the ocean. Wei Qian felt her muscles tense up. The murderous intent on Jun Huang¡¯s face had intimidated the servants. They wouldn¡¯t dare to stir up troubles again.


    ¡°Why was the gentleman so angry with a lowly servant?¡± Wei Qian couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Jun Huang stopped and turned to face her with a polite smile. ¡°I wasn¡¯t angry. I just felt sorry for the crown prince. A lowly servant dared to say something like that? Do you really think there¡¯s a ce in the manor for him?¡±


    Wei Qian opened her mouth and then closed it. She was going to say if the gentleman was willing to keep him, there would be a ce for him. But then she thought about what the man had said. Was there really a reason to keep someone like that? In the end, she chose not to say anything.


    ¡°Has Lady Wei heard that Feng Baiyu has been recing the servants in the manor?¡± Wei Lanying¡¯s personal maid asked carefully.


    Wei Lanying sat before a bronze mirrorbing her hair. Her only reaction was a quietugh. ¡°The prince has given him the permission. Let him do what he wants to do. If he makes a mistake, we¡¯ll have a chance to kick him out. The one we should focus on now, however, is Nan Guyue. If she enters the manor, there will be no ce for us.¡±


    The maid nodded. ¡°Lady Wei is right. What should we do then?¡±


    Wei Lanying smiled at her own reflection. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m beautiful?¡±


    The maid nodded again. ¡°You¡¯re the most beautiful woman in the manor. No one can rival you.¡±


    The praise pleased Wei Lanying. Her smile grew wider as she stood up. ¡°We have to make sure the prince stay more nights here. If I can get pregnant with his child these couple of days, I¡¯ll have nothing to fear even after Nan Guyue and Qi Chen get married.¡±


    ¡°Lady Wei is indeed clever.¡±


    Wei Lanying was too busypeting for Qi Chen¡¯s attention to care about what Jun Huang was doing. As for Qi Chen¡¯s servants, they had talked about this matter after seeing Jun Huang¡¯s action, but they assumed that Jun Huang must have reced the servants under Qi Chen¡¯s order. Besides, Jun Huang was Qi Chen¡¯s confidante. They couldn¡¯t possibly go against her. It was quite the opposite. They should stay on her good side. So they turned a blind eye to what she was doing.


    Jun Huang knew how the Ministry of Rites held a wedding. In the early morning, she left the manor without Wei Qian. Only some of the servants she bought were with her. They went to purchase the things they¡¯d need.


    Jun Huang had done her research. Moreover, she was a woman herself; naturally she would know what kind of wedding Nan Guyue would want. She went straight to the store she¡¯d set her eyes on.


    She was in so much of a hurry that she didn¡¯t notice her foldable fan had dropped to the ground.


    Nan Xun was with his personal pageboy. He picked up the fan and saw Jun Huang at the distance with a group of servants. A smile bloomed on his face.


    Nan Xun caught up with her and affected a look of surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the gentleman and I to be so intertwined by fate. This imperial city isn¡¯trge, but it isn¡¯t small, either. And I¡¯ve heard that the gentleman doesn¡¯t leave the manor much. Yet we happened to cross paths today. Isn¡¯t it a serendipity?¡± He arched an eyebrow at her.


    She gave him an eye roll and took a step back, cupping her hands in greeting. ¡°It is. I haven¡¯t gone out of the manor for a good while. And I just happened to run into the prince today? Such coincidence happens only once every blue moon.¡±


    Nan Xun choked. He didn¡¯t know Jun Huang had such a sharp tongue and that she wasn¡¯t willing to back down at all. Amusement bubbled up inside him.


    There were many pedestrians on the street. Nan Xun frowned at the bustling crowd and pulled Jun Huang to the side of the road. ¡°Why are you here today?¡±


    ¡°Your Highness must have heard about the crown prince¡¯s wedding. This gentleman is here to make arrangements. I have set my mind on giving him and and the princess a wedding they¡¯ll both be satisfied with.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the gentleman isn¡¯t from around here. You probably don¡¯t know which stores sell good products in the imperial city. What do you say we go together? I happen to be free.¡±


    Jun Huang was about to say no, but Nan Xun gave her a look that clearly said he wanted to talk. Besides, it had been a while since thest time she saw Nan Xun. She had missed him. ¡°Thank you then, Your Highness, for taking the time to keep mepany.¡±


    They ignored the servants following behind them and headed to their destination. On their way, Nan Xun listened to Jun Huang talk about what had happened the past two days. When she talked about the assassins they ran into, his expression hardened.


    He took Jun Huang¡¯s hands and checked if there were any wounds, paying no mind to the fact that they were in public. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the crown prince and the princess were almost killed, but I didn¡¯t know you were there as well. Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    Jun Huang frowned at Nan Xun¡¯s nervous expression, puzzled. She was going tough at Nan Xun for overreacting, but she couldn¡¯t when she heard what he said next.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re not hurt. If anything happens to you, I¡¯ll never forgive myself.¡± He let out a sigh of relief when he saw there was no injury on her. ¡°Listen, if something like this happens again, send me a message immediately.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded hesitantly. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were filled with emotions, but she didn¡¯t understand what they were. At that moment, it seemed like they were the only two people left in this world, and the air hade to a halt.


    Jun Huang quickly recovered and pulled away from Nan Xun. She turned away with a blush, unwilling to look at him. Nan Xun btedly realized that he had overreacted. He felt his cheeks re up in embarrassment.


    The pageboy tried and failed to cover his smile, which earned him a smack on the forehead by Nan Xun. He looked up at Nan Xun with wide eyes and pouty mouth. He didn¡¯t do anything to deserve that!


    Jun Huang cleared her throat. ¡°Thank you for your concerns, Your Highness. I¡¯m quite alright.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± He didn¡¯t know what else to say. Fortunately, they¡¯d reached the store they wanted to go. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡±


    Jun Huang looked over at the store and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go inside to make the necessary purchases.¡± she said to the servants. ¡±You can find a ce to rest. I only need you toe pick up what I bought after I¡¯m finished.¡±


    Nan Xun turned to the pageboy. ¡°You take them to a tea house. Come back after the time for an incense stick to burn.¡± He pulled Jun Huang into the store before the pageboy could argue.


    The were an impressively wide range of wedding products. Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun with a teasing smile. ¡°Your Highness seems very familiar with this ce. Do youe here often? Do you have an army of concubines at your manor?¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. ¡°What are you talking about? I haven¡¯t married anyone.¡±


    I¡¯m just joking! Jun Huang pouted and didn¡¯t say another word. She looked over the products that the clerk had rmended.


    Nan Xun realized that he¡¯d been too serious. He scratched his head and took a deep breath, following after Jun Huang. For a moment none of them talked. It was like they¡¯d suddenly lost the ability to have a normal conversation.


    Jun Huang clearly was enjoying this. Nan Xun could see her eyes light up every time something caught her attention. He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°How will you like your wedding to be?¡±


    Nan Xun was right behind her. When Jun Huang turned around, they came face to face, looking at each other at too close a distance. Jun Huang could hear Nan Xun¡¯s breathing and his heart beat. And Nan Xun too could hear hers.

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50: Insults and Mockeries


    They were close. Nan Xun could see how bashful Jun Huang actually was feeling, and Jun Huang could see the tenderness Nan Xun hid under his steely expression.


    Jun Huang suppressed the unfamiliar feelings in her heart and took a step back, bumping into the table behind her. Nan Xun quickly pulled her in and bent his head bent down to ask, ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    Leaning against Nan Xun¡¯s chest, Jun Huang¡¯s breathing grew erratic and her usualposure was long gone. She didn¡¯t know what to do, so she just let Nan Xun hold her.


    When the clerk came back from his trip to the storage room, he was surprised to see his two customers being within one another¡¯s personal space. Jun Huang quickly pushed Nan Xun away and focused on something else, her cheeks red. Nan Xun looked away after throwing Jun Huang a nce.


    This was a rare chance for Jun Huang to indulge herself in shopping. She bought one of almost every item sold in the store. Nan Xun teased her for doing so. She shrugged and said it was Qi Chen¡¯s silver she was spending. Nan Xun snorted and didn¡¯tment on that.


    When they left the store, the sun was setting. Jun Huang looked at the dim lights on the street, her heart suddenly soared. She turned to Nan Xun with bright eyes and a soft smile. ¡°Thank you for your help today. It¡¯s about time for dinner. If Your Highness is willing, what do you say I buy you dinner and some drinks at a tavern?¡±


    Nan Xun was looking off into the distance. In the end, he shook his head and sighed. ¡°Sorry. I have matters to attend to now. We will see each other again at ater time. There will be plenty of opportunities for us to share a meal. You should go now. Come on. I¡¯ll walk you back.¡± He left for Prince Chen Manor before Jun Huang could say anything.


    She didn¡¯t have a choice but to follow. However she still felt a little lost. It was difficult for a woman to invite a man to dine, yet Nan Xun had turned her down.


    The streets were bustling with activity. This was a prosperous city. Had Western Que not been destroyed, would it be this lively as well? She couldn¡¯t help but wonder about that from time to time.


    When they reached the manor, Qi Chen was standing by the gate. Jun Huang cursed under her breath. It was toote for Nan Xun to leave. Qi Chen had already seen them and wasing this way.


    Qi Chen looked at Nan Xun with a polite but distant smile. ¡°This is a surprise.¡±


    ¡°I ran into gentleman Feng on the street and saw that his servants were carrying quite a lot of things,¡± Nan Xun met Qi Chen¡¯s eyes and said openly. There was no trace of guilt on his face. ¡±This is the imperial city, however it iste. There are many people who may see them as the perfect target. I decided to apany gentleman Feng to keep him safe.¡±


    He was so convincing Qi Chen thought he was probably telling the truth. Even Jun Huang was almostpelled to believe his words.


    Sometimes she felt that maybe Nan Xun was simply being polite and didn¡¯t really care for her at all. Now, when she looked up at him, she saw a handsome face with no warmth. This was a man who would never be hindered by anyone nor anything in the mortal world. This man would always be above all others. Always cold and collected. She felt the urge to ask if the affection she felt in the past was real, and if their entanglement today really happened.


    But Jun Huang wasn¡¯t the princess of Western Que anymore. She was gentleman Feng Baiyu. She had to always keep in mind the family and country she had lost. How could she let anything stop her from reaching her goal? She had to let her past self die. She must never open up to anyone again.


    Nan Xun looked aside and noticed the undercurrent of emotions in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. Suddenly he felt his chest tighten. He didn¡¯t know why exactly. He only knew there was something he had to rify. Before he could say anything, however, Jun Huang had turned back into the usual Feng Baiyu. Always so very distant to everyone; it was like there was nothing tying her to the world.


    ¡°Thank you, Your Highness, for walking me back.¡± Jun Huang cupped her hands and bowed. ¡±It¡¯ste. You should return soon. It¡¯s cold and humid at night. Take care not to get sick.¡±


    Nan Xun balled up his hands into fists and couldn¡¯t stop them from trembling. He closed his eyes to cover up his feelings. When he opened his eyes, he was again the war god of Northern Qi, and Jun Huang was only an honored guest dependant on another prince, waiting for a chance to get her revenge.


    He didn¡¯t say anything. He didn¡¯t have anything to say, either. He took his leave with his pageboy. Dust flew up from the tail of his robe and danced in themplight.


    The pageboy had been serving Nan Xun for many years. He could clearly see that Nan Xun was brooding. On their way back he remained silent for fear of angering his prince further.


    Jun Huang looked away from Nan Xun. Qi Chen slowly opened his mouth and said, ¡°Brother Feng appears familiar with Nan Xun. Did you know each other from before?¡±


    Jun Huang smiled a little. ¡°When I traveled around I once ran into a group of bandits. If not for Prince Nan¡¯s help, I would have died before reaching Northern Qi. We didn¡¯t really know each other. I just owe him a favor. Rest assured, I know where to draw the line.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fine, then. Brother Feng must remember, however, that Nan Xun is not the upstanding sort. You have to be careful when you¡¯re with him.¡±


    ¡°I will remember Your Royal Highness¡¯s words,¡± Jun Huang calmly said, her tone betraying none of her feelings. Qi Chen didn¡¯t keep her any longer. It waste. He told Jun Huang to go rest.


    On her way back to the side building, she bumped into Wei Lanying, who was rxing in the pavilion. Wei Lanying saw Jun Huang and went up to her with the help of her maid.


    Jun Huang knew she was only an honored guest, while Wei Lanying was Qi Chen¡¯s spouse. It was better for her to be civil with Wei Lanying. She cupped her hands in greeting. ¡°Evening, Lady Wei.¡±


    Wei Lanying huffed and stared at Jun Huang without a word, her eyes filled with disdain.


    After a while it was clear that Wei Lanying wasn¡¯t going to say anything, so Jun Huang decided to leave. Wei Lanying, however, stopped her. She sneered, ¡°Have you forgotten this is the prince¡¯s manor, Feng Baiyu? This isn¡¯t the rundown ce you used to live in. I¡¯m the prince¡¯s spouse. Is this how you treat your masters?¡±


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Lady Wei has asked me something I can¡¯t answer. Don¡¯t you know the princess is entering the manor after a few days? Then she will be the master. Where will Lady Wei be after that?¡±


    ¡°You ¨C ¡± Wei Lanying was so angry she couldn¡¯t say anything. She could feel a ball of fire burning in her lungs, spreading to her head. She didn¡¯t know Jun Huang had such a sharp tongue.


    Her lips twisted into a smile in her rage. ¡°True, after Nan Guyuees I¡¯ll be nothing in the manor. But aren¡¯t you trying too hard to butter up the princess? I thought the strategist the prince picked would have more integrity, but you are only a despicable weasel. ¡±


    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t care what Lady Wei thinks, but what if someone with malicious intent hears you? If they tell the prince? What will the prince think then?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t go around insulting people, but she was no push-over, either. She didn¡¯t hurt people who had not hurt her. For people who attacked her, however, she would pay them back twofold. Normally she didn¡¯t care to talk back to Wei Lanying, and she had taken many of Wei Lanying¡¯s insults and mockeries silently. This woman, however, just didn¡¯t know when to back down.


    Perhaps Wei Lanying had been spoiled rotten at home and had never been insulted like this before, so she couldn¡¯t control herself. She raised her hand to p Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang grabbed her wrist before she could hit her. Wei Lanying was unnerved by Jun Huang¡¯s gaze. For a moment, she forgot to struggle and just let Jun Huang retrain her.


    ¡°Have you forgotten my advice so quickly? If Lady Wei continues to act like this, the prince really will grow to despise you. Do you think I will give you another chance to hit me?¡± Jun Huang¡¯s smile was cold and her eyes were sharp. Before Wei Lanying could react, Jun Huang flung her arm away. Wei Lanying lost her bnce and fell onto a chair by the hallway. She let out a pained cry.


    Jun Huang looked down at her. Wei Lanying¡¯s appearance hadn¡¯t changed. And she was as unlikable as she had been the first time they met. The bright and vibrant dress made her look respectful, but it was only a skin deep illusion.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath. She was going to say something else, but in the end decided against it. She didn¡¯t want to waste any more of her breath. She left, pretending Wei Lanying wasn¡¯t there.


    It was doomed to be a sleepless night. Jun Huang tossed and turned, but she couldn¡¯t get Nan Xun¡¯s indifferent expression out of her head. Way past midnight, she still wasn¡¯t any closer to falling asleep. After the time to drink a cup of tea, she heard footstepsing from just outside her window. She rolled down from the bed whilst taking out a silver needle, keeping her eyes firmly on the door.


    The oil for the candle on the desk had run out. It was put out when the door creaked open. Jun Huang¡¯s breath hitched. She wasn¡¯t sure what was happening and didn¡¯t dare to take action recklessly. This was the prince¡¯s manor. Anyone who could reach her room without Wei Qian noticing must be extremely well-trained.


    When the door was fully opened, Jun Huang¡¯s eyes went cold, and she was about to throw the needle. But then the person opened her mouth. ¡°Rx, gentleman Feng. It¡¯s Rou¡¯er.¡±


    Jun Huang let out the breath she had been holding in when she heard that gentle, familiar voice. No wonder Qi Yun sent Rou¡¯er here. She was more capable than Jun Huang had thought. It would be so easy for Rou¡¯er to kill Qi Chen. Qi Yun, however, had a big heart. He cared about his family still. Jun Huang was sure he wouldn¡¯t really hurt Qi Chen.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Jun Huang asked, putting away the needle. She sat down in the dark, poured herself a tea, and took a gulp.


    Rou¡¯er shut the door behind her. She didn¡¯t light up the candle. She could still see Jun Huang clearly in the dark. Jun Huang paid her no mind and just kept drinking tea under her scrutiny. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t look more rxed.


    Rou¡¯er was impressed by her self-control. She greeted Jun Huang with cupped hands and lowered her head. ¡°Prince Yun has said he wanted to meet with the gentleman.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. What does Qi Yun want? She didn¡¯t voice her question. In her bemusement, she identally spilled a little tea over her fingers. Fortunately the tea had gone cold.

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51: The Grand Wedding


    ¡°Has he said when?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow noon at the tea house.¡±


    Rou¡¯er silently left the room and disappeared. Jun Huang sat on the bed, her head filled with thoughts.


    She couldn¡¯t sleep, so she brought a teapot and cup to the backyard. Above her was a stream of bright stars. The wind made her shudder. Jun Huang didn¡¯t have a robe with her, and she was dressed in only a thinyer of clothes.


    Under the moonlight, she poured herself a cup of tea and started drinking. Her face was obscured in the dark.


    She drank the tea like she would wine. She wasn¡¯t drunk, but her mind was falling into slumber. Supporting her head with a hand, she shifted her gaze to the tea inside her cup. But her heart was somewhere else, somewhere far, far away.


    Late at night, Wei Qian woke up and saw Jun Huang drinking tea alone in the backyard. She was just about to tell Jun Huang to go get some rest when she saw the expression on Jun Huang¡¯s moonlit face. She looked so sorrowful that Wei Qian didn¡¯t dare approach her. So she watched from afar.


    Jun Huang drank until the sun had risen. She finished the pot of tea. When she turned around she saw Wei Qian looking at her. Hurriedly, Wei Qian looked away. Jun Huang shrugged and went into her bedroom to change.


    Afterwards, she left the manor for the tea house. When she arrived, Qi Yun had already been waiting for quite a while. Jun Huang was a little surprised. Qi Yun had never been so eager to meet her before.


    Qi Yun came up to her with a frown and went straight to the point. ¡°You said you wanted to help me, Jun Huang, but why did you let second brother marry Nan Guyue? You must know that after they get married, Qi Chen will gain considerable support.¡±


    Jun Huang could see how anxious he was. She sighed. ¡°Of course you¡¯d ask me about that. I thought you¡¯d understand me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand, Jun Huang. You don¡¯t make it easy to do so.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a quietugh. Qi Yun didn¡¯t know what she was thinking. She took a deep breath and said in a cool tone, ¡°I told you I never do things without reason. I thought you knew me the best, but still you suspect me. I suppose I¡¯m too naive.¡±


    ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Qi Yun quietly said, his expression pained as he looked at Jun Huang. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re helping Qi Chen now.¡±


    They had known each other for decades. They could read each other well. He thinks I¡¯ve thrown myself under Qi Chen¡¯s banner, Jun Huang thought. That was why Qi Yun was so afraid and conflicted...


    ¡°Qi Chen seems like a reserved gentleman, but in reality he is heartless and deceitful. Nan Guyue, on the other hand, is naive, if a little spoiled. She is well protected by her parents and brothers in Southern Mu. She will not take any abuse from anyone. In Prince Chen Manor, there is Wei Lanying, who will attack anyone standing in her way. If these three are forced to coexist in the long term, it won¡¯t go well and troubles will arise. So the marriage is not going to benefit Qi Chen. Rather, he will be too busy dealing with conflicts among his spouses and have no time for his pursuit of the throne.¡± Jun Huang clearlyid out her points. It was difficult not to be convinced by her.


    Qi Yun felt silent and let out a long sigh. Jun Huang had a point. ¡°I was too anxious and said what I shouldn¡¯t have said. I hope you can forgive me.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded after a long pause. Then she turned away. ¡°I know you were. Remember though, we¡¯ve known each other for years. I¡¯ll never abandon you. Rest assured, when I said I would put you on the throne, I meant it with my whole heart.¡±


    Qi Yun felt his face heat up. Of course he knew what kind of a person Jun huang was. He winced. Never had he realized that he could be so distrustful.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t take it personally. Qi Yun was born into a royal family. It was in their blood to doubt others.


    None of them said a word. The only thing moving in the room was the wavering smoke from the incense. Dejected, Qi Yun bid her farewell and left. Only after that did Nan Xun show himself. He had been hiding in the room.


    ¡°You lied to him,¡± Nan Xun said without preamble.


    Jun Huang arched an eyebrow at him. ¡°What does Your Highness mean?¡±


    Nan Xun took the seat across from her and poured himself a cup of tea. ¡°You urged Qi Chen to marry Nan Guyue because you have lost your patience for Wei Lanying¡¯s provocation. You want Nan Guyue to draw her attention away from you.¡±


    Jun Huang snorted and drank her tea. Her silence seemed like a confirmation.


    When they were leaving, Jun Huang said. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Your Highness to be the one person in Northern Qi that actually understands me. This is a surprise.¡±


    The emperor ced great importance on the marriage alliance between Southern Mu and Northern Qi. And to show just how much he valued this marriage, he sent a great many gifts to Prince Chen Manor early in the morning.


    Jun Huang was there when Qi Chen went over the list of items. There were boxes and boxes of jewelry and gold. Didn¡¯t the emperor say the treasury is nearly empty? She thought to herself. And still he is being so wasteful.


    Noticing the change in Jun Huang¡¯s expression, Qi Chen said, ¡°I know what brother Feng is thinking, but this is the way the royal family is. Sometimes, reputation would be put before the people.¡± He knew Jun Huang wasn¡¯t naive, but still she was hopeful that everything would change for good in the end. ¡°I promise you, brother Feng, when I be the emperor, I will make Northern Qi peaceful and prosperous for you.¡±


    Jun Huang opened her fan and chuckled. Her eyes seemed to be filled with derision, but at the same time she didn¡¯t seem to really care. Qi Chen was observant enough to see she didn¡¯t really believe him.


    ¡°There¡¯s no point for me to say anything. My thoughts don¡¯t count. The emperor just wants to give Princess Nan Guyue a memorable wedding. There¡¯s no reason for me to judge.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s voice was cool like the spring breeze in march.


    Qi Chen wanted to say more, but in the end decided not to. He knew that Jun Huang would always be this way. She could clearly see what the others were feeling, but she would never change herself for anyone.


    Without another word, Jun Huang walked out. She didn¡¯t want to spare a nce for the treasures that were obtained at the cost of the people. Her clothes brought up ayer of dust and they floated in the sunlight.


    Jun Huang sauntered along the endless hallway as she enjoyed the view in the garden. The ground was covered with leaves fallen from the trees. Every maid and pageboy in the manor was working. They rushed around carrying the festive red tablecloths and tes.


    She leaned against the red pir, watching these people. If something were to happen now, she wondered how panicked they would be.


    Rou¡¯er walked over dressed in pink clothes. She looked at Jun Huang with a faint smile. A maid followed behind her silently.


    ¡°Is Rou¡¯er feeling jealous seeing all this?¡± Jun Huang asked with an arched eyebrow. The smile on her face didn¡¯t reach her eyes. It was quite unnerving.


    Rou¡¯er was no fool. She could tell Jun Huang was being sarcastic. She quirked up her lips. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing for the prince to marry Princess Nan Guyue. Rou¡¯er is but a humble serving concubine. Why would I not be happy? All is well as long as long as the prince is doing well.¡±


    Her smile was proper and wless. She looked genuine. Jun Huang smiled a little without saying another word and turned her gaze back to the garden. Rou¡¯er turned to look over at the garden as well.


    Qi Chen was still only a prince when he married Wei Lanying. And many important officials kept their distance to him because of the mess at the border. Now Qi Chen was the crown prince. It was only natural that he would be a lot more valued. Moreover, he was marrying the princess of Southern Mu. Waves after waves of people came up to him to congratte him. It was quite a scene.


    The wedding is impressive. A certain someone is bound to be jealous.


    When Nan Guyue entered the manor wearing a phoenix cap surrounded by a group of maids, Wei Lanying balled up her handkerchief with a dark expression. Her maid could see how bitter she was feeling. If looks could kill, Nan Guyue would have been dead.


    Wei Lanying believed that the only reason Qi Chen favored Nan Guyue was because she was a princess. Otherwise, Qi Chen would never spare her a nce. She had neither talents nor character. In a few days, Qi Chen would be tired of her.


    The maid couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are we going to just let that princesse into the manor, Lady Wei?¡± Some questions only serve to add insult to injury. They forced you to face the cold hard truth you had been trying to ignore.


    Wei Lanying clenched her teeth, her nails biting deep into her palms. The anger in her heart was so strong she couldn¡¯t feel the pain.


    It took a long while for her to calm down. She looked around. This wedding was grand, but it was not hers. ¡°What am I supposed to do?¡± she said bitterly. ¡°The prince was determined to marry her. I can only let him. That¡¯s the only way for me to stay here. I only have myself to me getting married into the royal family. This is the way it is. I can¡¯t me my luck. I can¡¯t me him for being heartless.¡±


    The maid felt even more disgruntled. The prideful woman was reduced to this by the reality. She felt sorry for her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Lady Wei. The prince married you because he knew you were a good woman. He¡¯s just blindsided by another woman.¡±


    Wei Lanying didn¡¯t want to see Nan Guyue in the manor. She didn¡¯t want to see Qi Chen proudly taking Nan Guyue as his wife. She took a deep breath and turned around. At this moment, she was more aware of her own thoughts than she had ever been.


    Her loneliness was in stark contrast with the lively energy on the other side of the manor. Nan Guyue was no ordinary woman. The moment she stepped into the manor, she excitedly took down the red veil over her face and looked around. Only when she saw Qi Chen did her expression turn shy.


    Jun Huang saw everything. She walked up to her with a smile. ¡°The princess is truly one of a kind.¡±

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52: Mingling among the Courtiers


    Nan Guyue winked at Jun Huang and gave her a mischievous smile. ¡°I¡¯m pretty good-looking,¡± she whispered into Jun Huang¡¯s ear. ¡°Why do I need to cover up my face? I have nothing to hide.¡±


    ¡°The princess is right. However, it¡¯s a tradition in Northern Qi that a bride¡¯s veil should only be taken off by her husband. The princess is bolder than most women here, but it¡¯s better to follow the tradition on asions like this.¡±


    Nan Guyue cocked her head and gave it some thought. Jun Huang had a point. She stuck her tongue out and put the veil back on. Then she extended her hands to let the maids help her walk.


    Jun Huang whipped open her fan and smiled, but her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes. She looked over at Qi Chen, who was greeting the guests, then she looked back at Nan Guyue. What will their future entail, she wondered. Whatever was going to happen, their future was theirs to worry about. It had nothing to do with her.


    Not far away from Jun Huang, a man was staring at her with great interest. His pale fingers wrapped around a white jade cup. There was a faint smile at his lips.


    Nan Xun was also watching Jun Huang. He looked at her with such concentration he didn¡¯t even notice that Shangguan Yue had been staring at him with adoring eyes.


    Shangguan Yue brought a jug of wine to Nan Xun. She bent down to refill his cup, but she was too focused on his face that she didn¡¯t realize the cup was full.


    Jun Huang approached them with an eyebrow arched. ¡°Is Lady Shangguan trying to flood Prince Chen Manor with wine?¡±


    Nan Xun shifted his focus to what was in front of him. Shangguan Yue suddenly realized what she was doing and she dropped the jug. It fell onto the table, making a loud clunk and spilling wine everywhere. Nan Xun frowned at the mess.


    ¡°I ¨C I didn¡¯t mean to ¨C ¡± Shangguan Yue said nervously. She took out her handkerchief and was about to wipe the table clean, but Jun Huang stopped her.


    Shangguan Yue glowered at her. Jun Huang smiled a little. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this Lady Shangguan. This is a servant¡¯s task. No need for you to dirty your hands.¡± Jun Huang gestured at a maid next to them. The maid obediently started cleaning the mess with a rag.


    There was a hint of smile in Jun Huang¡¯s tone. Shangguan Yue had always been cherished and protected like a precious flower. No one ever dared to mock her like that. She clenched her teeth and gave Jun Huang a scornful look, silently using Jun Huang of embarrassing her in front of Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t care if Shangguan Yue liked her or not. She only threw Nan Xun a fleeting nce before leaving. Afterwards, Shangguan Yue didn¡¯t think there was anything she could say to make the situation better, so she went back to her seat, biting her bottom lip in worry.


    ¡°Herees His Majesty! Herees Consort Zhen!¡± A eunuch cried out with a high-pitched voice. The guests inside the manor fell quiet. Neither Emperor Qi nor Consort Zhen had shown their faces often to the public. One was the supreme Son of Heaven, while the other rarely left the pce. Many would like to catch a glimpse of them. There were also lustful men who just wanted to see for themselves just how beautiful Consort Zhen was.


    Time took no prisoners. Even the most beautiful women aged. Consort Zhen didn¡¯t seem all that old despite being at her forty, however. Her grace gave her a unique charm.


    Consort Zhen smiled, enjoying the admiring looks she was getting. Her adorned attire made her even more eye-catching. She walked up to Nan Guyue. Qi Chen cupped his hands in greeting, while Nan Guyue bent her knees. Everyone present paid their respect for her.


    ¡°Be at ease,¡± the consort said. ¡°It¡¯s my son¡¯s wedding today. You don¡¯t need to be so formal. Enjoy the celebration.¡± That got a round of cheers from the crowd. Even Jun Huang had to admit that the consort¡¯s almond-shaped eyes were bright and beautiful. The emperor remained silent. He remained seated on the main seat without showing any of his emotions.


    After Qi Chen told everyone to take a seat, there were a great deal of rituals to go through. Jun Huang was lulled into drowsiness and kept yawning. Nan Xun had to try really hard not tough. Feeling his eyes on her, Jun Huang raised an eyebrow at him. She raised her cup to him from meters away and finished the wine.


    Qi Chen and Nan Guyue were face to face, but he couldn¡¯t see her expression, and she couldn¡¯t see his smile. Nan Guyue could only look at Qi Chen¡¯s ck boots adorned with gold silk. An unfamiliar feeling filled her heart. So this is how it feels to be in love, she thought. This is how it feels to get married to the man you love.


    After the ceremony, the emperor and the consort left together. The rest of the guests became much more at ease and their interactions far more lively. People were having a good time chatting and drinking.


    Qi Chen had a servant help Nan Guyue to their new bedroom. Then he walked up to Jun Huang. As his honored guest, Jun Huang naturally had to get up to greet him. She smoothed out her wrinkled robe and raised her cup at him. ¡°Congrattions, Your Royal Highness. You have married a lovely woman.¡±


    Qi Chen gave her a wide smile and led her to outside the building. ¡°You and I call each other brother. I¡¯d like to introduce you to some people. It¡¯ll be good for your career.¡±


    Jun Huang could tell what he was thinking. She nodded and followed Qi Chen with a bottle of wine. She greeted every one of the guests Qi Chen led her to meet.


    The first she met was Prince Duan. Qi Chen pointed at him and said, ¡°This is Prince Duan. A man with few desires. When I first met brother Feng, he was who you reminded me of.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an honor, Prince Duan.¡± Jun Huang raised her cup and took a sip, smiling at him.


    Prince Duan picked up a cup from the table and let a maid fill it with wine. He finished it in one go. Seeing that Jun Huang still had some left in her cup, he smirked at her. ¡°I¡¯ve finished mine, but the gentleman has not. What do you mean by that?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect him to make a big deal out of this. She looked at the candlelight reflected in the wine and chuckled. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to offend the prince,¡± she said, raising her cup again. ¡°This gentleman just isn¡¯t very good with alcohol. It¡¯s the crown prince¡¯s wedding and I¡¯m afraid I might ruin your fun if I get drunk. I couldn¡¯t possibly deny Prince Duan¡¯s request, however. I¡¯ll finish this one.¡± She chucked the remaining wine down her throat.


    Prince Duan put down the wine cup and pped. Jun Huang took a deep breath to clear her head, but another guest came to toast Qi Chen. Qi Chen frowned. Jun Huang remembered he had not been feeling well these couple of days. The royal doctor had also said it wasn¡¯t a good idea for him to consume alcohol. She cut in with a smile. ¡°The crown prince isn¡¯t feeling well. This gentleman will have this drink on his behalf.¡±


    The guest knew Jun Huang was Qi Chen¡¯s confidante, so he didn¡¯tin. Besides, Qi Chen was never going to have this drink with him. He smiled a little awkwardly. It was fortunate for him that Jun Huang offered him this olive branch.


    Qi Chen then led Jun Huang to Nan Xun. ¡°This is the war god of Northern Qi. You know him.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She took the cup of wine a maid gave her and was just about to drink it, but Nan Xun stopped her. She gave him a questioning look. He leveled his cool eyes on her. ¡°Drinking too much is harmful. Better to drink some tea instead.¡± He picked up a teapot from the table and grabbed the cup Jun Huang was holding. He emptied the cup and filled it with tea, ignoring the odd looks people were giving him.


    Jun Huang knew Nan Xun was worried about the poison in her body. She lifted her eyes and thanked him. After finishing the cup of tea, she followed Qi Chen to greet other people. When she looked back, Nan Xun was still watching her with thoughtful eyes.


    In the end they ran into the Senior Grandmaster. Jun Huang knew he had joined Qi Yun¡¯s circle and must have offended Qi Chen in the imperial court several times. She didn¡¯t expect him toe today.


    Qi Chen was curious as well. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the Senior Grandmaster to attend my wedding,¡± he said with a scoff. ¡°This is such a surprise.¡±


    The Senior Grandmaster winced and looked up at Jun Huang. She knew what he was thinking. Thest time she only told him to open his eyes and make the smart decision. She never told him she was Qi Chen¡¯s honored guest.


    The Senior Grandmaster had years of experience in the court, though. He knew what he should and should not say. He looked over at Qi Chen and cupped his hands. ¡°Your Royal Highness has misunderstood this official.¡±


    ¡°Ha! How would I know what you¡¯re thinking? You weren¡¯t here when I married Wei Lanying. Why did youe today then? What are you nning?¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s words were dripping with sarcasm. The other guests couldn¡¯t help but look over, trying to determine what the Senior Grandmaster had done this time to offend Qi Chen. In their heads, they could already picture the Senior Grandmaster¡¯s funeral.


    Jun Huang cut in. ¡°All visitors are guests, Your Royal Highness. Since the Senior Grandmaster is here, we should treat him like we would with any guest.¡±


    The Senior Grandmaster didn¡¯t know Qi Chen would hold a grudge for such a long time. He broke into cold sweats. It was a pitiful sight. That made Qi Chen feel a little better. He waved his hand and left.


    Jun Huang met many officials and royalties, and she ended up drinking a few cups of wine for Qi Chen. Dizziness started to overtake her. And her temples were throbbing as well.


    Her head was heavy and her face was as pale as a sheet. Qi Chen frowned at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, brother Feng?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and forced herself to smile. ¡°I may have drunk a little too much. Please excuse me. I have to take my leave.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded in understanding. He was going to walk Jun Huang back to her building himself, but someone called out for him. He then asked Wei Qian to escort her. Jun Huang, however, waved a hand and said she wanted to get some fresh air and enjoy the view of the imperial city.


    The person calling out for Qi Chen was getting insistent. Qi Chen had no choice but to let Jun Huang go on her own. He walked Jun Huang to the gate. ¡°Be careful on your way back. Don¡¯t wander outside for too long. Come back before it¡¯s toote.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. The wind was strong outside the manor, but it wasn¡¯t chilling. Walking along the street, she wrapped her thin robe around herself and looked up at the moon and the stars. A sense of loss crept up into her and lodged in her heart.

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53: Taken


    Nights like this brought up memories of her own country. Jun Huang lowered her eyes. The breeze cleared her head a little. Her stomach, however, started aching.


    Nan Jihan saw Jun Huang leaving the manor. With a crooked smile, he took his leave as well without anyone noticing and returned to the ry station.


    Inside the guest room were Nan Jihan¡¯s people. Their eyes were as cold as those of the soul-sucking wraiths that gued the night. They were experts in putting people to an eternal slumber.


    ¡°I told you to stay hidden and keep watch,¡± Nan Jihan said, crouching down. ¡°You do remember what Feng Baiyu looks like, don¡¯t you? Did you see where he went?¡± The window was left open. The wind made the candlelight waver. It would be put out any moment.


    One of the men nodded in the shadow. ¡°This servant remembers what he looks like. We will not let Your Highness down. He will be delivered to you straight away.¡±


    Nan Jihan twisted his lips into a cold smile, his eyes dark. ¡°Feng Baiyu is a rare talent. If he surrenders himself to me, I will reward you handsomely. Remember, do not hurt him. If he¡¯s harmed in any way, you¡¯ll get your punishment.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Your Highness. We know what we¡¯re doing.¡±


    They left the room silently. The night would not be a peaceful one. Nan Jihan sat at his desk, his pale fingers wrapping around the teacup. There was a devilish smile at his lips. A cunning glint shed through his eyes.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know why she wanted to get away from the bustling and prosperous areas of the city, but she did. When she came to her senses, she was in the middle of nowhere, far away from the main streets. She didn¡¯t know where she was. And there wasn¡¯t anyone around for her to ask for direction. She cursed herself for being careless.


    Her stomach started cramping again. Her face went pale.


    She supported herself against a pir. Her forehead was covered in cold sweat. She didn¡¯t have time to care about her condition, however; she could hear faint footstepsing towards her.


    She frowned. Showing up at this time of day in a ce like this ¨C must be someone with malicious intent. Taking a deep breath, she straightened up and stabbed her own wrist with a silver needle to make herself focus.


    Her vision cleared up. A group of men dressed in ck appeared before her. There was an intimidating aura around every one of them.


    Jun Huang forced herself to calm down. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°These lowly men are here to invite the gentleman to be our guest,¡± said the leader.


    ¡°This gentleman didn¡¯t know this was the way you invited people.¡± Jun Huang scoffed. ¡°This is the imperial city. Don¡¯t think about trying anything untowards. Otherwise you will make trouble for your employer. He won¡¯t be happy.¡±


    ¡°If the gentleman refused toe peacefully, we will have no choice but to do this the hard way. We will make sure to make amends to you in the future.¡± The leader raised his sword, and the other men unsheathed their weapons as well. They closed in on her.


    The night wind chilled her to the bone, making the tail of Jun Huang¡¯s clothes flutter. Her eyes had always been beautiful. At this moment, they shone so brightly that they were even more brilliant than the fine clothes she was wearing.


    There was a sh of silver light. Then a couple of the men fell down holding their necks. They went silent after only a few seconds of struggling, and their body went still. Thick blood started to pour out from their orifices. It was a horrifying sight.


    The leader¡¯s nted eyes went cold. ¡°I thought the gentleman was supposed to be honorable. To think you¡¯re capable of such atrocities.¡±


    ¡°Ha! There¡¯s no ce for honor in dealing with people like you.¡± Jun Huang didn¡¯t care about what he said. Her tone was chilling.


    The men were experienced, and there was strength in numbers. They thought this was all Jun Huang could do and didn¡¯t take her that seriously. In their mind, there was nothing more important thanpleting their mission.


    Jun Huang stood alone in the dark. Her back was to the empty street. Above her was the pitch-ck sky. Sheughed and took her foldable fan in her hand. A flip of her wrist and it whipped opened. She was amanding presence. Her eyes were as cold as winter sun. She didn¡¯t need a sword to be threatening.


    With someone like him at my side, Southern Mu will be prosperous. The leader remembered what Nan Jihan said to him. He had been to hell and back for Nan Jiahn; he knew the prince valued talents greatly. This was the first time Nan Jihan showed such eagerness to get someone, however. He would do all he could to deliver Jun Huang to his prince.


    When they were ready for another round of attack, Jun Huang let out a harshugh. In the dark, the sound couldn¡¯t be more disturbing. The men shared a look, worried that Jun Huang would make a killing move again.


    ¡°You¡¯re not from Northern Qi, are you?¡± Jun Huang asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I can tell from your ent.¡±


    The leader narrowed his eyes. What is this man nning? Jun Huang was no easy prey. There really was no ce for honor in this fight. He raised his sword and attacked Jun Huang without another word.


    Jun Huang dodged the attack only barely. She was going to buy herself sometime and waited for someone to pass through. These men wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything when there was a witness. Her attackers, however, didn¡¯t give her any chance and charged at her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think about talking yourself out of this, sir. Forgive us lowly men for doing this.¡± The leader showered her with endless attacks. He made sure to only use the back of his sword; Nan Jihan wanted Jun Huang alive and well.


    Jun Huang parried the sword with her fan, taking one step back after another. The fan almost flew out of her hand due to the sheer force of the hits. She took a deep breath to suppress the pain in her stomach and temples and leveled the man with a cold stare.


    Overwhelmed with the urge to kill, she took out a bottle of poison. The cold ceramic cleared her head a little. She almost dropped the bottle because of how cold it was.


    ¡°Shield!¡± the leader eximed immediately when he saw the bottle in her hand.


    The men took off the arm shield they had on their backs and put it on, making a circle around her.


    ¡°Hu! Hah!¡± They hit the shields with their swords as they tightened the circle. There was an ease to their coordinated movement.


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes. These man were well-trained. They were no ordinary assassins or bandits. They also weren¡¯t from around here. Then they could only be ¨C


    The leader gestured at the other men. ¡°Go,¡± he said in a low voice.


    Every man charged at her with their shields raised. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t possibly defeat all of them on her own. She threw the bottle at her feat. Purple smoke went up in the air and covered the whole area.


    ¡°Watch out! It may be poisonous!¡± someone shouted, but he was toote. Some of the men copsed from inhaling the smoke. The battle array was broken.


    When the remaining attackers regained their focus again, Jun Huang was no longer at the center of the circle. ¡°Damn, he¡¯s gone!¡±


    The leader huffed. ¡°He¡¯s smart. Reel in the fishing!¡±


    Large fishings were reeled in from both sides. Jun Huang was going to escape during the chaos, but she was caught before she could. There was no way for her to escape now.


    Jun Huang stepped back until she hit the wall. She scowled at the men and huffed. She was calm despite how furious she appeared to be. ¡°Hidden arrows are difficult to dodge. You ambushed me with arge group of people, and still you made use of dirty tricks like this. Never have I met anyone so shameless. You are a poor excuse of a man.¡±


    ¡°The gentleman doesn¡¯t need to talk like this. We¡¯re only following orders.¡±


    ¡°If you feel like you¡¯re doing the right thing, why don¡¯t you have a duel with me?¡±


    The leader smiled. He knew the extent to Jun Huang¡¯s training from their fight earlier. Jun Huang didn¡¯t stand a chance. ¡°Well then, this lowly man will make my move.¡± He threw out a punch. Jun Huang observed him closely and tried her best to fight back with what she had learned from Nan Xun.


    There was a difference between men and women, however. No matter how agile Jun Huang was, she was still a woman. Besides, she wasn¡¯t that experienced a fighter. How could she possibly defeat a well-trained general? In no time, she fell to a disadvantage. It was all she could do to dodge the blow and back away.


    The poison in her system reared its ugly head. Jun Huang became paler and paler. Cold sweats broke from her forehead and streaked down her face. She wiped away the sweat with a hand and blocked the man¡¯s punches with the other.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Jun Huang to show a weakness in her stance. The man hit her in the stomach without hesitation. Jun Huang knocked against the grey wall behind her and grimaced. There was blooding out of her throat and she forced it down, staring at the men surrounding her.


    The poison rushed through her body. Even though she had tried to suppress it with her needles as soon as she could, she still spat out a mouthful of blood. The crimson red glowed faintly under the moonlight. The men picked her up.


    ¡°You two clean up the mess here,¡± the leader said.


    The two men nodded. They couldn¡¯t remove the bloodpletely, however. They gave up and made their escape.


    Not long after, a night watchman walked past this area. He dropped his gong at the sight of the blood stain. He looked around in fear, but he found no victims and there was no sign of a fight. He panicked and bolted away.


    When Jun Huang came to, she was in a run down room. She was tied to a chair, immobilized. There wasn¡¯t anyone around. Instinctively, however, she knew there were many pairs of eyes watching her.


    She took a deep breath. Her stomach was still hurting, but the poison in her body was suppressed for the time being. She considered her environment with clear eyes.


    Who could be behind this, she wondered, keeping herself calm. Ah, there¡¯s really only one suspect. It must be him.

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54: Nan Jihan¡¯s Desires


    Those men didn¡¯t look or sound like people from Northern Qi. They were too organized to be regr bandits. And they weren¡¯t assassins as they tried their best to subdue her without hurting her.


    Jun Huang only asked the leader to a duel to get a good look at his techniques. She recognized them to be from Southern Mu. If she was right about that, the person who was behind her kidnap must be Nan Jihan.


    She huffed. Didn¡¯t take Prince Nan Jihan to be someone so caddish. She wondered why Nan Jihan would want her here.


    Did he want to use her to threaten Qi Chen? No, that couldn¡¯t be true. Qi Chen was his brother-inw after all, and Nan Guyue was clearly infatuated with Qi Chen. Nan Jihan wouldn¡¯t want to make his sister unhappy. If he really saw Qi Chen as his enemy, he wouldn¡¯t have let Qi Chen marry her.


    Why me? Jun Huang thought with her head held low. She couldn¡¯t think of a reason.


    Jun Huang heard peopleing this way. She focused on listening to their conversation.


    ¡°I told you not to hurt him,¡± Nan Jihan snarled, his gaze so cold it was as if he was faced with his archenemy. ¡°Did you not hear what I said?¡±


    The general cupped his hands and dropped down to his knees, but his back was straight. ¡°This servant deserves to suffer for what I did. I ask for Your Highness to punish me.¡±


    Nan Jihan scoffed and kicked the man in the chest. The man winced, but remained as still as a statue.


    ¡°Listen carefully, don¡¯t think you can do whatever you want just because you¡¯re my confidante. If Feng Baiyu doesn¡¯t recover, I will turn your bone into ashes.¡± Nan Jihan left with a flourish of his sleeves and entered the room Jun Huang was kept in.


    None of his men understood why Nan Jihan valued Jun Huang so much. In their eyes, Jun Huang was but a fragile schr who couldn¡¯t achieve anything great. They believed Nan Jihan to be the only person who wouldsh out at his own confidantes for her.


    Nan Jihan pushed the door open. Jun Huang watched him with cold eyes. There was no trace of surprise on her face.


    Nan Jihan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. He didn¡¯t expect a fair-skinned schr like Feng Baiyu to be so bold. He was even more convinced that he had discovered someone special.


    Jun Huang gave Nan Jihan a once-over. This was the first time they had seen one another in person. Jun Huang rarely left Prince Chen Manor, while Nan Jihan was the most respected prince in Southern Mu. Many were saying that he would be the next emperor.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect us to meet so soon, Your Highness.¡± Jun Huang smiled like she didn¡¯t care how high a status he held. Her eyes looked especially bright in this rundown room.


    ¡°You know me?¡± Nan Jihan frowned. They had never met in person. He didn¡¯t even show his face when Qi Chen was introducing her to the courtiers.


    Jun Huang let out a quietugh that was free of mockery. When she met his gaze, Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t help but be captivated by her. How could someone remained so calm and collected in face of great danger and put up a proper smile like this?


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond. Nan Jihan broke the silence. ¡°You know who I am. Aren¡¯t you afraid that I might have you killed?¡±


    Jun Huang looked him straight in the eyes. ¡°Your Highness went through all the troubles to take this gentleman here. Clearly you don¡¯t intend to hurt me.¡±


    Nan Jihan narrowed his eyes. This man surpassed all his expectations. It¡¯s as if he isn¡¯t afraid of dying. Men like him are the most formidable of foes. He is capable of instilling fear in others with nothing but his own presence.


    Jun Huang was all tied up and her face was pale, but there was nothing pitiful about her. Nan Jihan was reminded of how she had looked earlier in Prince Chen Manor. Her cheeks had been flushed from the alcohol. It made his heart pound.


    He waved a hand at the men who were standing guard outside. ¡°Go fetch me a good jug of wine.¡±


    There was the sound of fist hitting palm. Then a strong voice said, ¡°Understood.¡± Footsteps could be heard getting quieter and quieter before fading into silence.


    Nan Jihan gave Jun Huang a good look beforeing to her side. He untied the ropes restraining her. This is too tight. He frowned. His eyebrows drew even closer when he saw the marks left on her wrists.


    He wanted to soothed her skin for her, but she pulled away immediately and got to her feet. Her eyes were as calm as ever, but it was clear that she was cautious of him.


    Nan Jihan¡¯s hands grasped nothing but air. The corners of his mouth quirked up. Through the window, moonlight shone on his face and made hisplexion even paler. His hair fell to his chest as he moved. He ced the strands of hair to behind his back.


    He gave Jun Huang a meaningful look before saying, ¡°Light up two moremps.¡± The words were clearly not directed to her.


    Not long after, two men dressed in ck brought in twomps. They were as silent as ghosts. She couldn¡¯t hear their footsteps. She could barely hear their breathing.


    The man who went to fetch the wine came back as well. He put two white jade cups and a jug of wine on one side of the table before leaving the room respectfully.


    Nan Jihan took a seat at the table first. He arched an eyebrow at Jun Huang. ¡°Are you willing to have a drink with me?¡± He filled both cups with wine before she could answer.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t hesitate before she took the seat across from him. The wine seemed cool under the candlelight. She could see the bottom of the cup. She took a sip. This isn¡¯t from Northern Qi. The taste is too harsh.


    ¡°Bitter. Harsh to the throat and the heart. Your Highness should refrain from drinking too much. It¡¯s bad for your lungs and spleen. If Your Highness enjoys drinking, you should go for wine from the lost Western Que. It¡¯s mellow and good for your health.¡±


    Nan Jihan hummed. ¡°Is the gentleman from Western Que?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Jun Huang said in a light tone. The white jade cup she was holding reflected the moonlight. The liquid appeared to be amber like the finest wine, but it was unpleasant to the tongue. ¡°I¡¯ve just been there before.¡±


    Nan Jihan nodded and looked at the cup he was holding without a word. He wasn¡¯t sure exactly what he was thinking about. When he came to his senses, half of the wine had been spilled, drenching the table, and Jun Huang was looking at him with a hand supporting her chin.


    ¡°Your Highness doesn¡¯t need to keep me waiting,¡± Jun Huang slowly said. ¡°There must be a reason for Your Highness to have taken me here. It¡¯s better if you just tell me.¡±


    Nan Jihan chuckled. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the gentleman to be so observant and so direct.¡± He dropped his pretense. ¡°When I was in Prince Chen Manor, I could see that the gentleman was no ordinary man. You have been at Qi Chen¡¯s side for a while. You must know the challenges of being part of the royal family. I only want you to help me be the emperor. The day I¡¯m crowned will be the day your name goes down in history.¡±


    He was being extraordinarily genuine, and he kept his eyes on Jun Huang. Jun Huang looked back at him, then at the wine on the table. She could see the moon reflected on the surface.


    Jun Huang was a little surprised by how straightforward he was being. She didn¡¯t respond immediately.


    The wait was torture for Nan Jihan. He was worried that his words were not enough to sway Jun Huang¡¯s loyalty.


    ¡°Why is the gentleman so conflicted? Is it because Qi Chen is the crown prince, while I am only a royal prince and isn¡¯t as likely as he is to be the emperor? If that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Your Highness misunderstood,¡±Jun Huang interrupted him. ¡°Everyone knows Your Highness has a lot of supporters. Many see you as the only candidate for inheriting the throne. There¡¯s no need for Your Highness to be so humble.¡±


    Nan Jihan frowned. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t the gentleman respond to my request? If you¡¯re willing to serve me, I¡¯ll grant you power and status when I be the emperor. You will be second only to myself, and ruling over tens of thousands of people. Don¡¯t you want that future toe true?¡±


    Jun Huang could see he was being serious. He stared at Jun Huang as if he was afraid Jun Huang would disappear into thin air.


    His conditions were very generous. Not even Qi Chen had promised to award her so handsomely. What Jun Huang wanted wasn¡¯t empty promises, however. What she wanted was a powerful country as her tool for revenge. Besides, Qi Chen was only a temporary patron for her.


    ¡°Your Highness must know a good bird chooses its tree to reside in. I believe Your Highness is a man of his words, but you¡¯re not the tree I chose as my home. I hope Your Highness can understand.¡± Jun Huang kept her eyes calm and her head held high, as if Nan Jihan wasn¡¯t a prince, but merely a man who sought answers from her.


    The wind left ripples on the surface of the wine. It looked clear like water. One had to take a sip to know that it burned on your tongue.


    Nan Jihan scowled at her. It made him furious that Jun Huang¡¯sposure never broke. His feelings meant nothing to her.


    He wanted to break thatposure of hers. He wanted to make her lose her calm.


    Jun Huang finished the wine in one go after some hesitation. The wine was potent, but it warmed her to the core, chasing away the coldness of the night.


    Nan Jihan was angry at her for not knowing what was good for her and denying him so easily. He stood up suddenly, knocking off the cups and the wine spilled all over the two of them, soaking their robes. They seemed oblivious to that and just stared at each other. One looked up, while the other looked down.


    Nan Jihan stared at Jun Huang. She had just finished a cup of wine. A flush of red spread through her pale face and her eyes became misty as if she was tearing up. It was a seductive sight.


    Jun Huang was a woman. She could wear men¡¯s clothes and put her hair up like a man, but there was a limit to how much she could change her appearance. She had always been beautiful. Now the feminine side of her true self and the masculine side of her persona shed together and gave her a unique charm.

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55: Ovee with Want


    Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Jun Huang. He had never met a man as beautiful as Jun Huang. His expression softened.


    Jun Huang cursed under her breath. She was a little drunk, however, and was too dizzy to do anything. She rested her head on her palm.


    Nan Jihan felt his self-control wavering in the dim light. He had drunk quite a lot of wine and couldn¡¯t control his limbs well. He took a step back to steady himself and took a deep breath with his eyes closed. When he opened his eyes again, his attention was drawn to Jun Huang¡¯s misty eyes. She looked good with her cheeks flushed.


    It may be that Nan Jihan had lost his reason, it may be that he was bewitched by the moonlight ¨C he was suddenly ovee with want. His pupils dted in response. Jun Huang didn¡¯t notice it.


    The air went still. Nan Jihan stepped into Jun Huang¡¯s personal space. She looked up when she saw his gilded boots and frowned. There were desires in his eyes. Her eyebrows drew closer and she struggled to stand up.


    Nan Jihan didn¡¯t give her a chance to escape. He pushed Jun Huang back down with his hands on her shoulders and leaned in.


    ¡°Your Highness ¨C ¡± Jun Huang instantly sobered up and said, but the rest of her words were muffled by Nan Jihan¡¯s hand.


    Jun Huang looked up at Nan Jihan. Her face turned impassive and lost its brilliance. Her eyes became as empty as the void. It agitated Nan Jihan. He smoothed over Jun Huang¡¯s eyebrows with a finger and murmured, ¡°Has anyone said that the gentleman would make a radiant woman?¡±


    Jun Huang gave him a weird look. She assumed it was only a drunk man¡¯s talk, but, well, might as well humor him. She nodded and let out a quietugh. ¡°The crown prince said so once.¡± She touched her own face with a resigned smile. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s true. I want to be a respectable man, but s, I was born with a face like this.¡±


    Nan Jihan looked at Jun Huang without a word, his eyes growing darker and darker. His fingers dug into her shoulders, burying in between her bones. Jun Huang frowned, but she didn¡¯t struggle. She didn¡¯t want to act recklessly without knowing what Nan Jihan was trying to do.


    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you be a woman? A woman as beautiful as you would be loved by tens of thousands of people.¡± Nan Jihan caressed Jun Huang¡¯s face. It made her hair stand on end.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t tolerate this harrassment anymore. She pushed his hand away. ¡°Your Highness should try to control yourself.¡±


    Nan Jihan¡¯s eyes went icy as if she had said something highly offensive. He grabbed Jun Huang by her wrist, using so much force that he left a mark. The dark red looked frightening against her pale skin.


    ¡°Do you know who you¡¯re looking at right now, Feng Baiyu?¡± Nan Jihan said through clenched teeth. His features twisted into a threatening scowl. He looked like a demon from hell. ¡°Do you know what happens to people who say no to me? Do you know that I can kill you right here, right now, and everyone will be none the wiser?¡±


    Jun Huang remained calm and collected. She was as prideful as the flower Queen of the Night. The moonlight covered her with a thinyer of silver. She quirked her lips into a faint smile. She seemed indifferent to the world, but her charm was irresistible. ¡°This gentleman knows you are Nan Jihan, the first prince of Southern Mu. Does Your Highness want me dead? Go ahead and end my life. I wonder, however, if Your Highness... has the passion of Longyang and is interested in men?1¡±


    Her words hit a nerve, and Nan Jihan woke up suddenly from the dream he weaved for himself. He found himself covered with sweat. He almost did something sinful. He felt a lingering fear in his heart.


    Nan Jihan coughed. He wanted to pretend nothing had happened, but Jun Huang¡¯s tant stare was a clear reminder that he had lost his calm and reason. He snapped and seized her wrist again.


    ¡°Face it, Feng Baiyu, if I wanted to take you into my harem, you¡¯ll have no choice but to obey,¡± he sneered. ¡°You¡¯re merely an honored guest of Qi Chen. What reasons does he have to keep you? Qi Chen is now in power and you¡¯re under his wing, yes. But that doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re absolved of all hardships in the world.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s gaze was fearless. She let out augh, her brows and eyes curved into crescents like the moon in the sky. There was a universe of stars within her brilliant eyes.


    ¡°Why is Your Highness so angry?¡± She said mockingly, raising an eyebrow with a wide smile. ¡°For you, I am merely a man of no importance. Besides, I¡¯m a man who is bound to marry a good woman. How can I be part of Your Highness¡¯s harem? Has Your Highness lost your sanity to the moon?¡±


    Nan Jihan glowered at her and clenched his teeth to tamp down his rage. He wanted to do nothing but to p Jun Huang on that pretty face of hers, but he managed to control himself. Subconsciously, he didn¡¯t want Jun Huang¡¯s cheeks to be red for reasons other than being drunk.


    Nan Jihan pushed her arm away and took a deep breath before standing up with his arms folded behind his back. He turned around with a huff and walked towards the door, only stopping to say to the guards, ¡°Watch him. If he escapes, I¡¯ll have your heads.¡± He was so angry that he didn¡¯t even try to keep Jun Huang from hearing what he said. With that, he left.


    The guards shut the door immediately. They didn¡¯t say a word to Jun Huang for fear of making mistakes. And they didn¡¯t dare to tie Jun Huang back up without Nan Jihan¡¯s order.


    The room quieted down. Jun Huang rubbed at her wrists. Nan Jihan had been forceful, but he did show some restraint. Her wrists were red, but not hurt.


    The alcohol had done quite the damage to her body, and her nerves were tense from fear. She was a woman after all. How could she not be afraid of what Nan Jihan might do?


    She was an ordinary person living in the mortal world. She felt fear just like anyone else.


    Now that Nan Jihan had left, she finally came down from the adrenaline rush. Her mind was on the verge of a nervous breakdown after all the dangers she had faced tonight. Her clothes were drenched, and her forehead, too, was covered in sweat. Her temples were throbbing so hard it was as if her skin was going to break.


    She copsed to the floor. She had no strength left to even move a muscle. It took a long time for her to regain her focus. Her face was terrifyingly pale. She could taste blood in her mouth. She swallowed down the rusty taste.


    Her clothes were wrinkled and she was a mess. Those were the least of her problems, however. She forced herself to sit up and took a breath to suppress her difort.


    She picked up a cup from the table and took a swig. It was so harsh that she had to blink back the tears.


    After a moment or two, her temples had finally stopped hurting and the burning sensation in her stomach had dulled. The moon lost its form in the reflection of the wine. Jun Huang stared at it absentmindedly.


    The spilled wine was not dried yet. Half of her sleeve was soaked and and the dark fabric was stained. It almost seemed like this was how her clothes were supposed to look.


    After a few more drinks, she finally got drunk. The moon was cold and the reflection in the wine was like starlight. She couldn¡¯t help but be captivated. The winecup dropped from her hand and fell onto the mat with a dull thud.


    Hearing the noise, one of the guards rushed to open the door, worried that something might have happened to Jun Huang. He saw that Jun Huang was just drunk and fell asleep lying on the table, though. The guard let out a sigh and went back out. The thought that Jun Huang may catch a cold never crossed his mind.


    ¡°What happened?¡± The guard that had stayed outside asked.


    ¡°Nothing. He is drunk like a fish. We can go rest. Come on.¡±


    After returning to the ry station, Nan Jihan was too agitated to rest. Jun Huang¡¯s words had hit a nerve. How could he lose hisposure like that? One man was no reason for him to act like a fool.


    His thoughts were a tangled mess no one could figure out. No one even knew about his troubles. He didn¡¯t fall asleep until the small hours.


    When Jun Huang came to the next morning, she felt like her head was going to split in half. It was as if someone had made a mess out of her brain, or hundreds of horses had stepped on her head. It was so painful she couldn¡¯t stop herself from tearing up.


    After the pain became more manageable, she got to her feet unsteadily. The window was shut. Only a ray of sunlight coulde in through the crack, illuminating the dust floating in the air. Suddenly she felt like everything had been a dream, and she was still enjoying her life in the pce of Western Que.


    What was lost could not be recovered. She was filled with sorrow, but she knew this wasn¡¯t the time for her to dwell on her pain. Her priority now was to leave this ce as soon as possible.


    Her wish wasn¡¯t granted, however. Nan Jihan was nowhere to be seen. Someone dide in to bring her some food, but it wasn¡¯t much. She felt herself getting weaker and her face turned an unhealthy color.


    Jun Huang stared at the winecup on the table. No one knew what she was thinking.


    Eventually, Jun Huang decided that she had to do something to break this gridlock. She had important things to do. And Qi Chen would get suspicious if she disappeared for too long. Most importantly, she had to think about Nan Xun. What would he do if he couldn¡¯t find her?


    She didn¡¯t know. She didn¡¯t want to consider the possibilities.


    In the evening, one of Nan Jihan¡¯s people brought food to the room. He was surprised to see that Jun Huang was wide awake. Jun Huang had been in a trance the whole day.


    Jun Huang stopped him before he could leave. ¡°Can you please go find the first prince for me?¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Just tell him I have matters I¡¯ll like to discuss with him.¡±


    The man nodded and left the room. Immediately, he sent a messenger to the ry station. He couldn¡¯t afford to wait. Nan Jihan wanted Feng Baiyu on his side. ¡°He¡± must have given up on resisting.

 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56: Pce Banquet


    Nan Jihan appeared not long after. He dressed himself like a schrly young man. The in foldable fan in his handsplimented his whole look well. He looked at Jun Huang cooly. There was an air of superiority around him. This was a show of power and a warning to her.


    Jun Huang looked back at him with calm eyes. She struggled to stand up and cupped her hands in greeting. There was a faint smile on her lips. ¡°This gentleman has been waiting for Your Highness.¡±


    Nan Jihan gave her an appraising look and whipped his fan closed. ¡°The gentleman sent a message for me. Does it mean you are ready to serve me?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t.¡±


    Nan Jihan¡¯s gaze became frosty. He red at her and said through clenched teeth, ¡°You really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you, do you?¡±


    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t Your Highness let me finish first?¡± Jun Huang said with a smile and sat down at the table. Nan Jihan took the seat across from her, looking at her rxed expression.


    ¡°Your Highness wants me on your side. Then I¡¯ll be upfront with you. My loyalty lies not with Qi Chen, but with Qi Yun. I owe him a debt and I will never betray him. I¡¯m sure Your Highness wouldn¡¯t value me so much if I bite the hand that feeds and were filled with avarice.¡±


    ¡°Qi Chen is now the crown prince. Your Highness must know why he married the princess ¨C for power. If Your Highness trusts me, I promise to keep the princess safe. Under the table, we can make ns for our side to gain power.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s tone was so casual, she might as well have been talking about the weather instead of obtaining the throne.


    Nan Jihan examined her face and slowly said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that I will tell Qi Chen about this?¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve only told you because I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll keep this a secret,¡± she said casually.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure. Qi Chen has married the princess of Southern Mu. He¡¯s part of the family. You¡¯re not.¡±


    ¡°Then Your Highness is wee to tell Qi Chen.¡± There was no fear in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. Nan Jihan was filled with frustration. How could this man be so bold?


    He took a deep breath and listened to Jun Huang analyzing the situation in both countries. After days of interaction, he knew Qi Chen wouldn¡¯t make a good emperor. He also knew that Nan Guyue was but a stepping stone for Qi Chen. If Qi Chen truly gained the throne one day, Nan Guyue would be cast aside.


    It was better to make Nan Guyue the only thing Qi Chen could depend on. Then he would be respectful to her for his whole life.


    Nan Jihan had to admit the Jun Huang had a point. He cupped his hands and lowered his eyes. ¡°This prince knew too little and didn¡¯t fully grasp the situation in the court. The gentleman¡¯s words are more beneficial to me than ten years worth of studying. I will not forget what you have said.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness is too humble.¡± Jun Huang returned the gesture and rxed a little.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have someone take you back.¡± Nan Jihan stood up and called out for the men outside, telling them to prepare a coach for Jun Huang.


    After the coach was prepared, Jun Huang walked towards the door. She stopped in her tracks when Nan Jihan called out to her, but she didn¡¯t turn around.


    ¡°Will the gentleman remember our deal today?¡±


    Jun Huang quirked up her lips. ¡°Your Highness doesn¡¯t need to test me like this. I never break my promises. I hope Your Highness won¡¯t forget about what you¡¯ve promised me either. When the timees, I hope you won¡¯t just sacrifice me for the princess.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Good. Jun Huang left the room and got into the coach with a servant¡¯s help. Once inside, she broke into cold sweats. Her hands kept shaking, and her breathing was unsteady.


    Nan Jihan watched as the coach left. The general he had scolded before came up to him and asked, ¡°Why did you just let him go like that, Your Highness?¡±


    Nan Jihan narrowed his eyes, his expression indiscernible. ¡°If we can help Qi Yun be the emperor, he promised to strengthen the trade between Northern Qi and Southern Mu. Southern Mu is the underdog among the three countries. Eastern Wu is ambitious. We have to be wary of them. With Northern Qi¡¯s support, Eastern Wu is no threat to us. This is a mutually beneficial deal.¡±


    ¡°But our emperor¡¯s son-inw is now the crown prince of Northern Qi. Why did Your Highness choose someone you had no prior rtionship with over him?¡±


    Nan Jihan scoffed. ¡°Ha! Qi Chen is the crown prince. So what? He is a man who was willing to kill his own brother. Do you really think he¡¯ll help when Eastern Wu invades Southern Mu? We¡¯ll be lucky if he doesn¡¯t try to make things worse for us.¡±


    The man fell silent. It was said that cruelty was essential to great sess. Was it really true? No one could answer the question.


    To express gratitude to guests who attended the emperor¡¯s birthday celebration, a pce banquet was held. It was also a chance for Northern Qi to show its prosperity. Therefore, the banquet was made to be one of the most extravagant events in the country.


    To show that he valued Jun Huang, Qi Chen brought her with him to the banquet. They entered the pce together.


    In Jun Huang¡¯s eyes, banquets like these were a form of exploitation of the people. But what could anyone do? No one could deny the emperor what he wanted.


    The performer yed a rxed tune with her lute on the stage. The attendants closed their eyes and enjoyed the melody and immersed themselves in the emotions that were expressed. No one said a word.


    It was the first time Jun Huang had entered the pce here. She wasn¡¯t used to asions like this and was a little fidgety.


    Nan Guyue never failed to speak her mind. She said with a smile as vibrant as the peony, ¡°Look, gentleman Feng! You haven¡¯t seen something like this, have you?¡±


    Jun Huang opened her mouth, but didn¡¯t know what to say. In the end she only gave her an awkward smile in response.


    Nan Guyue pouted. ¡°I hope the gentleman isn¡¯t cursing me secretly. I was just joking.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Jun Huang smiled and averted her eyes. It wasn¡¯t true that she had never seen anything like this. There was once a pce banquet like this one in Western Que as well. She was a princess then, however, so she couldn¡¯t show up at the banquet. She stayed in the pce learning about rites and etiquette every day.


    She was always a wild one, though. She had snuck into the banquet to take a peek. It was as grand as this banquet, if not more. She felt a little nostalgic.


    When she was deep in her thoughts, Nan Xun appeared behind her back and patted her on the shoulder. She jumped.


    Jun Huang looked back at Nan Xun. Then she looked around to check if someone was paying attention to them. She only rxed after she was sure that no one was watching. ¡°What can I help you with, Your Highness?¡±


    Nan Xun pointed at the other side of the room. Nan Jihan was clearly looking for her, and he waved at her with a smile when he spotted her. He was a royal prince, however, and was quickly swarmed by a group of people. He couldn¡¯t escape from the crowd and felt a little helpless.


    ¡°You know each other?¡± Nan Xun asked.


    Jun Huang threw a nce at Nan Jihan before looking away and meeting Nan Xun¡¯s questioning eyes. She nodded without a word.


    The emperor walked out with Consort Zhen and took a seat. He was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, and the consort wore a colorful phoenix robe. Jun Huang frowned.


    Nan Xun could tell what she was thinking. ¡°The empress was blinded by hatred and attempted to murder Nan Guyue. She was then banished to the cold pce1. The emperor was going to make Consort Zhen the empress, but the empress¡¯s family is influential. The n was thus put on hold. Consort Zhen probably wore that robe as a show of power to the royal uncle¡¯s people.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. Qi Chen was waving at her. She bid Nan Xun farewell before going to Qi Chen¡¯s side.


    She sat down next to him. The lute yer had left. In her stead, a group of dancers took the stage. Their dresses fluttered in the wind and the silk ribbons they wore danced in the air. They were like goddesses banished from heaven and fairies from another world. It was almost impossible to look away.


    They danced like they weighed nothing. Their colorful dresses covered the stage like a veil, creating a patchwork of colors. The silk ribbons tangled and twirled as if they had a life of their own. It was beautiful and seductive. One could get drunk from watching it.


    ¡°Do you know what Nan Jihan gave to the emperor for his birthday?¡± Two low-grade officials spoke to one another in a low voice. Jun Huang could hear them clearly. She listened in on their conversation with great interest.


    ¡°I heard it¡¯s a snow lotus. It¡¯s native to Mount Heaven. Some even said that it could only grow in the Jade Lake2 in the heavens. Catching a glimpse will bring fortune to you for three lifetimes.¡± The one who was talking looked envious. The one who was listening appeared to be in awe. It was as if the snow lotus was right in front of them, within their reach.


    Jun Huang snorted. Snow lotus was rare, but not that rare. Southern Mu was in the north. It was right at the foot of Mount Heaven. It wasn¡¯t that difficult for Nan Jihan to acquire a snow lotus. The flower, however, was delicate. It may not be able to survive in Northern Qi.


    As Jun Huang was thinking, a eunuch showed up with a green jade pendant in hand. Jun Huang had seen this pendant when she was kidnapped by Nan Jihan. It was his personal belonging.


    ¡°Prince Nan Jihan asked the gentleman to meet him in the royal garden,¡± the eunuch said quietly.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Jun Huang to figure out what had happened. Nan Jihan must have bribed the eunuch with the pendant and asked him to y messenger for him. She nodded and turned to Qi Chen after the eunuch left.


    ¡°Excuse me for a moment, Your Royal Highness.¡±


    Qi Chen was enthralled by the dancers; he only nodded and waved his hand at Jun Huang as a response. Jun Huang stood up and threw him a nce. If Nan Guyue was here to see Qi Chen, she would have made a scene.


    She looked over through the delicate screen not far from her. Nan Guyue was busy talking to Consort Zhen. She sighed and took her leave.


    Nan Jihan paced anxiously in the garden. It was clear he had been waiting for a long time, worrying that Jun Huang wouldn¡¯te. He almost broke his fan in his anguish.


    Jun Huang looked around. There was no one in sight. She greeted him and asked, ¡®Why is Your Highness so eager to see me?¡°


    Nan Jihan disregarded all rules of proprietary and took Jun Huang¡¯s wrist without a word, his movement so sudden that her cap almost fell. Jun Huang frowned at him, her face free of any expressions.

 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57: No Other Way


    ¡°What do you mean by this, Feng Baiyu?¡±


    ¡°This gentleman does not understand what Your Highness is referring to.¡± Jun Huang was calm, as if it wasn¡¯t her wrist that Nan Jihan was holding onto, but someone else¡¯s. Not even someone she knew at that.


    Nan Jihan realized that he had crossed the line again. He let go of Jun Huang and inhaled deeply. ¡°We have a deal. It¡¯s natural for us to see each other from time to time. Why did you try to avoid me?¡±


    Jun Huangughed incredulously. Her eyes were bright under the sunlight. ¡°Your Highness has misunderstood me. If this gentleman really was trying to avoid Your Highness, I wouldn¡¯t havee at all.¡±


    They both fell silent. In theke next to them, colorful koi fish swam around, swishing their tails. By theke stood a willow tree, its branches hung down into the water, making ripples as they moved. Catkins fell and danced in the air. Somended on top of Jun Huang¡¯s head.


    Nan Jihan felt his heart skip for this handsome gentleman. It was a horrifying realization. He wanted to ignore his feelings, but he couldn¡¯t. Why had he fallen for a man? Why did he feel the attraction even when he was sober?


    Jun Huang had always been observant. She noticed the strange look in Nan Jihan¡¯s eyes. Thinking back to what happened that night, she took a step back with her brows furrowed, keeping a safe distance between the two of them.


    Nan Jihan took a step forward to close their distance again. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the gentleman consider serving this prince? What they can give you, I can give you as well. I am willing to gift the gentleman with all the beautiful women in Southern Mu.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness has asked this question already, and I have given you an answer. Why must Your Highness ask again and again? My answer will always be the same, and Your Highness will again give into rage. There is no point in repeating this cycle.¡± Jun Huang kept her tone polite. She looked at the royal garden with half-lidded eyes.


    On the other side of the garden, pce maids roamed the banquet tables with fine wine in their hands. The light yellow dresses waved as they moved. The whole scene looked not unlike a meeting of celestial beings by the mythical Jade Lake.


    She was distracted and didn¡¯t see Nan Jihan was trying to grab her again. Before his hand coulde in contact with Jun Huang, however, it was seized by Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were as sharp as a keen de. Nan Jihan was a schr, not a fighter. He had never been under a murderous gaze like this. He flinched and nk! His fan hit the ground and tumbled into the koike.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t say a word, but his action spoke volumes. Nan Jihan broke out of his vice-like grip and threw a fearful nce at Nan Xun. He couldn¡¯t help being afraid under that icy gaze. He gave Jun Huang a final look before leaving reluctantly.


    Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang with a frown. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him as if she had just woken up from a dream and blinked. She was, as always, stunning. Nan Xun covered her eyes with a hand and took a deep breath. ¡°Tell me.¡±


    Amused by his reaction, Jun Huang gave him a mischievous grin. Under the bright sunlight, her brilliant smile looked almost ethereal. Nan Xun felt his breath hitch.


    Jun Huang was quiet for a moment. ¡°Nan Jihan wanted me to serve him in Southern Mu.¡±


    ¡°Serve him?¡± Nan Xun said immediately. ¡±How do you know him?¡±


    Jun Huang pouted. She still couldn¡¯t forgive Nan Jihan for kidnapping her. It baffled her that he would resort to such lowly trick. ¡°I didn¡¯t know him, but he noticed me for some reason at Qi Chen¡¯s wedding. When I was drunk and out for a walk at night, he had his people take me away.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes went cold. He had tried to search for Jun Huang without rousing suspicions, but he never found her. He also heard that someone saw blood stains on the street. He could do the math. Suddenly seized by uncontroble fear, he grabbed Jun Huang by the shoulders and pulled her closer, startling her.


    ¡°Were you hurt?¡± The obvious concerns in his eyes made Jun Huang smile. He may not have noticed himself, but Jun Huang could see it clear as day. She felt warmth blooming within her chest.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. The prince was trying to convince me to join him. He didn¡¯t want to hurt me.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s tone was light, but she could feel the after effects of the abduction. She only drank a little wine earlier, and now her temples were throbbing, and her chest felt like it had been trampled by ten thousand horses.


    Tension drained out of his body. Nan Xun suddenly realized that he was standing awfully close to Jun Huang. He could almost feel her breaths hitting his ears. He nervously let go of her and blushed. Jun Huang also felt a little bashful. She averted her eyes.


    They stayed silent for a long while. The awkwardness in the air was almost smothering. Finally, a beautiful woman came up to them. She was dressed like a performer. Her white silk robe made her look like a fairy. Her fair face was easy on the eyes, but wasn¡¯t so attractive that it could fell a country. Pretty, but unremarkable.


    ¡°His Majesty has been looking for you, Your Highness,¡± the woman slowly said, the tenderness in her eyes made Jun Huang feel a pang of jealousy. She pouted at Nan Xun, waiting to see how he¡¯d respond.


    Nan Xun only nodded and said, ¡°I will go to the emperor shortly. Please notify him for me first.¡±


    The woman nodded before leaving. When Nan Xun looked back at Jun Huang, her eyes were narrowed and her face decorated with a teasing smile. ¡°Your Highness is truly a womanizer.¡±


    Nan Xun choked. ¡°What are you ¨C ¡±


    ¡°You should go,¡± Jun Huang cut him off. ¡°The emperor is looking for you.¡±


    There were many things he would like to say, but they were all rendered obsolete by Jun Huang¡¯s simple words. If he forced the conversation, it would seem odd.


    Nan Xun was a general. He didn¡¯t have a sharp tongue like hers. ¡°I¡¯m going. You should return to Qi Chen¡¯s side as well. He can still protect you for the time being.¡± He turned to leave, but then, as if he just remembered something, he looked back at Jun Huang and added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of Nan Jihan.¡±


    Only then did he walk away. Jun Huang felt a mix of emotions filling her heart. It wasn¡¯t bitter or sweet, but it soothed her. She let it grow freely inside her.


    After a few minutes, a maid came up to her. ¡°Is the gentleman Feng Baiyu?¡± she asked respectfully.


    Jun Huang nodded after a moment of hesitation, waiting for the maid to continue.


    ¡°You are him. The crown prince ordered this servant toe retrieve the gentleman. He asked the gentleman toe at once.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± Jun Huang followed the maid back to the banquet.


    When the banquet ended, it was near evening. The servants in charge of themps had lit everymp in the pce. It was an extraordinary sight from a distance.


    Nan Xun stood alone outside the gate. Many high grade officials greeted him as they passed. He responded with only a nod, keeping everyone at arm¡¯s length.


    His eyes were on Jun Huang, who was standing beneath the stone staircase. She followed Qi Chen around to greet the different courtiers with a faint smile on her face. Hidden under his broad sleeves, Nan Xun¡¯s hands balled up into fists. He knew that Jun Huang was well above material desires. Someone like her shouldn¡¯t have to get involved with the rich and powerful. She should be allowed to live a carefree life. He also knew, however, why Jun Huang thought there was no other way for her.


    After most of the guests were gone, Nan Jihan walked out. He was surrounded by a group of men. Nan Xun scoffed. Nan Jihan was but a prince from a small country. He wasn¡¯t worth the effort. Nan Xun felt embarrassed for those who fawned all over Nan Jihan.


    The officials were experts in ttery. They had been buttering up the emperor and the royal princes. And now they had a new target ¨C the prince of Southern Mu. They did this to prove their worth. Nan Xun wondered what they were nning and what scenarios they were preparing for.


    Nan Xun stayed away and let Nan Jihan walk past him. He waited until Nan Jihan exited the gate before following him with a cold smile. The night provided great cover. Nan Jihan didn¡¯t have any servants with him today, and Nan Xun was a master of martial arts. Nan Jihan never noticed that the famous Nan Xun was only a few steps away from him, following him like a ghost.


    In the maw of the wind, Nan Jihan started to feel a little cold. He didn¡¯t have a lot ofyers on him. He ducked his head and pulled his clothes tighter around his torso, quickening his pace. He recklessly took a shortcut to reach the ry station faster, giving Nan Xun the perfect opportunity to make a move.


    Nan Xun walked out of the shadow. He stepped on a twig on the ground and the sound startled Nan Jihan. He whirled around.


    Nan Xun was dressed in a white silk robe. Theplex patterns entuated his air of nobility. Lit by moonlight, his sculpted features looked as wless as a jade statue. His sharp eyes were cold like winter sky. The steely smile on his thin lips could strike fear into anyone¡¯s heart.


    Nan Jihan swallowed down the lump in his throat and stuttered, ¡®What ¨C what do you want?¡°


    ¡°I want to teach you a lesson.¡± Nan Xun came up to him with a few big strides and punched him in the face without further warning. Nan Jihan cried out in pain.


    Nan Xun had put so much force into his punch, it was as if he wanted nothing more but to knock Nan Jihan out. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were cool like the moon. No one could stop themselves from cowering under the scrutiny. Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t even form aplete sentence. He covered the eye that was hit and whined, losing hisposurepletely.


    Everyone had something they feared. There was no question that the one thing Nan Jihan feared the most now was the undefeated war god Nan Xun.


    The night patrols heard Nan Jihan scream and came rushing to them. Nan Xun had good ears. He heard the footsteps clearly. He let go of Nan Jihan and threw him a frosty nce before disappearing into the night.


    When the patrolling guards arrived, Nan Xun was nowhere to be seen. They saw only Nan Jihan, who was staring after the direction Nan Xun went with a hand over one of his eyes. His gaze was terrifyingly cold.


    One day, Nan Jihan thought, I will have Nan Xun at my mercy. Let¡¯s see how prideful he can be then.


    One of the guards recognized him and asked, ¡°What happened to Your Highness?¡±


    Nan Jihan glowered at the man and said impatiently, ¡°I fell. No need to make a big deal out of it.¡± He patted his clothes clean and took a deep breath before leaving for the ry station, his nails digging into his palms.

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58: Introduction


    At night, Nan Jihan was having trouble falling asleep. He kept thinking back to what happened earlier. He couldn¡¯t figure out why Nan Xun punched him. He had never done anything to Nan Xun to deserve it.


    He kept his thoughts to himself. He was too ashamed to tell anyone about it.


    The candlelight chased away the darkness of the night. Nan Jihan stared out of the window for a long time before he finally fell asleep. When he opened his eyes again, it was the next morning. Sunlight shone through the paper windows1, illuminating the whole room. There was still a prickling pain in the corner of his eye.


    ¡°Your Highness, brother Feng has asked for an audience with you,¡± Nan Jihan¡¯s shadow guard knocked on the door and said. Nan Jihan had brought him here from Southern Mu.


    It was a pleasant surprise for Nan Jihan. He hurriedly got off the bed and answered, ¡°Let the gentleman in.¡± He put on a robe and made himself presentable. Jun Huang opened the door.


    As usual, Jun Huang greeted Nan Jihan with cupped hands immediately. When she straightened up, she noticed that Nan Jihan¡¯s eye was a little swollen. It made him look ridiculous. She covered up her smile, her eyes crinkling. ¡°What happened to Your Highness?¡±


    Nan Jihan was upset enough before she pointed it out. Jun Huang¡¯s amusement at his expense didn¡¯t help. He was going to say it was the mad man Nan Xun, but he swallowed the words down. ¡°Nothing serious,¡± he said, the corner of his lips twitching. ¡°I tripped and fellst night on my way back.¡±


    Jun Huang raised an eyebrow. He clearly wasn¡¯t telling the truth, but she didn¡¯t ask any more questions. She looked over Nan Jihan from the corner of her eyes. There was no other visible injury on him.


    Nan Jihan woke up from his trance and waved Jun Huang over, taking a seat at the sandalwood table. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. Come, have a seat and enjoy some tea.¡± He picked up the pot of tea the clerk had brewed for him in the morning and poured Jun Huang a cup. Then he patted the stool next to him.


    Jun Huang sat down and picked up the teacup. It was Dragon Well green tea. The taste was bitter with a hint of sweetness. It must be a rare premium brand. She took a sip, enjoying the sweetness lingering in her mouth.


    Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away. Everything Jun Huang did was alluring. Every minute change of her expression showed her character. She was addictive. If Jun Huang were wine, countless people would willingly get drunk on her. But she wasn¡¯t. Jun Huang was a clever and calcting man. She didn¡¯t look particrly masculine, but every move she made had a unique charm to it.


    Jun Huang noticed that Nan Jihan was staring at her again. rm bells started to ring in her head. There was desire in his eyes. It made her skin crawl.


    ¡°If Your Highness continues to behave like this, this gentleman will have no choice but to leave,¡± Jun Huang said casually, but it was clear she meant it as a warning.


    Nan Jihan looked away and took a deep breath. ¡°You and I are now allies,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°The gentleman doesn¡¯t need to be so cautious. I admit I may have acted inappropriately. I hope the gentleman can forgive me.¡±


    Jun Huang snorted without saying anything. She didn¡¯t care what he said or did.


    Just when Jun Huang was going to tell him what she was here for, Nan Jihan made the stupid move to provoke her again. ¡°Does the gentleman really not want to go to Southern Mu with me? Southern Mu isn¡¯t as powerful as Northern Qi, but there is less of a need for scheming and plotting. It will be much easier than being here. Why does the gentleman have to insist on staying? Do you consider the whole Southern Mu too small for you, even though you only have Prince Chen Manor now?¡±


    Jun Huang eyes went cold and she stood up, mming the teacup against the table so hard the tea spilled out and drenched the dark-colored silk tablecloth. The sandalwood began to release a sweet and refreshing smell. Normally that would be a delight for anyone.


    Jun Huang let out a harshugh. ¡°If Your Highness doesn¡¯t take me seriously, there is no reason for me to be here anymore.¡± She turned around to leave.


    Nan Jihan was startled by Jun Huang¡¯s reaction. When he recovered, Jun Huang was already at the door. He rushed up to her. His anxiety was clear on his face.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t be mad. I have offended you. I won¡¯t bring this up again.¡± Nan Jihan pulled at the tail of her shirt to stop her from leaving.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and calmed herself. She leveled him with a cold stare, as if she was trying to drill a hole into his very soul and view all his thoughts. ¡°I came here today to set up a meeting between Your Highness and our fourth prince,¡± she said after a long pause. ¡°If Your Highness is free now, I¡¯d like you toe with me.¡±


    Nan Jihan nodded earnestly. ¡°Of course. You¡¯re right to do so. It is better for us to meet each other sooner rather thanter.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯d ask Your Highness to follow me.¡± Jun Huang left the room. Nan Jihan hurried to catch up with her, worried that Jun Huang would get mad again if he was too slow.


    Nan Jihan had never met Qi Yun. Qi Yun didn¡¯t attend the pce banquet, stating that he was ill. Therefore, Nan Jihan still thought that Qi Yun was only a weak and sickly royal prince who had achieved nothing. He wanted to see for himself just what kind of a man Qi Yun was that Jun Huang was willing to serve him.


    Jun Huang led Nan Jihan to the tavern she usually went to. She exchanged a few words with the clerk next to her. The clerk made an assenting noise and whipped a towel over his shoulder before leaving.


    Not long after Jun Huang and Nan Jihan entered a booth on the second floor, the same clerk came up and knocked on the door. Following after him was a handsome gentleman dressed in purple silk robe. The foldable fan in his hand was worth a considerable amount. The calligraphy seemed to be the handiwork of a master who had passed away. It suited a man as good-looking as Qi Yun.


    Nan Jihan had always heard people talk about Qi Yun like he was a weakling. Qi Yun turned out to bepletely different from his mental image. Nan Jihan blinked dumbly at him.


    While Nan Jihan was busy gaping at Qi Yun, Jun Huang came up to Qi Yun to wee him and exchanged pleasantries with him with a smile.


    When Nan Jihan regained his focus, Qi Yun was right in front of him with a smile as gentle as the breeze in spring. He was a sight to behold as he yed with the fan in his hand. His crinkled eyes were as vibrant as cherry blossoms.


    ¡°I¡¯m Qi Yun,¡± Qi Yun made a salute and said. ¡±I have long heard about Your Highness¡¯s name. Today I have the pleasure of seeing you in person. Your Highness is indeed an imposing figure. Very much unlike the savage appearance of other men from Southern Mu.¡± His tone was ttering, but his words certainly were not.


    This again? Jun Huang looked at the two princes with a raised eyebrow. She turned to Nan Jihan, supporting her head with a hand, and waited to see how he would react.


    Nan Jihan had already been critical of Qi Yun because of Jun Huang. Now, hearing the subtext of his words, he couldn¡¯t not fight back. He huffed and told the clerk to leave before giving Qi Yun a salute. ¡°I have long heard about Prince Yun as well. Originally I thought the prince was merely a royal prince with no ambition and no wisdom, whose attention was only caught by mountains and rivers. I wonder what great wisdom Your Highness possesses to make you fancy yourself an equal match to Qi Chen. Does Your Highness consider yourself invulnerable simply because you¡¯re fueled by your hatred towards his mother for sending your mother to her death?¡±


    Qi Yun¡¯s eyes darkened. Even Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help but frown. She didn¡¯t expect Nan Jihan to be so direct and unapologetic in his insults.


    The atmosphere in the room was suddenly tense. Qi Yun gripped onto his fan so hard his delicate knuckles went white. She was worried that the two of them may get into a fight right then and there. Just as she was about to turn the mood around, Qi Yun chuckled. She rxed and let out a sigh of relief.


    Good. He can stillugh. This won¡¯t get too ugly.


    Qi Yun narrowed his eyes at Nan Jihan, who had a lopsided smile on his face. Qi Yun took a seat silently and started drinking the water Jun Huang poured him. Nan Jihan was confused. He didn¡¯t know why Qi Yun had fallen silent. He frowned and took a seat as well, keeping his eyes on Qi Yun. Just what does Feng Baiyu see in this man?


    His gaze grew hostile as time went by. Qi Yun suddenly looked up and met Nan Jihan¡¯s eyes, startling him. Qi Yun¡¯s gaze was so cold it made his hair stand.


    Qi Yun put down the cup and gave him a condescending smile. ¡°What does Your Highness want to hear me say? It¡¯s funny. Sir Feng went to the troubles to introduce you to me, but you clearly don¡¯t deserve it.¡±


    Nan Jihan pped the table and stood up, pointing at Qi Yun. ¡°Why does Your Highness resort to insults? I was just telling the truth. Is it because you don¡¯t have a good retort?¡±


    They were both riled up. The silence was like an imprable wall between them. Jun Huang frowned. Had she made a mistake introducing them?


    ¡°Does Your Highness know what the meaning of a country is? And what the meaning of the world is?¡± Qi Yun changed the subject suddenly, his eyes never leaving Nan Jihan, taking in every change in his expression.


    ¡°Ha, such a simple question!¡± Nan Jihan said with an arched eyebrow, clearly trying to provoke Qi Yun. ¡±The foundation of a country is families. The world isrge, but it is but the culmination of countries and families. The world preceded the beginning of countries. The country is formed by the members of families.¡±


    Qi Yun shook his head and took a sip of the wine. ¡°Your Highness has misunderstood the core of a country and the world.¡±


    ¡°Oh? I¡¯m listening.¡±


    ¡°The foundation of a country is the people. People see the country as their sanctuary. Countries were started by people. The world isrge, but it is but a ce for people to reside in. A leader should put people above all else. There is no other way to be a man of integrity.¡±


    Nan Jihan was rendered speechless. After a long stretch of silence, he patted Qi Yun on the shoulder. His expression changed into one of appreciation for the first time since Qi Yun entered this room. ¡°Your Highness is truly both courageous and intelligent. I admire you for that. I am curious, however, why a man like Your Highness would want to fight for the throne.¡±


    ¡°It is where my heart points me to. The reasons are simple. First of all, my second brother is not fit to govern a country. People are the foundation of Northern Qi. He won¡¯t take care of the people. I shudder to think what Northern Qi will be under his rule. Second... it is a man¡¯s ambition.¡±


    A man¡¯s ambition. Nan Jihan looked at Qi Yun with his mouth agape, while Qi Yun maintained a calm expression, as if what he said was the only possible answer. His cold attitude had melted awaypletely.

 Chapter 59

    Chapter 59: Chance Meeting at the Temple


    It was the first time that Jun Huang had heard about Qi Yun¡¯s ambitions as well. She was a little surprised. Then the surprise gave way to a smile. She could tell that if Qi Yun became the emperor, he would go down in history as a great leader.


    After Qi Yun had finished his wine, Nan Jihan said with a clear voice, ¡°I admire the prince for your aspirations.¡±


    ¡°You and I are not so different.¡± Qi Yun looked up at him and refilled his cup. He raised his own to Nan Jihan before chucking the wine down. Nan Jihan finished his cup of wine in one go as well.


    Jun Huang had stayed silent. It was good that the two seemed to have reached a consensus. She smiled. ¡°The two princes are both forces to be reckoned with. Now that you have be allies, it would be like two fine jadesing together to form a perfect circle.1 Historians will be writing about your achievements.¡±


    Nan Jihan and Qi Yun exchanged a look and smiled. They both got a refill and raised their cups. Jun Huang followed suit.


    Suddenly the silhouette of a man appeared at the door. After what Jun Huang had been through, she was hypervignt of her surroundings. She watched the man closely with narrowed eyes and took out a poisoned needle, hiding it in her sleeve.


    The man knocked on the door and didn¡¯t enter until he got a response. It was Nan Xun. His eyes were calm. It was difficult to tell if he happened to run into them, or if he came knowing that they were here.


    Nan Jihan and Qi Yun looked him over from the corners of their eyes. Jun Huang frowned. Nan Xun appeared to be oblivious to the fact that he was intruding and stared openly at Jun Huang. There was a strange atmosphere in the air.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t speak up until a moment had passed. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Nan Xun looked at the three of them. He had heard what Jun Huang said and made his own judgement about the alliance between Nan Jihan and Qi Yun. He didn¡¯t think it would go well.


    In the end, he left without a word. None of the three people in the room knew what his brief visit was about or what Nan Xun was thinking. Qi Yun had been observing Nan Xun silently with a frown on his face, his thoughts indiscernible.


    While Jun Huang was deep in thoughts, Qi Yun stood up and cupped his hands. ¡°A decision has been made today. This gentleman and Your Highness are now on the same team. Since there¡¯s no other matters to discuss, I will take my leave.¡± He walked out of the room without waiting for a response.


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t quite recovered from the shock Nan Xun¡¯s appearance brought. She didn¡¯t say anything as Qi Yun was leaving. When she came to her senses, Nan Jihan was openly checking her out. She frowned.


    ¡°I will take my leave now as well.¡± Jun Huang got to her feet and smoothed a hand over her wrinkled sleeve. She was about to walk away when Nan Jihan grabbed her by the wrist.


    She sighed. What¡¯s with this man and grabbing people¡¯s wrists? She would have flown into rage before today, but now... she knew it would be unwise. After the conversation earlier, she could see Nan Jihan was willing to support Qi Yun. With his help, Qi Yun stood a much better chance of bing the emperor.


    ¡°What else does Your Highness want?¡± Jun Huang pulled her hand away. Nan Jihan knew he was making her ufortable again, so he let her go and cleared his throat.


    ¡°I heard that the temple fair in Northern Qi will be held in a few days. This prince knows neither the ce nor the people. I wonder if the gentleman will be willing to apany me?¡± Nan Jihan eyes were glued to Jun Huang. His heart was pounding hard at the thought that Jun Huang might turn him down.


    Jun Huang gave it some thought. She didn¡¯t have anything else to attend to that day, and she knew she couldn¡¯t turn Nan Jihan down again and again without consequences. She nodded. ¡°This gentleman would be happy to apany Your Highness to enjoy the view in Northern Qi.¡±


    Nan Jihan¡¯s eyes lit up like a child that was gifted with sweets. ¡°I¡¯ll see you then.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She looked outside and saw that the sun was setting. She took her leave, thinking about Nan Xun¡¯s stormy eyes on her way back. She didn¡¯t know what he was thinking.


    Over the past couple of days Jun Huang had been leaving the manor early and returningte. Qi Chen didn¡¯t pay too much attention to her interaction with Nan Jihan. He assumed that Jun Huang was trying to win Nan Jihan over to gain support for Qi Chen. After all, Nan Guyue was his wife. There was no reason for Nan Jihan to not help him.


    That was why Qi Chen nevermented on her disappearances. He only asked Jun Huang toe discuss the current situation with him every once in a while.


    The day of the temple fair finally arrived. Early in the morning, Nan Jihan visited the manor personally to pick up Jun Huang. She had been in the study discussing matters with Qi Chen. When she left the room with Qi Chen, Nan Jihan and Nan Guyue were chatting right outside.


    Nan Jihan went up to them and beamed. He didn¡¯t try to hide from Qi Chen at all. ¡°It¡¯s the temple fair today. The gentleman hasn¡¯t forgotten about our promise, have you?¡±


    Jun Huang smiled lightly. ¡°Of course not.¡±


    Qi Chen looked over at Jun Huang, then at Nan Jihan. He didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to have won Nan Jihan over in such a short period of time. He hid his smirk and said, ¡°You have ns. Go now then. Otherwise the temple is going to get crowded.¡±


    Jun Huang and Nan Jihan nodded and left the manor together. Nan Jihan¡¯s coach was waiting right outside. Without thinking, he extended a hand to help Jun Huang get in.


    rm bells started ringing in Jun Huang¡¯s head, but it didn¡¯t show on her face. She nodded at him with a smile and got into the carriage with only the briefest contact with Nan Jihan¡¯s hand. Nan Jihan raised an eyebrow at that, but he followed her in without a word.


    They traveled through the most prosperous areas of the imperial city. People gave way to the coach as it passed. Jun Huang lowered her eyes in bemusement.


    Today she had let some of her hair down, giving her a touch of feminine beauty. The white jade cap made her look like a elegant schr. Her fair face was captivating. He couldn¡¯t help but be entranced.


    The silk robe she wore clearly expensive. It showed how much Qi Chen valued her. She was offered the same quality of clothes and the same food as Qi Chen himself. And he had given Wei Qian, his most trusted bodyguard, to Jun Huang.


    Before Jun Huang knew it, the coach had arrived at the entrance of the temple. She looked up and saw Nan Jihan was staring again. She frowned. Did he not know what giving up meant?


    Nan Jihan quickly averted his eyes and coughed. He knew he had offended her again. ¡°We¡¯re here. Let us go in.¡±


    Jun Huang whipped her fan open and nodded. She quickly got off the coach. Nan Jihan rushed to catch up with her.


    The temple fair was quite an event. Most of the residents who had free time had shown up. Vendors cried out to promote their products. Children ran around having fun. Some circled around an old man drooling over the sweets he sold. This was a scene unique to temple fairs and Chinese New Year.


    Jun Huang rarely went to ces with this many people. There was always this air of aloofness about her. She was like a being from outside the mortal realm. Now, surrounded by the bustling activities, she looked even more out of ce.


    Nan Xun was watching her from a distance. It¡¯s as if she¡¯s going to ascend to the heavens any second, Nan Xun thought. His gaze never leaving Jun Huang.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know the gentleman is interested in such things,¡± Nan Xun said with a cool voice, attracting the attention of people around him. Some of the young women blushed at the sight of him. Their eyes were filled with adoration.


    It all fell away when Jun Huang turned to him with wide eyes. He moved. It was as if there was a string pulling him towards her.


    Jun Huang curved her lips at him and arched an eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s said that Your Highness has tens of thousands of matters to attend to every day, and that you dislike crowds and noise. I didn¡¯t expect you to be here, either.¡±


    Nan Xun smiled in response. He spotted Nan Jihan greeting him with his hands cupped at the corner of his eye. Nan Xun leveled him with a cold stare, making him shudder.


    Nan Jihan didn¡¯t know when he had offended this prince that wasn¡¯t part of the royal family. Did Nan Xun just dislike him for no reason?


    Nan Xun¡¯s eagle eyes reminded Nan Jihan of the punch again. He felt the corner of his eye throbbing in reaction.


    ¡°Would you like to join us?¡± Jun Huang said with a sigh. More and more people were watching them now.


    Nan Xun nodded and told his bodyguards to leave. He cut in between Jun Huang and Nan Jihan and followed her to the temple, keeping Nan Jihan from getting too close to her. It brought a rush to his heart seeing Nan Jihan being unable to do anything.


    Nan Jihan was upset, but his hands were tied. He was in Northern Qi, and Nan Xun was a well-known general. He was no match for Nan Xun in this territory and could only swallow down hisints.


    This temple belonged to the royal family. Thest emperor was a devoted Buddhist. He believed that the Buddha was kind and every Buddhist in the world could lead a good life. He invited monks from other regions toe build this temple. There was a lifelike statue of the Buddha that was ted with gold.


    Even the stairs were encased with warm jade. The roof of the temple was decorated with sculptures of divine beasts such as the Phoenix and the Qilin, adding the different deities in the world to the pantheon.


    The current emperor wasn¡¯t a Buddhist. He didn¡¯t have any contact with monks outside of the abbots invited to attend the national banquet. Now that the world was governed by three countries, the emperor had a great lot more tasks in his hands. He had no time to listen to monks preaching.


    Jun Huang was stunned to stillness. The gold-ted statue was blinding under the sun, and the jade under her feet made her nauseous. It was all so wasteful. A construction of this scale could only be done by a powerful country like Northern Qi.


    ¡°Sumptuous.¡± Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help butment.


    Nan Xun tilted his head to look at her and let out a soundless smile. Before he could say anything, Nan Jihan piped up, ¡°This is nothing. There is a temple like this in Southern Mu as well. If the gentleman has the chance to visit Southern Mu, this prince will wee you with great hospitality.¡±


    Jun Huang threw Nan Jihan a nce. ¡°Beliefs should exist only in one¡¯s heart,¡± she said coldly. ¡°All these luxuries are an insult to the core values of Buddhism. A rundown room in the countryside serves as a better prayer ground than this temple.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t sugarcoat what she said at all. Nan Xun huffed and followed right after her, engaging her in conversations. Nan Jihan felt like the third wheel. What Jun Huang said was a p in his face. On top of that, he was hit by overwhelming jealousy. He was the one who invited Jun Huang! And now the expressionless Nan Xun had taken his spotlight. He would not let this slide.

 Chapter 60

    Chapter 60: Falling into Water


    The three of them walked towards an old tree with red ribbons tied to its branches. By the tree, some monks had set up stands to tell fortunes and give blessings.


    Revenge was the only goal Jun Huang kept in mind. Matters of the heart did not interest her. She went to the old monk on the fringe of the line of stands and put her hands together as a show of respect. She closed her eyes. The breeze sent her ck hair flying and it tangled with the catkins in the air.


    The monk returned the gesture and asked Jun Huang to take a seat. ¡°Is the gentleman praying for someone?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Jun Huang said calmly. ¡°My younger brother and a friend.¡± She was thinking about her long lost brother and Qi Yun.


    The monk nodded. He took out two talismans for safety and handed them to Jun Huang. They were triangle in shape and bright red in color. ¡°Here. These can ensure a lifetime of safety and peace.¡±


    Jun Huang took the talismans and put some silvers into the donation box next to the stand. She stood up and left. Nan Jihan jogged up to her and asked curiously, ¡°The gentleman has a brother? Why haven¡¯t I heard about it?¡±


    Jun Huang would rather not talk about Jun Hao. Losing him was the nightmare that tortured her every day. She lowered her eyes and continued onwards without a word.


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯t gone with Jun Huang. Instead, he went to another monk, who was telling fortunes in love. The monk considered him with narrowed eyes before asking, ¡°What does the gentleman seek?¡±


    ¡°Love, naturally.¡±


    ¡°Love is just within the gentleman¡¯s reach. Why do youe seeking it?¡± The monk gave him a friendly smile. ¡°Finding the right person may seem like an impossible dream, but they¡¯re right by your side.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. A wind brought up the red ribbons on the tree, drawing his attention.


    He looked down and saw Jun Huang under the tree. Behind her was Nan Jihan, who had not stopped talking.


    Nan Jihan noticed the que on the table Nan Xun was at. His eyes lit up as he came up to the stand. He nudged Nan Xun aside and smiled at the monk. ¡°May the abbot tell me my fortune in love?¡±


    The monk closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, there was no emotions within them. He put his hands together and said, ¡°The person the almsgiver is trying to win over isn¡¯t meant for you. The right one will appear naturally one day. Love cannot be forced.¡±


    It was ominous to say the least. Even Nan Jihan himself didn¡¯t understand what the monk was talking about, let alone other people. He pouted, muttering, ¡°I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s the right one or not. What matters is if I like them.¡±


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang didn¡¯t hear him, but the monk did. He shook his head and chanted, ¡°Amituofo1. May Buddha preserve us.¡±


    Jun Huang snorted and shook her head. These two men came to the temple to ask for love fortunes? Are they bored out of their minds?


    She looked up and fell into Nan Xun¡¯s dark eyes. She didn¡¯t know they could be so beautiful.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t get the monk¡¯s words out of his head. A voice said in his head, maybe Jun Huang is the one meant for me.


    Another voice said, even if fate dictates that she isn¡¯t right for me, I still believe she is.


    Nan Xun¡¯s gaze was so intense, Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help but look away. ¡°It¡¯ste. We should follow the customs of where we are and try the vegetarian meals.¡± She turned around and started walking away. Nan Xun and Nan Jihan followed her without a word.


    The sun had set when they finished dinner. It was the temple fair, however. There would only be more and more peopleing to the templeter into the night. Jun Huang never liked crowds. She frowned and said to Nan Jihan and Nan Xun, ¡°It¡¯ste. This gentleman will take my leave. Excuse me for not being able to apany you.¡±


    ¡°This prince is getting tired as well,¡± Nan Jihan said. ¡°Let me give you a ride back.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She left with Nan Jihan after bidding Nan Xun farewell.


    Once back at Prince Chen Manor, Nan Jihan had nned to pay Nan Guyue a visit and say goodbye to her. His shadow guard arrived at the manor from the ry station, however, and told him that Southern Mu had had sent him a message. He had no choice but to depart now.


    Jun Huang let out a sigh of relief once he disappeared. She felt agitated all of a sudden. She didn¡¯t take a good look at the bustling activities in the temple earlier. Now, from several streets away, the fair still seemed too chaotic for her.


    She had enjoyed watching the scenery with Nan Xun today, and they had talked quite a lot. It seemed like they would never run out of things to say to each other.


    Excluding Nan Jihan was something she did on purpose. Nan Jihan¡¯s gaze still made her ufortable. Nan Jihan should know where the line was now after how she had treated him today.


    She was reminded of the way Nan Xun had looked at her. His indiscernible gaze made her heart race.


    She didn¡¯t know how long it had been since thest time she felt so much like a woman. It felt... good. She didn¡¯t dislike it.


    She walked through the winding hallway and saw Qi Chen and Nan Guyue in the pavilion by the lotus pond. Qi Chen was behind her, teaching her how to y the zither. Nan Guyue tilted her head back to look at him.


    Not far from them stood Wei Lanying with a lunchbox in her hand. She ground her teeth together as she looked at the couple. Her eyes were terrifyingly cold. It looked like she wanted to tear Nan Guyue to pieces.


    What gave her the courage to do so, however? She was but a concubine. She was nothingpared to Nan Guyue.


    Jun Huang had always known that Nan Guyue actually had a kind heart. She could be stubborn and difficult at times, but she would never willingly hurt anyone. Wei Lanying was a different story. She was calcting and insidious. Her heart was as ugly as her now twisted expression. She was difficult to like.


    That must be what Qi Chen thought as well. When Wei Lanying first came to the manor, Qi Chen let her get away with many things. Now, though, he would rarely even spare her a nce.


    The one that was pitiful was often hateful as well.


    Jun Huang looked from a distance, scoffing. A prideful woman like Wei Lanying had lost herself simply because she lost the affection of her man. How pathetic.


    While Jun Huang was immersed in her thoughts, Wei Lanying turned around and saw Jun Huang. The dangling ornament on her hairpin was still shaking from the movement. The gem and the ss marble shone under the candlelight. They were as brilliant as the stars in the sky.


    Jun Huang looked back at her without any expression. It made Wei Lanying angry. In her mind, Jun Huang was to me for all her suffering.


    Qi Chen wouldn¡¯t have married Nan Guyue if not for Jun Huang.


    Wei Lanying was blinded by her obsession. She was only one of the many in thisrge world.


    She came up to Jun Huang and stopped when they were only a foot apart. She glowered at Jun Huang.


    ¡°The gentleman is here to greet Lady Wei,¡± Jun Huang said cooly. There was no trace of respect in her tone.


    Without warning, Wei Lanying pped Jun Huang in the face. It caught her off guard. She didn¡¯t expect Wei Lanying to do so right in front of Qi Chen.


    The p startled Qi Chen and Nan Guyue. Qi Chen shot to his feet and saw Jun Huang. He noticed the handprint on her pale face.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t knew he hade to care about Jun Huang this much. He walked straight towards Wei Lanying. Nan Guyue followed after him with a frown. She wasn¡¯t yet sure what had happened.


    ¡°What did you do, Wei Lanying?¡± Qi Chen demanded.


    Wei Lanying suddenly came to her senses. Her palm was still numb from the p. She herself didn¡¯t quite realize what she had done. She turned to face Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang tilted her head and looked at the lotuses in the pond. It was difficult to tell from her expression if she was angry or not.


    Wei Lanying had lost control because of the overwhelming hatred filling her heart. She couldn¡¯t regret her actions more even if she wanted to, but there was nothing she could say to defend herself.


    She nervously pulled at Qi Chen¡¯s sleeve and showed him the lunchbox in her hand. ¡°Your Highness... I ¨C I came to offer you some snacks. I didn¡¯t ¨C ¡±


    Thud! The lunchbox was knocked off to the ground and the snacks inside fell out. Under the moonlight, they were not unlike jades falling from the sky.


    Wei Lanying didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen to be so heartless. He cast aside the fruit of herbor for a mere honored guest! She stared at the snacks with unfocused eyes. What could she possibly do?


    After a long pause, her eyes flicked to Qi Chen and she croaked, ¡°So this is how Your Highness treats Ying¡¯er¡¯s love.¡±


    Qi Chen had always been cold. He used to show decorum and respect for Wei Lanying, but now things had changed. He was the crown prince. He was meant to be superior. How was it possible for him to care about Wei Lanying¡¯s feelings? She was only a concubine to him. She wasn¡¯t worthy his attention.


    His silence riled her up further. She seized the cors of Qi Chen¡¯s robe in her hands and sobbed. Anyone else would have taken pity on her. ¡°Have you forgotten how you became the crown prince, Qi Chen? If not for me, you would only be one of the many royal princes, and you wouldn¡¯t be noticed...¡±


    The words were insulting. Qi Chen pushed Wei Lanying away forcefully. She lost her bnce and fell into the pond, making a huge ssh.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect things to get this ugly. Nan Guyue was surprised as well. She didn¡¯t know what to do.


    The pond was shallow, but Wei Lanying didn¡¯t realize it. She had never fallen into the pond before. She struggled to get up, but she couldn¡¯t. She choked on the water as she called out for help.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t stand on the sideline anymore. She went to help Wei Lanying get to her feet, but Wei Lanying refused to take her hand.


    After a good while. Wei Lanying finally stood up. Her vibrant dress was soaked. It stuck to her body and made her look a little plump. Her dark hair was an unkempt mess.


    She clenched her teeth and got up by holding onto the stone pir by the pond. She threw Jun Huang a venomous re and purposefully knocked into Jun Huang as she walked away. Jun Huang staggered and barely kept her bnce.

 Chapter 61

    Chapter 61: Possessed by Desires


    ¡°Is the gentleman alright?¡± Qi Chen asked Jun Huang with his brows furrowed. He looked tired.


    Jun Huang shook her head and cleared her throat before turning to Nan Guyue. She smiled. ¡°This gentleman is here for the princess¡¯s brother.¡±


    Nan Guyue frowned. ¡°My brother? Has something happened to him?¡±


    ¡°Fret not, princess. Prince Nan Jihan is safe and sound. He¡¯s leaving for Southern Mu, however. He has matters to attend to and therefore cannot tell you himself, so he asked me to do it in his stead. He asks the princess to not worry about him.¡±


    Tears welled up in Nan Guyue¡¯s eyes. She was beside herself with sorrow. She wavered and almost fainted. Qi Chen quickly went up to steady her.


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°Your Highness should help the princess sit down. This gentleman would like to take her pulse.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°Much appreciated.¡± He helped Nan Guyue back to the pavilion. Jun Huang followed closely behind them.


    Once Qi Chen helped Nan Guyue get settled, Jun Huang sat across from her and covered her wrist with a handkerchief before taking Nan Guyue¡¯s pulse.


    She raised an eyebrow and let out augh. She was genuinely happy for them. ¡°Congrattion, Your Royal Highness. This is worth celebrating!¡±


    Qi Chen gave her a questioning look.


    ¡°The princess is pregnant. She¡¯s just a little weak. This gentleman will prescribe her some medicine for miscarriage prevention. She will be fine.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s eyes crinkled as he beamed. Nan Guyue, who was lying in his arms, slowly blinked her eyes open and smoothed a hand over her t abdomen. She was both surprised and delighted.


    Qi Chen leaned into her and whispered into her ear. They looked intimate. Jun Huang quietly walked away and gave them their privacy.


    The next morning, Qi Chen came to the side building himself right after Jun Huang had woken up. Jun Huang cocked her head. She wondered what he wanted.


    The moment she walked out of the door, she saw silks and jewelry being ced in the front yard. She frowned. ¡°What does Your Highness mean by this?¡±


    Qi Chen was still ovee with joy. He impulsively took Jun Huang¡¯s hands in his. ¡°This prince wouldn¡¯t have known Guyue was pregnant if not for the gentleman. You are also the one who brought us together. These gifts are not enough to express my gratitude. If there is anything the gentleman wants, don¡¯t hesitate to tell me.¡±


    Qi Chen was now a father. His whole being radiated happiness and his smile hadn¡¯t fade ever sincest night. He held onto Jun Huang¡¯s hands a little too tightly. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t break out of his grip, so she just let him be.


    It took a moment for Qi Chen toe to his senses. He seemed to have remembered something and let go of Jun Huang¡¯s hands. ¡°The princess was nning to send her brother off herself,¡± he said after clearing his throat. ¡°She¡¯s now pregnant, however. It¡¯s better that she doesn¡¯t travel the long distance. This prince knows that the gentleman is quite close to brother Nan Jihan. If you are willing, I¡¯d like to ask you to see him off for us.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. Her attention was caught by the serene garden. It was so full of life, it filled her heart with feelings she couldn¡¯t identify. She couldn¡¯t help being drawn.


    Qi Chen took that as his cue to leave. He knew how Jun Huang was. She always liked the quiet, and she had few material desires. Besides, his whole heart was now devoted to taking care of Nan Guyue.


    It took a moment for Jun Huang to realize that Qi Chen had left. Now the only other person here was Wei Qian. Wei Qian leaned against a pir holding her sword in her arms. The light of the early sun shone on her face and obscured her features.


    Jun Huang stayed in the hallway enjoying the peaceful view until Qi Chen sent a message to her, saying that Nan Jihan had decided on a departure time. Only then did Jun Huang walk to the garden. She picked up the cup of Kuding tea the maid had brewed earlier and took a sip. Bitterness assaulted her taste buds, but she didn¡¯t so much as frown.


    Soon, the day of Nan Jihan¡¯s departure hade. He was a royal prince after all. The emperor had bid him farewell himself, and he had ordered many guards to see him off. Nan Jihan turned the emperor down, however, stating that he didn¡¯t want to be a burden. Besides, he did bring a good number of guards to Northern Qi himself.


    Jun Huang¡¯s appearance was a surprise. On his way to Southern Mu, Nan Jihan kept stopping in his tracks because he was waiting for Nan Guyue. He didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be the one who came. He was so thrilled he momentarily forgot about his sister.


    ¡°What is the gentleman here for?¡± Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t hide the happiness in his expression. He dismounted and went up to her.


    Jun Huang got off her horse as well and walked the rest of the way with Nan Jihan. ¡°I¡¯m here to see Your Highness off on behalf of the princess.¡±


    They were close to the border of Northern Qi. On one side was the desert. On the other side was an oasis. Herds of cattles and sheep could be seen roaming the oasis, while the desert was barren and lifeless.


    Above them was the boundless blue sky. Every once in a while a couple of wild geese would fly over their heads. The croaks weren¡¯t easy on the ears.


    After a few moments of walking, Nan Jihan turned to Jun Huang. ¡°Has something bad happened to my little sister? Why didn¡¯t shee?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s something good. The princess is now pregnant. Your Highness should be happy for her.¡±


    Nan Jihan blinked and couldn¡¯t make a sound for a good while. He was overwhelmed with joy and it showed on his face. ¡°Are you telling the truth?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Jun Huang threw a nce at him and chuckled. She turned her gaze to look into the distance. Her focus didn¡¯t linger on Nan Jihan.


    She had managed to lodge herself into Nan Jihan¡¯s heart. It felt as if there was a cat wing at him, or a monkey ying with his ears. He couldn¡¯t calm himself.


    Nan Guyue¡¯s pregnancy was good news to him. He had been worried that she may make enemies with the concubines in Prince Chen Manor because of her personality. Now that she had Qi Chen¡¯s child, no one would dare to do anything to her.


    Moreover, her child would be Qi Chen¡¯s first. Qi Chen would protect the child at all cost. Once the child was born, no one would be able to touch Nan Guyue. She would have someone to depend on.


    The more he thought about it, the happier he felt. Even Jun Huang¡¯s indifferent gaze couldn¡¯t faze him.


    The past few nights, he had been thinking about the time he spent with Jun Huang. He knew he didn¡¯t see Jun Huang as merely a friend. His feelings for her were... different. It was difficult for him to deal with.


    Sometimes, he hoped against hope that Jun Huang could be a woman. Then he wouldn¡¯t have to agonize over his feelings.


    Nan Jihan had gotten to know Jun Huang. He knew she had a beautiful soul. She also won his respect with her wits. How could anyone not fall for a person like that?


    He felt his self-control slipping again. He knew Jun Huang wasn¡¯t willing to leave with him. He knew what he wanted was against morals. He had nned to get rid of these inconvenient thoughts and settled his heart, but then... Jun Huang came to see him off.


    If she hadn¡¯te, he would have left with a heart filled with longing.


    Maybe this is how people are. We keep asking the same question again and again, even though we know full well we will get the same answer. We choose to go through the pain.


    Nan Jihan walked a few more meters before looking back at Jun Huang. She stopped too when he did. She thought that Nan Jihan had things he wanted to remind her, so she waited for him to open his mouth.


    ¡°Has the gentleman really decided to stay?¡± Nan Jihan asked nervously.


    Jun Huang¡¯s gaze turned cold. They had been through this many times now. She thought Nan Jihan knew her answer already. Why would he bring it up again?


    Without letting her respond, Nan Jihan continued to say, ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the gentlemane with me? What do you think you can achieve here in Northern Qi? There¡¯s never ack of smart people in a powerful country. Southern Mu is much smaller, but no one will be able to outshine you there. Once I be the emperor, the gentleman will be granted the highest status next to mine. You will be the grand chancellor of Southern Mu.¡±


    ¡°I thought you understood me already.¡± Jun Huang let out a sharpugh. ¡°I didn¡¯t help Qi Yun in order to be a high-level official. If what I want is power or fame, I would have achieved great things already.¡±


    ¡°This prince doesn¡¯t understand the gentleman. Why don¡¯t you exin it to me?¡± Nan Jihan grabbed Jun Huang by the arm. In her struggle, his nails dug into her skin and left red marks on her.


    ¡°We walk on different paths. Why can¡¯t Your Highness ept that? Besides, you and I have a deal. If Your Highness ever needs my help, this gentleman will not hesitate to offer my assistance. Your Highness doesn¡¯t need to insist on taking me with you.¡± Jun Huang took a deep breath. The pain in her arm was making her lose her focus, and the poison in her system happened to act up again.


    She would like to just let go and lose consciousness, but she couldn¡¯t.


    Nan Jihan¡¯s eyes went blood red. He didn¡¯t notice how in pain Jun Huang was. He grabbed on her even more forcefully. Jun Huang¡¯s words, no matter how genuine, didn¡¯t even reach his ears.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t break out of his grip. This was it. She had had enough. She discarded all pretense of civility and harshly said, ¡°I will never go to Southern Mu with you. If you keep doing this, I won¡¯t even consider you my ally.¡±


    Nan Jihan went silent. He unconsciously let go of Jun Huang¡¯s arm. She immediately put distance between them. The obvious wariness on her face left a deep cut on Nan Jihan¡¯s heart.


    I gave my whole heart to the bright moon, but it will rather shine on a ditch.


    Earlier they had kept a distance with the whole troop in order to talk. Now, there wasn¡¯t anyone around except for the two of them and Nan Jihan¡¯s shadow guards. Desire took over his body and he seized Jun Huang¡¯s wrist tightly. He wasn¡¯t going to let Jun Huang go again.


    Jun Huang was startled and started struggling with all her might. She could taste blood in her throat. Her face went pale. This time, Nan Jihan did notice. He wanted to ask if she was alright, but he was worried that she might be pretending to be ill to lower his guard. He held on.


    Once Jun Huang looked a little less like she was going to drop dead the next second, Nan Jihan gave one of his shadow guards a look. The guard sneaked up on her and hit the nape of her neck. Jun Huang¡¯s vision went dark. She made thest effort to push Nan Jihan away.


    He was afraid that Jun Huang might hurt herself, so he didn¡¯t dare to let go of her, but he did lessen his force. Jun Huang¡¯s eyes rolled back and she fainted. Nan Jihan caught her in his arms.


    The rest of his men heard the struggle and came to him. One of them said carefully, ¡°Do you really n to just take gentleman Feng away, Your Highness? If the crown prince finds out about this ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡± He leveled the man with a cold re. ¡°Heed my words. Gentleman Feng asked to leave with me. If anyone dares to say the contrary, I will cut off their tongue.¡±

 Chapter 62

    Chapter 62: The Battle of Peonies


    No one dared to disagree with Nan Jihan. The guards nodded and made noises of assent.


    Suddenly, they could hear the sound of a horse galloping towards them. Nan Jihan looked up like a frightened cat and saw Nan Xun riding on a tall and strong horse, looking down at them. Nan Jihan ground his teeth together, seething.


    Nan Xun hade here to hunt. Running into Nan Jihan wasn¡¯t part of his n. He happened to hear the argument between Nan Jihan and Jun Huang. He didn¡¯t expect Nan Jihan to be so shameless.


    Nan Xun pulled at the reins and stared at Nan Jihan with cold eyes. If looks could kill, Nan Jihan would be dead already.


    Nan Jihan felt a shudder ran down his spine. He tightened his hold on the unconscious Jun Huang. Nan Xun¡¯s gaze turned even colder when he saw the arm around Jun Huang¡¯s waist.


    ¡°Where does Your Highness n to take one of Northern Qi¡¯s finest?¡± Nan Xun asked with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. Every word was uttered with chilling rage.


    Nan Jihan quivered. His shadow guards saw his reaction and stepped between the two of them, raising their swords against Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun looked at them without a word. His expression was mocking.


    It took a while for Nan Jihan to prepare himself mentally. He took a deep breath and affected a calm tone. ¡°Why must the prince insist on taking him back? If you let me have him, I¡¯m sure to repay you someday.¡±


    Nan Xun scoffed. His ferghana horse proudly reared its front legs as if it was showing its agreement. Nan Jihan¡¯s face went dark. There was no point trying to be diplomatic. His face lost the cowardly look and transformed into a cold mask of apathy.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking him away, Nan Xun,¡± Nan Jihan said fearlessly. ¡°Do you think you can stop me on your own? You are the undefeated war god, but there is strength in numbers. My shadow guards may not be your match, but it won¡¯t be hard for them to keep you here for a while.¡± He lifted his chin and gave Nan Xun an infuriating look.


    Nan Xun narrowed his eyes and huffed. Without giving them a chance to react, he leaped into the air, unsheathing his sword at the same time. With a step on the horseback, he lunged towards Nan Jihan.


    Nan Jihan widened his eyes. He reflexively held Jun Huang closer, worried that she may get hurt. He turned to his shadow guards and yelled, ¡°Do your jobs and stop him!¡±


    The guards swarmed up to Nan Xun and engaged him in a fight.


    There were many of them, but they were no match for Nan Xun. The story of Nan Xun defeating a hundred enemies on his own was not a myth. He was greatly outnumbered, however, so he couldn¡¯t immediately force his way out.


    Nan Jihan took this opportunity to leave, but when he turned around, what he saw was an army of people riding towards him. He chanced a look at Nan Xun and noticed how calm he was.


    They were Nan Xun¡¯s people. Earlier they had been left behind by Nan Xun, but now they had caught up. They joined the fight immediately when they heard the ruckus. They didn¡¯t care what was happening here. In no time, all of Nan Jihan¡¯s guards were restrained. A group of men circled around Nan Jihan to trap him.


    Nan Jihan had thought he was well-prepared, but he couldn¡¯t have prepared for Nan Xun. There was no chance of him winning now. He twisted his lips into a wistful smile. ¡°You have won.¡±


    Nan Jihan handed his sword to one of his underlings and walked up to him. He carefully took Jun Huang away from Nan Jihan and held her close to his chest. When he saw the wounds on Jun Huang¡¯s arm, his expression turned thunderous. There was a ball of rage inside him.


    Without a word, he kicked Nan Jihan down. Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t defend himself and fell to the ground, crying out in pain while holding onto his stomach.


    Some men were born withmanding presence that no one could deny. Nan Xun nced at Nan Jihan¡¯s guards and said cooly, ¡°You are our guests. I will pretend that your infringement today never happened. Leave now, or you¡¯ll never be able to leave.¡± He picked Jun Huang up and walked towards his horse.


    With his underling¡¯s help, he put Jun Huang on the horseback in front of him. Jun Huang slowly came to. Her face was still too pale for a living person. She tilted her head back to look at Nan Xun. A mouthful of blood rushed up her throat and she coughed it out. Nan Xun held onto her cold hands tightly. He couldn¡¯t stop trembling.


    Noticing his reaction, Jun Huang turned to look at him with an amused smile. Even someone who has witnessed countless deaths like Nan Xun can be afraid? What is he afraid of?


    Nan Xun tried his best to suppress his fear. He took a deep breath. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Jun Huang hummed. She was in so much pain it felt as if her body was falling apart, but it was nothing she couldn¡¯t endure. She grinned at him. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. For showing up at a time like this.¡±


    Nan Xun looked at her silently, his muscles tensing up in fear. What would have happened if he hadn¡¯te here to hunt? What would have happened if he hadn¡¯t run into Nan Jihan? He couldn¡¯t think of a future where Jun Huang was absent from his life.


    They fell quiet. The floating dust obscured their view. Jun Huang leaned into Nan Xun¡¯s arms, looking at the direction Nan Jihan left in. Nan Jihan looked a little lost.


    Different thoughts upied each of their minds. Nan Xun swore to himself that he would protect Jun Huang at all cost. Jun Huang thought about how many days she had left and what she should do.


    Jun Huang thought that Wei Lanying would have settled down since Nan Guyue was pregnant. Moreover, what happenedst time by the lotus pond should have made Wei Lanying realize her ce in the manor. No one expected her to be so blind.


    Nan Guyue and Qi Chen were respectful and intimate with each other. Every smile of hers was for Qi Chen, and Qi Chen had been spending all his time outside of the imperial court with her. They were the subject of great envy, and of great jealousy, too.


    Wei Lanying ground her teeth together watching them in the hallway. Qi Chen carefully helped Nan Guyue out and they crossed the threshold to leave the manor. They were both smiling.


    Wei Lanying¡¯s nails dug deep into her palms, leaving blood red marks on her skin. She didn¡¯t notice. Her maid, however, did. She cried out in surprise. Her heart ached for her master.


    ¡°Lady Wei shouldn¡¯t get so angry,¡± the maid said. ¡°Why must you hurt yourself for no good reason?¡±


    Wei Lanying turned to look at her. This young woman had followed her to the manor from her home. She scoffed with cold eyes. ¡°Hurt myself? Ha! How much has Qi Chen hurt me? First there was Rou¡¯er. Now it¡¯s Nan Guyue. Has he ever see me as his spouse?¡±


    The maid opened her mouth then closed it. It took a moment for her to say with a low voice, ¡°Lady Wei would have been the only one in the prince¡¯s heart if not for the princess.¡±


    ¡°No. The one who¡¯s behind all this is Feng Baiyu. He is the one we should take out first.¡± Wei Lanying¡¯s eyes turned sharp. The maid nodded in agreement. If not for Feng Baiyu, Qi Chen wouldn¡¯t have married Nan Guyue, and Qi Chen wouldn¡¯t have be a father so soon.


    The maid thought for a moment. She remembered something. Making sure there wasn¡¯t anyone around, she leaned into Wei Lanying and said, ¡°A few days ago, after Feng Baiyu saw Nan Jihan off, it was Prince Nan Xun that brought her back in the evening. They rode on the same horse. Even from the distance, I could tell they were close.¡±


    Wei Lanying widened her eyes. Then sheughed. ¡°I knew it! Feng Baiyu really is up to no good. Everyone in the manor knows that the prince is wary of Nan Xun. And still Feng Baiyu gets close to him? Isn¡¯t he afraid that the prince will find out? Let us see how much the prince is willing to tolerate for Feng Baiyu.¡± She left with her maid.


    Afterwards, a young girl emerged from behind the wall. Her light yellow dress wavered as she moved. Her young face was gloomy. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to tell Nan Guyue what she had heard and let the princess decide what to do.


    This girl was Nan Guyue¡¯s servant. Earlier, Nan Guyue had left with Qi Chen, but she forgot something in the manor. She asked the girl to retrieve it. The girl happened to witness Wei Lanying¡¯s conversation with her maid.


    When the girl caught up with Nan Guyue, Qi Chen was nowhere to be seen. He had to go to the pce to deal with something.


    Nan Guyue sat by the lotus pond, looking at the zither that was shaped like a phoenix tail with her eyes downcast. She plucked the strings with delicate fingers.


    The girl told Nan Guyue what she had heard. Nan Guyue paused and drew her eyebrows together. ¡°She¡¯s going to make trouble again.¡±


    Nan Guyue¡¯s head was clear. She knew that Qi Chen needed all the help he could get now, and Jun Huang was a rare talent. Only a fool like Wei Lanying would try to drive a wedge between them.


    Nan Guyue was biased, of course. Jun Huang was the one who encouraged Qi Chen to pursue her. She couldn¡¯t just sit on the sideline while Jun Huang was in trouble.


    ¡°This servant doesn¡¯t understand how a woman like Lady Wei attracted the prince¡¯s attention,¡± the girl muttered under her breath, but it didn¡¯t escape Nan Guyue¡¯s ears.


    She smacked the girl lightly on the forehead, her eyes calm like a pond. ¡°She helped the prince be the crown prince. There must be something special about her. Besides, the prince married her for a reason. It¡¯s not our ce to judge.¡±


    The girl dropped to her knees and looked down at the ground. ¡°This servant has made a mistake.¡±


    That night, Wei Lanying made her move. She had someone imitate Jun Huang¡¯s and Nan Xun¡¯s handwritings and sent each of them a letter. She could already picture how angry Qi Chen would be when he found out about Jun Huang¡¯s disloyalty.


    Nan Guyue intercepted the two letters and looked it over. In the end she gave the letters to her servant and said, ¡°Send the letters to them.¡±


    ¡°What is the princess ¨C ¡±


    Nan Guyue didn¡¯t say anything, but it¡¯s clear from her face that she had doubts about Jun Huang as well. This was a good opportunity to put that doubt to rest.


    Nan Xun was worried when he received the letter sent by ¡°Jun Huang¡±. It simply said, meet me by my building.

 Chapter 63

    Chapter 63: Instigation


    Nan Xun looked at the letter with a hand supporting his chin. It did seem like this was written by Jun Huang. She was used to being aloof and quiet. Sometimes she could be vishly concise in writing her letters. Even one unnecessary word was one word too many.


    Night fell. Nan Xun rushed to Jun Huang¡¯s building. He noticed that there weren¡¯t a lot of guards in Prince Chen Manor today. It was odd. Usually there were quite a lot of patrols. He had a bad feeling about this, but he didn¡¯t stop or slow down.


    Once he reached the side building, he noticed that there was someone behind the fake mountain. He frowned. Jun Huang was waiting for him when he arrived at the door, however. So she did ask me toe here?


    Before he could say anything, Jun Huang asked with her eyebrows furrowed, ¡°What happened? The prince¡¯s manor isn¡¯t a good ce for us to talk. Why couldn¡¯t we meet outside?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s expression changed. He knew what was happening now. He leaned into her. ¡°Something is wrong. Let¡¯s get inside first.¡± He pulled Jun Huang into her room.


    Nan Guyue saw that they had gone inside. She jogged up to the backyard and listened in on their conversation by the window.


    Jun Huang was confused. Nan Xun quickly covered her mouth before she could ask what was going on. He pointed at the dark shadow outside the window. He didn¡¯t exin further, but Jun Huang got the idea.


    Jun Huang knew they couldn¡¯t stay silent now. ¡°How can I help, Your Highness?¡±


    ¡°The gentleman was hurt a few days ago. I was wondering if you¡¯d recovered. I couldn¡¯t stop worrying, so I came to check.¡± It was a perfectly logical answer. Nan Xun kept an eye on the person outside the window, waiting for their reaction.


    Suddenly, there was Wei Lanying¡¯s voice. ¡°Your Royal Highness, I saw someone breaking into the gentleman¡¯s residence. It would be bad if it¡¯s someone with ulterior motives. That¡¯s why I had people surround the building. Your Royal Highness can make the call.¡±


    Jun Huang, Nan Xun, and Nan Guyue all tensed up. Even Nan Guyue didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen and Wei Lanying to be here so soon. She clenched her teeth and showed herself.


    ¡°Guyue is here to greet Your Royal Highness.¡± Nan Guyue stopped at the door and bowed slightly.


    Qi Chen frowned. ¡°Why are you here, Guyue?¡±


    ¡°I ¨C ¡±


    Before she could finish, the door to Jun Huang¡¯s room creaked open, and Jun Huang walked out with Nan Xun in tow. Wei Lanying smirked. Let¡¯s see what the great Feng Baiyu looks like when he¡¯s kicked out of the manor.


    Qi Chen stared at Nan Xun, his frown deepening. For a moment, the air seemed to be frozen in ce.


    Jun Huang had thought about having Nan Xun hide, but they both knew that Qi Chen would have the whole ce searched if Nan Xun didn¡¯t show himself. If he was discovered then, they really wouldn¡¯t be able to get out of this.


    Just when Jun Huang was trying to think of an excuse, Nan Guyue took a deep breath and smiled. ¡°I asked the gentleman to invite Prince Nan Xun here for me.¡± She lowered her eyes as she spoke.


    ¡°Why?¡± asked Qi Chen.


    ¡°Guyue has been feeling tired recently. I worry that something may happen to the child. I heard that Prince Nan Xun has traveled all over the world in his early days. He might have a way to help me. So I asked the gentleman to invite him here.¡±


    Qi Chen knew that Nan Guyue had been having trouble sleeping after she got pregnant. She didn¡¯t dare to take medicine for fear of harming the child. After some contemtion, he looked up at Nan Xun and asked, ¡°Does brother Nan Xun have a solution?¡±


    ¡°He does, and he has told me the prescription,¡± Jun Huang piped up. ¡°This gentleman will have it written downter.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. Nan Guyue pretended to be tired, and Qi Chen didn¡¯t question them any further. He asked the guards surrounding the building to leave before helping Nan Guyue back to their room.


    Wei Lanying was left grinding her teeth, craving for a chance to strangle Nan Guyue.


    After walking Nan Xun out, Jun Huang went back to the side building and saw Wei Lanying standing at her door. It was obvious that she was waiting for her. Jun Huang pouted. Wei Lanying was like a ghost, insistent on haunting her. It was annoying. She however, had to be civil with Wei Lanying, so she cupped her hands and greeted her.


    Wei Lanying huffed. ¡°Show your fake smile to someone who cares, Feng Baiyu. Don¡¯t think you¡¯re off the hook now. You got lucky today. You won¡¯t be as lucky next time.¡±


    Jun Huang sighed. ¡°Why must Lady Wei antagonize me? This gentleman has never done anything to you. Why can¡¯t you leave me alone?¡±


    ¡°Ha! I would be the closest person to the prince if not for you. Nan Guyue wouldn¡¯t have been here. Do you really think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re nning? You better not let me catch you in the act, or I¡¯ll make you disappear from this world.¡± She left with a flourish of her sleeves. Jun Huang watched her go without any expression on her face. She couldn¡¯t be more tired of this woman.


    When she turned around, she saw Wei Qian standing right behind her. Qi Chen had asked Wei Qian toplete some tasks for him. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know when she had returned.


    Jun Huang threw her a nce before looking away. She didn¡¯t think that there was a need to exin herself to Wei Qian. She went back to her room, leaving Wei Qian in the garden.


    Wei Qian narrowed her eyes at Jun Huang. If Nan Xun is here for Nan Guyue, why didn¡¯t he enter through the front gate, but insteade straight to the side building? She swallowed down her words before they could fall out of her mouth, though. She wasn¡¯t in the ce to demand an answer.


    Even Qi Chen didn¡¯t question Jun Huang. Why would she?


    On their way back, Nan Guyue kept stealing nces at Qi Chen. She knew that her lie was full of holes. It wouldn¡¯t be difficult to figure out that she wasn¡¯t telling the truth. Qi Chen didn¡¯t say anything, however. It made her anxious.


    They were both preupied. Once they were in their bedroom, Nan Guyue decided that she couldn¡¯t keep this to herself. She sighed. ¡°Your Royal Highness must have a lot of questions. You are my husband. I don¡¯t want to continue lying to you. What I said earlier was just a way to protect Feng Baiyu and put pressure on Wei Lanying.¡±


    Qi Chen raised an eyebrow as he helped Nan Guyue sit down on the empress chair. ¡°Oh? What do you mean?¡±


    Nan Guyue told him everything. She told him that Wei Lanying was trying to eliminate Jun Huang once and for all, and this was merely a scheme of hers. And Nan Guyue had listened in on Jun Huang¡¯s conversation with Nan Xun. They didn¡¯t talk about anything suspicious.


    Qi Chen¡¯s face was difficult to read. Nan Guyue could feel her heart in her throat. She was worried that Qi Chen might get angry and their rtionship would be damaged.


    Qi Chen could tell how nervous she was. He chuckled and patted her lightly on the hand. ¡°Feng Baiyu has been my strategist for a long time. Everything he¡¯s done has been for my sake. Of course I trust him. As for Wei Lanying, you should be wary of her. Avoid her if you can.¡±


    Nan Guyue nodded andy down in Qi Chen¡¯s embrace, her expression soft. Qi Chen put his arms around her shoulders and closed his eyes.


    Jun Huang sat in her bedroom with a teacup in her hand, frowning. They couldn¡¯t really talk earlier. Good thing that Nan Xun came prepared and wrote her a note. She opened the slip of paper.


    ¡°The border sees no unrest for the time being. Eastern Wu hasn¡¯t made its move. They even delivered a great amount of precious medicinal ingredients here. It seems they may be seeking a truce.¡±


    She didn¡¯t have a lot of time left, and yet Eastern Wu still wasn¡¯t prepared to invade Northern Qi. The two countries were on a tightrope, both reluctant to start this war that was bound to happen one day.


    She expected Eastern Wu toe for Northern Qi immediately after destroying Western Que. She was wrong. The invasion of Western Que must have taken more out of them than she had thought. Eastern Wu was still recovering and cultivating its strength.


    She didn¡¯t want to instigate a war. The people were always the ones that would suffer in the end. At the same time she needed conflict between the two countries to erupt for her revenge to proceed. The more chaotic the situation, the better.


    Jun Huang fell silent. Her gaze dropped to the words medicinal ingredients, and she quirked up her lips. A n was formed in her head.


    Next day afternoon, she decided to send a message to Consort Zhen. Consort Zhen usually stayed in the pce and rarely left, however, and Jun Huang wasn¡¯t an official. It was difficult for her to contact the consort. This was where Rou¡¯er came in.


    Rou¡¯er was Qi Chen¡¯s serving concubine. Since Nan Guyue had gotten pregnant, Qi Chen would visit Rou¡¯er every once in a while. Rou¡¯er was quiet. The way she looked when she poured tea for him always made him want to drown in her tenderness.


    He did feel like he had wronged Rou¡¯er in some way. He thought about marrying Rou¡¯er as his concubine, but he was worried that Rou¡¯er might end up like Wei Lanying. In the end, he decided not to bring it up.


    Rou¡¯er poured Qi Chen a cup of tea. The smell filled the room. She looked up at him and let out a quietugh, her lips curving into a small smile. She put the teacup before Qi Chen.


    ¡°Is Your Royal Highness worried about something?¡± she asked quietly.


    Qi Chen rubbed at the skin between his eyebrows and sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ve just been thinking about something. Yourpany makes me feel better.¡±


    Rou¡¯er hadn¡¯t gone outside a lot, but she knew what was happening outside her building. Jun Huang had put her in charge of the new servants she nted in the manor after all. Gossips and rumors ended up reaching her ears sooner orter.


    ¡°If Your Royal Highness is worried, why don¡¯t you invite Consort Zhen here to discuss your concerns with?¡± Rou¡¯er suggested. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s been a while since thest time Consort Zhen visited. Rou¡¯er would like to serve her.¡±


    Qi Chen frowned in bemusement. Rou¡¯er had a point. Moreover, Consort Zhen didn¡¯t know about Nan Guyue¡¯s pregnancy yet. He could invite his mother here for a meal, ask her to help convince Wei Lanying to control herself, and tell Nan Guyue about what pregnant women should pay attention to.


    It¡¯s decided then. Qi Chen had people pick up Consort Zhen from the pce and bring her to the manor. Jun Huang watched them enter from the hallway.


    Consort Zhen left the main hall and came to the garden to appreciate the flowers. Jun Huang sauntered up to her.


    Consort Zhen had never liked Jun Huang. She gave her a cold look and asked, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Jun Huang bowed slightly in greeting and looked at the lotuses in the pond. ¡°Has the consort thought about gaining the throne for the prince?¡±


    ¡°Ha! Chen¡¯er is now the crown prince,¡± the consort said mockingly. ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time that he bes the emperor. Why would I want to do anything?¡±


    Jun Huang fell silent. There were a few dragonflies skimming the surface of the pond, making ripples after ripples.

 Chapter 64

    Chapter 64: Fortunes in Love


    ¡°Is Consort Zhen sure that the emperor won¡¯t make someone else the crown prince? We both know how Qi Chen gained the title. The emperor is now getting old. Has he, however, even mentioned to Consort Zhen that he wants to pass down the throne?¡±


    Consort Zhen looked at Jun Huang in shock. Jun Huang had hit home with what she had been thinking about. The past few days she had tentatively brought this up to the emperor, but he wasn¡¯t willing to discuss the matter. He always immediately changed the subject. It was clear he was reluctant to let Qi Chen inherit the throne. If not for Wei Lanying¡¯s scheme, he wouldn¡¯t have made Qi Chen the crown prince so soon, either.


    She thought for a while before saying in a low voice, ¡°Do you have a solution?¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at her. ¡°I have a slow-acting poison ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Out of the question,¡± the consort cut her off and threw her a re. ¡°If the emperor finds out, it¡¯ll be Chen¡¯er¡¯s doom.¡±


    Jun Huang stayed perfectly calm without a trace of fear. ¡°This medicine has no taste nor any scent. You only need a little dose every day to make someone slowly lose their strength. The emperor will me the decline of his health on his devotion to ruling the country. Besides, I heard that Eastern Wu has been thinking of reaching a truce with Northern Qi, and they gifted us with various medicinal materials. If something were to happen to the emperor, everyone will point their finger at Eastern Wu. No one will suspect the prince.¡±


    The consort was starting to waver. She gave Jun Huang a questioning look and asked, ¡°Why are you so eager to help Chen¡¯er? What is it you¡¯re pursuing?¡±


    Jun Huang curved her lips into a smile. ¡°Everyone needs a purpose in life. This gentleman has no interest in the imperial court, but I don¡¯t want my talents to go to waste, either. The prince is the true son of heaven. If I can help him be the emperor, my name will be remembered for generations toe.¡±


    Her reasons were appropriate and in line with human nature. The consort was convinced. She took the small ceramic bottle from Jun Huang and breathed in deeply before leaving with her servants. Jun Huang watched her go, her smile deepening.


    After seeing Consort Zhen off, Qi Chen went to the garden with Nan Guyue. He gingerly poured her tea and smiled at her.


    He had no idea about what his mother and Jun Huang were plotting.


    ¡°Guyue, what do you say we find a good spouse for brother Feng?¡± Qi Chen asked, supporting his head with a hand.


    Nan Guyue frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say he wasn¡¯t interested?¡±


    Qi Chen let out a quietugh. ¡°Every man needs a woman by his side. In a few days we¡¯re going to the temple outside the city to pray for our child. How about we take brother Feng with us? We can ask for blessings for his love fortune. Help him find a good match sooner.¡±


    Nan Guyue nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯ll be ideal.¡±


    They had reached a decision. Later, Qi Chen told Jun Huang about it. He was enthusiastic. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t really say no to him.


    They¡¯re just asking for blessings, though, she thought to herself. At least they¡¯re not forcing a woman on me.


    The day was bright and warm. Qi Chen had someone retrieve Jun Huang in the early morning. She had been awake for a while and was drinking tea. She saw the maiding into the front yard. Before she could move, Wei Qian had gone up to the maid.


    ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Wei Qian¡¯s face was a perfect mask of impassiveness. She was a trained fighter. She wasn¡¯t tender like other women were. Instead, there was a threatening aura about her. It sent a shudder down the maid¡¯s spine.


    The maid tensed up and took a couple steps back, gulping. ¡°The prince ordered this servant toe find the gentleman. It is time to leave the manor.¡±


    Jun Huang stepped over the threshold and stood under the roof. ¡°Tell the prince I will be there shortly.¡±


    The maid looked over. The young man with delicate features was holding a teacup with a smile as warm as the breeze in spring. The turquoise robe was the color of water falling from Mount Heaven. How can a man like this exist in the mortal realm? The maid couldn¡¯t help staring. Wei Qian, on the other hand, didn¡¯t dare to even look. Her heart was already racing like drum beats.


    It took a moment for the maid to break out of her trance. She left the side building, sneaking nces at Jun Huang along the way. Jun Huang snorted. She gave her own outfit a once-over, but didn¡¯t spot anything out of ce. She finished the cup of tea before making her way to the main hall.


    Qi Chen had an arm around Nan Guyue as they watched the servants pack. Jun Huang cocked her head in question. ¡°Is Your Highness nning to stay for a while?¡±


    ¡°The temple is a good ce to find peace,¡± Qi Chen looked back at her and said with a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t have matters to attend to in the imperial court these next couple of days. If something is to happen in the pce, the servants are instructed toe to the temple to notify me. It will be good to rx for a few days and live a simple life.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded without a word. She looked up at the blue sky. It matched the clothes she was wearing today.


    It had started to drizzle when the housekeeper finished packing. Qi Chen was in high spirits. He ignored the rain and helped Nan Guyue into the coach.


    When Jun Huang was getting in, she nced at the inside of the manor. She could see Wei Lanying jogging up to them. She arched an eyebrow without a word.


    Noticing her reaction, Qi Chen frowned and looked outside the window. His expression changed when he saw Wei Lanying. Once Jun Huang was seated, he hurriedly told the driver, ¡°Leave now. Go!¡±


    The driver took his order to heart. He jumped onto the box seat and cracked the whip. The white horses towing the coach started galloping forward.


    Wind blew open the curtains over the coach. Jun Huang could see Wei Lanying standing in the rain. Her sorrow was obvious on her face. Even Jun Huang felt a little sorry for her.


    Wei Lanying¡¯s maid ran up to her with an umbre, but was pushed to the ground by her. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t tell if Wei Lanying was crying, or if it was the rain.


    Jun Huang turned to Qi Chen. He had witnessed everything as well, but he didn¡¯t seem to care at all. He focused on tending to Nan Guyue¡¯s needs. Jun Huang thought of the days right after Wei Lanying got married to Qi Chen. He had been considerate to her then. Now, she had no ce in his heart. Jun Huang shuddered to think how he might treat Nan Guyue in the future.


    Nan Guyue was kind-hearted. Jun Huang didn¡¯t want her to get hurt. They were married, however. Jun Huang hoped Qi Chen could truly fall in love with Nan Guyue one day and remember everything she had done for him. Then perhaps, he wouldn¡¯t wrong her.


    ¡°What is brother Feng thinking about?¡± Qi Chen asked suddenly. Jun Huang came to her senses and shook her head with a smile. Shemented on how beautiful the scenery outside the city was.


    When they arrived at the temple, the rain was close to stopping. Jun Huang looked over at the temple as she got out. It was less full of life than the temple in the city, but the tranquility rxed her. It was as if her concerns and worries were fading away in the silence.


    There was someone standing outside the gate. Jun Huang focused her gaze and saw that it was Nan Xun. She widened her eyes. Before she could react, Nan Xun had alreadye up to them.


    Qi Chen was surprised as well. He raised an eyebrow at Nan Xun. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect brother Nan to be here. Such a coincidence.¡±


    A nod was Nan Xun¡¯s only reponse. He didn¡¯t intend to pay Qi Chen any more attention. Qi Chen was starting to feel awkward. Just then, the abbott came out with a young monk to greet Qi Chen.


    On their way in, Qi Chen took the lead with a hand on Nan Guyue¡¯s back, while Jun Huang and Nan Xun trailed after them. After a few moments of walking, Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°I didn¡¯t think Your Highness would put so much faith in religion. Should every triumph of yours be credited to Buddha?¡±


    Nan Xun coughed. ¡°I have some free time, so I came for a walk. I didn¡¯t expect you to be here.¡±


    Jun Huang shrugged as they entered the temple. When they walked past the main pce, she paused and turned to Wei Qian. ¡°Tell the prince that I¡¯ll walk around.¡± She was here already, thus she might as well pray for blessings.


    Wei Qian nodded before leaving. Jun Huang walked straight to the main pce. Nan Xun followed after her. He had no intention to leave her.


    The smoke from the incense sticks fogged up the whole room. The gold-ted statue seemed like it woulde to life at any moment. It was free of any dust or dirt. Jun Huang took a incense stick from a little monk and raised it in prayer. She looked devoted.


    Nan Xun stood by her side and watched her without a word. His eyes never left her.


    After three rounds of praying, Jun Huang ced the incense stick on the table before her and knelt down with her head bent low on the prayer mat. Her untied ck hair spread over the floor. She wasn¡¯t thinking about her future. She wasn¡¯t asking for a goodpanion. What she wanted had always been for her little brother to be happy and safe, and for her to be able to avenge her family and homnd.


    After a while, Jun Huang opened her eyes and said, ¡°I told Consort Zhen to poison the emperor.¡± Her tone was calm. It was difficult to tell how she felt.


    Nan Xun frowned. His hands balled up into fists under his broad sleeves. How could he not react to that? The emperor was his Bo Le. He wouldn¡¯t have be a prince if not for the emperor. And he wouldn¡¯t be able to go on the battlefields to fight for his country.


    Seemingly oblivious to his silence, Jun Huang continued, ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it. Eastern Wu is seeking truce, but they will never give up on their ambition. Besides... I don¡¯t have a lot of time.¡±


    Nan Xun stayed silent. There was a bitter taste at the back of his throat. He took a deep breath and looked outside the door. There was a behemoth tree at the center of the front yard. Fallen leaves covered the ground. A little monk was absentmindedly sweeping the leaves with a broom.


    His silence was a sign of his approval. For some reason, Jun Huang rxed a little and sighed in relief. She turned to Nan Xun with a faint smile, which lit up her soft eyes. ¡°It will only make people fatigued,¡± she offered. ¡°It¡¯s not fatal.¡±


    ¡°Remember to protect yourself no matter what,¡± Nan Xun said. ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone find out. It is a capital offense.¡±


    Jun Huang felt her heart skip a beat and her cheeks re up. She turned away hurriedly, breathing deep to suppress her emotions. She got to her feet and smoothed out the wrinkles on her robe.


    When she turned around, Nan Xun was looking at her with expressive eyes. She looked back openly, hiding her thundering heart. They stayed like that for a good while before Nan Xun turned away and walked out. Jun Huang followed after him.

 Chapter 65

    Chapter 65: Jun Huang¡¯s Admirer


    Outside the main pce was a lively garden. The air gained an earthy smell after the rain. Jun Huang took a deep breath with her eyes closed. It was refreshing.


    ¡°What are you here for today?¡± Nan Xun asked.


    Jun Huang opened her eyes and looked at the crabapple flowers. She chuckled. This whole situation was ridiculous. ¡°The kind hearted prince took me here to ask for blessings in love.¡±


    Nan Xun blinked and startedughing. Worried that he may have offended her, he quickly covered his mouth and coughed.


    Jun Huang shrugged and let Nan Xunugh at her. She bent down to smell the flowers.


    It took a good while for Nan Xun to stopughing. He cleared his throat. ¡°Qi Chen is trying to show you his appreciation. He must have spoken about this many times. After all, the gentleman is at the peak of your charm. There must be many women lining up to get your attention.¡±


    Jun Huang could tell he was teasing her. She threw him a re and started a friendly argument with him. Neither of them noticed that princess Wan¡¯er was standing in the hallway watching them.


    Nan Xun hade to the temple with Wan¡¯er. They didn¡¯t expect to run into Jun Huang and the others. Wan¡¯er watched Jun Huang from the distance. What she saw took her breath away.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time she had seen Jun Huang, but this time, Jun Huang really made an impression on her. The turquoise robe framed her body and her dark hair danced in the wind. There was a hint of smile on her lips. She looked like a gentle young man. Wan¡¯er was almost startled by how stunningly handsome Jun Huang was. She even felt a little light-headed.


    Nan Xun soon noticed that Wan¡¯er was watching them. Wan¡¯er knew she couldn¡¯t hide from him, so she showed herself and greeted them with a smile.


    Jun Huang cupped her hands and said with a polite but aloof tone, ¡°Princess.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s clear voice made Wan¡¯er blush. She took a step back, but her eyes were glued to Jun Huang. ¡°Well met, gentleman Feng. There is no need to be so formal. The gentleman may call me Wan¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°This gentleman should not overstep the boundaries.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s tone was still distant. It didn¡¯t make Wan¡¯er angry. On the contrary, she felt even more attracted to Jun Huang for her dignified attitude.


    Wan¡¯er bit into her bottom lip without a word, her eyes downcast. Nan Xun was familiar with this kind of expression, and he knew Wan¡¯er well. He stepped between Wan¡¯er and Jun Huang, obscuring her view. He had a bad feeling about this.


    ¡°Have you gone to check on the crown prince and the princess?¡± Nan Xun asked.


    Wan¡¯er came to her senses and ran away with an exim. Then she stopped and looked back at Jun Huang with her face flushed. ¡°Today the gentleman disyed an even more captivating figure. If the opportunity presents itself, Wan¡¯er would like to buy the gentleman the finest wine in the imperial city. I hope the gentleman won¡¯t turn me down.¡± She turned back and ran away.


    Before Jun Huang could react, Nan Xun had taken her wrist and led her to the lodging at the back of the temple. Once she was in Nan Xun¡¯s room, he shut the door behind them. Jun Huang started and came out of her daze.


    She rarely stayed in a room with a man on her own. For a while she didn¡¯t know where to put her hands. Her body was tensed. She coughed and took a seat at the table before pouring herself a cup of tea. She took a few sips, but she couldn¡¯t really taste it.


    Nan Xun was deep in thoughts. In the end he let out a sigh and sat across from Jun Huang. His hesitance drew Jun Huang¡¯s attention. She put down the teacup and looked at him, waiting for him to speak.


    ¡°From the way Princess Wan¡¯er acted, She may have...¡± Nan Xun couldn¡¯t continue and fell quiet.


    ¡°What?¡± Jun Huang asked in confusion.


    Nan Xun coughed and looked away. ¡°She may have fallen for you.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s face turned beet red. She never thought for a moment that the young woman dressed in pink with an elegant hairdo would fall for her. Nan Xun¡¯s words reminded her of Wan¡¯er¡¯s bashful look. She had thought that Wan¡¯er just had too much makeup on. She only realized now that Wan¡¯er¡¯s cheeks were pink because of her.


    Had Wan¡¯er really fallen for her after only one nce?


    She broke into sweats, her back drenched. Her hand trembled and some of the tea spilled out over her fingers.


    Nan Xun had been worried, but looking at Jun Huang¡¯s red cheeks, he couldn¡¯t help but be amused. He gave Jun Huang a yful look and said, ¡°Wan¡¯er is a famous beauty in Northern Qi. Countless young men have fought to attract her attention, but she never set her eyes on anyone. Why doesn¡¯t the gentleman just marry her?¡±


    ¡°Besides, the gentleman is no regr character, and you are handsome. It¡¯s only natural that women would adore you. The fallen flower is in love with you. Do you reciprocate her love?¡± Nan Xun kept his eyes on Jun Huang, watching her face reddening in shyness. His smile deepened.


    ¡°What are you talking about? You know that ¨C that I can¡¯t marry her.¡± Her voice faded into a murmur, then into silence. She took a deep breath. Her face had regained her usualposure. She took a sip of tea to calm herself.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯tment further. He went out and asked a little monk to send in a vegetarian meal. He invited Jun Huang to share it with him. Halfway through dinner, Nan Xun said, ¡°It seems that you can¡¯t stay any longer here. I¡¯ll take you back shortly.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She didn¡¯t want run into Wan¡¯er again. She finished the food and ordered Wei Qian to send a message to Qi Chen before returning to the imperial city with Nan Xun.


    Wan¡¯er ran to the room Qi Chen and Nan Guyue were staying in. Before she got in, she saw Qi Chen ordering servants to move the empress chair into the backyard. After Nan Guyue had sat down, he took a robe and put it around Nan Guyue. He was so gentle it made Wan¡¯er envious.


    ¡°Hm? Why are you here, Wan¡¯er?¡± Nan Guyue noticed her first. She struggled to get up, but Qi Chen stopped her.


    Qi Chen turned to Wan¡¯er. His eyes were still filled with the tenderness he had looked at Nan Guyue with. Wan¡¯er gaped at them, thinking back to Jun Huang. If he looks at me like that, I¡¯ll die happy.


    Seeing her unfocused eyes, Qi Chen frowned. ¡°Has something happened?¡±


    Wan¡¯er quickly recovered and shook her head with a blush. She coughed before skipping to Nan Guyue¡¯s side. She marveled at her round belly. She wanted to touch it, but Qi Chen didn¡¯t let her.


    Wan¡¯er pouted andined, ¡°I¡¯m only going to touch it. Why are you so nervous?¡±


    Qi Chen threw her a re and smoothed Nan Guyue¡¯s clothes for her. Nan Guyue had mellowed ever since her pregnancy. There was a gentle aura around her. Her crinkled eyes were soft and tender.


    Wan¡¯er considered her. Thest time she saw Nan Guyue, Nan Guyue was taken into the pce by Qi Chen to greet Consort Zhen. At the time, Nan Guyue couldn¡¯t have been more difficult. Consort Zhen was her elder, but Nan Guyue was a princess. She didn¡¯t need to obey the consort, and the consort couldn¡¯t say anything even though she was angry. Now that Nan Guyue was pregnant, everyone would be even more indulgent to her.


    Wan¡¯er¡¯s mind went wandering again. Nan Guyue smiled with a hint of resignation. ¡°What happened to you today?¡±


    ¡°Hm? Oh, no. I¡¯m just thinking about why you¡¯re here as well. It¡¯s such a coincidence.¡± She scratched her head as if she hadn¡¯t been thinking about other things.


    Nan Guyue looked down at her belly and her smile widened. ¡°We¡¯re here to pray for the child. We hope he will be able to grow up healthily.¡±


    ¡°He will,¡± Wan¡¯er said.


    Wei Qian came into the room and leaned in to tell Qi Chen something. Qi Chen expression changed for a brief moment. Nan Guyue thought it must be something important, so she didn¡¯t ask.


    After having the meal, Wan¡¯er excused herself. She walked around in the temple, but she never ran into Jun Huang. She sighed in disappointment and went back to the ce she had met Jun Huang, watching the flowers with a distant look in her eyes.


    A little monk happened to spot her. It was gettingte. He went up to her and said, ¡°The night hase and the air is humid. The alms-giver should go back to your room to rest.¡±


    ¡°Do you know which room Nan Xun is in?¡± she asked. Jun Huang had been with Nan Xun earlier. They must have known each other. Maybe she could try to find out more about Jun Huang from Nan Xun.


    ¡°Sir Nan had left for a long while.¡±


    Wan¡¯er shot up to her feet, startling the little monk. He took a step back and watched her nervously. He was worried that this stubborn princess might do something inappropriate.


    Wan¡¯er could see she had startled the monk. She cleared her throat and brushed her hair with her fingers, making herself presentable as a princess. ¡°Did he leave alone?¡±


    The monk shook his head, but didn¡¯t exin further. He told Wan¡¯er to go back to her room before taking his leave. Wan¡¯er stood in the garden for a while. The wind was cool against her skin, but her heart was burning.


    ¡°Have I really fallen for him?¡± Wan¡¯er muttered. She was excited by the possibility. All these years, countless handsome young men had fallen under her dress, but she had never found a good match. Now that Jun Huang had appeared in her sight like a god descending from the heaven, she was convinced that they were meant to be.


    The next early morning, Wan¡¯er returned to the pce. Consort Zhen sent for her and had some smalltalk with her.


    Wan¡¯er kept getting distracted because she was thinking about Jun Huang, and there was a wistfulness to her expression. It surprised Consort Zhen. This girl had always been free of worries. The consort had never seen her act this way.


    Consort Zhen took a fragrant tea olive cake and took a bite. ¡°You have been distracted, Wan¡¯er. Have you done something to make your father unhappy?¡±


    ¡°What? No! That¡¯s not all I¡¯ve ever done. Is that how mother thinks of me?¡± Wan¡¯er pouted. It made the consort chuckle. She was even more curious about the reasons behind Wan¡¯er¡¯s unusual behavior.


    ¡°Then tell me what happened, will you not?¡±


    Wan¡¯er fidgeted and lowered her eyes, unable to meet the consort¡¯s gaze. She held onto her clothes. Her heart was beating hard. It took a good moment for her to muster the courage. ¡°Mother, I think I have fallen for someone.¡±

 Chapter 66

    Chapter 66: Rejection


    Consort Zhen didn¡¯t expect this to be the root of Wan¡¯er¡¯s worries. She wondered who it was that had caught the girl¡¯s fancy.


    Consort Zhen rxed and took Wan¡¯er¡¯s fair hands. ¡°Who is this gentleman? Tell me. I will speak to your father and ask him to make arrangements for you.¡±


    Wan¡¯er pulled her hands away, her face reddening in shyness. ¡°He ¨C he isn¡¯t from an esteemed family...¡±


    ¡°Then who is he?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve only seen him a few times. He seems close to both second brother and brother Nan Xun. He looks like a god...¡± Wan¡¯er¡¯s voice faded bit by bit, bing a barely audible whisper in the end.


    From what she had heard, Consort Zhen had already more or less figured out who Wan¡¯er was talking about, but she didn¡¯t want to believe it. She continued to ask, ¡°How do you know him?¡±


    ¡°I met him once at the banquet of a hundred families. I don¡¯t think he remembers. Yesterday, we met at the temple again. That¡¯s when I fell for him.¡± Wan¡¯er paused and added, ¡°Oh, and second brother and sister-inw were there as well.¡±


    Now she was definitely talking about Jun Huang. Consort Zhen wanted to tell her to give up, but Wan¡¯er looked so full of joy she couldn¡¯t say it. She didn¡¯t want to ruin that beautiful smile.


    She sighed inwardly. Children will find their happiness themselves. There¡¯s no use worrying too much. ¡°If you like him, mother will talk to your second brother in a few days. Your second brother will be able to help you. I hope you won¡¯t regret it, however. Feng Baiyu is a calcting man ¨C ¡±


    Wan¡¯er didn¡¯t want to listen to Consort Zhen criticizing Jun Huang. She cut her off. ¡°I know. Thank you, mother, for being willing to help. I can tell gentleman Feng is an extraordinary man with integrity. If I get married to him, we will lead a wonderful life.¡±


    Consort Zhen shook her head. Wan¡¯er had made up her mind.


    The blush on Wan¡¯er face gradually faded. She stood up and turned around.


    ¡°What if he isn¡¯t willing, Wan¡¯er?¡± Consort Zhen asked before Wan¡¯er left.


    Wan¡¯er was caught off guard. Then her expression changed into an open smile. She had never thought about this question. Or, she never thought it was necessary to think about it. ¡°Do you really think of me as someone so undesirable, mother? Besides, I am a princess. He is but a man with no status. There¡¯s no reason for him to turn me down.¡±


    ¡°What if he only wants to be with you because he wants status? What if he doesn¡¯t love you?¡± Consort Zhen did want the best for her children. She didn¡¯t want Wan¡¯er to get hurt in any way.


    Wan¡¯er looked down at the floor and contemted for a good while. She smiled, her hesitation melting away. ¡°Even so, Wan¡¯er is confident that I will be able to make him fall for me after we get together.¡±


    She took off after that.


    Consort Zhen sighed. She didn¡¯t like Feng Baiyu. She thought that his heart was impure and that he was too cunning. He was a potential threat she had to be wary of. But Wan¡¯er liked him. There was nothing the consort could do but to grant her her wish.


    After a few days, Qi Chen entered the pce to pay his mother a visit. Consort Zhen told the servants to leave and invited Qi Chen to take a seat. Qi Chen obliged. He filled two cups up with tea and put one before the consort. The other he picked up and took a sip.


    ¡°Does Feng Baiyu has someone he¡¯d like to marry, Chen¡¯er?¡± Consort Zhen asked tentatively.


    Qi Chen wondered why she asked. He shook his head. ¡°Brother Feng is used to being alone. He hasn¡¯t thought at all about marriage. He doesn¡¯t even have someone he likes. Why did mother ask?¡±


    Consort Zhen felt her heart settle. She was worried that Jun Huang may have someone she liked already. Then Wan¡¯er wouldn¡¯t be treated well after marriage. Now it seemed Jun Huang could be a good enough match. At least there would be no romantic rivals.


    Consort Zhen didn¡¯t waste any more time before she got to the point. ¡°It¡¯s a coincidence. A few days ago, Wan¡¯er went to the temple as well. She fell in love with Feng Baiyu at first sight and had been pining for him ever since. She came to me to ask me about it. She knew that you know Feng Baiyu very well. And she¡¯s shy. So she asked me to tell you about it. If Feng Baiyu is willing, she would very much like to get married to him.¡±


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t expect his stubborn sister to fall for the aloof Jun Huang. He was shocked, and his cup fell onto the table, drenching the tablecloth with tea. That broke him out of his trance.


    He couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Did Wan¡¯er tell you herself?¡±


    ¡°Naturally. Do you think I would make something like this up? You know I never liked Feng Baiyu. If Wan¡¯er didn¡¯t like him, I wouldn¡¯t be talking to you about this.¡±


    Qi Chen stopped to think about it. A marriage could work. Jun Huang was single. If he let his beloved sister get married to Jun Huang, Jun Huang would have a tighter rtionship with him, and she would be more open to him. Besides, it would make Wan¡¯er happy.


    He nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, mother. This son will take care of it. Wan¡¯er does have keen eyes for character. If she get married to brother Feng, it will be thanks to both of their good fortunes.¡±


    Consort Zhen smiled, but she didn¡¯t agree with him. She thought that Jun Huang must have done something good in her past life to deserve Wan¡¯er¡¯s affection.


    It was human nature to think your children were better than anyone else. Even if they were marrying elites of the greatest calibre, you¡¯d think their spouses weren¡¯t good enough for them.


    Qi Chen went straight to the side building after returning to the manor. Jun Huang was reading a book lying on a chair. Even Qi Chen felt envious of her.


    She wore a white robe with ck patterns. Her dark hair was tied in the back with a hairband. Her fair face showed an aloof expression. It was as if there was nothing in the world that could make her frown, that could break her calm.


    Hearing his footsteps, Jun Huang lifted her head. She was going to stand up and bow to Qi Chen, but he stopped her.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, brother Feng,¡± Qi Chen said with a smile and waved his hand. ¡°When no one is around, we¡¯re brothers. Younger brothers don¡¯t bow to their older brothers.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s words were difficult to argue with. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t find it in herself to call him brother, however. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.


    She put down her book and invited Qi Chen to take a seat. She picked up the pot of tea she had brewed in the morning and poured him a cup.


    Jun Huang took a sip of her tea. ¡°Why has Your Royal Highnesse to see me? Is something the matter?¡±


    ¡°Brother Feng reminded me. I¡¯m here today on someone¡¯s request.¡± Qi Chen lightly pped himself on the head and put down his teacup. He looked straight into her eyes. She didn¡¯t flinch or look away.


    Qi Chen was going to just announce his intention, but he couldn¡¯t say it in face of Jun Huang¡¯s clear eyes. He found a less direct way to express his thoughts. ¡°Um, brother Feng has been in Northern Qi for a while. There are many beautiful women here. Is there anyone you¡¯ve set your eyes on?¡±


    Without thinking too much, Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°This gentleman is all alone. I don¡¯t even have my own ce to let my hair down. I can¡¯t possibly have a woman live such a life with me. It¡¯s better that I stay single.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no one you like?¡± Qi Chen asked insistently.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°What if there¡¯s someone who adores you?¡± Qi Chen asked. ¡°Are you willing to take them as your wife?¡±


    Jun Huang started to catch on. Thinking back to Nan Xun¡¯s observation, she soon figured out who Qi Chen was referring to. She dropped down to one knee and cupped her hands. ¡°Your Royal Highness must know what kind of a person I am,¡± she said as openly as she could. ¡°This gentleman wants nothing but to serve a great leader and lift our people out of misery. I have never once dreamed about having princess Wan¡¯er¡¯s affection. I know I¡¯m not good enough for her. May Your Royal Highness make the right decision.¡±


    Qi Chen never expected such a strong reaction from Jun Huang. He was suddenly filled with rage. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your ce, Feng Baiyu! Do you know who Wan¡¯er is? She¡¯s someone way above you. You have no right to reject her.¡±


    ¡°This gentleman only knows that with my status, I won¡¯t be a good match for the princess. That¡¯s the reason behind my rejection. Moreover, my family members passed away only a couple months ago. This gentleman has to mourn and stay single for at least three years.¡± Her tone was determined. She was on her knee, but she didn¡¯t seem weak at all. Her back was as straight as a pine tree and her eyes as clear as water. ¡°I will never look down on the princess. Besides, this gentleman has an ambition. If I marry the princess, I won¡¯t be able to fulfil my potential. The princess¡¯s affection is in the wrong ce and I am deeply sorry. I hope Your Royal Highness can exin to the princess.¡±


    Qi Chen drank his tea and looked over at Jun Huang. He didn¡¯t tell her to be at ease. He wanted to know how stubborn she could be.


    Clearly, she had an unbendable backbone. She knelt with her teeth clenched and didn¡¯t move a muscle despite how much she was sweating.


    Qi Chen was the one to back away. He thought Jun Huang to be arrogant and took his leave with a huff, leaving Jun Huang kneeling in the room.


    A breeze blew in and chilled her to the bone. She shuddered, her face as pale as a sheet. She took a deep breath and forced herself to stand up. Her back was drenched with sweats.


    At least Qi Chen had left. He must have given up if his expression was anything to go by. Good. That was one problem solved then. Jun Huang sat back down and took a gulp of the cooled tea. The bitter taste in her throat was overwhelming.


    Wan¡¯er waited for Qi Chen to deliver the good news with great excitement. She blushed every time she thought about Jun Huang. She never knew that she could be so in love with someone.


    ¡°What did gentleman Feng say, second brother?¡± She looked up at him hopefully, her eyes so bright it made it difficult to say anything that might hurt her feelings. Qi Chen sighed. He didn¡¯t want to do this.

 Chapter 67

    Chapter 67: Matters of the Heart


    Wan¡¯er was born and raised in the pce. She had lived a carefree life, loved and protected by her parents and brothers. She, however, could see how hesitant Qi Chen was to speak. Nervousness seized her heart and she asked carefully, ¡°Is he in love with someone else?¡±


    Qi Chen shook his head, watching Wan¡¯er closely.


    Wan¡¯er let out a sigh of relief. ¡°So he simply doesn¡¯t want to marry me.¡±


    ¡°He is only a peasant with no official status,¡± Qi Chen said, choosing his words with great care as if he were negotiating a critical state matter. ¡°Don¡¯t be so stubborn, Wan¡¯er. Second brother will find you a man who is good to you. Isn¡¯t that better?¡±


    Wan¡¯er stared nkly at Qi Chen, her eyes brimmed with tears. Qi Chen¡¯s heart ached for her.


    Ever since they were little, Wan¡¯er had been a troublemaker who followed no rules. Still Qi Chen could not bear to punish her. He had never even raised his voice at her. Now his little sister was crying because of one man. He couldn¡¯t be more pained seeing her like this.


    He pulled Wan¡¯er into his arms and patted her gently on the shoulders. ¡°There are countless good men in the world, Wan¡¯er,¡± he said after letting out a sigh. ¡°You will find someone else you like. Besides, Feng Baiyu doesn¡¯t want you, and he isn¡¯t good enough for you. You think he¡¯s a great man now, but what if he doesn¡¯t live up to your expectation after you get married?¡±


    Wan¡¯er paused. A single tear trickled down her cheek. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, suppressing her sorrow. She opened her mouth but couldn¡¯t say anything. In the end, she gave up and slouched on the empress chair, seemingly having lost all her strength.


    Qi Chen sighed and patted her on the shoulder. He didn¡¯t know what else he could say to her.


    Jun Huang asked Nan Xun and Qi Yun to meet her at the tavern. She was the first to arrive. She knew what kind of tea Nan Xun and Qi Yun enjoyed. She ordered a pot of light tea and waited for them.


    She kept thinking back to what Qi Chen had told her yesterday. She still couldn¡¯t believe it. She was a woman! Even though she was dressed like a man right now, there was nothing about her that should be attractive to another woman. Wan¡¯er was the princess of Northern Qi. She was bound to have met a great many fine men. Why would Wan¡¯er fall in love with her?


    Jun Huang was absentmindedly ying with a teacup when Nan Xun and Qi Yun arrived together. Nan Xun could tell she was distracted. It didn¡¯t take long for him to figure out why. A smile found its way to his lips.


    Qi Yun sauntered in and saw Jun Huang was looking out of the window with a hand supporting her chin. Her hair was down, covering her shoulders. There was a deep sense of wistfulness about her.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Qi Yun asked worriedly. ¡°Have you run into troubles?¡±


    ¡°Must be matters of the heart,¡± Nan Xun said before she could answer. His tone was practically dripping with amusement.


    Jun Huang turned around and saw Nan Xun standing there with the suning from behind his back. His steely features were softened by the backlight, and the smile on his lips was difficult to ignore. Watching him felt like staring directly into the sun.


    People always said that Nan Xun had eyes that were too sharp and a smile that was too cold, but now Jun Huang could say for sure that they just never really got to know him. Nan Xun was a young man with a blindingly bright smile.


    She didn¡¯t notice the tender light in Nan Xun¡¯s eyes.


    Qi Yun watched as an outsider. These two are staring at each other like they¡¯re the only people in the world! He felt a little jealous, but he was a royal prince. Jealousy was unbing for someone like him. He shook his head to clear his thoughts before clearing his throat to get their attention.


    Jun Huang was yanked back to reality by this and she quickly looked away, her face turning red.


    Nan Xun was a man who had gone on many battlefields. He had thicker skin than Jun Huang. He looked away without any obvious reaction.


    ¡°What do you mean by matters of the heart, brother?¡± Qi Yun asked.


    Nan Xun looked at Jun Huang with a smile. Her eyes flickered. She had not felt this on edge for a long time. Nan Xun¡¯s gaze was too heated.


    Nan Xun was amused. Jun Huang had always acted like she was older than she actually was. She seemed calm and collected no matter what she was faced with, and her eyes were often difficult to read.


    Now, though, she looked just like any youngdy. Her face was flushed and her eyes were soft. Her hair flew in the wind. She was dressed like a man, but he could remember how she had looked dressed as a woman. She was stunningly beautiful.


    ¡°It seems that you are too used to staying on the sideline,¡± Nan Xun said with augh. ¡°You don¡¯t know about the gossip in the pce.¡±


    Qi Yun was even more confused. ¡°This brother is ill-informed. May brother Nan tell me what you¡¯re talking about?¡±


    Nan Xun threw a nce at Jun Huang. She widened her eyes. He can¡¯t possibly know that Qi Chen hase to talk to me about Wan¡¯er, can he?


    Her suspicion was confirmed by Nan Xun¡¯s words. ¡°We ran into Wan¡¯er in the temple a few days ago. Wan¡¯er fell in love with her at first sight and immediately went to Qi Chen, asking him to be their matchmaker. Our Jun Huang truly possess the charm of a man whose very existence creates troubles.¡±


    Jun Huang blushed even harder. She had forgotten about defending herselfpletely. After a while, she recovered from her embarrassment and frowned at Nan Xun. ¡°How do you know about this?¡±


    Her questioning tone made Nan Xun a little upset. He would never hurt anyone just to keep an eye on her. ¡°What don¡¯t I know about what is happening in the city? Besides, Qi Chen wasn¡¯t the only one Wan¡¯er went to. She really does love you. She came to my manor and asked for my help as well. Now, tell me, what do you n to do?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s tone was harsher than usual. Jun Huang looked at him in confusion. He couldn¡¯t help soften his attitude seeing her like that. He sighed and chuckled. ¡°Gentleman Feng is an extraordinary man. It¡¯s only natural that women will fall for you. I wonder what kind ofpanion the gentleman is looking for.¡±


    ¡°This gentleman has ambitions I must achieve. Why would I waste time on a rtionship?¡± Jun Huang had regained her focus. Her smile was proper, and her words razor-sharp. ¡°Your Highness, on the other hand, has reached the age appropriate for marriage. Why have I not heard of you trying to find a wife to manage your manor?¡±


    They yed off each other so well, it made Qi Yun even more jealous. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you two have gotten so close. I thought brother Nan was a general who rarely smiled. This is a side of you I¡¯ve never seen.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s hyperbolic,¡± Nan Xun said in a casual tone. ¡°I¡¯m just exchanging smalltalk with gentleman Feng. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡±


    Qi Yun lowered his eyes, staring at the tea on the table. His dark eyes were difficult to read. He didn¡¯t respond even when Jun Huang called out for him. Only when she sat down right in front of him did he look up at her. He looked lost.


    ¡°Is Your Highness worried about something?¡± Jun Huang was no longer blushing. There was a sense of aloofness radiating from her very being, as if there was nothing in the world that mattered to her.


    Qi Yun twisted his lips into a smile and shook his head. Jun Huang had known him for years. She could read him like a book. Qi Yun was clearly worried about something, but he wasn¡¯t willing to burden anyone with his concerns. And it was dragging him down.


    Jun Huang was always direct with people she trusted. Qi Yun¡¯s attitude troubled her. She sighed. ¡°You can tell me anything, Qi Yun. There¡¯s no use keeping everything to yourself. Why don¡¯t you speak your mind, and we can see to your problems together?¡±


    Qi Yun hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and meeting Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. ¡°I suddenly feel like what I¡¯ve done up until this point has been in vain.¡±


    ¡°To other people, I am but a frail and sickly prince with no ambition. I¡¯m a recluse. I don¡¯t have my own manor. Second brother is different. He now has a group of supporters in the imperial court. He¡¯s married Princess Nan Guyue from Southern Mu. And he is the crown prince. The writing is on the wall.¡± As Qi Yun spoke, he seemed more and more lost about his future. It upset Jun Huang.


    She wanted to put Qi Yun on the throne because he cared about the people and would make a great leader. In addition, they had known each other for a long time. She would have Northern Qi backing her up in her revenge. Everything was built on the assumption that Qi Yun himself wanted to be the emperor, however. Now, before the real battle even started, he was already intimidated. It disappointed her.


    She didn¡¯t try to hide her disappointment, and it was like a poison needle jabbing into Qi Yun¡¯s heart. It was unbearably painful.


    ¡°Are you giving up?¡± she asked coldly.


    ¡°I ¨C ¡± Qi Yun didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath. ¡°Qi Chen stands out in the court right now, Qi Yun, but that¡¯s unavoidable. He is the crown prince. He was chosen by the emperor himself. Of course many people will be fawning over him.¡±


    ¡°The emperor is healthy enough for the time being. He won¡¯t pass down his throne in the near future. You know that as well. The prince he favors the most was the former crown prince, but Qi Yin has passed away. It was a huge blow on the emperor. If Qi Chen is too eager, it¡¯ll actually hurt him in the long term and make the emperor second-guess his intentions. Moreover, Qi Chen was behind Qi Yin¡¯s sudden death. The emperor knows about it; he¡¯s just been keeping it to himself.¡±


    ¡°You only need to do one thing now. You don¡¯t have to fight Qi Chen over anything.¡±


    Qi Yun frowned at her. He didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Do what?¡±


    Jun Huang smiled like the cat that got the cream. Nan Xun didn¡¯t say anything. He waited for her to give Qi Yun the answer.


    He sat next to her, looking at her profile. She looked soft and gentle at this moment. Sometimes he really missed how Jun Huang had looked dressed in women¡¯s clothes. He told himself that he would catch a glimpse of Jun Huang like that again in the future.

 Chapter 68

    Chapter 68: Fury


    Noticing Nan Xun¡¯s gaze, Jun Huang turned to look at him and saw his intense gaze. She quickly averted her eyes. Nan Xun scratched his nose. Am I really that scary?


    Jun Huang took a deep breath before continuing with her exnation. ¡°Every father in the world wants his children to apany him often. The emperor is the ruler of a country. He sits on the throne looking upon the people who bow down to him. However, does anyone ever notice the loneliness eating away his heart? That¡¯s why he needs familial love. Go visit the emperor often when Your Highness has the time. He will be touched by your devotion to him.¡±


    The more Qi Yun thought about it, the more he saw her point. This question had been dragging him down for so long, and she provided an answer so readily! She really was a rare asset.


    Years ago, the princess he knew had been loved by tens of thousands of people. Tragedies forced her to transform into a cunning woman.


    Jun Huang could tell Qi Yun was preupied with his thoughts. She could also feel his gaze on him, causing a small smile to appear on her lips.


    She knew what he was thinking. Endless tragedies had lead her to be who she was today. Her smile was merely a cover for her true feelings.


    The atmosphere in the room was too tense for her liking. ¡°It¡¯s early still. Perhaps we can get some drinks?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Nan Xun said without hesitation. He never forgot that there was poison running rampant in Jun Huang¡¯s body. The doctor had said she shouldn¡¯t drink. And alcohol was bad for one¡¯s health in general.


    Qi Yun got to his feet and smoothed the wrinkles on his clothes. He cupped his hands at Jun Huang and Nan Xun. ¡°Unfortunately, there are matters I have to attend to. Please excuse me.¡±


    On his way back to the pce, Qi Yun felt a bone deep tiredness inside him. He went to the Royal Cemetery and spent some time talking to his mother. It made him feel a little lighter.


    Once he was near the room where the emperor worked on affairs of the state, the emperor¡¯s personal eunuch spotted him and rushed to give him a bow. Qi Yun gestured at him to be at ease and asked with a low voice, ¡°Has Royal Father not retired to bed yet?¡±


    The eunuch nodded. ¡°Indeed His Majesty hasn¡¯t. This old servant tried to convince His Majesty to stop working, but to no avail. The fourth prince must know that despite how hale and hearty His Majesty appears to be, he has been coughing every night. This old servant is deeply concerned.¡±


    Qi Yun lowered his head in bemusement. Just then, a servant came to bring medicine to the emperor. Qi Yun remembered what Jun Huang had said earlier. He took the medicine and gave the eunuch a heads up before entering the room.


    The emperor was immersed in the reports on the desk. Hearing the footsteps, he thought it was the eunuch, so he didn¡¯t even look up from the reports. Only when he smelled the medicine and lifted his head did he see that it was Qi Yun.


    ¡°Why are you here, Yun¡¯er?¡± The emperor¡¯s knitted eyebrows rxed and he looked at Qi Yun with a genuine smile.


    Qi Yun put the bowl of medicine on the table and knelt down with his hands cupped. ¡°This son hase to visit Royal Father without notifying you in advance. I hope Royal Father may forgive me.¡±


    The emperor let out a sigh and helped Qi Yun up, patting his hand. ¡°You came all the way to visit me. Why would I me you?¡±


    ¡°Affairs of the state may be important, Royal Father,¡± Qi Yun said worriedly, ¡°But you have to take care of yourself. You must not push yourself to the point that you be ill.¡±


    ¡°I know my limits.¡± He led Qi Yun to a chair nearby and sat down. The chess board showed an unfinished game. Qi Yun wondered who the emperor was ying against. The two appeared to be in an equal match.


    Qi Yun and the emperor had a long conversation. In the end, the emperormented, ¡°Among all my sons, you are the one closest to me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. Hasn¡¯t Royal Father always been fond of second brother? Besides, not long from now, second brother will be able to shoulder some of Royal Father¡¯s burden. You won¡¯t have to work so hard then.¡± Qi Yun¡¯s tone was nonchnt, but there was a hint of reluctance in his voice. The emperor was observant enough to notice it.


    He didn¡¯t suspect Qi Yun, however. This boy is simply upset for what happened to his mother. The emperor sighed and took Qi Yun¡¯s hand. ¡°I know Chen¡¯er has been working hard with the officials, but he can¡¯t spend as much time with me as you do. He¡¯s married after all.¡±


    After Qi Yun took his leave, Jun Huang felt like it was time for her to return as well. Qi Chen might grow suspicious if she stayed out for too long. She got to her feet.


    Nan Xun stood up as well. He cleared his throat and said with fake nonchnce, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you back. It¡¯s on the way.¡± Before Jun Huang could say anything, he had walked out of the tavern. Jun Huang shook her head andughed before following him out.


    There were many residents in the imperial city, and many coaches roamed the streets. These rich men certainly don¡¯t have the rules in mind, Nan Xun thought. The emperor had stipted that no private coaches were to travel through the main streets in the city. And yet very few actuallyplied.


    Horses galloped through the city, bringing up a smog of dust into the air. Nan Xun was worried that the speeding coaches may hit Jun Huang; he kept to the side to the road, shielding her from danger.


    Jun Huang had noticed his action, but she had no experience in romantic love. She thought that this was only a habit Nan Xun had developed as a man. It must be part of his instinct. She didn¡¯t think too much of it.


    They had a great time as they walked. Jun Huang had a faint smile on her face as she talked about anything and everything with Nan Xun, and Nan Xun shared with her many interesting things he had encountered in his military life.


    It brought to her mind an epic picture of a vast wilnd with a lone pir of smoke. She could almost hear the blood pumping through the soldiers¡¯ bodies. Those men who have fought on battlefields must bear a resemnce to Nan Xun, she thought. He has this gleam in his eyes that cannot be ignored.


    Neither of them noticed the man who had caught a glimpse of their interaction. It was the housekeeper of Prince Chen Manor. He could be considered a confidante of Qi Chen. He knew that Qi Chen considered Nan Xun an adversary. Now, seeing Jun Huang and Nan Xun talking to one another with a smile, his attention was caught and he rushed back to the manor through a shortcut.


    Qi Chen happened to be leaving his building with an annoyed expression. The housekeeper took a peek and saw Wei Lanying copsed on the chair with tears streaming down her face. They must have gotten into a fight again.


    ¡°What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?¡± Qi Chen frowned at the housekeeper, paying no mind to the sobbing Wei Lanying.


    The housekeeper leaned into Qi Chen and said with a low voice, ¡°This old servant happened to run into gentleman Feng on the main street. He was with Prince Nan Xun, and they seemed close.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s face grew a shade darker and he threw Wei Lanying a poisonous re. She shuddered, holding back her tears, and ran away covering her face.


    Back to her own ce, Wei Lanying pped her maid with her teeth clenched without warning. The maid felt her ear ringing and she knelt on the floor crying.


    ¡°Useless!¡± Wei Lanying growled.


    Earlier, she had sent the maid to wait at the front door. Wei Lanying hadn¡¯t seen Qi Chen for a long time, and she had missed him. She put on makeup and waited for the maid toe retrieve her.


    Not long after, the maid told her that Qi Chen had returned. She happily went up to the gate. The one she first saw was Nan Guyue, however, who had gone to the pce with Qi Chen to visit Consort Zhen. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from mocking the princess. Nan Guyue was never one to back down. They got into a heated argument.


    In rage, she gave Nan Guyue a push. It would have been worse if Qi Chen hadn¡¯t caught Nan Guyue in time.


    Qi Chen pped Wei Lanying and had someone help Nan Guyue back to their room. Wei Lanying reverted to her old habit of reminding Qi Chen who it was that helped him be the crown prince. Qi Chen pped her again with the back of his hand and told her to behave in a harsh tone. If there was a next time, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to divorce her.


    Jun Huang bid farewell to Nan Xun under a cherry tree. Petals of the cherry blossoms fell from above them and somended on Jun Huang¡¯s hair. Nan Xun took them off her head as if he had done it a thousand times. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help the blood rushing to her face.


    She grabbed Nan Xun¡¯s hand and looked away. Nan Xun smiled widely at her bashful expression. He showed the petals to her. ¡°I was only taking these off. What are you thinking about?¡±


    His teasing words made her blush harder. She brushed him away and ran toward the manor without saying goodbye.


    Once she reached the manor, she saw Qi Chen under a parasol tree. Jun Huang prepared herself mentally and waited until her blush had faded before she went up to him. She cupped her hands. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Your Highness with the princess? Are you enjoying the view of the flowers?¡±


    Qi Chen turned to her with cold eyes and scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to tell me what I should or shouldn¡¯t do. Remember your ce.¡±


    Jun Huang was rendered speechless. Why was Qi Chen so angry? She twisted her lips, a little upset. ¡°Has Your Highness encountered a difficulty? Would you mind telling this gentleman about it? Then I can maybe shoulder your burden.¡±


    An epiphany hit her suddenly and she added, ¡°Or, am I the reason behind Your Highness¡¯s bad mood?¡±


    Qi Chen looked Jun Huang in the eyes and sat down at the table. He took a deep breath before answering, ¡°The housekeeper was out on an errand. He told me something. Something that greatly disappointed me.¡± He yed with a teacup while he watched Jun Huang at the corner of his eye, cataloging every change in her expression.


    Ah, he must have seen me with Nan Xun. She wondered what exactly the housekeeper had said to Qi Chen. She didn¡¯t want to jump to conclusions. Tentatively, she asked, ¡°What did he tell you?¡±

 Chapter 69

    Chapter 69: A Beauty in Bath


    ¡°Feng Baiyu, do you really think that you can continue to fake ignorance?¡± Qi Chen said through clenched teeth with a scowl. ¡°It¡¯s not the first time that you and Nan Xun are seen together. What are you nning? Are you a spy sent by Nan Xun?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°Your Royal Highness has misunderstood me. This gentleman thought that after everything I¡¯ve done for Your Royal Highness, I would have earned your trust. But now Your Royal Highness is doubting my loyalty.¡± Sheughed bitterly.


    Qi Chen paused. He realized that he might have overreacted. He felt a little guilty. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I met with Nan Xun today to seek his support for Your Royal Highness,¡± said Jun Huang. She didn¡¯t even bat an eye as she lied to Qi Chen. ¡°He has control over the army. If Your Royal Highness can attain his support, his power will be of great help to you. I didn¡¯t tell Your Royal Highness only because this was not a done deal yet. I didn¡¯t want to give Your Royal Highness any false hope.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, Nan Xun isn¡¯t willing to get involved with conflicts in the court. He only promised to stay neutral.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s expression changed. He let out a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s only natural. Nan Xun is a talented general and also a prince. He never cares to mingle with other people. He also holds control over the army of Northern Qi. Of course he¡¯s unwilling to take anyone¡¯s side. You are not to me.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s face remained impassive as she looked down at the ground. There was a green sprout at her feet. It looked so very fragile ¨C anyone might step on it without noticing, and it would be buried under the soil.


    Is he still upset about my suspicion of him? Qi Chen wondered. He walked to Jun Huang¡¯s side and patted her on the shoulder. ¡°I was wrong to mistrust you, brother Feng. I hope you won¡¯t me me.¡±


    ¡°It is nothing,¡± Jun Huang said politely, but her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes. Anyone who cared to look would be able to see it. Qi Chen, however, didn¡¯t notice. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that Your Royal Highness is careful.¡±


    A pageboy came to announce that dinner is ready. Normally, Jun Huang would leave and eat in the side building, but Qi Chen wanted to make amends to her. Maybe he¡¯s cursing me in his head, Qi Chen thought. I should invite him to stay for dinner. That¡¯ll show him that I know I¡¯ve made a mistake.


    Thus, as soon as Jun Huang said that she was going to take her leave, Qi Chen smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s time for dinner. Brother Feng should stay and dine with us.¡±


    ¡°This gentleman can¡¯t possibly do that. I am only an honored guest. I cannot share a meal with the crown prince and the princess. Besides, the servants at the side building must have prepared dinner for me already. If I don¡¯t return, the food will go to waste.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s tone was persuasive, and her reasons were sound. There should be no argument to be made.


    Qi Chen was the crown prince of Northern Qi, however. He wouldn¡¯t stand for anyone denying him his request. It was clear that he was disgruntled.


    Seeing his reaction, Jun Huang knew she couldn¡¯t argue against him further. She nodded. ¡°This gentleman will ept Your Royal Highness¡¯s offer rather than blindly holding onto rules of propriety.¡±


    Satisfied, Qi Chen¡¯s anger melted away and his frown disappeared. He put an arm around Jun Huang¡¯s shoulder and led her to the main hall. He also sent a pageboy to the side building to notify the servants that gentleman Feng would not return for dinner. They should, therefore, finish the food themselves.


    Nan Guyue didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen to invite Jun Huang to stay for dinner. She was caught off guard. Jun Huang gave her a proper greeting. ¡°Excuse me for intruding.¡±


    Nan Guyue quickly recovered. She cleared her throat and brushed back the strand of hair falling in front of her forehead. ¡°The gentleman is being too formal,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re here as our guest. Come, take a seat.¡±


    Nan Guyue was a princess after all. She knew where the line should be drawn better than Wei Lanying. Her generous attitude pleased Qi Chen. He took Nan Guyue¡¯s hand and told her to not strain herself.


    Jun Huang noticed that Nan Guyue seemed a little unwell. She took a seat and said worriedly, ¡°The princess looks tired. How are you feeling? The princess has just be a mother. This is a brand new experience for you. If you feel ufortable in any way, you must not keep it to yourself. We don¡¯t want anything to happen to you.¡±


    Nan Guyue tilted her head to throw a nce at Qi Chen before lowering her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m grateful to the gentleman for your concerns,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°I¡¯m alright. Maybe it¡¯s because I didn¡¯t sleep wellst night that I look unwell today.¡±


    Qi Chen huffed. ¡°It¡¯s all Wei Lanying¡¯s fault. She almost caused me to lose this child. She has gone more and more out of control.¡± Qi Chen shook his head. Wei Lanying was starting to disgust him.


    Jun Huang looked at Nan Guyue, trying to determine what she was thinking. Nan Guyue met her gaze and didn¡¯t look away. Those eyes were as clear as ever. There was no malice within them. How could someone with eyes like hers be anything other than innocent?


    Jun Huang sighed inwardly for her ridiculous thoughts. For a brief moment, she suspected Nan Guyue of provoking Qi Chen into hating Wei Lanying more on purpose. She¡¯s not someone like that, Jun Huang told herself. Must have been a careless act.


    The servantsid down the utensils. Jun Huang only move her chopsticks after Qi Chen had started eating. To show how much he valued her, Jun Huang had been given the same food as Qi Chen and Nan Guyue.


    ¡°Your Royal Highness has been working hard everyday. You should have some more soup.¡± Nan Guyue filled a bowl with lotus root soup. Every smile and every frown of hers was because of Qi Chen.


    Qi Chen nodded. He blew the soup cool before taking a spoonful. He praised the cooks for having improved their craft.


    Jun Huang ate quietly. The atmosphere was light at the dinner table. It was the perfect time for everyday conversations. Nan Guyue had lost her air of superiority and began to respect other people more. And she knew that Jun Huang was Qi Chen¡¯s strategist and the reason why Nan Guyue and Qi Chen got together. Thus, she started talking to Qi Chen about personal matters without trying to hide from Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang remained calm and aloof, but she was actually listening closely to Qi Chen and Nan Guyue¡¯s conversation, trying to get information that may be useful to her.


    After dinner, Jun Huang bid them farewell. She didn¡¯t want to overstay her wee, and it was gettingte. She knew when to excuse herself. Qi Chen didn¡¯t ask her to stay. He nodded and let her leave.


    Jun Huang strolled towards the side building. The night winds were cold and it made her shudder. She didn¡¯t have a lot of clothes on her. She quickened her pace and started thinking about what Nan Guyue had said.


    Earlier, Nan Guyue told Qi Chen that the gifts delivered had been received with appreciation. Jun Huang hadn¡¯t heard about any important figures having a celebration recently. Qi Chen must have been trying to gain someone¡¯s support. Who it could be was beyond her, however.


    Hearing a twig snapping behind her, she whirled around. By the narrow pathway the only light source was the flickering light emitted from the stonemp. Nevertheless, she noticed there was someone hiding behind the fake mountain.


    From the man¡¯s clothes she could tell it was the housekeeper, but she didn¡¯t n to expose him. She quirked up her lips and continued walking. The housekeeper continued to follow her.


    Most people in the manor were still loyal to Qi Chen. She didnt¡¯ want to arouse any suspicions. She had to rece those people for her future n. It wouldn¡¯t be an easy task.


    She knew Qi Chen must hold lingering doubts for her. He was worried that Jun Huang may meet with that certain someone he didn¡¯t like, so he ordered the housekeeper to tail her and make sure she went back to the side building straightaway.


    She had done what she had to. She returned to the side building, appreciating the flowers along the way. Once she retired to her room, the housekeeper let out a relieved sigh and reported back to Qi Chen.


    Jun Huang was exhausted. She ordered a maid to prepare a bath before having some tea in the garden. After a short period of time, the maid came to pat her on the shoulder.


    ¡°I have prepared a bath, gentleman Feng,¡± the maid said gently. ¡°Do you still not require assistance?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and rubbed at her forehead as she went back into her room. She locked the door and walked to the screen, behind which was a barrel of hot water. The heat sent vapor into the air.


    She disrobed and walked into the barrel, immersing her whole body into the water. Her long dark hair was soaked and stuck to her pale back. Her delicate corbones were mesmerizing to look at.


    Her cheeks reddened and her eyes went misty. Her expression softened into a rxed smile. Her thin lips were as red as blood. The whole room was filled with a faint and refreshing fragrance.


    It was a beautiful night. The view around the side building was alluring as well. Nan Xun stood outside Prince Chen Manor, looking up at the outer wall. The bright moon and the stream of stars seemed to be within his reach. The person he was thinking about was only a wall away from him. He couldn¡¯t stop his heart from soaring at the thought.


    He wanted to see Jun Huang, but... he didn¡¯t have a good reason. He had just seen her earlier today. And yet he still missed her.


    He took a deep breath before leaping into the air with a push of his foot. Hended on the roof silently and rushed to the side building. Jun Huang¡¯s residence seemed lonelypared to where Qi Chen lived.


    There was less lighting here. Jun Huang herself preferred the quiet, and the ce was silent at night. All the servants had left. Only a team of patrols were walking the parameter.


    Her room was still lit. Hended on the ground without making a sound and came to the door. He used the dagger he kept tucked under his waistband and picked the door open. He entered the building.


    He walked through the parlor to the room at the back. Before he could walk in, the sound of water sloshing about caught his attention. He frowned, but he didn¡¯t think too much of it. He pushed the silk curtains apart and saw what was happening behind the screen. He dropped his dagger in shock.


    ¡°Who ¨C who is it?¡± Jun Huang asked nervously, sinking herself back into the barrel with her arms crossed before her chest. She couldn¡¯t stop her voice from getting louder.


    Nan Xun took a deep breath and covered up his shock. He turned his head aside. His whole ears had turned red. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±

 Chapter 70

    Chapter 70: Doubts


    Recognizing Nan Xun¡¯s voice, Jun Huang let out a sigh of relief. There was cold sweat covering her forehead. She couldn¡¯t help but shiver in the cooled water.


    She quickly put on some clothes and wrapped them tightly around herself before walking out from behind the screen. Nan Xun stood by the door with candlelight illuminating him from behind. ¡°What are you here for sote at night?¡± she asked.


    Nan Xun sighed inwardly. Of course Jun Huang would ask him this. He did need a justification for a social call at this time of day.


    He cleared his throat. ¡°I forgot to ask you how you are going to deal with Wan¡¯er.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s shoulders slumped. She really didn¡¯t want to think about this, but she had to. During dinner, Nan Guyue had also been trying to get a feel for Jun Huang¡¯s intention. Jun Huang had deflected the questions. She didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to vault over the wall and sneak in to get an answer.


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were drawn to Jun Huang. She hadn¡¯t dried her hair; it was still dripping water. She was showing the gentle side of a woman now. Her make-up free face held an aloof expression.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you that I can¡¯t possibly marry princess Wan¡¯er even if I want to,¡± Jun Huang said with a frown. She was getting tired of this.


    Nan Xun sighed. ¡°That said, I know what kind of a person Wan¡¯er is,¡± he said seriously. ¡°She doesn¡¯t give up easily. If there¡¯s no reason good enough to convince her, she¡¯ll continue to chase after you for years.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and stared at the floor. She didn¡¯t answer immediately. ¡°Then I might as well tell her I¡¯m a woman.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned and loomed over her. ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd. You know Wan¡¯er and Qi Chen are siblings. They have a close rtionship. If she knows, it¡¯s only a matter of time before she tells Qi Chen. What are you going to do then? Are you going to tell the world that you are princess Jun Huang of the lost Western Que?¡±


    His tone was harsh, and his eyes were zing with ire. He held onto Jun Huang¡¯s hand with more force than he had intended. A pair of hands ustomed to wielding weapons knew not how to be tender.


    Jun Huang grimaced in pain, her face going pale. Under the warm candlelight she looked as if she would disappear from the world any second. Nan Xun was startled and quickly let go of her.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to worry, Nan Xun,¡± Jun Huang said tiredly and took a seat. ¡°I don¡¯t know what princess Wan¡¯er is thinking, but Qi Chen now knows my problem. I told him and Nan Guyue that I¡¯ve lost my family and have to mourn for them. I won¡¯t get married in three years.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Nan Xun quietly said. He didn¡¯t notice that Jun Huang wasn¡¯t her usual self. ¡°I¡¯ll try to convince Wan¡¯er.¡±


    Jun Huang stared nkly at the floor. She was suddenly hit by a wave of sorrow. She had thought that she had forgotten about her hatred and despair, but the emotions had only been growing deep inside her heart. They grew and grew until they became a tree tall enough to reach the sky.


    She closed her eyes. Tears trickled down her cheeks and dropped onto the floor. The sound might as well be as loud as thunder ps. Nan Xun was a trained fighter. He had better hearing than the average man. He heard the sound and looked over at Jun Huang.


    She was sobbing.


    All her suppressed pain and grief erupted from her heart and overwhelmed her. She had difficulties breathing under the weight of her emotions. Her tears ran nonstop down her face. Nan Xun had never seen a woman cry. He didn¡¯t know what to do and what to say infort.


    He had thought that someone like Jun Huang would never cry. Only now did he realize that her aloofness was merely a mask. When everything was said and done, she was a woman who had just lost her family.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry,¡± Nan Xun said helplessly. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad.¡± He took Jun Huang¡¯s delicate fingers in his hands and knelt down to look at Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond. Her sobs were the only sounds she was making.


    The guards outside had heard her. They ran in and knocked on her door. ¡°Are you alright, gentleman Feng?¡±


    That snapped Jun Huang out of her outbreak. She took a deep breath and gave Nan Xun a look. Nan Xun nodded at her before jumping out of the open window, disappearing into the night.


    Jun Huang wiped her tears away and smoothed out her clothes before rushing to get the door.


    Jun Huang was known for her good look, but some of the guards had never really gotten a proper look at her. They were suddenly shy in face of her, especially since her hair was down and her clothes were dishevelled. She cut a bewitching figure.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she croaked. ¡°This gentleman was thinking about the family I¡¯ve lost and couldn¡¯t suppress my sorrow.¡±


    The leader of the guards looked up at her eyes. They were red. He looked over her shoulders and gave the room a good look. Jun Huang didn¡¯t try to block his view.


    The man cupped his hands. ¡°We have intruded upon you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite alright,¡± Jun Huang said, smiling a smile as beautiful as the moon in the sky.


    ¡°It¡¯ste now. The gentleman should get some rest. These subordinates will leave you alone.¡± He took the team of guards away. Jun Huang was just about to close the door when she spotted Wei Qian.


    Wei Qian stood alone in the hallway dressed in white. She looked at Jun Huang, then at the guards. Jun Huang could tell what Wei Qian was thinking. She smiled a little. ¡°Nothing to be concerned about. They were just worried about the security in the manor.¡± With that, she shut the door behind her.


    Jun Huang walked to the window. Nan Xun had long left. There was nothing but crabapple flowers outside. Beautiful, but utterly useless. The moon was distant and aloof. Her long hair flew in the winds. She closed her eyes and let the cold air wash over her.


    As soon as Qi Chen woke up, he heard the housekeeper talking to a man outside. He put on a robe and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.


    The housekeeper bowed at him and ordered a maid to bring him some water. Qi Chen looked at the leader of the guards with a frown. ¡°Why are you making a ruckus so early in the morning? Don¡¯t you know the rules around here?¡±


    The guard dropped down to the floor, his knees knocking against the bluestone floor with a heavy thud. The sound alone was enough to make one wince, but the guard didn¡¯t so much as flinch.


    ¡°This subordinate has urgent matters to report. If I have offended Your Royal Highness, I beg for your forgiveness.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s eyebrows drew closer. He looked at the door behind him. He was worried that they might wake Nan Guyue up. He told the guard to stand up and follow him. They walked to the pavilion outside the front yard. Qi Chen ced his hands behind his back, waiting for the guard to speak.


    The guard walked closer to Qi Chen and said in a low voice, ¡°Last night, this subordinate was walking the parameter as usual. Once I reached the side building where gentleman Feng resided in, I heard a noiseing from the inside. This subordinate knows that gentleman Feng is Your Royal Highness¡¯s confidante. I was worried that something might have happened, so I rushed in. I saw only gentleman Feng with his eyes red like he¡¯d been crying. I asked about it and he said he missed the family he¡¯d lost. This subordinate did hear odd noisesing from inside her room. There was, however, no one except for him when I got there.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s eyes went dark and narrow as he contemted the issue. After a while he ordered the guard to bring Jun Huang here. The guard followed the order and left, leaving Qi Chen in the pavilion.


    The first person the guard ran into at the side building wasn¡¯t Jun Huang, but Wei Qian, who had been holding a grudge against him sincest night. Before he could say anything, Wei Qian punched him in the eye. He cried out and staggered back.


    He cursed. Once he saw who it was that hit him, however, he went silent. Everyone knew that Wei Qian was Qi Chen¡¯s confidante, and she was given to Feng Baiyu weeks ago. Wei Qian was no ordinary woman. No one dared to get on her wrong side.


    He pursed his lips. He didn¡¯t know what he had done to deserve this.


    Wei Qian stared at him with cold eyes. ¡°You are an embarrassment to the prince. Don¡¯t you know the rules in the manor? You know nothing about respect. You¡¯ve forgotten your ce. Maybe it¡¯s time that you leave this manor.¡±


    ¡°This subordinate deserves punishment,¡± the guard said respectfully. ¡°I have overstepped my boundaries.¡±


    Wei Qian had no intention to let him in. The guard knew that he had made a mistake, so he didn¡¯t say that he was here for Jun Huang. It was Jun Huang¡¯s voice that finally broke the silence between them.


    Earlier, Jun Huang had gone to the garden for a walk. When she returned, these two were in a staring contest with one another.


    ¡°What is this about?¡± Jun Huang asked.


    Her voice was like a lifeline. The guard whirled around to face her. He was so relieved he could cry.


    ¡°The prince was looking for the gentleman,¡± he quickly said. ¡°He ordered me to bring you to him.¡±


    Jun Huang arched an eyebrow. Worries gnawed at her heart. It¡¯s never a good thing for him to ask for me, she thought. She was dependent on Qi Chen, however. She couldn¡¯t deny him his request. She nodded and threw a nce at Wei Qian. They didn¡¯t exchange a word, but something did pass between them. Jun Huang followed the guard away.


    She had made herself presentable before seeing Qi Chen. Her hair was held up with a white jade cap. She wore a violet silk robe with an old foldable fan in her hand. The calligraphy on the fan was cleary done by a master.


    Jun Huang walked up to Qi Chen. Her robe brushed against the threshold, bringing dust up into the air. The sun shone on the serene garden. There were birds chirping in the trees. Some songstress in the manor had started practicing a new song.


    Hearing her footsteps, Qi Chen turned around to face her. He smiled and beckoned her.


    Jun Huang was worried, but it didn¡¯t show on her face. She approached Qi Chen and greeted him. ¡°What in the garden caught Your Royal Highness¡¯s fancy today? It¡¯s unusual for Your Royal Highness to wander the garden so early in the morning.¡±


    Qi Chen waved a hand in the air. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Someone was making a ruckus outside my door. I woke up to listen to a report. And now I can¡¯t sleep.¡± He looked up at Jun Huang with sharp eyes. It was as if he wanted to see through her.


    Jun Huang met his eyes with a faint smile on her face. She then looked around the garden. ¡°Who is it that has interrupted your rest? Your Royal Highness should perhaps start cleaning house and kick those undisciplined servants out. They are more trouble than they are worth.¡±


    ¡°Brother Feng is right. I will give out the order tomorrow.¡± It was clear that Qi Chen was humoring her while he kept a close eye on her. Jun Huang remained calm, paying no attention to his scrutiny.

 Chapter 71

    Chapter 71: Determination


    Qi Chen sat down on a stone stool under the tree. There was a faint smile on his face as he asked, ¡°How did brother Feng¡¯s family pass away?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect this to be Qi Chen¡¯s question. She thought that someone had seen Nan Xun entering the manor; for that she hade up with an excuse. This she didn¡¯t have a ready answer for.


    Noticing her hesitation, Qi Chen scoffed. Feng Baiyu really is hiding something from me.


    ¡°They died on the battlefield...¡±


    That day, the pce of Western Que fell into the enemy¡¯s hands. It was transformed into purgatory before her eyes. One after another, people were ughtered like animals. To this day, she still couldn¡¯t stop herself from shaking when she thought back to that night. There was a stabbing pain in her temples.


    The once prosperous imperial city became blood soaked overnight. Anywhere she went, all she saw was red.


    Qi Chen watched her closely. He could see the pain in her eyes. He shouldn¡¯t continue to interrogate her, but he had always been mistrustful. How could he not get to the bottom of Jun Huang¡¯s secret? He took a deep breath. ¡°Is that so? So it¡¯s not an excuse you came up with to turn Wan¡¯er down?¡±


    The garden was silent. Jun Huang¡¯s head snapped up and the bird on the tree was startled into fleeing, pping its wings hard. She twisted her lips into a bitter smile andughed. ¡°Without family, I have no roots. Without family, I have no home. This gentleman will never use the deaths of my parents and siblings as an excuse for anything. Does Your Royal Highness really think of me as someone so shameless?¡±


    Qi Chen was rendered speechless. He didn¡¯t know what to say in response. Jun Huang seemed like she was speaking from the bottom of her heart. He sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, but there are... rumors about you. I hope you won¡¯t hold that against me.¡±


    She nodded.


    Someone came to tell Qi Chen that Nan Guyue had woken up and was waiting for him to have breakfast. Qi Chen didn¡¯t think it would help to drag this conversation on. He gestured at Jun Huang to leave first. She walked away after making a salute.


    Blinding sun kissed the green meadow and the red flowers in the garden, adding an attractive glow to them. Jun Huang walked into the nature¡¯s embrace, surrounded by a refreshing fragrance. With her eyes closed, she could imagine that she was back to the royal garden in Western Que. There, pleasant smell filled the pce all year long.


    She felt drunk without drinking. Her dark hair flew in the air, framing her delicate features. From a distance, she looked like a god that identally fell into the mortal realm. No one knew when she would ascend back to the heavens.


    She was far from carefree, however. Too many tragedies had struck. Her smile had turned bitter, and she was tired of dealing with Qi Chen¡¯s suspicion.


    She let out a soundless sigh. She had to be more careful. One wrong step could pave the path for a descent into hell. She may forever lose her control over her life.


    Back to the side building, Jun Huang felt no urge to eat. She asked the servants to leave her and sat on her own in trance. She suddenly remembered how Nan Xun had lookedst night. His light-color robe made him seem softer than usual. The candlelight added a touch of warmth to his sculpted features.


    She remembered how Nan Xun had been focusing on Wan¡¯er in their conversation. It puzzled her. She knew that the royal siblings weren¡¯t as close with one another as they appeared to be. And Nan Xun didn¡¯t bear thest name of the royal family. He was under a lot of scrutiny for holding control over the military. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t figure out why Wan¡¯er would get close to Nan Xun. She must know that her brother dreaded Nan Xun¡¯s influence.


    She couldn¡¯t find an answer. In the end she decided to ask Nan Xun about it. She was stopped the moment she left the door.


    The people here are bing more and more troublesome! Annoyed, she pulled a long face at the unwanted visitors.


    The men knew that they were intruding, but they were under Qi Chen¡¯s order. In their eyes, Jun Huang was merely an honored guest. Even though she had been offering advice to Qi Chen, she was still an honored guest. Nothing less, nothing more.


    Jun Huang had met enough snobbish men like them to know what they were thinking. ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked harshly.


    The leader of the group could see her annoyance. He gave her a wide smile. ¡°Please don¡¯t be offended, gentleman Feng. We¡¯re only the prince¡¯s messengers. He said that princess Wan¡¯er is going to the temple to express her gratitude to the deity for fulfilling her wish. The prince however, is unavable to apany her. He therefore asks you to keep the princesspany.¡±


    Jun Huang paused. She thought she had made herself clear. She didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen to create an opportunity for the two of them to be alone again. However, she was unable to decline. She nodded and said that she would leave shortly.


    When the men were about to leave, the leader of the group added, ¡°The prince also said that the gentleman should exin to the princess your feelings in person. It¡¯s best if you are able to convince her to give up on you.¡±


    Jun Huang stood rooted to the spot for a long time even after the men had left.


    Wan¡¯er didn¡¯t know that Jun Huang would be going to the temple with her. She sat in the coach, dangling her legs in boredom. She pouted as she thought about Jun Huang.


    When Jun Huang showed up in all her glory, Wan¡¯er¡¯s eyes lit up. She stammered and couldn¡¯t form a single word. Her heart was beating solely for Jun Huang at this moment.


    She jumped off the coach with her face flushed, startling the eunuchs and the maids. They rushed up to her, worried that the emperor¡¯s most beloved princess might hurt herself. If she did, the emperor would have their heads.


    Wan¡¯er brushed away nonexistent dust from her clothes and told the troublesome servants to leave her alone, stomping her foot. ¡°Get away and stay back! Don¡¯t be an eyesore!¡±


    Jun Huang stopped before her and gave her a cool and polite smile, her in robe brushing against the meadow and flowers.


    She bowed. ¡°This gentleman is honored to meet the princess again. It is the most fortunate thing I¡¯ve encountered in all three lifetimes of mine.¡±


    Jun Huang was perfectly appropriate. Wan¡¯er felt her heart aching.


    He¡¯s always so proper with me, she thought, but I have discarded all rules of proprietary for him.


    This man said that he felt fortunate to have met her, and yet it seemed like there was a great distance between the two of them. It seemed that she would never be able to win Feng Baiyu over her whole life.


    Nevertheless, human beings were greedy by nature. What one couldn¡¯t get, one coveted even more. Wan¡¯er was used to getting what she wanted. Feng Baiyu was the only thing she couldn¡¯t win over. She wasn¡¯t willing to give up. She swore on her life that she would be Feng Baiyu¡¯s wife and stay with him until their hair turned grey.


    Jun Huang frowned. Wan¡¯er eyes never strayed away from her. The gaze was so direct it made Jun Huang nervous. Fortunately, the servants dismissed by Wan¡¯er earlier had rejoined them.


    One of the eunuchs whispered to Wan¡¯er, ¡°We should depart now, princess. It¡¯s about time. If you leaveter, you won¡¯t be able to return tonight. That will be troublesome to gentleman Feng.¡±


    The eunuch had a pair of keen eyes. He could see from Wan¡¯er¡¯s expression that she adored Jun Huang. But s, the river didn¡¯t return the fallen flower¡¯s love.


    Wan¡¯er was going to scold him for speaking up, but his words rang true to her. She let him off the hook and pointed at the coach. ¡°The gentleman shoulde sit with me. It¡¯s going to be a bumpy ride...¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need. This gentleman rode a horse here.¡± Jun Huang turned around and went back to where she had tied her horse. She untied the reign and got mounted, looking at Wan¡¯er from a distance. She waited for the servants to finish preparing for the trip.


    To avoid more interaction with Wan¡¯er on their way to the temple, Jun Huang took the lead and stayed at the front. Wan¡¯er rested her arms on the window sill and looked out at Jun Huang¡¯s back. I never thought there would be a man who shows so little emotions himself while arousing so much emotions in others. I never thought there could be a man who would monopolize my every thought.


    Neither of them talked. Once they arrived at the temple, the servants took the horses towing the coach and the horse Jun Huang had ridden on to the back to feed them, leaving Jun Huang and Wan¡¯er on their own. Wan¡¯er rushed to block Jun Huang¡¯s way, looking up at her.


    Jun Huang took a step back to put some distance between them. There was no expression on her face. She looked at Wan¡¯er and waited for her to speak.


    Jun Huang¡¯s attitude pained Wan¡¯er, but she forced herself to smile. ¡°I¡¯ve heard from second brother what the gentleman¡¯s final answer was,¡± she said, biting into her lip. ¡°It¡¯s good that the gentleman wants to pursue a career. Wan¡¯er isn¡¯t opposed to that. I can even help the gentleman be one of the most respected official of this generation ¨C ¡±


    ¡°If I am to be a respected official, doesn¡¯t the princess think that I should turn your offer down?¡± Jun Huang cut in before she could finish.


    Wan¡¯er couldn¡¯t say anything. It took awhile for her to recover. ¡°Wan¡¯er is willing to wait for the gentleman to achieve your goal before you marry me,¡± she said with her gaze fixed on the ground. ¡°As long as the gentleman doesn¡¯t dislike me, Wan¡¯er is willing to wait for you.¡± Her eyes were adoring and her tone was careful. She acted so submissive it made Jun Huang helpless. How could she possibly be harsh to a woman like this?


    Wan¡¯er was determined. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what she should do. ¡°Why must the princess do this to yourself? I told you that I¡¯m mourning for my family and will not be marrying anyone in three years. Why doesn¡¯t the princess take mercy on yourself and find someone better suited? This gentleman isn¡¯t a good match for the princess. I hope the princess will ¨C ¡±


    Before she could finish, Wan¡¯er threw her reservation and pride out of the window and threw herself into Jun Huang¡¯s arms.


    Wan¡¯er was a little shorter than Jun Huang. She buried her face into Jun Huang¡¯s shoulder and breathed in the faint fragranceing from Jun Huang¡¯s body. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from trembling.


    She slowly closed her eyes. A single tear fell from the corner of her eye andnded on the back of Jun Huang¡¯s hand. The heat burned Jun Huang¡¯s skin and she could feel it in her heart.


    This will be seen as an great offence to Wan¡¯er¡¯s integrity, Jun Huang thought. She was worried that someone with ulterior motives might see them and tell Qi Chen about it. She would be doomed if Qi Chen then forced her to marry Wan¡¯er. She tried to push Wan¡¯er away.


    ¡°Just a little longer, gentleman Feng,¡± Wan¡¯er said quietly. She was no longer the princess that looked down on other people, but a simple woman who had abandoned all her principles for love. The change was heartbreaking to witness. ¡°Please don¡¯t push me away. Let me stay in your arms for a little longer. I will wait for you to marry me. I will.¡±

 Chapter 72

    Chapter 72: A Heartless Man


    Jun Huang let Wan¡¯er hold her, but she didn¡¯ty a hand on Wan¡¯er herself. She knew she must not give Wan¡¯er false hope. She was a woman. She could never marry Wan¡¯er. Wan¡¯er¡¯s obsession must not go on.


    Time went by. The ground was covered with fallen leaves. The blue stone stairs emitted a sense of calmness. The behemoth tree by the stairs shook in the winds. In the horizon was a mountain range, sitting at the bottom of the vast blue sky.


    ¡°You should go, princess,¡± Jun Huang said quietly. Wan¡¯er nodded and let go reluctantly. She looked up at Jun Huang¡¯s aloof face. She found herself unable to say anything sentimental now. She turned around, daintily lifted her dress, and entered the temple.


    Jun Huang watched her go. A woman like Wan¡¯er shouldn¡¯t waste time on her, but she didn¡¯t know what else she could do. Jun Huang was terrible with words when it came to love. She could onlye up with excuses for so long.


    She didn¡¯t follow Wan¡¯er in, lest they disturb the peace of the temple. She walked along the discreet path outside the gate, seeking hidden beauty in the world like people in the past used to do.


    Her robe was elegant, and her fan dignified, while the bamboo forest and undiscovered trail were fascinating in their own ways. Did her robe contrast with the bamboo and make it more vibrant, or was it the other way around?


    Not far away, Nan Xun was watching her. Every move of hers was made with a grace unique to her alone.


    No one else was around to see Jun Huang. Nan Xun wanted nothing more than to keep this ethereal being to himself and prevent others from catching a glimpse. A one of a kind woman like her, however, would never be willing to be caged away by anyone. She was the chosen one. She was sure to achieve great things in her life.


    The gaze on her was so heated it was impossible for Jun Huang to not notice. Under her broad sleeve, she took out a poisoned needle. Is it a friend, or a foe? She didn¡¯t want to show her hand until she knew what was going on.


    The owner of the footsteps came closer and stopped right behind her. She whirled around with the needle in her hand and barely stopped herself from attacking once she saw who it was. She let out a relieved sigh and put away the needle.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Jun Huang wondered out loud. She brushed her dark hair back and smiled faintly at Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun watched her without a word. Behind her, bamboo shook lightly. Jun Huang¡¯s face was a little pale. Wind blew through the forest and brought her hair and the tail of her robe up in the air. She was like a piece of white jade standing tall and alone in this dark and gritty world. Funnily enough, if Nan Xun hadn¡¯t known that Jun Huang was a woman, he would have questioned whether or not he was attracted to men.


    Seeing that Nan Xun was staring at her silently again, Jun Huang frowned and waved her hand before his eyes. Nan Xun took her wrist suddenly.


    For a moment, everything but the two of them faded away.


    There was a rustle in the forest. Leaves fell from above their heads, none of whichnded on them. Jun Huang looked up at Nan Xun and her mask of impassiveness fractured, showing a trace of her surprise.


    The moment Nan Xun took Jun Huang¡¯s wrist, he felt his heart skip. Her arm was alluringly delicate, but too thin to be healthy. Nheless, his heart was beating so fast it could burst out of his chest any moment.


    Jun Huang suddenly felt like her skin was burned by something that wasn¡¯t meant to be touched. She broke out of Nan Xun¡¯s grip and hid her hand under her sleeves.


    Nan Xun was charmed by her reaction. It was in stark contrast with her usual mature demeanor. He preferred this Jun Huang much more. She felt more real and less untouchable.


    ¡°If Your Highness is here for Princess Wan¡¯er, she¡¯s in the temple,¡± Jun Huang said cooly, breaking Nan Xun out of his trance.


    Nan Xun chuckled and took a step closer, his eyes as dark as a bottomlesske. ¡°What if I told you that I¡¯m here for you?¡±


    It may be that Nan Xun¡¯s voice was deeper and hoarser than usual, it may be that he was standing too close to her ¨C the moment their breaths tangled, Jun Huang¡¯s face went deep red. She pushed him away, but she couldn¡¯t stop her heartbeat from quickening.


    ¡°Alright, no more teasing,¡± Nan Xun said with augh. ¡°I¡¯m here to ask you about the situation with Wan¡¯er. Qi Chen wanted you to talk to Wan¡¯er in person and turn her down. How did that go?¡±


    Jun Huang quickly regained control over herself, schooling her expression into one of impassiveness. She took a deep breath and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve tried all I can to convince the princess, but she isn¡¯t willing to give up. I don¡¯t know what else to do.¡±


    Nan Xun sighed. He hadn¡¯t expected Wan¡¯er to be so determined to marry Jun Huang. If she wouldn¡¯t let go, there wasn¡¯t anything he could do, either.


    They stood face to face silently, watching the beautiful scenery in the bamboo forest, but their minds were upied with different thoughts.


    Wan¡¯er strolled into the temple pce. The gold-ted statue of Buddha stood tall and above everyone. A monk was ying a wooden fish1 as he chanted sutras. All her frustration seemed to drain away as she entered. She knelt down on a mat and put her hands together in prayer, her expression devoted.


    ¡°Wan¡¯er is here today to pay back for my wish...¡± She spoke with her eyes closed and her head low.


    Afterwards, she didn¡¯t get to her feet immediately. Instead, she let Feng Baiyu upy her thoughts. That man was like a god. Heartless, but phnthropic. Sometimes she was content with seeing him leading a happy life. Sometimes there was nothing she wanted more than to share a life with him.


    She hadn¡¯t realized how deeply in love she was. They were strangers who happened to cross paths. She had quickly fallen into a lonesome love, while Feng Baiyu remained distant and untouchable. Her heartache was hers alone.


    When she opened her eyes, the pce was filled with veil-like smoke and the ck silk curtains fluttered in the wind. The monk, who had been silent previously, opened his mouth and said, ¡°The almsgiver has lost yourself to obsession. Why don¡¯t you give up?¡±


    ¡°How can someone who¡¯s possessed give up?¡± Wan¡¯er smiled bitterly and bowed at the monk with her hands put together. She took her leave.


    She walked into the front yard. The sun was blindingly bright. She blinked. It seemed as if a lifetime had passed, but in reality, she had only been inside for the time for an incense stick to burn.


    Her maid had been waiting outside. She hurriedly support Wan¡¯er with an arm and asked with a low voice, ¡°Is the princess alright?¡±


    Wan¡¯er shook her head and looked around. Jun Huang was nowhere to be seen. She frowned. ¡°Where¡¯s gentleman Feng?¡±


    ¡°The gentleman said that he didn¡¯t have anything better to do, so he went for a walk.¡±


    Wan¡¯er nodded. ¡°I¡¯m going to find him. You don¡¯t have to follow me. Go prepare for the trip back to the pce.¡± She left in a rush. The maid knew her well. She went off to make preparations without any arguments.


    Wan¡¯er walked out of the temple. There was a discreet path leading to an unknown destination. She took to the path the way she took to loving Jun Huang ¨C headfirst and without hesitation.


    Sun shone through the bamboo leaves, castingplicated patterns of shadow on the ground. Wan¡¯er made her way into the bamboo forest in her yellow dress with her hair in a bun. The decorations on her hair shook as she walked, making a bright sound.


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and said to Nan Xun, ¡°Princess Wan¡¯er must havee to find me. You should go. It¡¯ll be bad if she sees you.¡±


    Nan Xun gave Jun Huang a meaningful look. There were words threatening to fall out of his mouth, but in the end he decided to not say anything. He walked deeper into the forest.


    Just when Nan Xun was going to disappear from her sight, Jun Huang said, ¡°They all call me heartless, Nan Xun, but you know why I act this way, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Nan Xun turned to her with a wide smile. ¡°There¡¯s no point dwelling on what other people say about you.¡± With that, he vanished.


    ¡°What is the gentleman looking at?¡± Wan¡¯er walked up to Jun Huang and followed her line of sight, but she saw nothing. She had thought that something or someone must have caught Jun Huang¡¯s attention. It seemed that she had been illuded by her imagination.


    Jun Huang gave her a polite smile. ¡°Nothing. I simply enjoy watching the peaceful bamboo forest too much, so I had some troubles tearing my eyes away.¡±


    Wan¡¯er nodded and beamed, her eyes bright. ¡°Let us return.¡± She pointed at outside the forest.


    ¡°Of course,¡± said Jun Huang.


    When they went back to the coach, the servants had already been waiting for them. Wan¡¯er invited Jun Huang to sit in the coach with her. Jun Huang didn¡¯t argue. She hadn¡¯t realized it when she was talking to Nan Xun, but her chest was hurting so badly it was almost unbearable.


    Jun Huang leaned against the window, trying to suppress the pain. Wan¡¯er kept her eyes on Jun Huang like she was appreciating a piece of rare art, but she didn¡¯t notice Jun Huang¡¯s difort.


    When they arrived at the pce, it was alreadyte at night. Jun Huang was about to walk away when Wan¡¯er parted the curtains and called out for her.


    Jun Huang looked back at her. ¡°What else can I help you with, princess?¡±


    Wan¡¯er bit into her lip and watched Jun Huang in silence. Jun Huang waited patiently for her to speak.


    Wan¡¯er inhaled deeply. It took all her courage for her to get off the coach and stand in front of Jun Huang. She ignored the guards and looked up at her. ¡°Wan¡¯er has told gentleman Feng that I will wait for you to return after achieving your goal. I meant every word I said. I hope you won¡¯t forget about my promise.¡±


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t expected that to be the reason why Wan¡¯er stopped her. ¡°It¡¯ste,¡± she said with a resigned tone. ¡°The princess should let Consort Zhen know you¡¯ve returned safely. Otherwise your family is going to be worried. This gentleman will take my leave.¡± Jun Huang turned around and leave without a nce back. She didn¡¯t want to get involved with Wan¡¯er again unless it was necessary.


    When she returned to the manor, a servant was waiting for her at the door. He said that Qi Chen wanted to see her at once. Jun Huang knew what Qi Chen wanted to talk to her about. She followed the servant in without a word.


    Qi Chen had just returned from the pce as well. He was still in his court attire. His eyebrows were drawn close together in worry. She wondered what he was concerned about.


    ¡°Your Royal Highness?¡±


    Qi Chen was broken out of his thoughts and he looked up. He cleared his throat and invited her to take a seat before pouring her a cup of tea. Jun Huang sat down across from him without hesitation.


    Qi Chen put a cup of tea in front of Jun Huang before taking a sip from his own cup. ¡°Brother Feng has spent the day with Wan¡¯er,¡± he said lightly. ¡°What do you think of her? Is she not good enough for you?¡±


    Jun Huang rushed to her feet and bowed at him. ¡°This gentleman has neither fame nor sess. I am not a good match for the princess, and I don¡¯t deserve Your Highness¡¯s favor. The princess should choose someone more suited to her. Among all the handsome young men in the imperial city, many will be a better husband than I ever can.¡±

 Chapter 73

    Chapter 73: Outshining the Emperor


    Qi Chen leveled Jun Huang with a meaningful look. He changed the subject and didn¡¯t say another word about Wan¡¯er. ¡°I have been building connections in the imperial court as brother Feng suggested. What should be our next step?¡±


    ¡°I am the crown prince now, but everyone knows that Royal Father still holds the former crown prince dear to his heart. While I do have quite a lot of supporters in the court, Royal Father is still healthy and well and my youngest brother is maturing; I can tell Royal Father likes him. Royal Father has never mentioned anything regarding passing down the throne to me. I¡¯m worried that if we do nothing, I may not be able to ensure my triumph. Tell me, brother Feng, how should I keep my position as the crown prince?¡±


    Jun Huang hummed. ¡°In my opinion, the reason why the emperor never speaks of passing down the throne may not be due to the former crown prince. It¡¯s possible that he¡¯s worried that Your Royal Highness won¡¯t be able to look over the vast Northern Qi well. You have to remember that Qi Yin had been learning the art of ruling a country since his birth. If Your Royal Highness shows the emperor that you can be a good leader, he will trust you to govern Northern Qi.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s words made sense to him. Qi Yin had neither talent nor integrity. Why would the emperor keep him in his mind? Maybe Qi Yin had been long forgotten. Perhaps the emperor didn¡¯t believe that he was capable enough to deal with affairs of the state. That was why he never got to do anything important. What he had to do now was to show the emperor what he could achieve and won his approval.


    Jun Huang could see that Qi Chen was convinced. A fleeting smile appeared on her face and quickly disappeared before Qi Chen looked up at her.


    ¡°Is brother Feng willing to be an official? With your talent, you¡¯ll be able to achieve great things. And you will be my greatest asset in the future. You are free to choose whatever position you want. I will make the necessary arrangements.¡±


    Jun Huang scoffed inwardly. Qi Chen wanted to make her an official only because he wanted her to be of help to him in the future. She served as a strategist in the manor now, but she had never agreed to be Qi Chen¡¯s obedient little pet.


    ¡°Thank you, Your Royal Highness, for your recognition. This gentleman is still in mourning, thus I should not take the position of an official. I want only to make up ns for Your Royal Highness. Besides, no one with great ambitions should resort to buying a position. Once my mourning period ends, I will attend the imperial examination and earned a title myself.¡±


    Jun Huang spoke with such passion, it was as if this had been her lifelong dream. Qi Chen didn¡¯t shy away from showing her his approval. This man I¡¯ve chosen has such backbone, he thought. He is indeed a rare talent.


    ¡°Since brother Feng is so determined, I will not force you to go against your will,¡± Qi Chen said, waving his hand. ¡°You must be tired. Go rest. If one day you want to be an official, just tell me.¡±


    Jun Huang bowed at him with dignity and left. The pavilion suddenly quieted down. Nan Guyue showed up with a te of snacks, supported by a servant.


    She looked towards the direction Jun Huang had left in before turning to Qi Chen. ¡°Guyue agrees that gentleman Feng will be of great help to Your Royal Highness if he bes an official. Has Your Royal Highness really given up on the idea?¡±


    Qi Chen sighed, keeping his eyes on Jun Huang as she walked away. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do. Feng Baiyu is a man of principles. While he is my honored guest, I cannot control him. We¡¯ll see how far he can go on his own. It¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing for him to gradually grow stronger on his own.¡±


    Nan Guyue chuckled. ¡°Your Royal Highness is testing gentleman Feng for Wan¡¯er, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Nothing escapes my princess¡¯s eyes.¡± Qi Chen turned back to Nan Guyue with a tender smile. He ran a hand down the bridge of her nose in an intimate gesture. Nan Guyue ducked her head shyly and ced the te of snacks on the table.


    ¡°I can tell that Wan¡¯er really adores her,¡± Qi Chen said. ¡°No one has been able to convince her to give up. Brother Feng tried to talk to her today as well, but the result must have been the same. If he marries Wan¡¯er, it¡¯ll be worth celebrating. If he wants to gain fame and sess on his own first, then so be it. It¡¯ll be a learning process for him.¡±


    Nan Guyue covered up a smile. ¡°Wan¡¯er is a beautiful woman. Gentleman Feng will fall for her in the end. If he bes a respected official through his own efforts, Wan¡¯er will lead a happy life after they get married. Your Royal Highness shouldn¡¯t worry too much.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded and left the pavilion with Nan Guyue at his side. The snacks were left untouched and covered in dirt.


    Jun Huang knew that her repeated denials would make Qi Chen unhappy, but there was no other way for her. She didn¡¯t want to make a mess out of the imperial court of Northern Qi. She wanted this country to be rtively in order when Qi Yun took over.


    No country could be without unrest forever. Just when problems at the border had been resolved and people were satisfied, another administrative zone descended into chaos. The local officials were corrupt, and the people were taken advantages of like fish being sliced open on a cutting board. There were even men from rich families forcing themselves on peasant women. Lives had been lost.


    The emperor almost coughed out blood when he read the report. His face was so dark it was terrifying. The eunuchs dared not say anything. They stood by the wall silently.


    The next day, the emperor still held a severe expression on his face when he attended the court meeting. He told the courtiers about this issue, but the they ended up arguing among themselves without giving him a good solution.


    ¡°What the hell do you think your job is?¡± yelled the emperor. ¡°You useless people can never figure out anything when real problems arise. Is it so difficult for you to personally attend to this matter?¡±


    Qi Chen looked around. No one was willing to volunteer themselves. He remembered what Jun Huang had said. The emperor would approve of him if he could solve this problem. Perhaps the emperor would then be willing to pass down the throne to him.


    Having made the decision, Qi Chen took a step forward and looked up at the emperor. He bowed. ¡°Royal Father, this son is willing to go.¡±


    That got a reaction out of the courtiers. Nan Xun frowned, his expression indiscernible. It was clear that he wasn¡¯t pleased.


    Looking at Qi Chen, the emperor saw no other options. After a moment of silence, he announced that the crown prince was going to take the responsibility. The rest of the meeting was spent discussing trivial matters that made no impact.


    After the meeting, Qi Chen left with a pleased expression on his face. He was stopped by one of his supporters.


    ¡°You have done something foolish, Your Royal Highness,¡± the official said.


    Qi Chen frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Those people aren¡¯t merely men from rich families,¡± the official said seriously. ¡°They are rted to people with great power. If you don¡¯t cover up their crimes for them, you¡¯ll be their enemies.¡±


    Qi Chen snorted. ¡°People with great power? Ha! I will show them what power is and take care of them.¡±


    He was a young man after all. He could be clever and thoughtful, but he still had many rough edges. Now he was trying to win the emperor¡¯s recognition. He had forgotten that he should be trying to gather more supporters rather than suppressing potential allies.


    He turned away and walked out. Nan Xun watched him leave with dark eyes. He needed to talk to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t surprised when Nan Xun asked her to meet him. She knew Qi Chen had volunteered to take care of this can of worms no one wanted to deal with. She didn¡¯t really care that much.


    Seeing that Jun Huang was still enjoying tea as if nothing had happened, Nan Xun lost his usual calm and growled, ¡°Don¡¯t you know that Qi Chen is making troubles for you? He will take you with him. There is no telling what those powerful families will do when cornered. What¡¯s more, I can¡¯t go with you this time. What if you get hurt?¡±


    Jun Huang took a sip of her tea and threw him a nce. ¡°Why are you so worried?¡± she said with a chuckle, her expression calm. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing. I was trying to find a way to diminish Qi Chen¡¯s influence. I didn¡¯t expect him to bring me the perfect opportunity himself. It¡¯s a good thing. Besides, will those people really dare to hurt Qi Chen?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what to say. He sighed and looked at Jun Huang. She was always so stubborn. With potent poison in her system, she still insisted on putting herself in danger.


    As Nan Xun expected, Qi Chen brought Jun Huang with him, which was exactly what she had wanted. Things were much simpler this way. They traveled to the county town closest to the imperial city to find out what exactly had happened. Qi Chen did not show anyone mercy. Everyone who was part of the crimesmitted was thrown into prison. Rtives of the royal family and people of great power were no exception.


    The local residents rejoiced and cheered, while the people in power cowered. They were worried that they would be the next one punished.


    Jun Huang had asked Rou¡¯er to send some of their own people to the town. They were tasked to spread songs praising Qi Chen among the peasants. Those songs soon made their way to the emperor¡¯s ears.


    The courtiers were now split into two factions. One thought that Qi Chen was only trying to better the country as the crown prince, so he was merely fulfilling his responsibility. The other thought that it was a threat to the emperor¡¯s authority for people to praise Qi Chen as if he was their savior. If things remained unchanged, Qi Chen¡¯s reputation would exceed that of the emperor one day.


    The emperor watched the arguing courtiers with a dark expression, his fingers wrapped tightly around the chair arms. Qi Chen, however, was the crown prince he had chosen. He couldn¡¯t do anything even though the people respected and supported Qi Chen more than him. He swallowed his pride and praised Qi Chen for a job well done. He even stated that he would reward Qi Chen heavily once he returned. Passing down the throne, however, was still left out of the agenda.


    After the meeting, a eunuch who had been serving the emperor for decades apanied the emperor on a walk in the royal garden. He could tell the emperor was not in a good mood.


    ¡°Is Your Majesty worried about the crown prince?¡± the eunuch asked.


    The emperor stopped in his track and turned to look at the eunuch. ¡°Schr officials and military officials alike are saying that Chen¡¯er¡¯s reputation has exceeded mine, that the crown prince is more well-loved by the people than the emperor. Chen¡¯er is the crown prince, yes. But I am still the emperor.¡±


    He didn¡¯t shy away from telling the eunuch what he thought. The eunuch had been with the emperor for many years. He knew it was better for him to not be decisive with his words and avoid speaking his thoughts on a matter that was far above his station. He offered some words offort with a smile. ¡°The crown prince is nothing more than the crown prince. It¡¯s true no matter how well-known and loved he is outside the imperial city. If Your Majesty is truly bothered, you can always put some distance between you once the prince returns. Don¡¯t let anger harm your health.¡±


    ¡°Is that truly what you think?¡± the emperor asked.


    The eunuch only smiled in response. There were things that didn¡¯t need to be said. The emperor looked away, ruminating on his words.

 Chapter 74

    Chapter 74: Waiting in the Dark


    Qi Yin was arrogant, but he had never outshined the emperor. Qi Chen, on the other hand, stood out too much. It made the emperor feel threatened. He never expected himself to be jealous of his own son. It was a ridiculous thought.


    Qi Chen was now in the county town, far away from the pce. The praise from the people made him even more eager to eliminate those immoral plutocrats. The next day, he received an unexpected royal decree.


    The emperor showered Qi Chen with generous praises. At the end of the decree he asked Qi Chen to return to the imperial city. He stated that the county town was in a remote area; therefore, no one knew what could happen around there. Moreover, the problem had been mostly solved. For Qi Chen¡¯s safety, the emperor had ordered an imperialmissioner1 to take Qi Chen¡¯s ce.


    Qi Chen was bbergasted. What did the emperor mean? Jun Huang didn¡¯t give Qi Chen a chance to finish his train of thought. She smiled and told Qi Chen that he had won the emperor¡¯s recognition, and that the emperor was only worried that Qi Chen might be unustomed to living in a remote area like this town.


    Qi Chen wasn¡¯t totally convinced, but in the end, he decided to take Jun Huang¡¯s words for it. He nned to leave after the imperiormissioner arrived and the handover was done.


    The pce had been quiet the past couple of days. Wan¡¯er used to wander around making a ruckus. Now, however, she had settled down and started learning how to sew for Jun Huang. She swore to herself that she would be the perfect wife.


    Qi Yun sat in the pce with a teacup in his hand, his eyes half closed. He listened to a songstress in white ying a song of great sorrow with a lute, filling the quiet ce with a sense of destion.


    A string broke with a snap. Qi Yun opened his eyes to look at the songstress. The incident caught the songstress off guard. She rushed to kneel down before Qi Yun, trembling, ignoring her injured finger.


    ¡°Forgive me, Your Highness. Forgive me.¡± She cowered on the floor. Her whole body was shaking.


    Everyone in the pce knew that despite Qi Yun¡¯s usual gentle demeanor, he despised being interrupted when he was listening to a song, let alone interrupted because of a broken string. It was a bad omen.


    Qi Yun let out a breath and put down the teacup before walking up to the songstress. The songstress curled her body further in at the sight of his white boots.


    Qi Yun looked out of the window. It was a good day. The cloudless sky was a vibrant blue. The air was a little humid. It might drizzle in the afternoon.


    ¡°It seems to be the time for me to visit Royal Father,¡± he calmly said, his expression distant. He threw a nce at the songstress before bending down and helping her up. His lips quirked up.


    He could feel her shudder so very clearly the moment he touched her arm. There was a panicked look on her face.


    ¡°You¡¯re dressed in white. You¡¯ll dirty your clothes if you stay like this. Go get your finger treated.¡± He let go of the songstress and left without a nce back.


    The songstress stood rooted to the spot dumbly. Her finger was still throbbing, but she couldn¡¯t feel the pain. Droplets of blood fell to the floor and sttered onto her white silk dress, dyeing the fabric red.


    Qi Yun left his chamber. Outside, the pce seemed even more lonely. There were a couple concubines shing with one another in the royal garden. They mocked and insulted the one concubine who didn¡¯t enjoy the emperor¡¯s favor. She was an educated woman with good manners. She lowered her head and meekly took the abuse.


    Qi Yun was reminded of his mother. A woman like her always attracted jealousy from other people, and in the end, she was killed because of it. He clenched his fists. This was none of his business. There was always infighting within the harem. But today, he chose to step in. Maybe it was because he saw his mother in the bullied woman.


    The concubines didn¡¯t expect the fourth prince to leave his chamber and show up here. He was normally immersed in the world of poetry and songs.


    Qi Yun greeted them with a soft smile. He was the perfect embodiment of a gentleman. ¡°Greetings.¡±


    Qi Yun didn¡¯t enjoy the clear favor of the emperor, but he was the emperor¡¯s son. The concubines fawned over him as anyone would have expected. Only the bullied one stayed on the sideline with a quiet smile.


    He looked over at her. She nodded and curled her lips. Behind her was a turquoiseke, the color blending with her blue dress.


    Once the other concubines had walked away, Qi Yun smiled and stopped the bullied concubine from leaving. She was new around here. The emperor granted her the title Consort Jing ¨C the quiet one. She was born a woman who didn¡¯t follow the mainstream, which was why she became a pariah.


    ¡°The consort is not suited for a life in the pce,¡± Qi Yun said bluntly.


    Consort Jing smiled a little and looked at Qi Yun with gentle eyes. ¡°Your Highness should take care not to let the emperor hear you. Otherwise he will get angry. Lately, the emperor has not been feeling well. He must have overworked himself. If Your Highness is willing, you should persuade him into taking some rest. You are his son after all. The emperor will listen to you.¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else I can help you with, I will take my leave.¡± She walked away with her maids, her dress brushing against the meadow. The dew wetted her dress without her noticing.


    He watched the concubine leave until she disappeared at the corner of the white wall. He stayed there unmoving for a while before making his way to the emperor¡¯s study.


    The eunuch spotted him from a distance. He hurriedly came up to Qi Yun and gave him a servile smile. ¡°Your Highness! Should this servant notify the emperor for you?¡±


    Qi Yun nodded and cupped his hands. ¡°Much appreciated, gong gong.2¡±


    The eunuch waved a hand at him before entering the room. Qi Yun waited quietly outside.


    Soon, the eunuch returned. With a smile, he told Qi Yun to go ahead and enter.


    Qi Yun smelled the faint fragrance of medicine the moment he stepped inside. He frowned and quickened his pace.


    Yellow silk curtains were lifted by the winding from the window. Smoke rose from the sandalwood incense on the desk and wavered in the air. The emperor was resting on a soft divan with his eyes half closed. It was clear that he was almost asleep.


    Qi Yun tiptoed around to pick up a robe, but the emperor heard him and shot up from the divan. He looked at Qi Yun with wide eyes.


    Qi Yun bowed at him respectfully. ¡°This son has been careless. Please forgive me for disrupting Royal Father¡¯s rest.¡±


    The emperor waved a dismissive hand and sat up to look at the reports piling on the desk. He rubbed at the skin between his eyebrows. ¡°Worry not. I¡¯m simply tired and a short rest is quite enough. What is Yun¡¯er here for today?¡±


    ¡°In half a year this son is going to move out of the pce into my own manor,¡± Qi Yun said earnestly. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to apany Royal Father every day then. I want to spend more time with you before I move out. Moreover, I heard people said that Royal Father has been feeling tired recently. I came to check on you.¡±


    The emperor sighed. Qi Yun had always been quiet and considerate. He never liked conflicts. He became even quieter after his mother passed away. He stayed in the pce immersed in his own world and had no intention to get involved with matters in the imperial court. Itforted the emperor. Qi Yun was the one that the emperor worried about the least among all his children.


    He stood up and led Qi Yun to a seat. Qi Yun hurriedly poured a cup of tea for the emperor, which he epted readily, pleased by Qi Yun¡¯s attentiveness. He looked out of the window and let out a sigh.


    Qi Yun drank the tea without a word. His silence wasforting to the emperor. The emperor had been worried about the mess with Qi Chen. Simply having tea with his son was a wee change.


    After they finished the pot of tea, the emperor asked, ¡°Is your manor ready for you to move in?¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. ¡°Reporting to Royal Father, the construction of the manor was finished a few days ago. There are everyday items that haven¡¯t been bought, but I won¡¯t be using them for the time being. This son will have someone make the purchase when I¡¯m moving in.¡±


    The emperor nodded and put down the teacup. He sighed andmented, ¡°Children grow up so fast. Before I realized, all of you have moved or are moving out of the pce and into your own manors. There will be no one by my side then.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± said Qi Yun. ¡°We have moved out of the pce, but we can alwayse back to visit Royal Father. It¡¯s just that we won¡¯t be able to be by your side as much as we used to. Besides, Royal Father has concubines as beautiful as the finest jade in your harem. Why will you be lonely?¡±


    ¡°You are the only one who cares to offer me anyfort. Many want nothing more than for me to die sooner.¡± The emperor¡¯s tone was careless, but his words shocked Qi Yun and he broke out into cold sweat.


    He dropped down to his knees facing the emperor. ¡°Royal Father has scared this son. We all wish with all our hearts that Royal Father can live a long and healthy life. Why would anyone wish you dead?¡±


    The emperor sighed and helped him up. ¡°It¡¯s just words. I didn¡¯t mean it. There is no one but the two of us here. This is a conversation between father and son. You need not be so on edge. I know you have a pure heart.¡±


    Qi Yun tensed up further. What did the emperor mean? He didn¡¯t dare to ask, lest he angered the emperor. He could only specte on his own.


    After Qi Yun had left, the emperor felt even more exhausted. The room was dimly lit. He could not bear to stay here any longer. He got to his feet and inhaled deeply. Time to get some fresh air.


    Seeing the emperor leaving the room dressed in only a thinyer of clothes, the eunuch jumped and jogged up to him. ¡°Where is Your Majesty going? Why didn¡¯t you put on something warmer?¡±


    The emperor waved him away and walked down the stairs. The eunuch threw the servant next to him a look.


    The servant rushed to get a robe from the room and handed it to the eunuch, who draped it over the emperor¡¯s shoulders.


    The front yard seemed almost lifeless. The emperor found his concerns draining away as chilly winds hit his body. He strolled along the pebble road. The eunuch followed closely behind him, worried that something might happen to the emperor. He didn¡¯t dare let his guard down.


    Walking past the royal garden, the emperor heard the sound of a flute ying. He frowned. He had not heard a performance like this for a long time. It made him nostalgic. When was thest time he heard this song?


    ¡°It must be someone new who doesn¡¯t know the rules,¡± said the eunuch. ¡°If Your Majesty is bothered, this servant will have someone educate her properly.¡±


    The emperorughed, the wrinkles on his forehead disappearing for a moment. He let out a wistful sigh, but a smile remained on his lips. ¡°It¡¯s not that she doesn¡¯t know the rules. She must have felt lonely being on her own. Come, let us take a proper look at this woman.¡± He left for the Cold Pce.


    The eunuch organized his thoughts. He remembered that the former empress was good with a flute. It had been her performance that had won the emperor¡¯s heart and affection. After that she became the empress imme

 Chapter 75

    Chapter 75: Hurtful Words


    The Cold Pce was even more devoid of life. Concubines banished there either became so depressed they fell ill, or they slowly lost their sanity. Most maids took detours to avoid getting anywhere near it. Some were even terrified to the point that they fainted. Gradually, less and less people were willing to step foot in the Cold Pce.


    The eunuch had heard about the rumors. He bunched his shoulders up nervously. The emperor threw him a re. ¡°If you can¡¯t control yourself, get the hell away from here.¡±


    The eunuch fell silent and followed the emperor without a word. The emperor traced the sound of the flute into where people considered to be thend of filth. The Cold Pce presented itself before him.


    The ground was covered in wilted leaves. It was clear that no one had been here to sweep them. Concubines banished to the Cold Pce were crammed into the limited space. Many had lost their beauty as they aged. Because of theck of sunlight, their faces were littered with hideous pigment spots. They looked at one another with unfocused eyes. The emperor couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    The empress was the first consort he had ever banished to the Cold Pce. He didn¡¯t known it was in such a terrible condition. How could that prideful woman stay in a ce like this?


    It struck him where he was most tender. He covered his nose and mouth and pointed at the concubines. ¡°Tell these people to leave.¡±


    The eunuch readily epted the order, but he was worried. He wondered if these concubines would lose control. He had underestimated these women, however. They were kept in the Cold Pce, but they were once daughters from important families. Despite how long they had been here, they had not abandoned their upbringing. They left after greeting the emperor. It was as if they hadn¡¯t been the ones blocking the entrance earlier.


    There was a room of which the door was always shut. It was where the sound of the flute wasing from; it must be the empress¡¯s room. The emperor made his way there. He told the eunuch to stay outside the door before walking in.


    The wooden door creaked open. The music persisted and didn¡¯t waver. The emperor parted the silk curtains and walked further in. The empress was behind the screen.


    There was no makeup on her face. Her features were as gentle and delicate as the first time they met. She wore a in dress with a green jade flute in her hand. Every turn of the melody was filled with emotion. It seemed to be the same song she was ying that day long ago.


    The emperor listened to the song silently. The empress had noticed his presence the moment he walked in, but she wasn¡¯t willing to stop her performance. She wore neither her old phoenix robe nor the phoenix hairpin, but she had her head held high. At that moment, it felt just like old times.


    The song faded into silence. The empress looked back at the emperor. Her hair was put into a bun like it had always been. Her rxed brows and expressive eyes transfixed the emperor.


    She put away the flute and dropped to her knees before him. ¡°This guilty woman is honored to see Your Majesty. Forgive me for not weing Your Majesty in. I did not know you wereing.¡±


    This woman had not knelt down before him ever since she became the empress. Her gesture now was a great irony. He was rendered speechless.


    The empress was once the master of the harem after all. She hadn¡¯t lost her backbone. She looked up at the emperor without flinching, her eyes welling up with tears. The emperor came to his senses and helped her up. Without waiting for her to talk, he pulled her into his arms.


    ¡°You have suffered, my beloved wife,¡± said the emperor.


    The empress let out a quiet sob. She had been waiting for him to say this line for a long time. Some days, she wondered if she would ever hear a word offort from him before she died. Now her wish was granted; all her grudges and hatred for the emperor melted away, leaving only a great sense of sorrow. She sobbed harder.


    The emperor patted her gently on the back and wiped her tears away, his heart aching. They held each other for a long time before they let go.


    ¡°This ce is but a bare room with a roof. I cannot serve Your Majesty your favorite tea. These tea leaves are fresh, at least. If Your Majesty is willing, you should have some.¡± The empress poured the emperor a cup of cold Kuding tea.


    He took a sip and almost spit it out because of how bitter it was. He watched the empress with sympathetic eyes. This was a woman who was used to having the most premium brand of tea. She had never had something this bitter and atrocious. He felt that he had wronged her.


    It was as if he suffered a sudden case of amnesia and had forgotten about what the empress had done. He remembered only that this woman had lost her son. In his eyes, she was merely a mother who had lost everything she used to depend on.


    He remembered all the good memories he had of the empress. She was still the same woman he had fallen in love with.


    That night, the emperor stayed the night with her, listening to her ying the flute. The eunuch tried to convince him that this wasn¡¯t a good idea, but the words flew right over his head.


    When the emperor woke up the next day, he felt boneless and weak. The empress got off the bed and put on some clothes before ordering someone to bring her hot water. She helped the emperor out of bed, her face lined with obvious concern and her eyebrows drawn closely together.


    ¡°Your Majesty doesn¡¯t look well,¡± the empress said worriedly. ¡°You should skip the court meeting today. Have the royal doctor check on you. You shouldn¡¯t risk your own health.¡±


    The emperor waved a hand in the air and coughed. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. The meeting must not be dyed. I will take my leave now. After everything is dealt with, I will take my beloved wife back home.¡±


    The empress nodded with tears in her eyes. She leaned against the door frame watching the emperor leave. Her heart was filled with a bittersweet feeling.


    The emperor had lost conscious in the morning meeting because of his cold. The news soon reached Consort Zhen¡¯s ears. She was having tea when her maid barged in, for which she scolded the maid severely. When the maid delivered the news, Consort Zhen was so shocked that she dropped her teacup. Fear seized her by the heart.


    The cup shattered into pieces on the floor. Her breathing quickened. She had used the poison Jun Huang gave her on the emperor for a few days now. Had the poison been too potent? The news that the emperor was sick pushed her into panic. It took some time for her to regain her calm. She had one of her confidantes leave the pce and arrange a meeting with Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang and Qi Chen returned to the imperial city a few days ago. She had just woken up when the messenger sent by Consort Zhen arrived. She wondered what Consort Zhen wanted from her.


    Once she reached their meeting spot, Consort Zhen asked coldly, ¡°What are you nning, Feng Baiyu? Who are you exactly?¡±


    Jun Huang tensed up. Had Consort Zhen found out about her identity? She maintained a calm expression and replied with a steady voice, ¡°This gentleman doesn¡¯t know what the consort means. Don¡¯t you already know I¡¯m the crown prince¡¯s strategist? Why did you ask?¡±


    Consort Zhen scoffed. ¡°Exin to me why the emperor fell ill after taking your medicine. Did you do it on purpose?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± Jun Huang said without hesitation. ¡°The medicine I gave you will never make anyone ill.¡± She met Consort Zhen¡¯s eyes fearlessly.


    Consort Zhen gave Jun Huang a good look. She decided to give Jun Huang the benefit of the doubt. She took a deep breath before she said, ¡°Then why did the emperor fall ill so suddenly?¡±


    Jun Huang gave the question some thoughts before turning to the maid standing next to Consort Zhen. ¡°Do you know where the emperor has been these past two days?¡±


    The maid opened her mouth, then quickly closed it. She didn¡¯t dare to look at the consort. Consort Zhen was a clever woman. She noticed the maid¡¯s panicked expression.


    ¡°You know something, don¡¯t you?¡± she demanded.


    Hearing the anger in Consort Zhen¡¯s tone, the maid became weak in the knees and she dropped down to the floor, trembling and cowering. ¡°Yesterday the emperor went to the Cold Pce. Servants there said that the emperor even stayed the night in the banished empress¡¯s room. When he woke up today, he started coughing non-stop. The emperor must have caught a cold.¡±


    Consort Zhen flew into rage and kicked the maid in her torso. The maid didn¡¯t dare to defend herself. She took the beating with clenched teeth, her eyes brimming with tears.


    Consort Zhen clenched her hands into fists and ground her teeth together. Jun Huang was surprised as well. She didn¡¯t expect the banished empress to regain the emperor¡¯s favor even in the Cold Pce. And the empress was able to pull herself together after the pain of losing her dear son ¨C she was not one to be underestimated.


    Before Jun Huang could remind Consort Zhen to be careful of the empress, the consort said, ¡°Tell Chen¡¯er about this, Feng Baiyu. Tell him to take good care of Nan Guyue. Don¡¯t let anything happen to the child. After the child is born, we will deal with the banished empress.¡±


    Consort Zhen¡¯s eyes were terrifyingly sharp and feral. Jun Huang nodded and gave her a meaningful look before excusing herself.


    The empress was clearly thinking about gaining the upper hand again. No one knew what she would be capable of after she made aeback. Nothing good, that was for sure. Jun Huang would have to pay more attention to the empress from now on.


    There was also Consort Zhen. She may appear to be harmless, but she was much more careful than Qi Chen was. Jun Huang would have to be more cautious.


    Once back to the manor, she went straight to Qi Chen.


    On her way to the study, she contemted the current situation. The emperor only caught a simple cold. He would recover in no time. The effects of the poison in his body, however, would start to manifest because of the cold. With some careful maneuvering, she would be able to make Eastern Wu her scapegoat.


    Now was not the time yet however, Qi Chen¡¯s position in the imperial court would not be easily overturned for the time being. If she was too hasty, she would lose the battle before it started, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to help Qi Yun.


    She had only one chance. She couldn¡¯t afford to miss it. She must defeat Eastern Wu with the help of the Northern Qi army. She must avenge Western Que and its people, who had died an unjust death.


    Qi Chen happened to be leaving the study when Jun Huang arrived. He was surprised by her visit. He hurriedly came up to her. It was clear that he was in a good mood.


    ¡°Has Your Royal Highness gotten some good news?¡± Jun Huang asked with a smile.


    She had guessed right. Qi Chen was delighted and he gave her a bright smile. Jun Huang snorted silently. Did Qi Chen know that his mother and the empress were againpeting for the emperor¡¯s favor? Most likely not. If he knew, he wouldn¡¯t have been happy because of something trivial.


    ¡°Someone from the pce came earlier,¡± he said, patting Jun Huang on the shoulder. ¡°Royal Father is satisfied with what I¡¯ve done this time. He sent in many gifts. Brother Feng should take two jade ceremonial sceptres for yourself. It¡¯s thanks to brother Feng that I¡¯m able to win Royal Father¡¯s approval. If not for you, I wouldn¡¯t have even thought about taking this responsibility. I would still be a crown prince with no real power.¡±

 Chapter 76

    Chapter 76: Moving out of Prince Chen Manor


    Jun Huang smiled in response and nodded. She waited until Qi Chen had calmed down from his ecstasy before saying, ¡°Your Royal Highness, have you heard about the news that the emperor bestowed his favor on the banished empressst night? He caught a cold as a result.¡±


    Qi Chen was startled. It was obvious that he was caught off guard. ¡°Royal Father told me that I could stop attending the court meetings for a while. He said that I should rest after all the hard work I¡¯ve done... Wasn¡¯t Consort Ping¡¯s title taken away already? Why would Royal Father show her any affection?¡±


    ¡°The emperor cannot be predicted. Consort Zhen asked me to tell Your Royal Highness that you should protect you unborn child at all costs. After the child is born, we can start figuring out a n.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded and gestured for Jun Huang to leave. She made her way to the garden since she didn¡¯t have anything important to do.


    At the entrance of the garden, she ran into Wei Lanying. Jun Huang cursed under her breath. Fortune never smiled upon her. She managed to pull her lips into a smile and greeted Wei Lanying, who scoffed at her in response, giving her the cold shoulder.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s high time that you leave the manor, Feng Baiyu?¡± Wei Lanying said, her tone mocking.


    Jun Huang arched an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? Why?¡±


    ¡°You are a man, and yet you wander around the back of the manor so often. Do you know how many women there are in this manor? Who knows what you¡¯re trying to do?¡± She spat the words as if she couldn¡¯t stand the fact that a man like Jun Huang was breathing the same air as her.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know if she wanted to cry orugh. She dressed like a man for her own convenience, and now this woman attacked her for being a man. Jun Huang huffed silently. Even if she had been a man, she would never set her eyes on a woman like Wei Lanying. Wei Lanying had greatly overestimated her own charms.


    Jun Huang turned around and walked towards the side building. There was nothing she could say to Wei Lanying. Wei Lanying stomped her feet in rage.


    Wei Lanying¡¯s maid pointed at Jun Huang¡¯s back and said, ¡°Look at him, Lady Wei. He didn¡¯t take your words seriously. And on top of that, he acted so rudely to you. He truly is a hateful man.¡±


    Wei Lanying scoffed. ¡°So? He is only an honored guest. Once the prince has no use for him, he will be kicked out. Go arrange for someone to follow Feng Baiyu. Teach him a lesson once he¡¯s alone. Then he won¡¯t dare to speak to me like that.¡± With that, she took off.


    The maid pouted and caught up to her without a word. She didn¡¯t want to anger Wei Lanying again.


    Once back to the side building, Jun Huang picked up the cup of cold tea on the table and took a sip. She took a deep breath before sitting down. What Wei Lanying said wasn¡¯tpletely without merit.


    Now, living in Prince Chen Manor, there was always someone watching her every move. Wei Qian, for example, was sent by Qi Chen to spy on her.


    Recently, Qi Chen had needed Wei Qian¡¯s assistance, so she hadn¡¯t been staying in the manor. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what exactly Wei Qian was doing, and she didn¡¯t particrly care. She was happy with not being watched by Wei Qian.


    It doesn¡¯t mean that I¡¯ve lost Qi Chen¡¯s trust if I move out, she thought to herself. On the contrary, I will have more freedom to do what I have to do. I won¡¯t be restrained like I am now. And I won¡¯t be seen by Qi Chen¡¯s spy if I meet up with someone.


    Moving out seemed more and more like a necessity, rather than a question of practicality.


    Having made up her mind, Jun Huang shot up to her feet and walked outside after casually dropping the teacup on the table. She was stopped by the housekeeper in the main hall. He said that Qi Chen was talking to a guest in the study, so she wasn¡¯t allowed to enter. Jun Huang could only wait for him to finish.


    Not long after, the guest walked out. He was an official in the imperial court. Jun Huang recognized the face from Qi Chen and Nan Guyue¡¯s wedding, but she couldn¡¯t put a name to it. She greeted him with cupped hands, and the official returned the gesture. The housekeeper walked him out.


    After that, Qi Chen walked out with Nan Guyue by his side. He was a little surprised to see Jun Huang since he and Jun Huang had just talked. Once Nan Guyue settled on the edge of the hallway floor, he asked, ¡°Is something the matter, brother Feng?¡±


    ¡°Nothing important,¡± Jun Huang said calmly. ¡°But there is something I¡¯d like to talk to Your Royal Highness about.¡±


    ¡°Brother Feng should speak your mind.¡±


    ¡°This gentleman has been thinking that I may have overstayed my wee here. I feel guilty for the intrusion. Moreover, there are many women in the manor. As a man, it is inappropriate for me to stay here. That¡¯s why I think I should move out.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t beat around the bush and simply stated what she was here for. Qi Chen¡¯s reaction was as she had expected. ¡°Why would brother Feng think so? Have I treated you wrongly? Or has Wei Lanying said something to you?¡±


    Of course Qi Chen would try to convince her to change her mind. He wanted to prove that he appreciated her talent.


    Jun Huang waved her hand hurriedly. ¡°No, no. Your Royal Highness treats me very well, and you have never taken advantage of me. Nheless, it¡¯s inconvenient for me to continue living in the manor. It will be bad for the two consorts¡¯ reputation if the news break out.¡±


    Qi Chen turned to Nan Guyue with a frown.


    It had urred to Nan Guyue that it was inappropriate for Feng Baiyu to stay in the manor. She was now pregnant. There were many taboos during this period of time. It wasn¡¯t a good idea for another man to be sharing a roof with her.


    She had kept it to herself since Jun Huang was the one who brought Qi Chen and her together. Now that Jun Huang brought up the issue herself, Nan Guyue decided to speak up for her. It would be a win-win situation.


    ¡°Since the gentleman is so considerate, Your Royal Highness should let him go,¡± Nan Guyue said, trying to tip the scale towards her favor. ¡°We can always invite the gentleman back when there are celebrations or matters that require his help.¡±


    Qi Chen was still a little upset. However, it was clear that Jun Huang had made up her mind. There was no use for him to try to convince her. He sighed and nodded. ¡°As you wish, then. Does brother Feng need my help in finding a good ce?¡±


    Jun Huang waved her hand. ¡°There¡¯s no need. This gentleman has ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I call you my brother. There¡¯s no need for you to be so formal. What about I tell the housekeeper to put aside some silver notes for you? Brother Feng deserves a good ce to live in.¡± Qi Chen didn¡¯t give her a chance to argue. Jun Huang acted like she felt guilty for epting his help, but that was the opposite of what she actually thought.


    If Qi Chen¡¯s willing to pay, then I shall pick a good residence. She left with the silver notes the housekeeper gave her.


    In the imperial city, every patch ofnd cost a fortune. Moreover, Jun Huang detested designs that were too extravagant. Hence a day of searching gave her no results.


    Qi Chen took the initiative to introduce some brokers to Jun Huang. She epted readily and followed one of them to a property he handpicked for her.


    Qi Chen was familiar with Jun Huang¡¯s preferences, and he had informed the broker. The man took Jun Huang to a ce he thought that Jun Huang would like.


    The house was located in a remote area, and it was clear that no one had lived here for a long time. Weeds had taken over the whole ce, creating a eerie atmosphere. It seemed as if something was going to jump out any moment.


    ¡°This is no ce for anyone sane to live,¡± Jun Huang said bluntly. She didn¡¯t try to hide her disgust.


    The man fumed in anger and retorted, ¡°I won¡¯t stand for what the gentleman said. I picked this ce ording to your likes and dislikes. If not for the crown prince, I won¡¯t even offer you this option. I¡¯m afraid the gentleman will never find a ce to live in this city.¡±


    The man¡¯s words were biting, but Jun Huang would happily y tit for tat. She scoffed at the rundown front yard, ¡°Oh? So your respect for the crown prince worth only so little?¡±


    The man was stunned. The crown prince¡¯s honored guest looked just like any frail schr. But it turned out that this schr had a sharp tongue and was proficient in spotting points of attack in others¡¯ words.


    He pointed at Jun Huang angrily, but he couldn¡¯t form aplete sentence. Jun Huang leveled him with a calm stare before turning around to leave, ignoring the man¡¯s tantrum.


    Jun Huang felt much better after leaving the rundown house. She didn¡¯t expect people here to be so bad at their jobs.


    She was in a remote area, but there were still pedestrians on the street. She followed them back to the manor andy down on the empress chair. Qi Chen showed up unnoticed not long after.


    ¡°I have heard theints from the broker,¡± Qi Chen said with a smile, walking up to her. He looked amused. ¡°Brother Feng is still so stubborn.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled awkwardly. The man must have put all the me on her. ¡°I have embarrassed myself.¡±


    Qi Chen waved a hand in the air. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, brother Feng. You¡¯re seeking a long-term residence. If you yourself do not like it, what¡¯s the point of moving out? Don¡¯t worry. Take your time and find somewhere you like. There will be a ce for you in thisrge city.¡±


    Jun Huang grew even more awkward. ¡°It seems that this gentleman will have to stay a little longer in the manor,¡± she said with a sigh.


    ¡°So?¡± said Qi Chen. ¡°Brother Feng is free to stay as long as you want.¡±


    After walking Qi Chen out, Jun Huang made her way back to her room. She was tired.


    As she was walking, Nan Xun sneaked into the manor unnoticed.


    His subordinate told him that Jun Huang was trying to find a ce to live. He happened to know a house that was out for sale. From what he knew about Jun Huang, he was sure that she would like the ce.


    On the brink of falling asleep, Jun Huang was jerked awake by faint footsteps. She widened her eyes and only rxed when she saw that it was Nan Xun. She sat up and frowned. This is ridiculous. How can Nan Xun sneak in so easily in broad daylight?


    Nan Xun curved his lips into a wolfish smile. He sat down on a stool, supporting his head with a hand. It reminded Jun Huang of thest time Nan Xun had snuck in. Her face turned a deep red.


    Nan Xun remembered that night as well. His smile widened.

 Chapter 77

    Chapter 77: Lovelier than a Flower


    ¡°What ¨C what are you doing here?¡± Jun Huang stuttered, her face flushed. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what boundaries are?¡±


    Nan Xun raised an eyebrow at her. ¡°Oh? What boundaries?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s infuriating smile only stoked the frustration in her heart. ¡°You know I¡¯m a woman, and yet you¡¯ve snuck into my room again and again...¡±


    Nan Xun was even more amused, but he didn¡¯t want to go overboard with his teasing. Jun Huang realized that she had been acting like a little girl and had lost herposure. Gradually, the blush on her face faded. She was again her usual aloof self.


    She wondered if this was how women were when they were in love.


    She is still young, Nan Xun thought. Why does she appear to be so mature? She smiles even less when she is dressed in men¡¯s clothes, and her demeanor loses all its femininity.


    They were both lost in thought. After the time to finish a cup of tea, Nan Xun cleared his throat and reverted back to his usual cold attitude. ¡°I heard that you¡¯ve been trying to find a ce to live. With your unique taste, it must be difficult for you to find a house you¡¯re satisfied with in this imperial city. I¡¯m worried that you might have a bad impression of the city because nothing has caught your fancy. I happen to know a house that you might like. That¡¯s why I came. I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be in your care.¡±


    ¡°Good. I¡¯ll wait for you outside. You should leave through the front gate. Or Qi Chen may get suspicious.¡± With that, he turned to leave without hesitation.


    Jun Huang watched him go. The light-hearted teasing and easy smile seemed unreal all of a sudden. She tried to smile, but she couldn¡¯t quite do it. She suddenly felt an emptiness in her heart. It was not a pleasant feeling.


    She picked up the cup of tea on the table and took a sip. It was so bitter it made her frown. The tea had been cooling there for a while. There was no sweetness in its aftertaste. She felt the great sense of disappointment one felt when reality fell short of one¡¯s expectations.


    She soon sorted through her messy thoughts. She snorted. What had happened to her? She was a woman driven solely by revenge. She could never walk the same path with Nan Xun. Why would she have such unnecessary thoughts? If Nan Xun had known, he would have teased her for it.


    She had a change of clothes before leaving the room. A maid stationed at the side building bowed at her and asked where she was going. Jun Huang knew she was an informant of Qi Chen¡¯s. She gave the maid a polite smile and said she was going to check out a house. The maid didn¡¯t say anything in response. She waited until Jun Huang had left before reporting back to Qi Chen.


    Outside Prince Chen Manor, Jun Huang pretended to wander around aimlessly before she went up to Nan Xun, who had been waiting for some time. They exchanged a smile.


    ¡°What took you so long?¡± he asked, moving to her side.


    ¡°I had a change of clothes,¡± Jun Huang said openly. ¡°I have kept Your Highness waiting.¡± Her expression was distant. She didn¡¯t look sorry in the slightest.


    Nan Xun shook his head in resignation and walked shoulder to shoulder with Jun Huang towards the house he had mentioned. They watched the never-ending stream of people as they walked.


    Jun Huang never liked crowds. Even with Nan Xun at her side, she couldn¡¯t help but frown when she bumped shoulders with pedestrians. She could never get used to the feeling.


    She used to live in the pce surrounded by servants, Nan Xun mused. It¡¯s only natural that she would dislike crowds. In order to make her feel better, Nan Xun ¨C the well-respected prince extraordinaire of Northern Qi ¨C acted like her personal bodyguard and shielded her from the traffic.


    When they finally made their way off the main street, both their caps were knocked awry. Jun Huang smoothed the wrinkles on her robe and looked up at Nan Xun. He looked even more like a mess than she did. She covered up a smile and coughed before looking away.


    After making themselves presentable, Nan Xun led Jun Huang into a narrow street and arrived at an area that was rtively tranquil, but notpletely devoid of human activities.


    Appreciation shed through Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. Thepound was surrounded by pristine white walls decorated with green tiles. The dark red gate was shut, but she could see branches sneaking out from behind the wall. Her eyes were drawn.


    A hunchbacked old man came up to them with a title deed in his hand. He gave them a friendly smile. ¡°Your Highness has finally arrived. This peasant has been waiting for you.¡±


    Nan Xun gestured at the old man. ¡°He¡¯s the broker in charge of selling the house. A good and honest man.¡±


    Jun Huang greeted him with a small smile. The old man waved a hand in the air and grinned. ¡°Your Highness is too kind. Come, let¡¯s not stand idly here. I¡¯ll give you a tour inside.¡± He entered the house. Jun Huang and Nan Xun followed him in.


    The view inside surprised her. There was a front room for weing guest, and a back building for residence. The back building was split into the south wing, east wing, and west wing, connected by winding hallways. At the center was a peaceful garden surrounded by fake mountains.


    The south wing was on the opposite side of the front room. There was a little garden next to it, where flowers could be nted. There was even a pond where she could keep koi fish. At the center was a pavilion. It was perfect for rxing at a summer night.


    The east wing and the west wing were closer in distance. The bigger garden sat between them. She could cross the garden to get to the other wing in addition to going through the hallway. The three wings were allposed of one main bedroom and two smaller rooms for servants.


    The hallway was even more delicately designed. The pirs were etched withplicated patterns of lifelike flowers. It must have been the work of a master. The hallway itself was dark red, which contrasted well with the green leaves in the garden. There were also some octagonalmps hanging from the ceiling. The screens of themps were decorated with paintings featuring beautiful women. It would be a wonderful sight when themps were lit.


    They walked to the west wing and pushed open the decorative door. What caught Jun Huang¡¯s eyes first was a sandalwood table with a tea set on top of it. The old man said the tea set was a gift for the buyer of the house. Near the window were two soft divans, where people could sit and talk about poetry or y chess. Further inside was a beaded curtain that dropped down to the floor. It swung gently in the wind without getting tangled. Behind the curtain was an impressive screen, on which lifelike animals and nts were painted. She could vaguely see what beauty awaited her behind the screen.


    Further inside was a quaint bed, covered by silk curtains hanging from the top of the bed frame. Next to the bed was a desk for makeup with a copper mirror on top of it. Near the windowy a shelf for books and the like.


    ¡°Is the gentleman satisfied with the ce?¡± the old man asked.


    Jun Huang broke out of her trance and nodded with a smile. ¡°This is good. Thest owner must have been a man with great taste.¡±


    The old man nodded. ¡°Indeed he is.¡±


    ¡°If you like it, you should take it,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°It¡¯s not far from Prince Chen Manor. Qi Chen will be less worried if you live here. This is also an area with a decent amount of traffic. It¡¯ll be safer for you. You¡¯re going to live on your own after all.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded after a short pause. ¡°It¡¯s decided then,¡± she said to the old man, smiling.


    ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s sign the deed outside.¡± The old man walked out in unhurried steps. Jun Huang and Nan Xun shared a look before following him. The old man put the deed on the table.


    Jun Huang trusted Nan Xun to introduce her only credible people, but one could never be too careful. She picked up the document and read it through. She frowned when she saw the price.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nan Xun asked.


    Jun Huang shook her head and cleared her throat. Her eyes were glued to the number: two thousand five hundred and thirty-six silver. Noticing the focus of her gaze, Nan Xun chuckled and whispered into her ear, ¡°If you don¡¯t have enough silver, consider this house my gift to you.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°No, that won¡¯t do! This gentleman does like this ce quite a lot, even though I don¡¯t have sufficient fund for the time being. If Your Highness is willing, may I ask you to lend me some money? I¡¯ll be sure to pay you back.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Nan Xun knew what kind of a person Jun Huang was. If he insisted on giving the house to her, she would find somewhere else to live. It was better to let her buy this ce first. Whether he would ept her money back was another issue. They would have that argument at ater time.


    Jun Huang rxed a little. She put her handprint on the paper and took out the two thousand silver notes Qi Chen had given her. Nan Xun chipped in for the rest.


    Satisfied, the old man handed the deed to Jun Huang and took his leave.


    Afterwards, Jun Huang strolled into the garden with a light heart. The vibrant color rxed her. There was nothing she wanted more than to move out of Prince Chen Manor right this moment and moved into her new house.


    Nan Xun leaned against the door frame, watching Jun Huang walk among flowers and greenery. His eyes softened along with his heart. His usual stoic look gave way to a smile as tender as water.


    The instance Jun Huang turned back to him, he schooled his expression into one of frosty indifference. It was a chilling look.


    ¡°What else do you need?¡± Nan Xun asked as he walked up to her. ¡°It¡¯s early still. We can go make the purchase.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°There are many items I have to buy. Earlier, on our way here, I¡¯ve spotted stores selling what I need. If Your Highness has nothing else to attend to, this gentleman would like to ask you toe with me. I¡¯ll buy you dinner afterwards.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and went for the front gate. Jun Huang caught up to him after taking a deep breath.


    The moment they stepped out onto the street, young women nearby were immediately drawn to them. Some even covered their mouth with a blush.


    Jun Huang was dressed in a violet silk robe with an embroidered satchel on her waist. Her hair was held up neatly by a jade cap. She looked like the famous Pan An with her red lips and bright smile1.


    Nan Xun, on the other hand, wore a white robe with dark patterns. There was a green jade pendant on his waist decorated with a red tassel. They both looked like young men from rich families who were used to the adoration of people around them.


    Both of them, however, couldn¡¯t care less about the attention they were getting. They went straight to their destination without sparing a nce for the onlookers.


    The street they went to was known as the antique street. As its name suggested, the street was lined with stores selling antiques, both authentic ones and counterfeit ones. Vendors yelled at the top of their lungs trying to attract customers. The ground was paved with broken ceramic pieces, which were rumored to be of great value.


    ording to the rumor, thest emperor of the previous dynasty was a wasteful man who splurged gold like it were soil. He paved the road with the finest chinas that once enjoyed great fame. Right after he did so, however, his country was destroyed.


    No one knew if the story was true. It could be nothing but a publicity stunt.


    The vendors¡¯ eyes lit up when they saw Jun Huang and Nan Xun. Some talked amongst themselves quietly. From the clothes the two of them wore, the vendors were convinced that they were from rich families. If the vendors were able to sell Jun Huang and Nan Xun a few chinas or jades, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about earning a living for at least half a year.

 Chapter 78

    Chapter 78: War takes no Prisoners


    ¡°What is the gentleman looking for?¡± The owner of the first shop on the street came up to Nan Xun and Jun Huang with a servile smile.


    ¡°Nothing in particr,¡± said Nan Xun, his tone cool.


    ¡°Oh? The gentlemen shoulde in and take a look at my wares. I guarantee you that you¡¯ll find something you like. Everyone knows that among all the shops on this antique street, mine is the most well stocked. I sell items the other don¡¯t sell, and anything you can find in their shops, you can find here as well.¡±


    Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang in question. Jun Huang nodded. She didn¡¯t want to waste too much time trying to pick a shop. The owner was very confident. She might be able to get everything she needed for the house. They walked in side by side.


    The shop was filled with a great variety of different items. The first thing that caught Jun Huang¡¯s eyes was amp. It was finely crafted and would make for a good bedsidemp.


    The shopkeeper was observant. He could tell from her lingering gaze that she was interested. He walked up to her and smiled. ¡°The gentleman has a pair of keen eyes. Thismp is said to be from the destroyed pce of Western Que. I can assure you that it¡¯s the real deal.¡±


    Nan Xun was looking at other items on the other side of the room. He turned around when he heard the words ¡°Western Que¡±. The shopkeeper was giving Jun Huang his best sales pitch and didn¡¯t notice the changes in her expression. He drone on and on about how much Princess Jun Huang of Western Que loved thismp.


    Nan Xun was about to step in when Jun Huang opened her mouth. ¡°The shopkeeper hasn¡¯t been honest with me.¡± She curved her lips and lowered her eyes. The dark look on her face was reced by a gentle smile ¨C or her best imitation of a gentle smile. ¡°If someone does buy themp, they¡¯ll be paying much more than this is worth. Will youpensate them? Do you believe inpensating your customer tenfold?¡±


    The shopkeeper gaped at her, stuttering. He couldn¡¯t form aplete sentence, and Jun Huang didn¡¯t give him the chance to try again. She walked out in big strides.


    Nan Xun gave themp a final look before catching up to her. The sun was already setting, and themps on the street were lit one by one.


    As they walked, Nan Xun looked at Jun Huang¡¯s stoic expression and debated over if he should say something. In the end, he asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you buy themp if you like it?¡±


    Jun Huang snorted like he had said something ridiculous. She paused and turned to Nan Xun, her eyes reflecting themplight behind him, giving her gaze a substantial weight.


    ¡°This gentleman has said that themp isn¡¯t from Western Que,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°The shopkeeper must have heard someone say that there was amp precious to Jun Huang. He took a regrmp and called it her treasure.¡±


    Jun Huang had uttered the words at a rushed pace. In addition, they were surrounded by people, and the vendors were crying out to catch people¡¯s attention. Despite his mastery in martial arts, Nan Xun didn¡¯t catch every word. He frowned, unwilling to admit that he hadn¡¯t heard what she just said.


    Jun Huang turned around and looked up at the bright moon in the sky. ¡°I promised to buy Your Highness dinner,¡± she said with a smirk. ¡°I heard that the street food here is delicious. If Your Highness is willing to try, pleasee with this gentleman.¡± She made her way to another street without waiting for Nan Xun. This time, Nan Xun did hear her. He caught up to her, shaking his head in resignation.


    The food stands street was packed with young people in the imperial city. Some were sons of officials. Others were daughters from rich families sneaking out to have some fun after a day in the boudoir learning needlework. They roamed the street tasting different food with their page boys and maids in tow.


    Themp had filled Jun Huang¡¯s head with thoughts about her home country. She didn¡¯t feel like eating anything despite the great variety of street food presented before her. If she ran into delicacies from Western Que, she wasn¡¯t sure if she could stop herself from breaking down right away.


    Nan Xun followed her around without a word. Jun Huang¡¯s usually straight back seemed almost brittle right now. The violet silk robe entuated her elegance, but it didn¡¯t cover her sorrow.


    They walked in silence for a good while before Jun Huang suddenly remembered Nan Xun¡¯s existence. She turned to look at him and twisted her lips into a tired smile. ¡°Has Your Highness wandered the city at night before? Have you had food like this? If there¡¯s anything you want to try, just go ahead and tell me.¡±


    Watching Jun Huang¡¯s distant eyes, Nan Xun knew he must not mention anything rted to Western Que. The pcemp they had just seen was also a taboo.


    Themps behind her were bright. Jun Huang seemed so slim and frail at this moment, it was as if a gale of wind would send her flying. Nan Xun felt the urge to break her out of the cage she¡¯d built for herself to maintain her pride. He took a breath before approaching her with a smile. He took her wrist and pulled her into the crowd.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect that. She was a little startled, but she didn¡¯t break out of his hold. Instead, she followed him to a stand selling dishes made from wild animals.


    ¡°Are there still seats?¡± Nan Xun asked at the top of his lungs. The busy owner turned around from the stove and nced at Nan Xun. He pointed at the seats at the edge of the stand. Nan Xun could see there was another man making his way to the empty seats. His eyes narrowed, he let go of Jun Huang¡¯s arm and rushed to the stools in a sh.


    The man didn¡¯t quite realize what had just happened. Jun Huang walked up to Nan Xun and gave the man an apologetic smile before taking a seat. Nan Xun smirked a little.


    Soon, a server came to their table and exchanged some words with Nan Xun. Nan Xun made the order without much hesitation. Jun Huang was preupied. Her appetite wasn¡¯t good and she had to stop eating after a few bites. Nan Xun understood Jun Huang¡¯s pain. He put down his chopsticks as well.


    ¡°Hm? Don¡¯t you like the food?¡± Jun Huang asked curiously when she noticed that Nan Xun had stopped as well. The dishes she had tasted were pretty good.


    Nan Xun shook his head and looked up at the bright moon. A sense of mncholy suddenly filled his heart. He let out a wistfulugh and thought back to his past. ¡°Do you want to hear about my time at the border station?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded.


    ¡°The first time I went there with my soldiers, I couldn¡¯t believe how barren the town was. There was nothing but yellow sand filling the air and buildings that might copse at any second. Not even weeds could survive there. The residents wore tattered clothes and their faces were always covered in dust. Children too suffered the same fate. It was pr opposite to the imperial city, where people wear sachet and women put on makeup. At the border station, people wore nothing but dust on their faces.¡±


    ¡°What theyck the most is water. They dare not waste even a drop of it, let alone using it to clean themselves. It¡¯s funny, when I first got there, I fumed in anger because of the living conditions. I am somewhat of a prince living a luxurious life in the imperial city, but at the border? No one cares if you are a prince. The water is vital to their survival. It¡¯s not for anyone to waste.¡±


    His heart seemed to have traveled to the border station. He looked so lost sitting at this bustling food stand. Jun Huang had long forgotten about her own concerns. She looked at Nan Xun with a heavy heart.


    ¡°You are a prince,¡± Jun Huang said after a moment of silence. ¡°Why would the local officials be so harsh to you? Besides, it¡¯s said that the local officials are the ones who are most corrupt. They should be weing you to their personal fortunes in order to get on your good side.¡±


    Nan Xun chuckled and shook his head. ¡°No, you¡¯re wrong. Over the past few years, I havee to realize that the officials at the border stations are the least corrupt ones. They don¡¯t exploit the people, not at all. Quite the contrary, they spend all their earnings on the people. Think about it, how do the local residents get water in a barrennd covered in sand? Where does the watere from? Those officials pay out of their pockets to have water transported to the town from oases more than twenty miles away.¡±


    Jun Huang fell silent. She didn¡¯t know what to say. Instead, she waited for Nan Xun to continue.


    ¡°Life there is difficult. Sometimes we didn¡¯t even have proper food. I was there during wartime. Those officials were assisting generals sent by the imperial court in defending the border from outside enemies. They didn¡¯t have time to take care of me. I was already a general at the time, but I was young. The more experienced generals were unwilling to take me to the battlefield...¡± Nan Xun was lost in his memories. His expression seemed softer than usual, but his words painted a macabre picture.


    Jun Huang had witnessed deaths and destruction. She knew what was left unsaid. She knew how those barbarians were. Soldiers of Northern Qi couldn¡¯t have a proper meal; the barbarians couldn¡¯t, either. They ate human flesh raw in order to appease their hunger.


    They sat there for a long time without a word. When they paid for the food and left, the crowd had dispersed from the street.


    In the river next to them, there were festiventerns floating on the surface. The wind was a little strong; hence the candles in thenterns had been put out, leaving only the lotus bases floating on the water. Another strong wind would have toppled the bases and sunk them to the bottom of the river.


    Watching thenterns, Jun Huang put aside her faint sense of loss. ¡°It¡¯ste. We should part ways here.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. The stars in the sky had be hidden behind the clouds. Only the moon still shone in the sky. Silver light covered the green stone path with a glow. Nan Xun turned around first, and Jun Huang followed suit. They went in opposite directions.


    Suddenly, Nan Xun caught a glimpse of the reflection of moonlighting from a sword. He also heard a session of sounds of weapons being unsheathed. He stopped in his track, his heart suddenly seized by worries.


    Not long after Jun Huang parted ways with Nan Xun, she heard peopleing up from behind her. The men tried to be sneaky, but Jun Huang could hear the sound of feet stepping on fallen leaves.


    Two men dressed in ck appeared before her, blocking her way. She paused and turned her head sideway. There were more men behind her. They had their broadswords raised.


    The men were all dressed in ck, and they were masked, showing only their eyes. They were like ghosts hidden in the dark ¨C or snakes and scorpions that struck when you least expected it.


    Jun Huang looked at them with cold eyes and no trace of fear on her face, but her palms were sweating hidden under her broad sleeves. She was but a regr woman. How could she not be scared in face of danger like this? She couldn¡¯t, however, let anyone see her fear.


    Some people appeared more calm and collected the more scared they were.


    She gave the men a good look. They readied their weapons. The next second, a man shed at Jun Huang with his sword. Jun Huang barely dodged the attack. The sword hit the wall next to her, sending sparks into the air, illuminating the night.

 Chapter 79

    Chapter 79: The Cavalry came


    Seeing that the hit didn¡¯tnd, the man twisted his wrist and swung the sword diagonally at Jun Huang. This time Jun Huang was on her guard. She foresaw the man¡¯s move and dodged the attack easily by propelling herself into the air with a push against the ground.


    The men didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be able to defend herself. One of them threw another man a nce before they lunged at Jun Huang together. The two swords were crossed like a scissor, making it impossible for Jun Huang to dodge sideways. Leaping up wouldn¡¯t do her any good, either.


    Just when the des were about to bisect her at the waist, she dropped down and kicked one of the men in the stomach, causing the man to stagger back two steps.


    She swept her leg and tripped her second assant who was behind her. nk! His sword fell onto the ground, while he remained unharmed.


    The attackers quickly regrouped and surrounded Jun Huang with their weapons raised. They closed in on her little by little, causing Jun Huang having less and less room to maneuver. Panic slowly rose from her heart.


    It was a hopeless fight. The men sheathed their swords and clenched their fists. They were going to fight Jun Huang with bare hands.


    Without giving her any time to react, the man right in front of her threw his punch, making a swooshing sound with the velocity of his movement. The blow would havended if Jun Huang was a second slower in dodging.


    Her forehead started breaking into a sweat. She didn¡¯t dare to rx her guard, lest someone else sneak up on her. She was one person against a whole group of men. The odds were not on her side.


    The man right before her seemed to have read her mind. He became bold and struck a blow at Jun Huang again, splitting the air with his force. Jun Huang was able to dodge the attack, but she was hurt by the harsh winds brought about by the hit.


    The other men didn¡¯t intend to give Jun Huang any chance to rest. One after another, they struck Jun Huang with their fists. Jun Huang struggled to protect herself, but there was a limit to her agility. Finally one of the punches was going tond on her, and she was too exhausted to move out of the way. She clenched her teeth and braced for the attack with her eyes squeezed shut, but the pain never came.


    When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was white fabric. Nan Xun tilted his head and threw her a nce before turning back to the men in ck, who were still in shock. Without any warnings, Nan Xun punched the man before him in the stomach.


    The man grunted and stepped back, covering his stomach with pale face. The other men started to attack in earnest when they saw that Nan Xun was here to help Jun Huang. Jun Huang felt her heart spasming in nervousness.


    Nan Xun kept Jun Huang shielded and blocked the punches with open palms. He seized the attackers¡¯ wrists and crack! Their bones were broken.


    They soon realized that Nan Xun was no ordinary man. One of the men was suddenly filled with murderous intent. He unsheathed his sword and stabbed at Nan Xun. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes turned cold. He scoffed and stopped the sword with a pinch of his index finger and middle finger. The man could neither pull his sword out nor drive it towards Nan Xun. He was stuck in an awkward position.


    The other men lost theirposure and started attacking with their swords without any semnce of order. Jun Huang believed in Nan Xun¡¯s ability, but their enemies were many. She joined in the fight and kicked one of the men in his hand. He lost his grip and dropped his sword. Jun Huang caught the sword as quickly as a lightning strike and fought the man off.


    Their attackers were obviously well-trained. They didn¡¯t possess the same mastery in martial arts as Nan Xun, but they were difficult to dispose of. They could keep someone upied through sheer stubbornness. Nan Xun was surrounded by a handful of them and couldn¡¯t break out of the circle for the time being. Jun Huang was thus faced with enemies on both fronts.


    Jun Huang learned her rather limited skills in martial arts from Nan Xun, which were only intended for her to defend herself. It was difficult enough for her to fight against one man in hand-to-handbat, let alone two men who were better trained than she was. On top of that, Jun Huang¡¯s endurance wasn¡¯t as good as these people.


    She was used to fighting with poison. With Nan Xun here, however, she couldn¡¯t use it. She knew how to protect herself against the poisonous fog, but Nan Xun didn¡¯t. She wasn¡¯t willing to let Nan Xun get hurt in any way. Thus she could only fight with force.


    Fortunately, Jun Huang was an agile fighter. And she always had a few poisoned needles on herself when she went outside in case something happened. She couldn¡¯t throw the needles because it was too dark at night, but the two men were trying to fight her in close quarter, which gave her the opportunity to hit them with the needles.


    Nan Xun was stuck fighting four men, but he was not at a disadvantage at all. He was someone who could fight ten or even a hundred enemies on his own on the battlefields. Four men were not enough to trap him for too long. He soon spotted their weak points.


    Every time the men attacked with their swords, their abdomen and feet were left unguarded. This time, when they raised their swords, Nan Xun dropped down and forced the men to step back with a sweep of his leg. He used this opportunity to pick up some sharp stones from the ground and hit the men in the stomach. Stones could be effective weapons when used well. A trained general knew how to apply his force. The men were flung backwards by a good distance.


    They fell to the ground on their backs, bringing up a fog of dust. They grunted in pain. Jun Huang had also seized the chance to sting the two men¡¯s neck with her silver needles. The men felt pain in their necks, but they thought they had merely been bitten by bugs and didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. Gradually, however, their movements started to slow down and they gradually lost their strength. Their qi seemed to have been trapped inside their bodies as well.


    Jun Huang walked to Nan Xun¡¯s side. The men realized that their targets were no easy prey. It wouldn¡¯t be pretty if they continued to attack Jun Huang and Nan Xun. The leader of the group leveled Jun Huang with a cold stare before waving a hand at the remaining men. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The men carried the two men who had lost their strengths and left.


    After they disappeared, Jun Huang finally was able to rx. She let out a deep breath and copsed against the wall, cold sweat streaking down her neck and her back was drenched. She felt a little cold in the wind.


    She shuddered. If Nan Xun hadn¡¯te to help her on time, she would have been knocked out.


    Nan Xun looked at her pale face and unfocused gaze. He took a moment to think before asking, ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Have you made enemies recently?¡± Nan Xun asked.


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Those men are clearly not robbers. Why would they covered their faces if they were only trying to rob you1? The only exnation is that they were sent here by someone. They obviously were waiting for you. Before I stepped in, it was clear that they weren¡¯t trying to kill you. They intended to only teach you a lesson...¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s analysis was logical. Jun Huang thought back to the tense interactions she had with Wei Lanying the past couple days. Wei Lanying had always held a grudge against her. She might have hired someone to hurt her.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t be sure for now. She had never seen Wei Lanying dealing with unsavory folks like those men.


    It couldn¡¯t have been the other people in the manor. Wei Lanying was only a concubine, while Jun Huang was a strategist valued by Qi Chen. Those people would sooner suck up to Jun Huang than harm her to please Wei Lanying.


    Jun Huang rarely crossed paths with Wei Lanying. Why would she hire people to hurt her? It wouldn¡¯t do Wei Lanying any good if she was badly injured.


    Jun Huang was deep in thoughts. Nan Xun looked at her without a word. It wasn¡¯t until a chilly wind hit her that Jun Huang came to her senses. She looked at the boundless darkness before her.


    She turned to Nan Xun. He broke the silence and said, ¡°No matter what, you should be aware of Qi Chen. He might be behind this attack. Perhaps he has be suspicious of you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be on guard. Those men have suffered a great loss. I don¡¯t think they would strike again today. It¡¯ste. Let¡¯s bid each other farewell here. Goodbye.¡± Jun Huang cupped her hands and disappeared into the night.


    Nan Xun watched her leave. He couldn¡¯t help feeling concerned for her safety. He made a gesture at the dark alley. A shadow guard dressed in ck robe emerged and greeted Nan Xun silently, awaiting his order.


    ¡°Follow him,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°If there¡¯s any danger, help him. If not, don¡¯t let him discover you.¡±


    The shadow guard nodded and caught up with Jun Huang without making a sound. After a brief moment of silence, Nan Xun turned around and walked towards his own manor. He happened to pass the antique street on his way.


    The first antique shop was not yet closed. After a moment of hesitation, he walked in.


    It waste when he returned to the manor. The night watchman had already made a round. It must have been after midnight. Nan Xun was weary and weathered. His robe was covered in dirt from the fight earlier.


    He carefully ced the item he bought at the antique shop on the cab next to him. He then had someone prepare a bath. Once everything was settled, he ordered the servant to wait outside the door and to let the shadow guard in once he was back. The servant nodded and left.


    Nan Xun took off his clothes and let his hair down before getting into the wooden barrel behind the screen.


    Leaning against the barrel, he thought back to the night he snuck into Jun Huang¡¯s room. She was in a bath as well. There was a screen between the two of them. He couldn¡¯t see her well. Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t help feeling drawn to her. He hadn¡¯t seen how Jun Huang looked then, but he had noticed the fragrance in the room.


    He got himself clean, feeling most of his fatigue draining from his body. He got out of the barrel and dried himself before putting on a thinyer of clothes. He stepped out from behind the screen.


    The shadow guard had returned and was waiting for him in the room, staying so quiet he might as well be a lifeless statue. The window was left open. A stronger wind would have put out the wavering candlelight.


    Nan Xun smoothed out his robe before walking towards the desk. He lightly knocked on the desk with his knuckle, musing about something without a word. The shadow guard silently waited for him to speak.


    ¡°Have you seen him return to the manor?¡± Nan Xun asked after a long pause.


    The shadow guard nodded. ¡°No dangerous encounters on the way back.¡±


    Nan Xun thought for a second before saying, ¡°Go find out who Qi Chen has contacted the past couple of days. See if he has talked to anyone suspicious.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± said the shadow guard with cupped hands. Nan Xun waved him out. The shadow guard shut the door behind him.

 Chapter 80

    Chapter 80: Housewarming


    Nan Xun sat there for a long time. The teapot on the table was now empty, but it was toote to have someone brew him fresh tea. He gave up and went to bed.


    Back at Prince Chen¡¯s Manor, Jun Huang found the ce to be almost void of activity. The page boy at the gate greeted her with a shy smile. Jun Huang smiled in response and threw a nce at the inside. ¡°Has everyone retired to their rooms?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± the page boy said with his eyes crinkled. ¡°The gentleman waste to return.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and exchanged some words with him before making her way to the side building. It waste. She decided to bid farewell to Qi Chen tomorrow before moving out of the manor.


    The side building was even more empty. The birds perched on the tree took off into the air when they heard her approach and vanished into the night.


    She pushed open the heavy door of the side building and was immediately faced with Wei Qian. Jun Huang startled. Trying her best to calm her heart down, she looked at Wei Qian with curious eyes. ¡°Why are you here? Aren¡¯t you away for a mission?¡±


    Wei Qian pursed her lips without a word. Her silence made unsettled Jun Huang. Just when Jun Huang thought that Wei Qian wouldn¡¯t answer her, she said, ¡°I came back today. I heard the prince mentioned that the gentleman is moving out...¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± said Jun Huang, her tone casual. She stepped into the building with a calm expression and sat down in the garden. She poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip.


    ¡°You have just reported back to the prince about what the imperialmissioner has achieved at the county town, haven¡¯t you?¡± Jun Huang said as she looked up at Wei Qian. ¡°It¡¯ste. You should go rest.¡±


    Wei Qian lowered her eyes to look at the stone floor, unmoving and straight-backed even against the chilling winds at night. ¡°The gentleman has decided to move out. Will you take this subordinate with you?¡±


    Jun Huang was a little surprised. She arched an eyebrow and looked at Wei Qian¡¯s downcast eyes inquisitively. She didn¡¯t think a woman like Wei Qian would say something like this of her own ord. Was Qi Chen trying to test her through Wei Qian?


    Jun Huang paused for a moment before she said with a faint smile, ¡°Your are the prince¡¯s confidante. I believe the prince still requires your help. If youe with this gentleman, the prince will have very few people he can trust around him. Of course, if the prince agrees to let youe with this gentleman, who am I to say no?¡±


    Her words were perfectly appropriate and within the boundaries of propriety, which was exactly the most hurtful answer she could have given. The light in Wei Qian¡¯s eyes dimmed, but her face remained impassive. She was Qi Chen¡¯s confidante after all. She would not let her own feelings be seen.


    No matter how bitter and pained she felt, her face remained calm and collected. Sometimes she was simr to Jun Huang. Jun Huang did smile from time to time, though, while Wei Qian never did.


    Before taking her leave, Wei Qian said in a quiet tone, ¡°The gentleman never drank tea at night in the past. You said yourself that it was bad for health. If so, the gentleman should take care of yourself better. Now please excuse this subordinate.¡± With that, she went into her room, leaving Jun Huang alone in the backyard.


    Jun Huang looked at the teacup in her hand. Her chest had been hurting a little earlier. It might have been caused by the poison again. That was why she drank tea to suppress the pain. She hadn¡¯t thought too much about her actions.


    Wei Qian was right though. Jun Huang sighed and put down the teacup before going into her bedroom.


    The next day Jun Huang woke up at the crack of dawn. She quickly packed her things and freshened up before going to Qi Chen¡¯s building. She happened to run into Qi Chen when he was leaving for the court meeting.


    ¡°Brother Feng woke up early,¡± Qi Chen said as he smoothed out his sleeves. ¡°I heard the servants say that you returned quitetest night. Why didn¡¯t you sleep a little longer?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes shed. Why has Qi Chen been keeping such a close eye on my whereabout? Could it be that Nan Xun was right? Did Qi Chen sent those men to test me?


    Jun Huang was too immersed in her thoughts to answer. Qi Chen frowned and waved a hand before her eyes. He gave her a bright smile. ¡°Brother Feng is clearly distracted. Did you meet a beautiful womanst night?¡±


    Jun Huang quickly regained her focus, but she didn¡¯t know what she should say about what had happened yesterday. ¡°The house is ready, Your Royal Highness,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°This gentleman has stayed in this manor for a long time. I¡¯m too ashamed to stay any longer. I therefore came to bid farewell to Your Royal Highness.¡±


    Qi Chen looked surprised. ¡°Why is brother Feng so eager to move out? Have I made you feel unwee?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not it,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°It¡¯s just that there are things I have to buy for the new ce. This gentleman thinks that I might as well move into the house now. Then I¡¯ll know what I need.¡±


    Qi Chen was about to say something else when the page boy in charge of preparing the coach came. He reminded Qi Chen that he had to leave for the pce now, or he would bete to the meeting.


    Qi Chen had no choice but to cut the conversation short. He told Jun Huang to take care of herself and tell him if she ran into any troubles. Jun Huang nodded in response. Only then did he take his leave.


    After seeing Qi Chen off, Jun Huang returned to the side building for her things. Wei Qian was right at the door when she left her room. She nodded as a way of greeting. Wei Qian watched her leave, as silent and still as a statue.


    Some people were never meant to be in the same world. Wei Qian knew that she and Feng Baiyu, who was known for his calm attitude and distant smile, could never be together. She didn¡¯t dare topare herself to Princess Wan¡¯er. She could only keep her feelings to herself. It was a secret she would bring to her grave.


    Outside the manor, the sun was blindingly bright. Jun Huang shielded her eyes with a hand. There were only a handful of people on the street. She wrapped her clothes tighter around herself and went to her new house.


    The first thing she saw when she entered was the fallen leaves covering the ground. It looked a little bleak. On the fake mountain in the garden stood a sparrow. It flew away when it spotted her.


    Jun Huang put her luggage on the stone table in the garden. Looking around, she let out a soundless sigh. She picked up a broom and started sweeping the fallen leaves in the pavilion.


    When she was finished, her entire body was covered in sweat. She took a deep breath before making her way to the south wing with her luggage. For her, the quiet south wing was the perfect ce to live in. Moreover, the wall at the back was taller. That would stop Nan Xun from going in and out freely like he had done when she was in Prince Chen Manor.


    She arrived at the south wing and opened the door. It looked identical to the west wing. However, it seemed that the room had rarely been used before. It wasn¡¯t as well-equipped. She couldn¡¯t just move the furniture from other rooms here though. She would have to buy the furniture that was missing here.


    She made a mental list before leaving the house. She was generous with her money and didn¡¯t try to haggle with the vendors. She asked two bulky men to deliver the items to the house for her. She gave them some silver and started moving the items inside the room.


    She ced the items where they should be. She had bought a silk emerald screen painted with mountains and rivers, a delicate bedsidemp, a light color silk curtain, a tea set, and other various things, including something big like a bookshelf, to something small like nts for the garden. She even paid someone to change the water in theke and put a few koi fish inside. And she reced the wilted nts with ones she bought.


    It took half a day for her to finish setting up the garden. She entered the room, put the silk curtain on the bed, and reced the nket. Only then did she take a seat at the sandalwood desk and rest. She waved her foldable fan as she looked at the room she had made so much efforts in decorating. She felt an indescribable sense of achievement.


    Someone knocked on the door. She frowned. She had announced that she would be celebrating her move today, but she didn¡¯t think anyone woulde so early. She walked out of the south wing to get the door.


    Once at the front gate, she opened the red brown wooden doors. Nan Xun stood before her with a small smile. Behind him were a few people who dressed like servants.


    Jun Huang pointed at them. ¡°Who are they?¡±


    Nan Xun threw a nce back and quirked his lips. ¡°You must need servants in your manor. I bought some for you earlier in the morning.¡±


    Jun Huang knew that couldn¡¯t be the truth. Nan Xun must have picked the ones he trusted among the people in his own manor. She nodded and didn¡¯t question him.


    Nan Xun ordered a few men to move the items he brought into the house. Then he led some of the women inside with Jun Huang. They sat down in the garden. ¡°Pick one as your personal maid. I assure you that they can all be trusted.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded before giving each of them a good look. Her gaze settled on a young girl who looked to be at the age of fifteen or sixteen. The girl seemed like the honest sort. Jun Huang smiled and pointed at her. ¡°I¡¯ll have her.¡± Jun Huang turned to the girl. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a name,¡± the girl said quietly with her eyes on the ground. ¡°May the gentleman give one to me?¡±


    Jun Huang supported her chin with a hand and started brainstorming. None of the names she came up with seemed right. She might as well call the girl something easy to remember. ¡°You look young. I¡¯ll call you Little Girl.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± said Little Girl with her head bowed.


    The ¡°name¡± amused Nan Xun. He almostughed. It was rare for Jun Huang to smile so genuinely. He was d as long as she was happy.


    Jun Huang ordered the rest of the maids to make preparation for the banquet at noon. Then she ordered Little Girl to boil her some hot water for brewing tea. They epted the orders and left, leaving only Jun Huang and Nan Xun in the garden.


    Jun Huang looked at the various flowers with a calm expression. She looked right at home in a ce like this. Nan Xun watched her and didn¡¯t say anything.


    Not long after, the page boy who was told to watch the door led Qi Yun in. Qi Yun was surprised to see Nan Xun. He thought that he would be the first one to arrive. He didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to be here already.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect brother Nan toe so early,¡± Qi Yun said in an indiscernible tone.


    Nan Xun only gave Qi Yun a nod. No one knew if he did it on purpose. Qi Yun felt a little embarrassed. Jun Huang stepped in and invited Qi Yun to take a seat.


    Qi Yun looked around at the ssy design. He found the ce to befortable. Curious, he insisted on having Jun Huang give him a tour.


    Jun Huang knew that giving tours to her friends would be part of the celebration. She got to her feet, intending to take Qi Yun around. Nan Xun, however, didn¡¯t seem eager to follow them. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t stop herself from frowning. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing with us?¡±

 Chapter 81

    Chapter 81: Jealousy


    Nan Xun shook his head. ¡°You go ahead. We may have more visitorster. Someone has to keep watch. It¡¯ll be bad if we all leave and no one is here to greet our new guests.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. Nan Xun had seen the house before, and it wasn¡¯t as if he would never be able to visit her again. Besides, no manor was that special at the end of the day. There wasn¡¯t much to look at. She let Nan Xun stay where he was and led Qi Yun towards the back of the manor.


    Walking along the winding hallway, Qi Yun¡¯s attention was drawn by the pcemps hanging from the ceiling. His eyes were filled with surprise and delight like he was seeing something he had never seen before. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help but tease him, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the fourth prince to be so curious about the items in this gentleman¡¯s ce. Has the emperor been treating you that badly?¡±


    Qi Yun was caught off guard by her joke, his ears reddening in response. He coughed and suppressed his urge to look around like an overly curious kid. He thought back to the day he met Jun Huang for the first time.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t stubborn or snobbish like the other princesses. She was more educated and disciplined. She often had a gentle smile on her face, showing her dimples. Her eyes were bright like the moonlight and they drew you in. She had not been so coldly proper like she was now.


    It was as if there was an insurmountable wall separating the two of them, widening the distance between them, making him feel like a stranger at times.


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes to look at the carefree koi fish in theke, her expression aloof. Her broad sleeves fluttered in the winds. Her dark hair wasn¡¯t held up by a cap today, but instead covered her shoulders and fell to her chest. She brushed her hair back. Every move she made showed amanding presence and an indescribable elegance.


    Qi Yun watched her dumbly. The first time they met, she was a girl with her hair in a bun, wearing tassels on her hair and a silk dress. How could a different set of clothes transformed her sopletely? She still had a smile on her face, but there was something mysterious about the smile, something she kept as a secret.


    He kept his eyes on her long enough for Jun Huang to notice. She turned to him and raised an eyebrow. ¡°What? Is there something on my face?¡±


    ¡°Huh? No.¡± Qi Yun was yanked back to reality from his memories. He didn¡¯t dare to look at Jun Huang anymore for fear of letting slip what he had been thinking about. Jun Huang however was observant. She was good at reading people. Qi Yun¡¯s sudden avoidance did not slip past her.


    Her innocence had been killed that night when her home country fell victim to rampant ughter. Jun Huang had only been hiding the fact she had changed. She was afraid that she might be someone heartless if she didn¡¯t try to hold on to her past self. She was afraid she would turn into a different person.


    As Nan Xun had said, someone other than Qi Yun and himself dide to visit. It was the Senior Grandmaster. He could be considered someone Jun Huang had handpicked herself. He used to be part of Qi Chen¡¯s circle. He had abandoned the dark side and thrown himself under Qi Yun¡¯s banner.


    Jun Huang was surprised when the servant told her of his visit. She had only invited Nan Xun and Qi Yun. She didn¡¯t tell anyone else. The uninvited guest made rm bells go off in her head.


    When Jun Huang and Qi Yun returned to the front room, the Senior Grandmaster was talking to Nan Xun. Nan Xun was the first to spot her when she approached. He stopped talking and turned to Jun Huang fully. The Senior Grandmaster followed suit and bowed when he saw that Qi Yun was with her. He said to Jun Huang, ¡°This gentleman happened to hear about the gentleman¡¯s housewarming celebration. I came to offer my wishes. This is a little something I¡¯ve prepared for you. It¡¯s nothing to write home about. I hope the gentleman won¡¯t consider it beneath you.¡±


    ¡°You are too humble, sir,¡± Jun Huang said with a fake smile, spouting pleasantries bureaucrats tended to exchange with one another. ¡°It¡¯s a great honor for this gentleman that you came. This humble abode has brightened up because of your presence.¡±


    A maid took the gift from the Senior Grandmaster and opened the box. It was a luminous pearl from the South Sea. Jun Huang widened her eyes. It was something rarely seen in Northern Qi. It was difficult to find in general. The Senior Grandmaster was an official with integrity. Jun Huang wondered how he got hold of it, and why he would give it to her.


    As if reading Jun Huang¡¯s mind, the Senior Grandmaster cupped his hands and exined, ¡°This is a gift from the emperor. This gentleman has no use for one at home. If I keep it to myself, it will only gather dust in a hidden corner. Gentleman Feng is a man with good taste. I decided to bring it to you. If not for the gentleman¡¯s guidance, pointing me to the right direction, I would still be helping a viinous man abusing the people. I will never forget about my debt to the gentleman. I hope you will ept my humble gift.¡±


    Jun Huang was rendered speechless. She turned to Qi Yun. What does the Senior Grandmaster mean by this? He shouldn¡¯t be praising someone else in the presence of his master!


    Jun Huang¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°You are too generous. The fourth prince has a great destiny ahead of him. He is bound to be a leader well loved by the people. As long as the Senior Grandmaster stays loyal to him, you will go down in history as a respected official with a kind heart.¡±


    They exchanged some small talk before the maid told them that the food was ready. It was past noon. Jun Huang was going to invite the Senior Grandmaster to stay for the meal, but he had important matters to attend to and had to leave early.


    She let out a relieved sigh once she saw him off. She couldn¡¯t deal with such passionatepliments. When she was about to go inside, someone from Prince Chen Manor arrived at the gate.


    Nan Xun and Qi Yun were both here. She couldn¡¯t let Qi Chen¡¯s people see them. Therefore, she had a servant tell the messenger that she couldn¡¯t see anyone for the time being and send him away.


    The servant came back with a delicate box. ¡°This is from the prince, gentleman Feng. It¡¯s to celebrate your move.¡±


    Jun Huang took the box and opened it. Inside was a jade color tea set. She was a tea fanatic. Qi Chen was obviously catering to her interests.


    She picked up one of the teacups and felt it with a hand. Her face was devoid of any obvious emotions. For some reason, Qi Yun was suddenly unhappy at the sight. He took out a box and handed it to Jun Huang, clearing his throat. ¡°Take a look.¡±


    Jun Huang looked at the box, then at Qi Yun¡¯s hopeful look. She put down the teacup and opened the box. Inside was a dark blue jade scepter. She was pleasantly surprised. Normally jade scepters came in the color of emerald. Dark blue ones were very rare.


    Qi Yun was passionate in literature and art, but also in collecting antiques. Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect him to be so generous. She held onto the jade scepter, wondering what she should say to show her gratitude.


    Seeing her reaction, Nan Xun grew a little upset. With a p of his hand, a servant brought something inside the room. It was amp that looked awfully familiar to Jun Huang. She felt the urge tough when she got a good look.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Nan Xun asked.


    Jun Huang walked towards themp and sighed. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Your Highness to buy it. I may not have been clear enough that day. Themp was a counterfeit. It isn¡¯t worth much. You¡¯ve been ripped off.¡±


    Nan Xun was a little embarrassed. Jun Huang tried tofort him. ¡°This gentleman does however need amp in the room though. It¡¯ll be of use.¡±


    The food was ready. Qi Yun didn¡¯t say much at the beginning. After a few drinks, he said in a jealous tone, ¡°Last night brother Nan told me that you were moving in today. He told me that this is a house he found for you. Why didn¡¯t youe to me when you had trouble finding a good ce to live?¡±


    Jun Huang blinked. She didn¡¯t think this was a big deal. She turned to Nan Xun, who echoed her confused look.


    Qi Yun wasn¡¯t finished with his rant. ¡°Brother Nan spent most of his time at the border station. He only returned to the imperial city to rest his body and soul because there are no battles to fight for now. There are many things he doesn¡¯t know about in the city. I stay in the pce most of the time, but I know the city. If you just need to find a good ce to live, I can help you as much as brother Nan.¡±


    In his drunken state, Qi Yun spoke like a little child. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what to say. She could tell Qi Yun was jealous.


    ¡°When I came here I could see that these servants are his people as well. I suddenly realized that in your mind, brother Nan must be morepetent than I am.¡±


    His words were incoherent. She had no clue what she should say in response. She was never good at dealing with interpersonal matters like this. Her usual silver tongue was useless at this moment. She looked at Qi Yun quietly. A thousand words were stuck in her throat in a lump.


    Qi Yun was a friend she had known since childhood, and he was someone who was willing to help her when she was in trouble. How could she possibly hurt his feelings?


    Nan Xun stepped in to save her from this dilemma she found herself in. He patted Qi Yun on the shoulder. ¡°She was going to ask for your help, but as you¡¯ve said, you normally stay in the pce. It¡¯s not easy for her to meet up with you. Besides, Qi Chen is always watching her, which makes asking you for help even harder. That¡¯s why she doesn¡¯t go to you for trivial matters like this.¡±


    Qi Yun cocked his head. Nan Xun was right. He would stay in the pce until he reached twenty. It was easy for him to leave the pce, but difficult for Jun Huang, who held no official title, to enter the pce. How did he forget about this?


    He was a little embarrassed. He had used alcohol as an excuse to say what he normally couldn¡¯t say. Nan Xun¡¯s words had been a wakeup call. He waspletely sober now. He couldn¡¯t do anything but stare at the rippling wine in his cup.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun, who normally solved problems through physical prowess, to offer such good arguments. She nced at Nan Xun. Nan Xun smiled at her in response before taking a sip of his wine. Nu¡¯er hong1produced in Northern Qi was divine. It was harsh to the tongue, but had a wonderful aftertaste. Just like a woman¡¯s love that had persisted for more than a decade.


    He usually drank strong liquor at the border station. It gave you the courage youcked, but it also was so harsh that your throat felt burned. Nu¡¯er hong was different. After the initial harsh taste came lingering tenderness. It was like a woman¡¯s soft eyes and flushed cheeks with no makeup on.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Qi Yun asked when he noticed that Jun Huang had been staring into the distance without a word.


    Jun Huang woke up from her trance, cursing herself for being absent-mindedtely. She smiled and shook her head at Qi Yun.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, her lips curved. ¡°I just remembered that you¡¯re about to turn twenty and move into your own manor. I will be sure to attend the celebration.¡± Her eyes were determined, and her voice reassuring. A smile found its way to Qi Yun¡¯s lips.


    He knew that Jun Huang never liked crowds. He was the emperor¡¯s son. Many people would be invited to celebrate his independence. His friends with whom he talked with about poetry and songs would be present as well. There would be a lot of guests. That was why he had never mustered the courage to invite Jun Huang. It was a surprise that Jun Huang brought it up herself.


    ¡°Do you mean it?¡± he asked carefully.

 Chapter 82

    Chapter 82: Promise


    Jun Huang nodded with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to attend the celebration in person. I didn¡¯t seek you out for help this time because of the circumstances we¡¯re in. I¡¯d like to make amends to you.¡±


    Her exnation didn¡¯t make him feel particrly happy, but the fact that Jun Huang was willing to show up was enough to brighten his mood. He put aside his negative feelings.


    Nan Xun, however, frowned deeply. He looked at Jun Huang with disapproval in his eyes. Jun Huang knew what he was thinking. She, however, had promised Qi Yun. She would not break that promise.


    Qi Yun was a rational person. Once his excitement faded, he looked at Jun Huang pensively and said, ¡°Your true... you don¡¯t want too many people to know about your existence, do you? That¡¯s why you want to be nothing but a strategist. If you go to the celebration, you may be noticed by people with ulterior motives. They may try to find out more about you.¡±


    Qi Yun kept his words ambiguous because he didn¡¯t know that Nan Xun already knew about Jun Huang¡¯s identity. He thought that Nan Xun was protective of her only because he considered Jun Huang a friend. Besides, Jun Huang was a great asset. Many were trying to win her support. Even though Nan Xun did not interfere with matters of the court, he might still want to befriend one or two strategists.


    Nan Xun could tell what Qi Yun was trying to do. He snorted and didn¡¯t correct Qi Yun¡¯s misunderstanding. He continued to drink. Hard liquor was potent, but it wasn¡¯t easy to get drunk on. The mild Nu¡¯er hong, on the other hand, could get one drunk in no time.


    Jun Huang shook her head and remained silent. She didn¡¯t know what she was going to do. She would have to cross the bridge when she got to it. She was known as Qi Chen¡¯s strategist for the time being. Perhaps she would have to use Qi Chen as her cover.


    Little Girl finally decided to step in when the three of them were close to getting drunk. She walked up to them and said gently, ¡°Please stop drinking, gentlemen. The sun has not set yet. You shouldn¡¯t drink too much. If the gentlemen still crave alcohol, you should drink in your own manor at night.¡±


    Jun Huang looked back at Little Girl, then at her own wine cup. It was empty. Qi Yun shook the wine jug and found it empty as well. They smiled awkwardly. To think that one day they would be scolded by someone so young.


    Nan Xun put down his cup. He had high tolerance for alcohol and therefore didn¡¯t appear to be drunk at all. Qi Yun, on the other hand, didn¡¯t dare to drink in the pce without any special asions. He almost never drank except for the small amount of wine he had asionally when he met up with friends. He was now totally drunk, his face flushed and his eyes unfocused.


    Jun Huang sighed. If she wanted Qi Yun to leave a good impression on the emperor, she must not let him go back to the pce in this state. She wondered what she should do. Should she prepare a room for him? He could leave after he was sober.


    ¡°Prepare the room in the east wing, Little Girl. Later ¨C ¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that,¡± Nan Xun cut her off. ¡°I¡¯ll take him back to my manor. You still have a lot to do since you¡¯ve just moved in. Besides, it¡¯s inappropriate for a drunk man to stay at your ce.¡±


    Jun Huang blinked. She coughed and ordered Little Girl to prepare a coach. Little Girl nodded before walking out. There were now only the rtively sober Jun Huang and Nan Xun apanying Qi Yun, who was so drunk he could barely sit up straight.


    ¡°Huang¡¯er... I¡¯m here for you. Don¡¯t... Don¡¯t be scared...¡± Qi Yun said in his dream, his entire body slumping over a table. Jun Huang and Nan Xun both heard his words clearly.


    Jun Huang only frowned for a brief moment, while Nan Xun¡¯s eyes went dark as he scowled. Jun Huang didn¡¯t think too much of it. In her mind, Qi Yun was her friend and the person who had been supportive of her.


    She realized btedly that Nan Xun didn¡¯t seem happy. ¡°What happened?¡± she asked. ¡°Do you feel unwell?¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head and looked out of the window. ¡°The poison in your body hasn¡¯t been cleansed,¡± he said nonchntly. ¡°Alcohol is bad for you. I know it¡¯s a special asion today, so you had a little more to drink. Remember to have a bowl of medicer. Don¡¯t let the poison spread freely.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled as she smoothed a hand over her sleeves. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be too worried. I know what I¡¯m doing. I know my limits.¡±


    He wanted to make sure Jun Huang would take care of herself, but her reaction made it difficult for him to argue further. Little Girl walked in at that moment and said that the coach was ready.


    Jun Huang was just about to have someone help Qi Yun up when Qi Yun gradually came to. His eyes regained focus and he rubbed at his throbbing forehead. ¡°Sorry. I fell asleep.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°You might have to sober up in Nan Xun¡¯s manor before you return to the pce.¡±


    Qi Yun was already half sober after the brief rest. He frowned and waved a hand in the air as he propped himself up against the table. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. Living in the pce has its restrictions. Royal Father often asks for me these days. I should return before it¡¯s toote. I¡¯m only here to offer my blessings. With that done, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes. He was right. Living in the pce could be restrictive. Moreover, Qi Yun had been visiting the emperor often the past couple of days. The emperor kept him in his mind and asked after Qi Yun from time to time. Qi Yun shouldn¡¯t stay out for too long.


    She nodded. ¡°If so, leave after having some tea. It may help you clear your head.¡± She led Nan Xun and Qi Yun to the central garden. The tea brewed by the servant was still steaming with heat.


    Qi Yun shared Jun Huang¡¯s passion for tea. He drank some whenever he had the time. Once he heard that this tea was a gift from Qi Chen, he was even more eager to have a taste. He followed Jun Huang to the garden and sat down on the stone stool. He poured himself a cup, savouring the rich fragrance.


    Jun Huang shook her head with a smile as she sat down next to Nan Xun. She poured Nan Xun a cup before filling her own cup and having a taste.


    Qi Chen wasn¡¯t a tea lover himself. In order to show that Jun Huang was a valuable asset to him, however, he had ordered people to find him various premium brands of tea as gifts to Jun Huang. Jun Huang epted readily and always enjoyed the tea to its fullest.


    Breezes swept through the garden. Jun Huang¡¯s head had been hurting. Now, after having some tea and fresh air, she felt much better.


    Qi Yun sobered up as well. Once he finished his tea, he put down the cup and put his hands together in salute. ¡°The gentleman must have other matters to attend to. I will bother you no further and take my leave.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and got to her feet. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out.¡±


    The three of them went outside together. They exchanged a few more words at the gate. Jun Huang told Qi Yun to be patient. He shouldn¡¯t think about reaching for the stars just yet. The emperor was starting to see his strengths now. He must not be hasty. Otherwise, he might damage his image in the emperor¡¯s heart.


    Qi Yun nodded in agreement. He threw a nce at Nan Xun. Isn¡¯t he going to leave as well? He saluted them before sauntering outside.


    At the distance, a sedan chair was being carried this way.


    ¡°It seems to be someone from the pce,¡± said Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang tilted her head to give him a look before turning to the sedan chair. It wasing her way. She raised an eyebrow. Who else in the pce did she know?


    She still hadn¡¯t figured out an answer when the sedan chair was ced down outside the gate. A maid dressed in turquoise dress parted the curtain and out came a young woman. Jun Huang felt her eyes twitch. Seriously?


    Wan¡¯er looked up at Jun Huang, her lips curved into a smile. She was holding a delicate box in her hands. She could have told a servant to carry it for her, but she wasn¡¯t willing to let anyoney a hand on it. She insisted on carrying it herself.


    ¡°Well met, gentleman Feng. Brother Nan.¡± Wan¡¯er walked up the stairs and stopped before Jun Huang and Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang quickly pushed her feelings aside and cupped her hands in greeting. ¡°This peasant is honored to meet the princess again. I didn¡¯t prepare for your visit since I didn¡¯t know beforehand you¡¯de. I hope you¡¯ll forgive me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, gentleman Feng,¡± Wan¡¯er said with her eyes downcast, but she couldn¡¯t help sneaking nces at Jun Huang. ¡°It is I who have intruded upon you. Why would I me you?¡±


    Today Jun Huang wore a in robe with her dark hair tied loosely with a silver band and held up with a purple gold cap. She didn¡¯t wear any essories other than the white jade pendant on her waist. Her delicate features made her look like a young man walking right out of a painting. Every movement of hers was elegant.


    Wan¡¯er was transfixed by her and forgot to look away. Jun Huang could feel her gaze, but she only gave her a polite smile with her face half-turned.


    Nan Xun quirked his lips as he observed the interaction between them. It was inappropriate for them to stand outside the gate. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside first.¡±


    Wan¡¯er was brought back to reality by his voice. Realizing that she had embarrassed herself, she felt her face re up. Jun Huang gestured at her to enter thepound. She then asked the page boy watching the door to help lead Wan¡¯er¡¯s servants to a ce where they could rest.


    Inside the garden, Wan¡¯er took a good look at the elegant architecture, her eyes filled with awe. ¡°I rarely leave the pce. Most of the time I go to second brother¡¯s manor. I didn¡¯t know that there is another ce of such high ss in the imperial city. Only a ce like this can match gentleman¡¯s Feng¡¯s worth.¡±


    ¡°The princess is too kind. May I ask how the princess knows that this gentleman has moved out?¡± Jun Huang asked the question in a casual tone, but there was an undercurrent of emotions in her eyes. Is it Qi Chen who told her? If so, what is he trying to do?


    Wan¡¯er turned to Jun Huang. ¡°Wan¡¯er visited second brother¡¯s manor early in the morning. I didn¡¯t see my brother, but I did see my pregnant sister-inw. She told me that gentleman Feng has moved out of Prince Chen Manor and gave me the directions.¡± She lowered her eyes.


    Jun Huang nodded without another word. She gave Wan¡¯er a tour with Nan Xun at their sides. Once they reached theke outside the south wing, Wan¡¯er suddenly realized that she was still holding the box in her hands. She handed it to Jun Huang after some hesitation.


    Jun Huang took the box. There were dark patterns carved into the surface. Inside was a sachet embroidered with two butterflies. She could smell the fragrance of sandalwood.


    Jun Huang was generous with her praises. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the princess to have such skillful hands.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m d the gentleman likes it,¡± Wan¡¯er said shyly in a quiet voice.


    Jun Huang¡¯s tone took a downturn and she wielded her words like a weapon. ¡°However, the gift should be given to the right person. It¡¯s a waste for the princess to give it to this gentleman.¡±

 Chapter 83

    Chapter 83: Argument


    Jun Huang¡¯s tone was casual, but it hit Wan¡¯er where it hurt the most. Warmth drained away from the air, and Jun Huang¡¯s expression hardened as she met Wan¡¯er¡¯s eyes. It was clear that she was serious.


    Wan¡¯er looked at her owlishly. Despite how hurtful Jun Huang¡¯s words were, Wan¡¯er still felt her heart beating for Jun Huang. She still thought that Jun Huang was a graceful gentleman with no match in the world, while she was a mere mortal awe-struck by wonder and beauty.


    Looking at it differently, perhaps Jun Huang only said what she said because she didn¡¯t want to waste Wan¡¯er¡¯s time. Wan¡¯er took a deep breath, preparing herself mentally, and smiled at her. ¡°Wan¡¯er understands what the gentleman is thinking,¡± she said in a formal tone. ¡°The gentleman doesn¡¯t need to worry about me. Wan¡¯er only hopes that you will be sessful and get what you are aiming for.¡±


    Nan Xun could see that Jun Huang was going to reply, but he knew Wan¡¯er. He was sure that Wan¡¯er had a retort ready. Continuing this debate would only make everyone unhappy. There was also no need for Jun Huang and Wan¡¯er to get into a quarrel. He cut in, ¡°Gentleman Feng is a man, Wan¡¯er. It¡¯s against the rules of proprietary for you to stay here.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s best for the princess to not be here for too long,¡± Jun Huang said without missing a beat, her hands cupped in salute. ¡°This humble abode isn¡¯t suitable for the princess. You are the golden branch and the jade leaves ¨C a woman of high status. This ce is beneath you. Let this gentleman see you off.¡±


    Wan¡¯er was reluctant to leave, but she didn¡¯t argue further. Her bashful look had given way to a faint sense of resignation. ¡°Then Wan¡¯er will leave you in peace.¡± She left with her maid in tow.


    On her way out, Wan¡¯er kept looking back. Her maid had witnessed their entire conversation, but as a lowly maid she couldn¡¯t have said anything at the time. Now she couldn¡¯t helpining to Wan¡¯er, ¡°The princess has given Feng Baiyu your heart. How could a mere strategist like him treat the princess like that?¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Wan¡¯er snapped. She let out a sigh. ¡°Gentleman Feng is a man of integrity. He was trying to protect my reputation. He¡¯s not someone insidious like you thought he was.¡±


    The maid pursed her lips. ¡°The princess is right.¡±


    Wan¡¯er gave the house a final look before getting into the sedan chair. They left for the pce.


    Jun Huang handed the box to Little Girl and told her to put it somewhere safe. She was still thinking about when she should return the gift to Wan¡¯er.


    Nan Xun felt a little jealous. To think that Jun Huang was able to attract such adoration from Wan¡¯er as a woman! ¡°Wan¡¯er is only here to congratte you, and yet you treated her like she were your enemy,¡± he said jokingly. ¡°You turned her affection down just like that. You could have used her to achieve your goals.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes went dark. She turned to Nan Xun and sneered, ¡°Princess Wan¡¯er is a carefree woman. How can this gentleman hurt her loving heart with such despicable intentions?¡±


    ¡°Your Highness should know that there are things you never say even as a jest. This gentleman has other things to attend to. I don¡¯t have time for guests. Your Highness is free to leave.¡± Her tone was chilling, and she left immediately after she had spoken, leaving Nan Xun in a state of confusion.


    He didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be so angry over his careless joke. He still wasn¡¯t sure what the reason behind Jun Huang¡¯s ire was.


    Jun Huang was fuming. She wasn¡¯t in love with Wan¡¯er, and she never would be. But using Wan¡¯er? That was never an option. She knew how women felt. She wouldn¡¯t let Wan¡¯er waste her efforts on a rtionship that would nevere into fruition.


    That was why she had been avoiding Wan¡¯er the past few days. Whenever Wan¡¯er visited Prince Chen Manor, she always stayed away. It was also part of the reason why she moved out of the manor. She knew Wan¡¯er had a kind heart. How could she possibly let an innocent woman get hurt because of her own agenda? She had no choice but to convince Wan¡¯er to give up, no matter how harsh she had to be.


    She thought that Nan Xun would understand what she was trying to do. And yet he told a joke like that so easily. She was disappointed.


    ¡°Prince Nan has left, gentleman Feng,¡± said Little Girl. She was told to keep an eye on Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang nodded and didn¡¯t say anything. Little Girl didn¡¯t know what she should do next. Nan Xun had asked her to cheer Jun Huang up, but Jun Huang was shutting everyone out. She wasn¡¯t sure if there was something she could say to make Jun Huang feel better.


    Little Girl was young after all. She wasn¡¯t that much younger than Jun Huang, but they were very different people. Jun Huang hade back to life from the brink of death. She held pain in her heart that no one understood.


    Seeing that Jun Huang had no intention to talk to her, Little Girl sighed and left the room. She couldn¡¯t get Jun Huang to open up, and she didn¡¯t think she could help Nan Xun.


    At night, Nan Xun¡¯s shadow guard came to ask about the situation. Little Girl shook her head. ¡°Gentleman Feng isn¡¯t willing to tell me anything. He ate a lot less during dinner. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong.¡±


    The shadow guard nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll tell the prince. Stay here and devote yourself to serving him.¡± With that, he vanished.


    Little Girl let out a sigh. She didn¡¯t know why Jun Huang and Nan Xun¡¯s rtionship could be thisplicated. She didn¡¯t understand them at all.


    Nan Xun sat in the pavilion in his own manor, watching the bright moon shining from the sky. The stars were as brilliant as a silver river. He yed with a wine cup he held in one hand while supporting his head with the other. His expressions betraying not even a hint of his inner thoughts.


    The shadow guard dressed in ck robe silently walked towards the pavilion. Nan Xun¡¯s ears twitched and he looked up at the shadow. The guard walked out and greeted him. ¡°This subordinate has gone to ask the girl, Your Highness. She said that gentleman Feng didn¡¯t eat much in the evening, iming ack of appetite.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. He put down the cup and gestured for the shadow guard to leave. He shook the jug. There was still wine inside. He filled his cup and took a sip.


    Nan Xun sighed. He was a general, and yet he was now brooding over hisckluster conversational skills. He kept drinking until he fell asleep in the pavilion.


    The young maid in the manor knew him well. She took a robe and draped it over Nan Xun¡¯s body. When itnded, Nan Xun¡¯s eyes snapped open and he seized the maid¡¯s wrist. She screamed in shock.


    The candlelight in the pavilion flickered as if it would extinguish at any moment. The maid¡¯s face went pale and her body was trembling. Nan Xun let her go immediately. She dropped down to her knees. ¡°Please forgive me, Your Highness.¡±


    Nan Xun was a little more sober now. He rubbed at his temple, looking at the sky. It waste. There were no stars in the sky now, leaving only a bright moon. It looked lonely.


    Nan Xun got to his feet. His short rest had cleared his head. He looked down at the maid kneeling before him. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Go get some rest.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± The maid let out a sigh of relief as if she had been pardoned for a serious crime. She carefully walked away from the pavilion.


    Nan Xun put his hands together behind his back and stood in the pavilion, letting the wind blow against him. When he returned to his room, he had decided that he would visit Jun Huang in a few days.


    The candles in Jun Huang¡¯s room had not been put out the whole night. Little Girl paced outside the door, but she didn¡¯t dare to bother Jun Huang. In the end she could only leave.


    Jun Huang sat at the sandalwood desk, staring at themp Nan Xun gave her. The five phoenixes on themp were delicately done. A more careless pair of eyes would have missed the fact that it was a counterfeit. Jun Huang let out a soundlessugh.


    She had thought that Nan Xun was the one who knew her the best! And yet he said something that had crossed the line she had drawn in her heart. She couldn¡¯t get past that.


    A woman knew other women best.


    She didn¡¯t want to be a despicable person condemned by others. She knew that if she chose to use Wan¡¯er to her advantage, she would never be able to forgive herself.


    The past couple of days, she had been staying inside her ce. She did, however, have someone keep watch on Prince Chen¡¯s Manor. If anything were to happen, her people would notify her.


    Jun Huang trimmed the orchids she had purchased in her backyard. Orchids were the gentlemen among flowers, representing the best of them.


    They were also fragile and required a delicate hand. Jun Huang carefully cut off the wilted leaves with a distant expression, as if nothing else in the world could draw her attention.


    ¡°Prince Nan wants to see you, gentleman Feng,¡± Little Girl said.


    Jun Huang¡¯s fingers trembled slightly, but she didn¡¯t look up from the flowers. ¡°Tell the prince that this gentleman doesn¡¯t feel well today,¡± she said calmly. ¡°Tell him to please forgive me for not being able to wee him.¡±


    Little Girl was startled. ¡°You¡¯re not going to see him?¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at her with a frown, her eyes as dark as bottomless pits. Little Girl fell silent when she saw her reaction.


    Little Girl walked away and went back to the front gate. She told Nan Xun what Jun Huang had said. Nan Xun¡¯s eyebrows drew closely together. Why is Jun Huang being so cold towards me? Is it only because of my careless words that day?


    His hands clenched into tight fists and his eyes narrowed. He knew how stubborn Jun Huang was. If he barged in without permission, the distance between them would only widen further.


    Nan Xun stopped visiting Jun Huang. On one hand, he was worried that Jun Huang was still mad at him. On the other hand, the emperor had been requesting a meeting with him the past couple of days, asking if the border station was safe and well taken care of. Early in the morning, the emperor would ask him toe and only let him leave at noon.


    After a few days, he ran into a man sent by Jun Huang when he returned to his manor. He was still wearing his court attire. ¡°Has something happened?¡±


    ¡°This subordinate does not know,¡± the man said. ¡°But the gentleman ordered me to invite Your Highness back to his ce.¡±


    Nan Xun thought for a moment. He told the man to give him some time before he went to change his clothes. He rushed back to the front door and left for Jun Huang¡¯s house.


    At the front gate, he ran into Qi Yun. He was surprised and even more worried. Has Jun Huang gotten into trouble? He quickened his pace and entered. Jun Huang was sitting in the garden appreciating flowers without even a wrinkle on her clothes.


    He went up to her in big strides and checked Jun Huang over for injury. He only started breathing calmly again when he saw that she was not hurt. ¡°Why did you ask for us toe on such short notice?¡±

 Chapter 84

    Chapter 84: Brothel


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve moved out of Prince Chen Manor, I¡¯m finally out of Qi Chen¡¯s control. I was worried that Qi Chen might do something underhanded, though, so I had someone keep watch outside the manor. My worries turned out not to be unfounded. Qi Chen has been going to a brothel these couple of nights.¡±


    ¡°A brothel?¡±


    ¡°Yes. From what I know about Qi Chen, he¡¯s never been someone who enjoyed going to brothels. There must be something more to this than meets the eye. I ask you toe with me today to investigate this matter.¡±


    Qi Yun stroked his chin contemtively. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, we should indeed get to the bottom of this. Second brother has always trusted you. Now, however, he¡¯s been doing something in secret. It may end up harming our cause.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and turned to the quiet Nan Xun. Seeing that both Jun Huang and Qi Yun were looking at him, Nan Xun cleared his throat and said, ¡°Let us go in the evening then.¡±


    After sunset, the most lively part of the city was the night market. The softmplight illuminating the streets painted a stunning picture. The three of them put on some disguise before making their way to the biggest brothel in the imperial city.


    Their disguise was nothing more than a change of clothes. Jun Huang wore a silk robe with cloud patterns. There was a jade pendant on her waist and a sculpted fan in her hand. Her hair was half down, topped with an eye-catching jade cap.


    Originally Jun Huang was going to prepare a set of green clothes for Nan Xun, but he turned her down. He was a tall and broad man. How could he possibly wear green? He changed into a blue silk robe, which transformed him into a graceful gentleman.


    Qi Yun didn¡¯t change his clothes. After some discussion, they decided that if Qi Chen noticed them, Qi Yun would be the one to distract him. Everyone in the city knew Qi Yun as a romantic man. Being spotted in a brothel this one time wouldn¡¯t hurt his reputation.


    ¡°I¡¯m not someone like that!¡± Qi Yun said defensively, interrupting Jun Huang and Nan Xun¡¯s conversation. It was clear from his rushed tone that he was eager to exin himself. ¡°I¡¯ve gone there with my friends once or twice, but I never did anything inappropriate.¡±


    Jun Huang looked owishly at Qi Yun. Nan Xun felt a little uneasy. He thought back to what Qi Yun had said in his drunken stupor the day Jun Huang moved into her new house. He was hit by a sudden wave of jealousy.


    Seeing the confusion in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes, Qi Yun smiled awkwardly and said that he had overreacted. After some more preparation, the three of them moved out.


    The city was full of life in the evening. There were many young people walking on the street. The three of them were good-looking, attracting stares from the young women who passed by.


    The stilt houses next to them were decorated with rednterns. It wasn¡¯t a holiday, but thenterns were lit. At a distance, they looked like dragons fading into darkness.


    There were many brothels in the imperial city. At night, the street was packed with people. Women of the night approached potential customers with a bashful smile, waving their silk handkerchiefs as they walked.


    The three of them stood out in the crowd. It was impossible to ignore them. Soon, they had caught the attention of many women working at the brothel Peony House. The women asked the procuress to talk to the trio.


    The mboyant procuress walked up to Jun Huang and smiled with an eyebrow raised, the red dangling ornament on her head shook as she moved. The ck silk robe she wore was a clear indication of how lucrative this business could be. She waved her silk handkerchief in the air. The fragrance of makeup was so strong that Jun Huang felt a little light in the head. She covered her nose and mouth and stepped back.


    Noticing her difort, Nan Xun stepped between Jun Huang and the procuress. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°What do I want?¡± said the procuress with a honeyed smile. ¡°The gentlemen havee out for a good time. Why don¡¯t you have some fun at my Peony House?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, we have somewhere else to be,¡± said Nan Xun.


    Out came a woman with delicate makeup. She sauntered up to them. The procuress pulled her lips into a bright smile and introduced the woman like one would with a product, ¡°This is the most famous courtesan in Peony House. If the gentlemene inside, I will have her apany you in drinking.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the offer,¡± Jun Huang said with a faint smile once she had recovered. ¡°Unfortunately, we have business to attend to. If we have the time, we will be sure to visit. Please excuse us.¡± She cupped her hands at the procuress and the woman before dragging Nan Xun and Qi Yun away.


    She didn¡¯t like wasting her time. If dyed here, they might miss Qi Chen. She didn¡¯t want this trip to be in vain.


    They kept their eyes on their destination, lest another procuresse to give them her sales pitch. They went straight to the biggest brothel in the imperial city.


    The brothel was named Phoenix House. The ce was packed. A great variety of beautifulnterns decorated the front door, illuminating the whole building. Outside the door were coaches of high level officials that had not been stowed to the back yard.


    Almost every guest visiting Phoenix House was someone important. There were no scantily-d women trying to attract business, only two page boys in charge of watching the entrance. One could easily see inside through the open door.


    Jun Huang, Nan Xun, and Qi Yun shared a look before stepping in at the same time. Silk curtains hung from the ceiling and fluttered in the air. The three story building stood tall before them. The first floor was for music and dance performance. At a particr time of the day, customers would have the chance to see courtesans who didn¡¯t usually seek out customers, including the leading courtesan. The second floor was for officials who had a vested interest in hiding from the public. There were also rooms for famous courtesans to rest in. The lesser known ones could only live in the back building. The third floor was a special ce for important figures to have ate night conversation with women they were interested in. Of course, they might do more than talking, but that was the phrase people who frequented brothels used.


    It was the night for brothels to showcase their leading courtesans, which attracted a lot more customers to visit Phoenix House. These leading courtesans were handpicked from every brothel in the city. Each had her unique charm. Even great fortunes might not buy you a glimpse at these women. Tonight, however, anyone could have a good look at them and even enjoy their performances.


    Preparations had been made early in the morning. The stairs were covered in red carpet with decorations on both sides. The whole ce looked luxurious. Some important figures in the city even brought fine gifts with them and waited at the door, hoping to exchange a word with the leading courtesans and to catch one glimpse of them.


    Seeing that people were starting to enter, the lesser known women rushed to wee their guests. They were not unlike the sex workers that tried to attract customers on the street. They were considered to be cheap and annoying.


    These women dressed themselves in vibrant clothes in order to please the gentlemen who visited. If they could make a customer smile, he might give them a handsome reward. The one thing these men did notck was money. What they sought in exchange was somepany for their drinks.


    There was a reason why the Phoenix House was the biggest brothel in the city. The dancers in the other brothels were scantily dressed, arousing men by strategically revealing parts of their bodies. They also spoke like uneducated people. Phoenix House was different. There were dancers here as well, but they were women who looked just like any average women. The more beautiful ones spoke with grace and had charming smiles. They were dressed in silk robes that made them look like nobility, and they talked like them too. Important figuresing to the brothel found themselves captivated by the dreams these women weaved for them.


    The music yed here was different from the other ces as well. On stage, young women dressed in custom made dresses danced to the music like butterflies lost in a garden. Their delicate makeup added a vibrancy to their beauty.


    Men loved to drink in a ssy establishment like this with beautiful women in their arms. asionally they would say something lecherous to the women, and the women would knock on their chests with flushed faces or throw themselves into the men¡¯s arms in feigned protest.


    It was the first time Jun Huang had ever visit a brothel, and it would be herst. She detested the smell of cosmetics in the air so much she could barely stop herself from leaving. The women fawning over her did not help.


    Northern Qi was a more cultured country, but in brothels, women had to do anything they could to find a good customer they were satisfied with. If they were too prideful to take the initiative, they would remain a low level prostitute, taking verbal abuse from the procuress every day.


    Water flowed to the lower ground. People made their ways to a higher ce. Even these women knew this was how the world operated.


    Many customers came to the brothel behind their wives¡¯ back. Most of them were either shady men, or big-bellied officials. Young men like Jun Huang, Nan Xun, and Qi Yun were rare. Most of the time they would be frequent clients with expensive taste who had already set their eyes on specific women.


    The courtesans could tell that the three of them were new. They rushed to introduce themselves to the three of them, trying to get their attention.


    Everyone loved beautiful things. It wasn¡¯t unusual for these women to fight for attention. They elbowed their way to the three of them. Only when they had gotten close did they realized that they looked like a mess. The women took a deep breath and made themselves presentable before approaching Jun Huang, Nan Xun, and Qi Yun.


    ¡°The gentlemen are new, aren¡¯t you?¡± a woman dressed in green said openly. ¡°Would you like this woman¡¯spany?¡±


    A woman dressed in pink pushed the woman in green away and greeted them. ¡°Let this woman serve you ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have any shame?¡± the woman in greenshed out with her hands on her hip. Her brashness was unattractive. ¡°Look at yourself in the mirror. You dare to steal customers from me?¡±


    The woman in pink scoffed. In front of everyone, she started to recount what the woman in green had done in order to gain the favor of important figures. She even exposed what the woman in green had done before she started working at the brothel.


    The woman in green used to be the mistress of an official. The official was scared of his principal wife, and after getting beat up by his wife, he sold the woman to this brothel.


    The customers were so transfixed by the story, they even forgot to drink. One of the men rudely asked the woman in green if she was feeling lonely. If she was, he wasn¡¯t opposed to taking her as a bed warmer.

 Chapter 85

    Chapter 85: Impersonating the leading Courtesan


    Remarks like these weremon in brothels, but Jun Huang, Nan Xun, and Qi Yun rarely visited ces like this. They couldn¡¯t help but frown when they heard the man¡¯s words. Jun Huang felt especially ufortable. The man clearly had no respect for the woman.


    Nan Xun stopped her before she could intervene. He shook his head. In an anarchic ce like this it was best not to be a hero. The man was all bark and no bite. There was no reason for her to worry.


    In the end Jun Huang decided not to get involved. She expected the courtesan to say something in defense, but instead, she sat down next to the man who had just insulted her and picked up a wine cup. ¡°If the gentleman will have me,¡± she said sweetly, ¡°This woman will serve the gentleman well.¡±


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t believe her ears. Before she could recover from her shock, a group of women surrounded them. The women chattered and tried to stand out from their peers. No one was willing to let the others take the limelight. Jun Huang frowned and took a step back.


    Nan Xun had eyes only for Jun Huang. He was worried that she might be ufortable. As soon as she stepped back, he blocked the women with an arm. ¡°My brother hasn¡¯t been to a brothel before. Your over-enthusiasm has frightened him.¡±


    ¡°Is the gentleman a frequent guest, then? If you don¡¯t have anyone special in your heart, please let this woman serve you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! This woman can y zither and sing for you. The gentleman will not be disappointed.¡±


    ¡°If the gentleman is willing, this woman volunteers to apany you tonight. From the gentleman¡¯s unusual presence, it¡¯s clear you are not a superficial man. This woman knows something about poetry and music. I¡¯ll be a good conversation partner.¡±


    Every one of these women was talking at the same time, and they didn¡¯t have anything meaningful to say. Nan Xun was used to living at the border. He couldn¡¯t take this constant chatter. He felt the urge to beat these people into silence, but as a man he shouldn¡¯t do that to a woman. He didn¡¯t know what else to do.


    Jun Huang and Qi Yun burst outughing when they saw how uneasy Nan Xun was. Even the stoic Nan Xun had something he was helpless against! For a moment, they forgot where they were.


    Seeing their open smile, the women changed their targets and went up to them. Jun Huang didn¡¯t like physical contact with other people. She flinched when these women grabbed onto her shoulders with soft fingers and yed with her dark hair. Some even stered themselves against Jun Huang.


    ¡°Excuse me ¨C ¡± Jun Huang said awkwardly. Of course, no one listened to her. These women wanted nothing more than to drag her into a private room to monopolize her time.


    In her struggle, sweat started to break out on her forehead. She lifted her face a little when she was wiping her sweat away, and she happened to spot Qi Chen on the second floor. He sat there drinking wine with a white jade cup,posed and calm. A stark contrast to Jun Huang¡¯s current situation. She leaned to the side. There wasn¡¯t anyone sitting across from Qi Chen. It seemed that the person he was waiting for had not arrived yet.


    She ducked her head. Qi Chen must not know about her rtionship with Nan Xun and Qi Yun. She had to make sure they weren¡¯t seen by him. Qi Chen was mistrustful. He would get suspicious. She also had to find out who he was meeting today.


    Now that they were surrounded by these insane women, Jun Huang could only abandon Qi Yun. He was a royal prince after all. He would be able to get rid of these women.


    Jun Huang patted Nan Xun on the shoulder. He looked down and met her eyes. They exchanged a knowing look. Pointing at Qi Yun, Jun Huang said to the women, ¡°We are only checking this ce out. We don¡¯t have money on us to award you girls for yourpany. That gentleman, however, is an important figure in the imperial city.¡±


    With that, all the women swarmed up to Qi Yun. He shot them a betrayed look, but he had to swallow down hisint. He knew he couldn¡¯t draw Qi Chen¡¯s attention now.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun made their way out of the group of women. They both let out a sigh of relief. Jun Huang gestured at him, indicating that they should go upstairs. Nan Xun hadn¡¯t noticed Qi Chen, so he didn¡¯t know why Jun Huang would want that. He trusted Jun Huang unconditionally, though. Without any hesitation, he shielded Jun Huang with a hand and held onto the railing with the other as they made their way up.


    Once they reached the second floor, Jun Huang pointed at a room not far away from them. ¡°Qi Chen is on this floor. Look.¡±


    Qi Chen happened to turn his head this way when Nan Xun looked over at him. In that split second, Nan Xun had no choice but to drag Jun Huang into the nearest room.


    Inside was a woman dressed in an elegant outfit. She was contouring her eyebrows when they broke in. She startled and was about to call out for help. Nan Xun stopped her with a quick hit to the nape of her neck. The woman copsed before she could get a word out.


    Nan Xun caught her and put her on the bed. He then covered her with a nket. It was the least he could do as a gentleman.


    Jun Huang took her pulse and let out a sigh of relief when she ascertained that the woman was unharmed. She never wanted anyone innocent to get hurt because of her. Outside the room were a rowdy group of people. No one had heard the noises they made in the room.


    Jun Huang gently tucked the woman in before opening the window on the side of the room. She could see the room Qi Chen was in from here. She beckoned Nan Xun over. ¡°Qi Chen¡¯s there.¡±


    Nan Xun followed her line of sight and saw Qi Chen¡¯s back. There was only a page boy pouring wine for him in the room. They were puzzled when they didn¡¯t see a third person.


    The ce was noisy. Qi Chen yed with his winecup and supported his head with a bored expression. He looked out of the room. The crowds were calling out for the leading courtesans with great enthusiasm.


    Feeling antsy, he opened the door and walked to the hallway, looking down at everyone from above.


    The first person he noticed was Qi Yun, who was trapped by a group of women. Qi Chen raised an eyebrow. He didn¡¯t want to get involved.


    Qi Yun, however, happened to look up at that moment, and their eyes met. Under this circumstance, Qi Chen couldn¡¯t leave his brother hanging.


    ¡°Let him up,¡± said Qi Chen. ¡°He¡¯s with me.¡±


    Qi Chen was the crown prince. No one could say no to him. He didn¡¯t hide who he was when he came to the brothel. Over the past few days, he had never asked any courtesans to apany him, but instead drank on his own.


    Qi Chen had spoken up. The women couldn¡¯t continue to cling to Qi Yun. They reluctantly let him go. Some shoved their handkerchiefs into his arms. This was how women in brothels expressed their affection when they spotted customers they liked. They normally put their names on their handkerchiefs.


    Qi Yun smoothed over his messy robe before going upstairs. He cupped his hands in greeting. ¡°It seems that second brotheres here often. I was close to using my position in the royal family to threaten them, and yet they weren¡¯t willing to let me go. Second brother, however, was able to disperse them with a few words.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. You are just more handsome than I am. They never had the chance to see you before. Your visit got them a little too excited.¡± Qi Chen¡¯s tone was rxed. He continued after a pause, ¡°I thought you usually stay in the pce and paint. I didn¡¯t expect you to be here. Aren¡¯t you worried that Royal Father may punish you for not returning at night?¡±


    Qi Yun scratched his head and gave him a lopsided smile. ¡°I once came here with my friends. The courtesans weren¡¯t this passionate then. As for Royal Father... I was just wondering what I should say to him. Meeting second brother here is a pleasant surprise. Would second brother mind talking to Royal Father for me?¡±


    Qi Chen threw him a nce, his expression unchanged. In his mind, Qi Yun was a brother who was interested only in poetry and arts. He posed no threat to Qi Chen. And Qi Yun had always been respectful to him. He had never crossed a line.


    ¡°At least take someone with you in the future,¡± Qi Chen reprimanded him the way an older brother would. ¡°You are a royal prince. You must protect yourself.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll remember that,¡± Qi Yun nodded and said.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t see Qi Chen after he walked out. She was caught between a rock and a hard ce. After talking to Nan Xun, she decided to leave the room and see what was going on before making any decisions. Before she could open the door, however, someone knocked.


    ¡°Are you ready,dy? It¡¯s almost time.¡±


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun looked at one another before turning to the woman lying on the bed in unison. The man outside must be talking to this unusually beautiful woman.


    The man called out for the woman again. Jun Huang didn¡¯t want him to draw Qi Chen¡¯s attention. She threw caution to the wind and said in a high-pitched voice, ¡°I¡¯m almost ready. You can go first. I¡¯lle out shortly.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± the man said and left. Jun Huang and Nan Xun visibly rxed.


    Jun Huang turned to the purple dress hanging on the rack. There was no time for her to second guess herself. She took the dress and was about to put it on when she noticed Nan Xun¡¯s gaze. She blushed.


    ¡°I need to change into this,¡± she said, clearing her throat. ¡°Give me some privacy.¡±


    Nan Xun finally recovered from the shock of hearing the voice Jun Huang had used earlier. He looked away hurriedly. Jun Huang walked behind the screen and quickly changed into the dress.


    When she walked out, her hair was down, framing her clean face. The purple dress wavered slightly. Layers uponyers of silk gave her an ethereal look.


    Jun Huang sat before the bronze mirror without even a nce at Nan Xun. She picked up the brow pencil the woman had dropped in her freight and cleaned it before starting to draw on her eyebrows. She applied some rouge on her cheeks and lips. On one hand it would make her look like a different person. On the other hand makeup was a necessity for performing on stage.


    She checked her reflection in the mirror. Nothing seemed amiss. Nan Xun walked up to her and let out a light-heartedugh. ¡°It¡¯s said that the most beautiful people in the city are the leading courtesans. They are nothing but crude women covered in rouge and powder. You are the real beauty.¡±


    His praise came out of nowhere. Mortified, she coughed and used the dangling ornament on the table to set her hair up. She then took the phoenix tail zither from the desk and put on a purple face veil before sauntering outside.

 Chapter 86

    Chapter 86: Male Phoenix seeking Female Phoenix


    The moment Jun Huang walked out, everyone in the room shifted their focus to her. Her face was barely visible under the veil, but her uncovered eyes were lively and brilliant. The dangling ornament on her head chimed as she moved, and her silk dress added a touch of otherworldly beauty to her.


    Jun Huang was nervous, but she knew she had to remain calm. She took a deep breath and slowly made her way to the stage on the first floor. On the stage was a chair and a table for the zither. She gingerly ced the phoenix tail zither on the table before looking over at the crowds surrounding the stage.


    Her eyes alone were enough to enchant the audience. They found themselves unable to look away from her. Jun Huang¡¯s expression remained aloof, as if all she beheld were but fleeting clouds. Silk curtains fluttered in the winds as red petals fell from above her. The room was filled with the fragrance of flowers.


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and tested the strings before she started ying a song. The room was silent save for the performance, and Jun Huang was the sole focus of everyone present.


    The clear sound made by the zither was bright like a spring, refreshing to the ears. No one could resist the charm. The song Feng seeking Huang1 was an extraordinary piece of music. Some audience started tearing up and their makeup was smeared.


    Jun Huang¡¯s head was low, her hair covering the side of her face. When wind blew, her hair was brought into the air and the face veil wavered, but no one was able to get a good look at her face. Her performance was intoxicating. The audience was entranced.


    The music stopped. Someone started pping first. Then, as if woken up from a dream, the other members of the audience followed suit. The pping was so loud it reached the sky. Jun Huang stood up to bow at the crowd before she got off stage with the zither. Before she could get far, however, a young man who looked to be from a rich family blocked her way.


    Jun Huang met his gaze with steely eyes. The man paused before taking out a piece of fine white jade. He handed it to Jun Huang. ¡°Are you willing to leave with this gentleman? Are you willing to leave this chaotic ce packed with greedy men? Would you y the zither for me alone?¡±


    He was but a naive man who believed he could keep someone by his side with money.


    Jun Huang bowed at him with grace and said, ¡°The song this woman yed is Feng seeking Huang, not Feng holding Huang Captive2. If there¡¯s nothing else you want with me, this woman will take her leave.¡± She walked away and went upstairs.


    Qi Chen and Qi Yun had witnessed everything from the hallway on the second floor. Qi Chen sighed inwardly. If there was one unparalleled beauty in the world, it would be this woman. Her eyes alone were enough to leave an impression on him.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes darted up briefly and she saw that Qi Chen was staring at her. She smiled. Her eyes were even more brilliant in the candlelight.


    Her smile lights up the whole room, Qi Chen thought. There are tens of thousands of beautiful women in the imperial city, but no one is as alluring as this pair of eyes. Jun Huang¡¯s purple dress danced in the wind. She was like a fairy who identally fell to the mortal world. It was time for her to return to the heavens. She felt no love for the mortals, but no mortals could escape her pull.


    Qi Chen feltpelled to stop her from leaving. Only when he was about to utter the first word did he wake up from the dream he had weaved for himself. He broke out into cold sweat. He had almost acted out of character! As a royal prince, he had been taught to control his body and mind, to not covet anything that didn¡¯t belong to him.


    The title of the crown prince hadn¡¯t been his, though, and he had made it his.


    Qi Chen quirked up his lips and shook his head. He was a man with great ambitions. How could he let himself be influenced by women? No woman was worth giving up his pursuit for.


    Qi Yun had seen Jun Huang as well. He was able to recognize her immediately since he had seen her in women¡¯s clothes before. He too, however, was transfixed by her beautiful eyes.


    His gaze was fixed on Jun Huang. She had given Qi Chen a smile while she gave him nothing. Qi Yun couldn¡¯t help feeling jealous.


    Jun Huang was stopped by the procuress of the brothel Autumn House on the stairs. The procuress didn¡¯t want to offend Jun Huang since the leading courtesans were chosen by the public. She gave her a servile smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you were going to perform two songs?¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at her and coughed. ¡°This woman has not been feeling well. I hope mama3 and the gentlemen here can forgive me.¡±


    People came to the brothel to care for the women. They weren¡¯t going to push Jun Huang. They told her to rest and not overtax herself. The procuress was even more worried. The leading courtesan was Autumn House¡¯s golden goose thatid golden eggs. Nothing could happen to her. The procuress rushed to get a doctor, but Jun Huang stopped her.


    ¡°This woman is simply tired because of ack of sleepst night,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine after some rest.¡±


    The procuress let out a sigh and patted herself on the chest. ¡°Good. Go rest then.¡±


    Jun Huang bowed at her before continuing going upstairs. She breathed out slowly. She was lucky that no one suspected her identity.


    While Jun Huang was performing onstage, Nan Xun took the time to tidy up the room. He threw the woman on the bed a nce. It was a shame that she ended up in a ce like this. He had heard that the leading courtesan of Autumn House worked hard to protect her dignity, though. She was a woman of the night who had not given up her pride. There were as many people who hated her as those who loved her.


    Jun Huang returned when Nan Xun was picking up the candle holder that they had toppled earlier. She smiled at Nan Xun and ripped off the face veil before taking a deep breath. ¡°Finally. Crisis averted.¡±


    ¡°Get changed and we¡¯ll leave. It¡¯s not a ce we should stay for long.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She took off the dress behind the screen and put on her silk robe. She then tied her hair up with a hairband and put her waistband straight.


    She had changed into men¡¯s clothes while she still had makeup on. Nan Xun felt an indescribable feeling growing in his heart. He didn¡¯t know what it was exactly.


    Without sparing a nce at Nan Xun, Jun Huang took a handkerchief and wetted it to wipe away the makeup on her face. She was unsessful though, which made sense. Of course Autumn House wouldn¡¯t use cheap rouge that came off easily. She sighed and dropped the handkerchief into the barrel of water.


    ¡°It seems that I can¡¯t wipe it off for the time being,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I told the procuress that I wasn¡¯t feeling well. She woulde to check soon. We must leave now.¡±


    Nan Xun took a good look at Jun Huang. It was fortunate it wasn¡¯t that unusual for men to have makeup on in Northern Qi. Every once in a while, one could see such men in public. In addition, Jun Huang¡¯s makeup wasn¡¯t that heavy. With her hair tied up and her dressing up as a man, she wouldn¡¯t stand out that much.


    They looked around. There were a lot of people, but most were focusing on elsewhere. They immediately spotted Qi Chen and Qi Yun when they left the room. Qi Yun noticed them as well. To prevent them from being seen by Qi Chen, Qi Yun started a conversation with Qi Chen. However, he wasn¡¯t that good at socializing. He could talk a mile an hour about poetry, but when he was nervous, he became incoherent. Qi Chen couldn¡¯t grasp the point he was trying to make.


    Qi Chen was just about to turn around when Qi Yun grabbed him. ¡°Second brother, can you tell me what love is?¡± he said after taking a deep breath.


    Qi Chen¡¯s eyes darted to Qi Yun. Heughed lightly. ¡°I almost forgot you¡¯re turning twenty in half a year. Why do you ask? Is there someone special in your heart? Tell second brother. I¡¯ll keep an eye out for you. Once you turn twenty, I can arrange a marriage for you.¡±


    Qi Yun was only trying to keep Qi Chen upied. He didn¡¯t really mean what he said. Embarrassed, he waved a hand and said that he was only curious. ¡°I¡¯m not being serious. I¡¯m just wondering because second brother has two beautiful women apanying you.¡±


    Qi Chen wasn¡¯t willing to talk about his love life. Neither Wei Lanying nor Nan Guyue was someone he was truly in love with. He married them because it was the option that made sense at the time. Qi Yun wasn¡¯t someone who had to get to the bottom of everything. He didn¡¯t push Qi Chen into giving him an answer. They drank their wine in bemusement.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun made their way to the entrance. There were too many people here. She winced when someone bumped into her. Nan Xun hurriedly shielded her with an arm. Qi Chen and Qi Yun¡¯s attention was drawn by theotion. They both noticed Nan Xun¡¯s stoic form immediately.


    Nan Xun was not an ordinary man. He stood out in the crowd like a crane among a herd of chickens. It was difficult not to see him.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t have a good look on the person in Nan Xun¡¯s arms. He chuckled with a cup in his hand. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to be someone who woulde to a brothel for drinks. I wonder who he has taken with him tonight.¡±


    ¡°Must be a beautiful woman,¡± Qi Yun said with an awkward smile. He had no choice but to gossip behind Nan Xun¡¯s back in order to protect Jun Huang. ¡°Brother Nan has been at the border for years. He¡¯s finally returned to the imperial city. It¡¯s natural for him to indulge himself.¡±


    Qi Chen chuckled without a word. They shared a few more drinks until it was gettingte. Qi Chen got to his feet. ¡°It¡¯s toote for you to return to the pce. Why don¡¯t youe back to my manor with me? You can go back to the pce tomorrow morning. I¡¯m sure Royal Father won¡¯t me you for that.¡±


    ¡°Much obliged,¡± Qi Yun said with cupped hands. He followed Qi Chen out of the brothel.


    He let out a sigh of relief. Jun Huang and Nan Xun were nowhere to be seen. He didn¡¯t find out the reasons for Qi Chen¡¯s unusual behavior today. Perhaps he would find some clues back at Prince Chen Manor.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun were both sweating when they finally escaped the brothel. It was a lot less crowded outside.


    The moon was still bright and the stars had almost all disappeared from the sky. Many people still walked the street. There was an old man selling candied hawthorn sticks not far from them. He was surrounded by a group of children. Theyughed and yed with one another without a care in the world.


    Jun Huang watched them silently. She was reminded of her own little brother. When they were little, Jun Hao loved following her around. Even when he tripped and fell, he would pick himself up and continue to follow her. Sometimes Jun Huang would get annoyed, and Jun Hao would sit on the ground hugging his knee with a pout. Every time Jun Huang waved at him, he would give her a brilliant smile.


    How is he? What has he been doing?

 Chapter 87

    Chapter 87: Risking His Life for Love


    Nan Xun followed Jun Huang¡¯s gaze and saw the old man. He went up to him and bought two candied hawthorn sticks for her. From what little he knew about women, he thought that all women had a sweet tooth.


    Jun Huang looked at the candied hawthorn with an odd look. ¡°I don¡¯t like sweets.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. ¡°I thought girls like sweets.¡±


    ¡°No one asked me if I liked them when all I had for meals was medicine,¡± Jun Huang said quietly. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve gotten used to the taste, I no longer like food with strong vors. Sweets are too much for me. I don¡¯t enjoy them anymore.¡± Her expression was distant, as if the time she served as a test subject to her mentor was but a fleeting dream.


    But how could she have forgotten?


    Nan Xun would rather Jun Huangin to him. He would rather she said that the medicine was so bitter she could barely swallow it, that the silver needles hurt her so much she could feel it in her bones. He didn¡¯t want to see Jun Huang put on a brave face and kept all her pain to herself.


    The harsh red of the hawthorn reminded Jun Huang of the massacre that happened in the imperial city of Western Que that night. Those cold-blooded murderers cut her people open and blood gushed out from the wounds, painting thend red.


    She looked away and brushed Nan Xun¡¯s hand aside. She couldn¡¯t stand looking at the hawthorn. Nan Xun could tell she was upset. He sighed and handed the candied hawthorn sticks to two children who happened to pass by. The children happily ept his offerings.


    On their way back to Jun Huang¡¯s ce, Nan Xun asked casually, ¡°Why have you been avoiding me? Is it because of what I said?¡±


    Jun Huang stopped to throw Nan Xun a nce and shook her head. ¡°No. I didn¡¯t take your words personally. There have just been too many things for me to take care of, so I didn¡¯t have the time to meet you.¡±


    Nan Xun might be a general, but he was an educated man as well. Of course he knew Jun Huang wasn¡¯t telling the truth. He let out a chuckle.


    In her embarrassment, Jun Huang chose to stay silent. They walked side by side without a word.


    The winds were chilly at night. Jun Huang hunched her shoulders up. Nan Xun was going to take off his outer robe and drape it over her, but she turned him down with a shake of her head and quickened her pace.


    From the dark alley beside them came a quick session of footsteps. There was also the sound of weapons gliding against the wall. Nan Xun was well-trained enough to hear the noises. He came to a halt and surveyed his surroundings with careful eyes. Jun Huang realized that Nan Xun had stopped walking. She turned around, watching him with furrowed brows.


    Nan Xun held his index finger against his lips and looked around with vignt eyes, silently telling Jun Huang to stay quiet.


    Jun Huang looked around. She could vaguely see the silhouettes of several men moving in the alleyway. She was proven right when a group of men dressed in ck emerged from the shadows.


    They surrounded Jun Huang and Nan Xun immediately. Without thinking, Nan Xun shielded Jun Huang with his own body. He couldn¡¯t bear to let Jun Huang get hurt in any way. His reaction caught the men¡¯s attention. The leader of the groupughed.


    ¡°Faced with dangerous enemies, the prince¡¯s first reaction is to protect this woman? It seems that the rumors hold some truth to them. I wonder if a man who kills without hesitation on the battlefields is gentle and considerate in the warm embrace of a woman. Oh, it¡¯s as the poet said: One must seize the day and do what makes him happy. A beautiful woman should be cherished and cared for.¡± He burst intoughter. His lecherous tone made his words revolting.


    Jun Huang frowned. Why would he assume that she was a woman?


    She didn¡¯t know that her beauty was apparent even in the dark. The leader was a man who had seen a great variety of people. Jun Huang was dressed in men¡¯s clothing, but her body was too frail to be that of a man. He therefore deduced that she must be a woman dressed as a man.


    The leader did not miss her reaction. ¡°Forgive us,dy. We are uneducated people who speak crudely. We aren¡¯t as gentle as the famous Prince Nan Xun. If we have offended you, I hope you won¡¯t take it personally.¡± The man startedughing again. The men behind him followed suit.


    Nan Xun looked over at them with sharp eyes. These filthy arrogant vermin should be taught how to hold their tongues! Jun Huang maintained her calm expression. Their harassing words did not seem to have affected her at all. She stood by Nan Xun¡¯ side. They fit together like the pieces to a puzzle.


    ¡°Do you know who they are?¡± Jun Huang asked in a low voice. ¡°Why are they here?¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head. He looked up at the leading man and asked, ¡°Where did you clownse from? I¡¯ve never killed people I don¡¯t know the names of.¡±


    The man huffed. ¡°Viins always get what they deserve. We¡¯re here to punish you on behalf of the gods.¡± Without warning, he unsheathed his sword and stabbed at Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun flicked his eyes downwards. He didn¡¯t have a weapon on him. He could only take out his foldable fan and block the sword with it. He narrowed his eyes and kicked at the man. The man however was not a measly thug. He dodged the attack easily by leaping into the air.


    Seeing that their leader had engaged Nan Xun in a soundless duel, the other men drew their weapons and charged at Nan Xun. Jun Huang¡¯s pupils contracted. She blocked an attack with her fan and propelled herself up by pushing against Nan Xun¡¯s shoulder. She kicked the attacker with all the strength she could muster.


    With a grunt, the attacker hit the wall and lost consciousness. Another man was trying to sneak up on them. Jun Huang threw a silver needle at him. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to the sting, but after taking a couple steps, he felt light in the head and his vision blurred. Soon he lost all his strength and copsed to the ground with a heavy thud.


    The leader realized that Jun Huang was no easy prey. He had nned to let her live, but since she had chosen to fight back, he wasn¡¯t going to show her any mercy. He threw a concealed weapon at her.


    Jun Huang had not received systematic training in martial arts. She learned only a few tricks in order to defend herself. These men were clearly well-trained. They had underestimated her earlier, but now they wereing at her with the intent to kill.


    The concealed weapon was too quick for Jun Huang to dodge. She reflexively threw a few silver needles at it, trying to change its trajectory. However, the weapon was thrown with such force that the needles were simply knocked aside. Just when the weapon was about to strike her, a hand reached out for her and picked her up.


    It was Nan Xun. He gingerly put Jun Huang back down after dodging the attack and whispered, ¡°Stick close to me. I won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were determined. Jun Huang felt her chest tighten. The ice encasing her heart had started to melt.


    She nodded without hesitation. Something passed between them in the silent exchange.


    Nan Xun was a master fighter. Those men could not get close to him. Jun Huang was only a regr woman. Beforeing to Northern Qi, she never would have thought that one day, she would be fighting for her life with someone like Nan Xun at her side.


    She asked Nan Xun to teach her some self-defense moves only because she wanted to defend herself against the dangers she would encounter in Northern Qi. She never thought that she would be in a fight to the death. She knew only a few simple tricks, but was reliant on Nan Xun despite her intentions of not being a burden.


    Those men were no threat in Nan Xun¡¯s eyes. He could have easily broken free from their assault. He was stuck only because he was trying to protect her.


    She felt a pang in her heart. She never thought that there would be someone who cared about her this much, who would sooner die than to let her get hurt.


    Now however, was not the time to be sentimental. The leading man scoffed. ¡°The prince is indeed a good warrior. If you were on your own, we would be no match for you. It¡¯s a good thing that you¡¯re with this woman.¡±


    Nan Xun huffed. ¡°You are no match for me even with her at my side. Tonight will be thest day of your lives.¡± He kicked the maning up from his right hand side and caught the sword the man had dropped when he fell. Nan Xun lunged at another man who was attacking Jun Huang.


    Blood sttered onto the ground. The man took hisst breath before he could cry out. Jun Huang whirled around and let out a relieved sigh. Her fingers were sweaty around the silver needle.


    Nan Xun turned around when hended. His gaze swept through the remaining five men. With a smirk, he gave the sword a twirl and stepped forward with his other hand behind his back, driving the point of the de towards the leading man.


    The attackers were stunned. They didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to be this good with a sword. Nevertheless, bravado alone wasn¡¯t enough to have pushed them into assassinating Nan Xun. They had some skills backing them up. The leader quickly recovered and parried Nan Xun¡¯s attack with his sword. Unexpectedly, Nan Xun darted to behind his back when their swords collided.


    He moved too quickly for the men to react. His sword was now against the leader¡¯s neck. A gentle push would have killed him.


    At the same time, Jun Huang was circled by a handful of enemies. With her limited training, she could at most defend herself against one man. Surrounded by five, she was barely keeping herself alive. She couldn¡¯t fight her way out.


    Nan Xun¡¯s focus momentarily shifted to her. The leader took the chance to move away from the de and strike a blow at Nan Xun. Feeling his movement, Nan Xun narrowed his eyes. He wanted to kill the man, but it was more important for him to get to Jun Huang first. He knocked the man away with a hit to his back and rushed to Jun Huang¡¯s side. He fought the five men off with a sweeping sh and pulled Jun Huang behind him.


    Jun Huang had overtaxed herself in the fight. She wasn¡¯t hurt, but she had been too focused earlier, which was exactly the most harmful thing she could do with the poison in her system. Once she rxed herself, she felt a wave of dizziness overtake her. Nan Xun pulled her close to support her weight.


    Her face was pale. Nan Xun¡¯s expression darkened and his eyes turned frosty. The men couldn¡¯t help but shudder under his gaze. For a moment, no one dared to make a move.

 Chapter 88

    Chapter 88: The banished Empress


    The leader copsed and coughed out a mouthful of blood. Seeing this, the other five men rushed to help him up.


    <i>Nan Xun has not demonstrated his full power yet</i>, the leader thought. He had been through enough fights himself to tell that this was far from Nan Xun¡¯s limit. They were bound to be defeated if they didn¡¯t cut their losses now.


    ¡°This is only the beginning, Nan Xun,¡± said the leader. He got to his feet with the help of his underlings. They escaped before neither Nan Xun nor Jun Huang could react.


    Jun Huang snorted. She took a deep breath with a hand on her chest to focus her mind. ¡°They aren¡¯t that good at fighting, but they sure have mastered the art of fleeing.¡±


    Nan Xun knew that Jun Huang was trying to lighten the mood, but he couldn¡¯t force himself tough. He helped Jun Huang get to the two men who had copsed earlier. Under the masks were two unfamiliar faces. From the veins in their foreheads, it was clear that they were trained in martial arts.


    Thest thing the leader had said was ominous to say the least. Something was going to happen, but what it was was beyond them.


    They could both feel the dangers looming over them. It was an unpleasant feeling they could not afford to ignore.


    Jun Huang looked up at Nan Xun. ¡°Do you recognize their fighting style?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t recognize any of the moves they¡¯ve used. That concealed weapon is an unfamiliar one as well. I don¡¯t think I have ever seen one like that.¡±


    Jun Huang fell into a deep contemtion. She didn¡¯t like where this was going.


    The moon was now covered by clouds. It was most likely going to rain the next day. She felt an indiscernible feeling rising in her heart.


    Her time was limited. Her body was getting weaker and weaker as the poison continued to spread. Sometimes she found herself falling asleep in random ces. The medicine she brewed herself didn¡¯t make her condition any better. She couldn¡¯t help feeling a little lost and afraid.


    Her eyes turned cold as she looked down at the unconscious men. She clenched her teeth. I am going to get my revenge, she swore to herself. I won¡¯t let anyone stop me. Anyone. She would take mercy on these men if they didn¡¯t get in the way of her revenge. If they did ¨C If they would be an obstacle to her cause ¨C she would not let them live.


    Her tensed expression worried Nan Xun. ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    His voice pulled Jun Huang out of her trance. She gave him a long look before shaking her head and curving her lips. ¡°What do we do with them?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to kill everyone who has ever tried to kill me,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t know why they are here yet. Like I¡¯ve said before, I don¡¯t kill people without knowing their identities. Leave them here. They¡¯ll go away once they regain consciousness.¡± It was clear from moments like this that Nan Xun was a good general. Men like him would be a hero respected by generations toe.


    Jun Huang smiled a little. She darted her eyes to themps behind him. The warm glow of the light reminded her of Western Que. Western Que was no more. And Jun Huang had cast aside her past self after its destruction. Now there was only Feng Baiyu, a man who lived and died for revenge.


    ¡°Jun Huang.¡± Nan Xun grabbed her cold fingers with a frown. He hoped he would be able to get through to her with the warmth of his hands.


    Jun Huang almost lost herself to her inner demons. If Nan Xun hadn¡¯t called out for her in time, she didn¡¯t know what would have happened to her.


    She looked up at Nan Xun with unfocused eyes. It was clear that he was worried. She inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself. Then she pulled her hand away. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Only a little tired.¡±


    Nan Xun was not convinced, but he wasn¡¯t going to interrogate her. If Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to talk, he wasn¡¯t going to ask. He could try to find the answer himself, or he could wait for Jun Huang to tell him willingly.


    ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll walk you back.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and trailed after Nan Xun.


    At midnight, the men they left behind slowly came to. They disappeared into the dark like wandering spirits.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t invite Nan Xun in for tea when they returned to her ce, and Nan Xun didn¡¯t stay. He had to find out who those men were. It was obvious that their target was him. What were they trying to achieve?


    ¡°Nan Xun, no matter what happens, no matter what you find out, you must tell me immediately,¡± Jun Huang said in a steely voice. ¡°Even if we weren¡¯t friends, I have the right to know as your ally.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Nan Xun said without hesitation.


    They werepletely clueless as to what those men wanted. That was why it was an urgent matter for them to investigate the men. Jun Huang stood in the hallway watching Nan Xun walk away until he disappeared at the corner of the street. She returned to her room after a moment of thinking.


    Little Girl widened her eyes when she saw Jun Huang by the candlelight. She couldn¡¯t do anything but admire her looks. How could a man be so good looking? Her bnt staring reminded Jun Huang that she still had makeup on. She ordered Little Girl to find her something that could wash away the rouge.


    Little Girl couldn¡¯t help sneaking nces at Jun Huang. She was scared into looking away when Jun Huang raised an eyebrow at her.


    After wiping her face clean, Jun Huang sat on the empress chair and thought carefully about the current situation.


    The imperial court of Northern Qi used to be split into three factions. After the death of Qi Yin, a majority of his supporters had found a new master to serve. There were still some people who remained loyal to Qi Yin, but what could they possibly do without him? They held no real power in the court.


    Nevertheless, there must be some people Jun Huang could use. If she seeded in manipting them, Qi Chen¡¯s influence in the court would be diminished. She could help Qi Yun gain a foothold and attract more supporters.


    If she could take Qi Chen¡¯s title as the crown prince away from him, Northern Qi would be unstable. From her understanding of Eastern Wu, she was sure they would seize this opportunity and invade Northern Qi. Then the two countries would go into war.


    Eastern Wu was ambitious. They would not let this perfect opening slipped through their fingers.


    Once the war broke out, she would help Northern Qi eliminate Eastern Wu once and for all and push Qi Yun onto the throne. It would be her parting gift to her friend. Without Eastern Wu, Northern Qi would enjoy centuries of peace.


    If Northern Qi couldn¡¯t conquer Eastern Wu in one swift attempt, however, Qi Chen¡¯s people would fight back. The imperial court would be a muddy mess again. Even if Qi Yun became the emperor then, he would be under threats from various forces.


    She didn¡¯t have a lot of time left. She couldn¡¯t n for the long run. Her top priority was to undermine Qi Chen¡¯s position and distablize Northern Qi. Everything would fall into ce after that. Hopefully, Northern Qi¡¯s power wouldn¡¯t weaken too much, and it would still stand a high chance of winning against Eastern Wu. She didn¡¯t want to put the interest of a country at risk for her own revenge. She remembered the looks of despair on Western Que¡¯s people¡¯s faces. She didn¡¯t want to see something like that again.


    The first thing she had to deal with was Qi Chen. He was the crown prince now. It wasn¡¯t easy to make a move on him. In addition, Qi Yin was no longer here to serve as his rival. And the empress had been banished to the Cold Pce.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes lit up. She remembered that Consort Zhen had talked to her about the banished empress. She must have been trying to win the emperor over again. Even though Consort Ping had lost her ce in the pce, there must still be people who remained loyal to her.


    She had to get in contact with the empress and struck a deal with her. The smile on Jun Huang¡¯s face deepened and her fingers tightened around the teacup until her knuckles went white. The short rest had been helpful. She looked a lot less like she was going to faint.


    Her mind was made up. She didn¡¯t want to drag this on for too long. It had been a while since thest time she saw Rou¡¯er, who was Qi Yun¡¯s spy in Prince Chen Manor. It was time that they had a chat. There were things Jun Huang couldn¡¯t do that Rou¡¯er could very easily achieve.


    Deep into the night, it was silent save for the sound of crows cawing outside. The nightwatchman had walked past her house a while ago. The street was now empty. After sending out a message, Jun Huang left her ce dressed in all ck.


    When she reached the west district of the city, Rou¡¯er was already waiting for her. She was dressed in a ck dress with a veil covering her face. She blended into the darkness so well that no one would be able to spot her unless they knew what they were looking for.


    ¡°Why is the gentleman so eager to see this subordinate?¡± Rou¡¯er asked without preamble.


    Jun Huang knew that they must finish this conversation quickly. She forewent the smalltalk and said, ¡°I need you to help me enter the pce.¡±


    Some days ago, Qi Chen had taken Rou¡¯er to the pce to greet Consort Zhen. Rou¡¯er was a charming woman. She had gained Consort Zhen¡¯s affection in the span of a conversation. Afterwards, Consort Zhen gifted Rou¡¯er with a token awarded by the emperor. With the token, she would be able to enter the pce freely.


    Surprised, Rou¡¯er asked with a frown, ¡°What is the gentleman trying to do? Does the fourth prince know?¡±


    ¡°I assume you have talked to Qi Yun tonight,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I¡¯m not going to beat around the bush here. Qi Yun doesn¡¯t know what I¡¯m going to do yet, but I can assure you that it will only benefit him. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    Rou¡¯er was only half convinced. She couldn¡¯t make herselfmit fully just yet. She didn¡¯t respond.


    Jun Huang was good at spotting people¡¯s weaknesses. She knew how to use them to get what she wanted. ¡°Fret not, you only have to visit Consort Zhen and have a casual chat with her tomorrow,¡± she said gently. ¡°I¡¯ll disguise myself as a servant and go in with you. I promise to not cause any troubles. I¡¯ll meet up with you after I¡¯ve done what I have to do.¡±


    Rou¡¯er was worried. ¡°You¡¯re sure there won¡¯t be any troubles?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Jun Huang said confidently. Her tone couldpel anyone to believe in her words. Rou¡¯er still felt a little hesitant, but her doubts melted away when she saw the look on Jun Huang¡¯s face. Sometimes, trusting a person was as simple as that.

 Chapter 89

    Chapter 89: Mind Game


    Jun Huang surveyed her surroundings. There wasn¡¯t anyone around. ¡°I¡¯ll meet up with you tomorrow. You should go. Don¡¯t let anyone see you.¡± She put on her hood and left.


    Rou¡¯er returned to Prince Chen Manor shortly. It was fortunate that Qi Chen did not really care for her. Sometimes he did show sympathy to her, but it was always fleeting. He had given her enough freedom that she was able to oversee the men Qi Yun had nted in the manor.


    She thought back to her meeting with Qi Yun earlier in the evening. She cared about Qi Yun, while he looked at her like she meant nothing to him. She knew it was for the best, but she couldn¡¯t help feeling dejected.


    The next day, Jun Huang woke up at the crack of dawn. She spent the time to put on makeup that made her look more ordinary. She was going to enter the pce with Rou¡¯er today. She had to make sure no one would notice her. Besides, she wasn¡¯t sure if Rou¡¯er would be followed by only Qi Yun¡¯s people, or if there would be Qi Chen¡¯s spies as well. She could never be too careful.


    Rou¡¯er recognized Jun Huang at the first nce. It wasn¡¯t that Jun Huang¡¯s disguise was ineffective, but the air of aloofness around her was simply too distinctive. It was easy to spot as long as you knew what to look for.


    Of course, Jun Huang¡¯s attitude did soften sometimes, but it wasn¡¯t amon urrence.


    Rou¡¯er arranged for Jun Huang to stay at her side before getting into a sedan chair and leaving for the pce. It had rained the entire night. The bluestone road was covered in puddles. The chair lifters therefore slowed down by a good measure. Rou¡¯er was worried that Jun Huang might have been in a rush, but Jun Huang¡¯s expression never changed. The rain didn¡¯t seem to have affected her.


    Rou¡¯er wondered what would it take for someone both brave and clever like Jun Huang to lose her calm. Would the fate of the world be able to cause a ripple in her eyes? Or would it be something else? Or someone?


    Once they reached the pce, they were stopped by the general guarding the gate for a routine checkup. Rou¡¯er had been to the pce many times. He knew who she was. What was more, Rou¡¯er possessed the token awarded by the emperor. The general didn¡¯t dare to dy her for too long. He gave her an apologetic smile.


    ¡°Is thedy visiting on your own today?¡± the general asked.


    Rou¡¯er threw a discreet nce at Jun Huang and returned the smile. ¡°I¡¯m moving some things from Consort Zhen¡¯s pce to Prince Chen Manor. I¡¯ll bring only this page boy in. Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s a servant in Prince Chen Manor. He¡¯s trustworthy.¡±


    The general took a good look at Jun Huang. Seems like a good-natured young man, he thought. Not the troublesome sorts. He put her name down on the list of guests. ¡°I¡¯ve logged your visit. Just let me know when you leave the pce.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Rou¡¯er gave him a bow. Men like the general could not resist tender women like Rou¡¯er. Their smiles were like an addicting drug. It made these men willingly drowned themselves in the women¡¯s warm embrace.


    Originally a check-up was required, but Rou¡¯er had said that Jun Huang was Qi Chen¡¯s servant. The general himself was a supporter of Qi Chen. He would sooner suck up to Qi Chen than toy a finger on Qi Chen¡¯s people. He let them in with a smile.


    Once inside, Jun Huang didn¡¯t immediately part ways with Rou¡¯er. Instead, she followed Rou¡¯er to Consort Zhen¡¯s pce. On her way, she kept her eyes on the floor and kept to her character as a servant.


    At the door, Jun Huang waited until no onlookers could be seen before exchanging a nce with Rou¡¯er. Jun Huang stepped aside. Rou¡¯er entered the pce as if she hade here alone. Jun Huang made her way to the Cold Pce.


    Theyout in the pce wasplicated. Without preparation, one could easily get lost here. Jun Huang, however, came ready. She had ordered someone to acquire a map of the pce and memorized it. She quickly arrived at the gate to the Cold Pce.


    The ce was quiet. The maids weren¡¯t willing to stay for long. Therefore they only came to deliver meals three times a day. Jun Huang looked inside the pce. It was still early. Most concubines here had not woken up yet. There was only one door that was left open.


    After some deliberation, Jun Huang went straight for the open door. As soon as she entered, the banished emperor said, ¡°Who are you? This is a restricted area for the harem. It¡¯s not a ce for a man like you.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at her with a faint smile and cupped her hands in greeting. ¡°This gentleman is Feng Baiyu. It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Consort Ping.¡±


    Consort Ping¡¯s expression faltered. She pointed a finger at Jun Huang, unable to make a sound. Jun Huang could see the fear in her eyes clearly. The consort must have misunderstood her intentions. ¡°This gentleman isn¡¯t here to hurt the consort. You don¡¯t have to worry. I want to make a deal with you.¡±


    Consort Ping was once the empress after all. She quickly calmed herself. She believed that Jun Huang was telling the truth. After all, she was now trapped in the Cold Pce. She posed no threat to Qi Chen. Moreover, she had already lost her son in this struggle for power.


    ¡°What deal?¡±


    Jun Huang gave the deste garden a look before shutting the door. ¡°The consort was once the empress. Are you really willing to stay in this poor excuse of a pce?¡± She walked to the table, on which were leftover dishes from yesterday evening. They looked crude and in. ¡°If this gentleman remembers right, you used to be served by an army of maids. You ate only the finest cuisine and wore the finest clothes.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s words had struck a nerve. Consort Ping was the emperor¡¯s wife. And yet she had fallen from grace and ended up in this unpleasant ce. Her life had been a joke.


    Now the only consort holding any substantial power in the court was Consort Zhen. Consort Ping had no ce in the pce.


    ¡°This gentleman¡¯s power is limited,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I cannot get the consort out of this situation, but I can help you get revenge.¡±


    Consort Ping narrowed her almond-shaped eyes, watching Jun Huang with great interest. Jun Huang seemed to be genuine. She let out a quietugh. ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°Who you hate the most now are Qi Chen and Consort Zhen, aren¡¯t they?¡± Jun Huang said calmly, keeping her eyes on Consort Ping to take in every nuance change. ¡°If not for Qi Chen, the former crown prince would not have passed away. Then there¡¯s Consort Zhen, who took everything from you. Don¡¯t they deserve your hatred?¡±


    Before giving Jun Huang¡¯s words a consideration, Consort Ping asked, ¡°Whose side are you on exactly?¡± She couldn¡¯t figure out what Jun Huang¡¯s agenda was. Why would Jun Huang act this way?


    Jun Huang chuckled. Her eyes betrayed none of her thoughts. ¡°You don¡¯t have to know what this gentleman is trying to achieve. Just know that I can help you avenge your son and yourself.¡±


    ¡°Why would I believe you?¡± she demanded. She wasn¡¯t willing to trust Jun Huang just yet.


    ¡°Does the consort truly believe that what you did here is enough to harm Qi Chen? This gentleman knows that the consort must have cultivated your own people after staying in the pce for decades. You are, however, trapped in the Cold Pce. How would you contact them? This gentleman has a n to pull Qi Chen off the seat of the crown prince. You can¡¯t afford to turn me away.¡±


    Consort Ping fell silent. The mere thought that she would be able to take what Qi Chen valued the most away from him sent a rush through her body. She could imagine how Consort Zhen would react if she lost her son. She would be even more in pain than Consort Ping had been.


    However, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a little unsettled. Jun Huang was not someone who could enter the pce freely. How did she know about what the consort had done by bribing the maids who delivered meals to her? It sent a shiver down her spine. This man was not to be underestimated.


    Jun Huang waited patiently for Consort Ping¡¯s answer. Consort Ping had been staying in the pce. No matter how much infighting she had been engaged in, she was never part of any serious conspiracies. Jun Huang¡¯s offer was too tempting. She could think of no reason for her to turn the offer down.


    After a moment of hesitation, Consort Ping took out a delicate box from the makeup table. Inside was a bronze token with some patterns etched into it.


    ¡°This is the token for my brother¡¯s manor ¨C he¡¯s still the royal uncle of Northern Qi. You will be able to contact him with this token. This is all I can offer you, though. I¡¯m sure you will be fine with that silver tongue of yours. Even I cannot win in a verbal duel with you, let alone my brother.¡± Consort Ping¡¯s words were mocking, but Jun Huang didn¡¯t take offense.


    The royal uncle must have been her trump card. After all, she had made her son the crown prince and garnered many supporters for him. This woman was no ordinary woman. Actually, all of the women who had engaged in mind games in the pce for years had to be taken seriously. This was a lesson Jun Huang had learned through experience.


    When Jun Huang was about to leave, Consort Ping said, ¡°I will talk to the emperor. You can focus on your own n.¡±


    That surprised Jun Huang. She had thought that the best case scenario would be having the support of Consort Ping¡¯s people. She didn¡¯t expect Consort Ping herself to be so devoted to helping her as well.


    Noticing Jun Huang¡¯s surprise, Consort Ping huffed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t pull that face. I¡¯m offering my help for my own reasons. You must avenge my son, or I ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Jun Huang said with augh. Without wasting a moment, she walked out of the deste Cold Pce.


    The Cold Pce was surrounded by grey walls. Concubines inside either lived their life aimlessly, or they remained trapped in a dream that would never be a reality. How many beautiful women had had their youth waste away here?


    Preupied in her thoughts, Jun Huang ran into a maid who looked awfully familiar. Once she got close, Jun Huang realized that the woman was the maid that used to serve Consort Ping. She must have been assigned to some unimportant nobledy now.


    The maid didn¡¯t recognize Jun Huang. She frowned and said harshly, ¡°Where are you from? Don¡¯t you know officials aren¡¯t allowed to wander around the back of the pce?¡±

 Chapter 90

    Chapter 90: Cleaning House


    Jun Huang paused. The maid must have mistaken her for an official. She didn¡¯t correct her. Being seen as an official would help her more than being seen as a servant. She cupped her hands in greeting. ¡°I came with a concubine of the crown prince. On our way, I was distracted by the beautiful flowers. When I realized it thedy was already nowhere to be seen. This gentleman doesn¡¯t know my way around the pce. That¡¯s how I ended up here.¡±


    The maid was naive. She thought that Jun Huang looked like an honest man. She readily epted Jun Huang¡¯s exnation. ¡°Do you know where thedy was going to?¡±


    ¡°To Consort Zhen¡¯s ce, of course.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, this servant will take you there.¡± She led Jun Huang towards Consort Zhen¡¯s pce. Jun Huang sneaked a look at the Cold Pce behind her before continuing to follow the maid. They took many turns through the hallway and finally arrived at their destination.


    The maid had other matters to attend to, so she left right after dropping Jun Huang at the door. After she had left, Jun Huang turned to look at the extravagant pce. This ce was night and day to the Cold Pce. The banished empress must have had quite a breakdown when she first moved out.


    She could hear Rou¡¯er bidding farewell to Consort Zhen. Consort Zhen was going to walk her out, but Rou¡¯er turned her down. It had started to drizzle. Consort Zhen didn¡¯t argue. She ordered someone to bring Rou¡¯er an umbre.


    Rou¡¯er thanked her before walking out with the umbre. Jun Huang only caught up to her after she had walked quite a long distance. Rou¡¯er let out a sigh of relief when she saw that Jun Huang was able to make it. ¡°Have you done what you came here to do?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded, looking into the distance. Rou¡¯er could tell Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to exin, so she didn¡¯t ask. She silently held the umbre towards Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang apanied Rou¡¯er back to Prince Chen Manor in order to not rouse suspicion. When they said goodbye, Jun Huang told Rou¡¯er, ¡°I have matters to discuss with Qi Yun. Please ask Qi Yun to meet me back at my ce when you have the chance. It¡¯s better that I don¡¯t go to him personally.¡±


    Rou¡¯er nodded. Jun Huang left without saying another word. In the hallway, Rou¡¯er watched Jun Huang go until Jun Huang disappeared at the street corner.


    Qi Yun visited Jun Huang not long after. He scowled at her. It didn¡¯t take long for Jun Huang to figure out why he was angry. Rou¡¯er must have said something about Jun Huang¡¯s visit to the pce when she talked to him.


    Qi Yun frowned at her. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree that you should tell me when you¡¯re going to do something risky? You can¡¯t just go to the pce recklessly! What if something happened to you?¡±


    Jun Huang gave him a meaningful look as she poured him a cup of tea. ¡°One cannot achieve great things if they keep dwelling on what can go wrong like you do. You know as well as I do that you can¡¯t catch a tiger cub without venturing into a tiger den.¡±


    Jun Huang had a way with words. Qi Yun didn¡¯t know how he could argue with that. He sighed in frustration.


    Jun Huang took out a token and showed it to Qi Yun. He widened his eyes. He recognized the token to be one belonging to the royal uncle. He didn¡¯t know how Jun Huang got hold of it. She had to dress as a man just to walk freely in the imperial city!


    ¡°This is what I went to the pce for,¡± said Jun Huang.


    Now Qi Yun understood Jun Huang¡¯s intentions. They could not possibly achieve their goals on their own. Nan Xun had always stayed neutral without helping or hindering anyone¡¯s cause. Despite holding control over the army, he didn¡¯t know that many officials in the imperial city. The royal uncle was different.


    The royal uncle was the banished empress¡¯s brother. More importantly, he held an important position in the court, and he enjoyed the favor of the emperor. Many officials were eager to stay on his good side.


    Qi Yun still had one question. ¡°Weren¡¯t you worried that the empress would sell you out when you visited her on your own?¡±


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t,¡± Jun Huang said confidently. She got to her feet and looked up at the raindrops lining the bottom of the roof. ¡°She¡¯s trapped in the Cold Pce, and the former crown prince has passed away. The royal uncle is the only one she can depend on. He, however, doesn¡¯t live in the pce. It¡¯s not that easy for them to meet up. It doesn¡¯t matter who it is. As long as there¡¯s someone who offers her the one thing she wants the most, she¡¯ll ept readily.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s determined to avenge the death of her son. Otherwise, why would she try so hard to remind the emperor of their past? If Consort Zhen hadn¡¯t intervened, Consort Ping would have been allowed to move back to the Phoenix Pce already.¡±


    Her analysis had answered all the questions he had had. Qi Yun hadn¡¯t realized that Jun Huang was such a good strategist. If she had been a man, she would have gone down in history as a legendary figure.


    It took a while for Qi Yun to remember what they were here for. ¡°Why did you ask me toe?¡±


    Jun Huang looked at him with bright eyes. ¡°We have to get pure-hearted officials on our side.¡±


    Qi Yun frowned. He had been learning how to govern a country in the privacy of his own chamber, but there were many things he didn¡¯t know as well as Jun Huang did. He was a little confused. ¡°What do you mean by pure-hearted officials?¡±


    ¡°It seems that the teacher Your Highness hired has not been as good as rumors said,¡± Jun Huang teased. Qi Yun was mortified. He had sought out a retired teacher to teach him about managing affairs of the state. And to convince the teacher to leave retirement, he had visited him personally. He was prepared to visit the teacher thrice in person like Liu Bei had in order to persuade Zhuge Liang to be his strategist.1 It took Qi Yun quite some time to finally convince the old teacher.


    Jun Huang sighed. ¡°Pure-hearted officials are officials who are loyal and headstrong. In the chapter Fourth year of Duke Yin from The Zuo Tradition, it said, ¡®Shi Que was a pure-hearted official. He sent Zhou Xu and his son Shi Hou to their deaths. This is what it means to sacrifice your family for the greater good!¡¯2 You should read this part when you have the time.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. He understood now. ¡°But who among the officials are pure-hearted?¡±


    Jun Huang remembered suddenly that Qi Yun rarely attended the court meeting. He had been an audience, but he had not participated himself. Of course he wouldn¡¯t know what kind of a person these officials were.


    ¡°Someone like the Senior Grandmaster is a pure-hearted official. His priority is always the people, but he knows when to back down. If every official can be like him, a country¡¯s centuries of foundation wouldn¡¯t have been destroyed, and it would go down in history as a great nation.¡± Jun Huang let out augh. Even she herself didn¡¯t believe that it was possible for every official to be pure-hearted. She only said what she said tofort herself.


    Qi Yun looked at her in silence. Noticing his gaze, Jun Huang schooled her expression into one of impassiveness before handing him the token. ¡°This we have to do together. However, the most important thing for us now is to find the royal uncle and convince him to help us.¡±


    ¡°You are a royal prince. Now that the supporters of Qi Yin hade to despise Qi Chen, they need another prince to get behind. You are therefore the perfect choice for approaching the royal uncle. I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡±


    ¡°As you wish.¡± Qi Yun nodded, looking at the pouring rain outside. He was suddenly hit by a sense of frustration. He was the fourth prince, but he was so unfamiliar with matters in the court that he needed Jun Huang to advise him.


    Jun Huang knew what he was thinking, but she didn¡¯t say anything. There were things that were better left unsaid. She could only focus on taking her revenge as soon as she could. There was an extent to how much she could help Qi Yun. Once he became the emperor, there would be no one to hold his hands. She only hoped that this unrest they were going to cause wouldn¡¯t undermine the foundation of Northern Qi.


    They both knew what they had to do. They made the preparation. Qi Yun went to the royal uncle with the token.


    The royal uncle agreed to join force with Qi Yun as soon as he heard what Qi Yun had to say and saw the token he himself had given his sister. It was a good start, a triumph worth celebrating.


    Things didn¡¯t go as well on Jun Huang¡¯s side. None of the pure-hearted officials were willing to join this faction they didn¡¯t know the agenda of. These officials didn¡¯t hold a high position, but they were picked by the emperor. They had real power. People liked them were especially stubborn. Some might say that they were self-righteous.


    A fifth-grade official pointed at Jun Huang and scolded, ¡°If the gentleman has time toe to me, why don¡¯t you deal with the rotten apples in the court first?¡± His eyes were widened in rage. He seemed like he was going to p Jun Huang any moment.


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    The official huffed, leveling her with a derisive stare. ¡°You can¡¯t achieve anything by simply forming a faction. Go back to where you came from and leave Northern Qi alone.¡± With that, he walked away.


    Qi Yun emerged from the other room and looked at the official¡¯s back. ¡°There are many stubborn men like him in the court. Why must we go to them?¡±


    ¡°They are officials with years of experience. He just pointed out the problems facing the court right now. It¡¯s clear that we should shift our focus to that.¡± There was a faraway look in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. Of course there are ck sheep in a powerful country like Northern Qi.


    Qi Yun nodded. ¡°Everyone we have talked to so far has been ambiguous about their intentions. I wonder what they really think.¡±


    Jun Huang scoffed. She had been talking to the officials about ruling the country withw. She said that Northern Qi should not be held in the hand of people who disregarded morals. She didn¡¯t mention who she was working for. The officials had been purposefully vague in their response in order to not offend anyone. It was understandable, but people liked them could not be trusted with important tasks.


    ¡°Jun Huang, if second brother finds out, won¡¯t you be in danger?¡± Qi Yun asked worriedly.


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We have been shown our hands. Those officials won¡¯t tell Qi Chen until they figure out who we are.¡±


    After a while, Qi Yun said, ¡°I think we should stop for a moment and do some house-cleaning.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to Qi Yun and gestured at him to continue. Qi Yun was excited for finally seeing traces of approval in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. He reminded himself to not get ahead of himself.


    He cleared his throat and drank some tea to soothe his vocal cord. ¡°Some of our supporters have been doing things behind our back that go against our beliefs. Some even vite thew of this country. They¡¯ve done a lot of damage to the city. We are not a sanctuary for people like them. They have to be dealt with.¡±

 Chapter 91

    Chapter 91: Investigating the Officials


    Jun Huang was pleased with Qi Yun¡¯s exnation. It was good that Qi Yun knew what he was doing. She had been worried that without her help, he might not be able to lead this massive country due to his gentle personality. Now she knew she had been worrying over nothing. There were people who were both gentle and decisive. Those were the kind of men who would make the best leaders.


    Seeing the look in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes, Qi Yun felt his heart soaring with pride. In their rtionship, Jun Huang had always been the one who offered support, which made him feel guilty. Earning Jun Huang¡¯s approval made all his efforts in studying affairs of the court feel worth it.


    ¡°That¡¯s what the official was implying as well. Enemies within the Northern Qi are already stirring trouble. It¡¯s not a good time to look outside the country for enemies. It¡¯s best we take measures to clean house now.¡± Jun Huang shifted her gaze to the outside and said after a moment of silence, ¡°Try to gather evidence for the crimes those corrupt officials havemitted. Remember, don¡¯t let them notice what you¡¯re doing. We¡¯ll take care of the rest once we have enough evidence.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. It was time for him to return to the pce. He got to his feet. ¡°I¡¯ll have Rou¡¯er conduct an investigation. As for you, you should go get some rest. You¡¯ve been hard at worktely.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Once back to her ce, Jun Huang thought about what the fifth-grade official had said. His words could be considered a form of support. Once they eliminated the corrupt officials in the court, many would realize that Qi Yun was apetent prince who could shoulder great responsibility. Then there wouldn¡¯t be a need for her to lobby for Qi Yun. Those officials would naturally fall into ce.


    Rou¡¯er proved to be a valuable asset for Qi Yun. In no time, evidence showing that the officials had vited thew was handed to Jun Huang. She scoffed at the report. For a moment, she didn¡¯t say anything.


    She didn¡¯t expect officials in the powerful Northern Qi to behave this way. It was truly disappointing how despicable they were.


    Rou¡¯er didn¡¯t know what Jun Huang was thinking. Noticing Jun Huang¡¯s disheartened look, she worriedly asked, ¡°What does the gentleman n to do?¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at her and took a deep breath. ¡°ce this evidence at the door to the Court of Judicial Review.1 We can¡¯t draw attention to ourselves yet. The best way is to let the emperor conduct the investigation for us.¡±


    Overnight, the news that many courtiers had been taking bribes spread through the imperial city like wildfire. Everyone on the list of known perpetrators were thrown into prison. There was nothing they could do to get out of this. They could only me themselves for being blinded by greed.


    In the court meeting, the emperor lost his temper over the scandal. He didn¡¯t expect the officials to cast aside thew while they were living on stipend given by the country! It was an insult to the emperor himself!


    Almost none of the officials dared to say anything. They were worried that they might be the next person crucified. Nheless, there were some loyal officials who believed that the emperor should get to the bottom of this scandal. On one hand, the innocent officials shouldn¡¯t have their reputation tarnished by the ck sheep. On the other hand, it was imperative that they got rid of these pests eating away the country¡¯s foundation.


    ¡°Who do the officials think should be given this task?¡± the emperor asked seriously. The courtiers were silently panicking. They knew this was a task that would invite troubles. Qi Chen too didn¡¯t dare to do anything because of the embezzlement he had oncemitted. He hid behind the crowd, trying to make himself inconspicuous.


    For a moment, the room waspletely silent. The emperorshed out at the officials, ¡°What do I keep you for? You are all afraid of getting involved? Are there no pure-hearted men in the entirety of Northern Qi?¡±


    Faced with his demand, the officials remained silent. Only the fifth-grade official Jun Huang had talked to took a step forward.


    He had decided the best course of action for himself. He was old, and he had his family to consider. He could not afford to make enemies. It was one thing to know what was the right thing to do. It was another to risk your life doing it.


    Seeing that someone finally had the courage to speak, the emperor took a deep breath and said, ¡°What does the official think?¡±


    ¡°This official believes that these people should be punished for disregarding thew. If I were ten years younger, I would have volunteered myself regardless of what it would cost me. However, this official has be an old and frail man. On top of that, this is a serious matter that involved many people. If Your Majesty leaves this task to one of the officials, he may try to cover up for himself. This official believes that it¡¯s a job best left to one of the princes.¡±


    The other courtiers agreed readily. After some contemtion, the emperor decided that the official was right. He looked over at where the princes stood. Qi Chen cursed inwardly and looked away. He didn¡¯t dare to meet the emperor¡¯s eyes.


    The first person the emperor thought of was Nan Xun. However, he had always dreaded Nan Xun¡¯s influence. And Nan Xun was a general who didn¡¯t bear the royal family¡¯s name. He most likely wouldn¡¯t be able to find anything useful.


    The emperor turned to Qi Chen. In panic, Qi Chen stepped forward and dropped down to his knees.


    ¡°This son has not been feeling well. I¡¯m afraid I cannot ept this task. Royal Father may have to find another candidate.¡± He turned around and saw Qi Yun standing beside him. Without thinking, he said, ¡°This son thinks that fourth brother will be a good choice.¡±


    Qi Yun didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen to suddenly mention him. He nervously knelt down before the emperor. The emperor frowned at Qi Chen. He was disappointed that Qi Chen would throw his brother to the wolves for fear of getting into troubles. After all, Qi Chen was the crown prince.


    The emperor shifted his eyes to Qi Yun. The fifth-grade official could see the hesitation in his eyes. ¡°This official agrees with what the crown prince said.¡±


    ¡°Yun¡¯er has not turned twenty yet. This might not be a good idea.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± the official said. ¡°The fourth prince¡¯s age is exactly what makes him the perfect candidate. If he can take care of this problem, it will be an achievement worthy of peerage. If he fails, no one can me him since he is so young.¡±


    The other courtiers were shocked. They didn¡¯t expect a fifth-grade official to be so quick-minded. They weren¡¯t sure why he would say what he said with all the officials present, but they didn¡¯t dare to make anyments. If the official was willing to speak his mind in these circumstance, it was better to keep quiet and listen.


    The emperor made a sound of assent. Immediately, he announced that Qi Yun would be in charge of the investigation. Qi Yun epted with his hands cupped and swore to himself that he would do this right.


    After the meeting, Qi Yun nned to visit Jun Huang for some advice. Qi Chen stopped him before he could get far.


    Qi Chen gave him a stilted smile. Embarrassed, Qi Chen cleared his throat and said, ¡°Second brother didn¡¯t have a choice... if you run into any troubles, just tell me. I¡¯ll do all I can to help you.¡±


    Qi Yun smiled. ¡°Second brother is too kind. This is a difficult matter, and Royal Father trusts you. However, sister-inw is pregnant and you have her to take care of. Besides, second brother has not been feeling well. There¡¯s no need for you to feel guilty. I have yet to be granted peerage. Even if I fail, the worst that can happen is me getting scolded by Royal Father. This brother will consider this a learning experience.¡±


    Hearing Qi Yun¡¯s response, the guilt in Qi Chen¡¯s heart finally dissipated. A courtier came up to them, asking for a conversation with Qi Chen. Qi Yun cupped his hands and bid Qi Chen farewell before leaving the pce.


    Jun Huang had heard about what happened in the meeting. She knew Qi Yun woulde to find her. As she expected, when she was watching the rain in the hallway, Qi Yun approached her with an umbre.


    ¡°Even your hobby is schrly,¡± Qi Yun said with a smile.


    ¡°Many people before me have enjoyed listening to the rain. I am simply imitating them.¡± She sat up and ordered Little Girl to brew her a fresh pot of tea.


    Qi Yun looked at Jun Huang and said with excitement, ¡°Today, Royal Father tasked me with investigating the corruption within the imperial court.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Jun Huang said calmly. She took a sip of her tea without a trace of surprise on her face. It made Qi Yun feel a little frustrated.


    After giving it a second thought, however, the reality seemed so obvious he didn¡¯t know how he had missed it. ¡°Is this all ording to your...¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°Perhaps,¡± she said with augh. ¡°I merely mentioned you to the official. I didn¡¯t expect him to have the courage to nominate you. Wasn¡¯t he afraid of rousing the emperor¡¯s ire?¡±


    Qi Yun couldn¡¯t manage even a smile. He had thought that the official had high expectation for him! But it turned out to all be Jun Huang¡¯s doing.


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes at Qi Yun¡¯s disappointed look. ¡°You have to understand, Qi Yun, that I merely mentioned your name in passing. The fact that the official took it to heart means that he has always expected you to shine one day. Now that you have epted the responsibility, you must give it your all. You¡¯ll either make a great number of enemies, or you¡¯ll disappoint the emperor.¡±


    Qi Yun blinked. Jun Huang was right. He had a goal. This was the opportunity he needed to spread his wings. He would not makepromises for those corrupt officials. The pure-hearted officials were the only ones he wanted. Quality was more important than quantity.


    Seeing that Qi Yun had regained his confidence, Jun Huang smiled. She reached out to touch the raindrops falling from the sky. There was a distant look in her eyes.


    ¡°Why did you tell him to suggest me as a candidate in the meeting with everyone present?¡± Qi Chen asked.


    Jun Huang broke into a smile. ¡°You have to be discreet for the time being. If you show your hand too early, Qi Chen will get suspicious. This way, Qi Chen would think you weren¡¯t willing to take the responsibility and only epted because you had no choice. Then he wouldn¡¯t think too much of it.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. He finished his tea and decided to leave, but Jun Huang stopped him. He looked back at Jun Huang with questioning eyes. He wondered what she wanted to say.


    ¡°Many officials are involved in this scandal. Don¡¯t be reckless or stubborn. Always go for the diplomatic approach. You don¡¯t have to be afraid of offending those people, but some might have been set up by others. You have to go through every possibility. Never jump to conclusions.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. He opened his umbre and walked out into the rain. He didn¡¯t noticed that his robe was wetted by the sttered water.


    Qi Yun worked hard until the night. Watching the dim light outside his room, he felt overwhelmed by exhaustion. He opened the door and walked out. The candles on his desk was immediately extinguished.


    He stretched his arms. A page boy ran up to him and put a robe around his shoulders. ¡°Is Your Highness going outside?¡±


    Right after Qi Yun epted the task to investigate the corruption in the court, he requested to stay in the Court of Judicial Review. He had been staying awake hard at work until the small hours almost every day. Many candles were burned in the process. He sorted through most of the expenses and ies of every official. If an official had given fake documents or refused to hand in their ount books, Qi Yun would throw them into prison no matter their status. He made no exceptions for anyone. His decisive actions had ced a proverbial sword at every official¡¯s neck. They were terrified that the sword would drop and im their freedom.

 Chapter 92

    Chapter 92: The Diplomatic Approach


    Qi Yun rubbed at his forehead and looked up at the bright moon in the sky. Earlier this month it had been raining so much it was as if a whole year¡¯s worth of rainfall had been concentrated to those few days. Recently however, the weather had be so hot it was smothering. The temperature only dropped to a morefortable level at night. This was how it had always been in the imperial city. Thinking about the weather alone was enough to make one¡¯s mood take a downturn.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to stay,¡± Qi Yun said to the page boy. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a walk. You don¡¯t have to follow.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Qi Yun strolled along the moonlit street. It waste, but there were still a couple pedestrians remaining outside. And a couple wonton shops had not closed yet.


    The smell whetted his appetite. He walked into one of the shops and ordered a bowl of wontons. After he had taken a few bites, his attention was caught by the conversation between two peasant men. They were talking about affairs of the court.


    ¡°I heard that the fourth prince Qi Yun was a man interested in only literature,¡± the one dressed like a schr said. ¡°Why would he get involved this time?¡±


    The other manughed. ¡°So? Isn¡¯t everyone in the Royal family unpredictable like this? The crown prince Qi Chen was once known as a kindhearted man, but he ended up killing his own brother for the throne. If the fourth prince ever gets in his way, Qi Chen won¡¯t hesitate to get rid of his younger brother, too.¡±


    The schrly man scoffed, his eyes turning as cold as the night sky. There were only a couple customers in the restaurant, so he didn¡¯t even try to lower his voice. ¡°I don¡¯t care what the princes do in order to gain the throne. But we do need a better leader than the current emperor. In this day and age money trumps all. We talented men, as a result, cannot find a way to be an official. It¡¯s truly outrageous.¡± He broke into a peal of sharpughter.


    Qi Yun¡¯s eyes darkened. It seemed that his investigation wasn¡¯t asplete as he would like to think. Heid down the utensils and took a good look at the schrly man to memorize his face. He then left some silver on the table before walking out of the shop. He didn¡¯t go back to the Court of Judicial Review. Instead, he went to Jun Huang¡¯s ce.


    Due to his frequent visits recently, Qi Yun had be familiar with the page boy watching the door. Thus he was able to walk in without waiting for a servant to ask for Jun Huang¡¯s approval. Jun Huang didn¡¯t put a stop to the little pact he had formed with the page boy. Qi Yun was a royal prince. If he stayed at the door for too long and someone saw him, trouble would follow.


    She, however, didn¡¯t expect Qi Yun to visit her sote at night. It was a good thing that she had only just finished her work and had not retired to bed. She poured him a cup of tea and invited him to take a seat.


    ¡°Is there anything you need?¡± asked Jun Huang. ¡°Have you run into any troubles?¡±


    Qi Yun picked up the cup and looked up at the sky. He didn¡¯t give her a straight answer. ¡°The metropolitan examination1is upon us¡±


    Jun Hang frowned. What did he mean by that?


    Qi Yun lowered his eyes. Jun Huang¡¯s puzzled look told him that she didn¡¯t know about the issue yet.


    He didn¡¯t go on immediately. ¡°I think the metropolitan examination this year may have been rigged. However, everyone is watching me these days, and my hands are already full. I cannot investigate this myself for the time being, if you have the time, may you look into it for me?¡±


    ¡°Do you mean that someone is manipting the results?¡± Jun Hang asked with her brows furrowed.


    Qi Yun nodded. ¡°It¡¯s only a possibility now. That¡¯s why an investigation is necessary.¡±


    The metropolitan examination is also known as the spring exam. Students from around the country came to attend the exam, hoping that they might be able to stand out from their peers and be officials.


    Jun Huang and Qi Yun had once talked about the exam. With proper training, schrs who passed the exam would be a great asset to them. They would be able to find people with both knowledge and ambition this way.


    Jun Huang paused to take a deep breath. This matter involved too many different parties. It wasn¡¯t something Qi Yun would be able to deal with. They could not predict what they might find. ¡°Focus on the corrupt officials, Qi Yun. Don¡¯t worry about the exam. I¡¯ll look into it myself.¡±


    Qi Yun knew what Jun Huang was thinking. He nodded. After some more discussion, Qi Yun bid her farewell and left. Jun Huang remained still as a statue as she thought about what she should do.


    There were only so many people who would be able to manipte the exam. It was organized by the Ministry of Rites. Some official in the ministry must have been bribed.


    The next day, Jun Huang woke up early and dressed herself as a studenting to the imperial city to attend the exam. In order to not attract suspicion, she forewent the silk robe she usually wore and opted for cheaper clothes. She arrived at the tavern The Drunken ce.


    Every year near the spring exam, The Drunken ce would be open to only people attending the exam. Some came for intellectual conversations. Others came to show off their family¡¯s wealth and status.


    Jun Huang had delicate features that were usually only seen in paintings. She attracted many pairs of eyes as soon as she entered the tavern. A man dressed in expensive clothes said mockingly, ¡°Ah, another poor schr! Are you here for the exam or a beauty pageant?¡±


    The onlookers broke intoughter after a moment of surprise. Jun Huang leveled the man with a cold stare, her eyes so sharp it unsettled the man. He fell silent.


    ¡°Pay them no mind.¡± Out came a man who looked to be under twenty in age. He had a handsome face and was dressed in expensive silk. He looked like a proper gentleman.


    Jun Huang nodded. She had a good feeling about this man. He seemed like someone who was fearless in face of people in power, but humble enough to willingly befriend peasants from more impoverished families. He might be a good asset to Qi Yun.


    The man took Jun Huang to a table on the other side of the room. There were already a few people sitting at the table. They gave her a friendly smile and introduced themselves. One of them asked, ¡°What is your name?¡±


    ¡°This gentleman is Feng Baiyu from Yangzhou.¡±


    ¡°What a coincidence!¡± The man who brought her here said with a stunning smile. ¡°I¡¯m from Yangzhou as well!¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s mouth twitched. She had picked a random city. She didn¡¯t expect this man to be from the area. She stayed silent. The more she talked, the higher the chance she would make mistakes.


    ¡°This gentleman is Qin Sheng from Yangzhou.¡± Qin Sheng gestured for her to take a seat. The group of men resumed their conversation.


    Qin Sheng was eloquent and expressive. Jun Huang sat in silence, listening to them talk without showing her true colors. Every once in a while she would smile at something they said.


    From what she had observed during the afternoon, Qin Sheng had left a good impression on her. He had a way with words and looked at the world with a unique perspective. He was also a man who had an ambitious goal. Jun Huang was sure he would be able to rank first in the exam. It would be ideal if Qi Yun could recruit him.


    A few dayster, Jun Huang went to The Drunken ce like she had been the past few days. Qin Sheng and his fellow students had been talking for a while. They weed her with enthusiasm when they spotted her. Jun Huang was quiet, but cultured. She usually listened to them talk withoutmenting. She wore in clothes, but she held herself with elegance. It was pleasant to have herpany.


    ¡°We are going to scout the exam locationter, brother Feng,¡± Qin Sheng said with a lowered voice, looking around cautiously. ¡°Do you want toe with us?¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°Scout the location? The exam is yet toe. Didn¡¯t the emperor decreed that no one was to enter the exam location beforehand? Why would it be possible to scout the ce?¡±


    Jun Huang kept her eyes on Qin Sheng. He stilled when he heard her response. Everyone else at the table fell silent as well. They looked at Jun Huang without a word.


    Jun Huang felt a little nervous. Had she blown her cover?


    ¡°Oh, brother Feng isn¡¯t part of our circle, so it¡¯s only natural that you don¡¯t know about this,¡± Qin Sheng said with a smile. ¡°Continue with your conversation. I¡¯ll exin to brother Feng myself.¡± He pulled Jun Huang out of the tavern.


    Jun Huang pretended to be confused. She could tell this was the weak point in the system she was looking for. From now on, she must tread carefully.


    Qin Sheng made sure no one was around before letting her go. Jun Huang asked, ¡°What did brother Qin mean?¡±


    ¡°Does brother Feng not know that people pay to get the exam questions in advance?¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes in horror and confusion. Qin Sheng sighed. His new friend must have beenpletely in the dark.


    ¡°There are more and more people attending the exam, and many are great schrs. In order to guarantee a good oue, one may make use of his connections to acquire the exam question in advance and prepare ordingly. Brother Feng, I¡¯ve only told you because I consider you my friend. It¡¯s a felony to cheat the emperor. We are all being very careful.¡±


    Jun Huang tried and failed to put on a smile. She could only imagine how dark her expression must have been.


    Fortunately, Qin Sheng had misunderstood the reason for her foul mood. Feng Baiyu is a schr with great talent but no money to back him up, he thought. He must have thought that the god is unjust.


    He sighed again and patted Jun Huang on the shoulder. ¡°Since we are friends, I¡¯ll give you a copy as well. We are both people with great ambitions. This exam cannot be the end of our journey. Come with me to the exam locationter.¡±


    Something shed through Jun Huang¡¯s eyes, but her expression didn¡¯t betray her thoughts. She looked at him with feign delight. ¡°That will be good. This gentleman will not forget about brother Qin¡¯s help.¡± She cupped her hands in a salute.


    Qin Sheng felt a little bashful. Feng Baiyu was knowledgeable, but he was by no means a stick in the mud. He was a talent to be reckoned with.


    Jun Huang, on the other hand, was thinking that she must get a look at what the question was.


    Unexpectedly, where they headed for wasn¡¯t the exam location. Instead, they took many turns before they finally arrived at a courtyard house in a remote area. Everyone was looking around with cautious eyes, worried that they might get caught.


    Just when Jun Huang was wondering what was happening, a man dressed in in clothes walked out. Jun Huang recognized this face. He was the administrative official of the ministry of rites. She had seen him once on Qi Chen¡¯s wedding. The man was spiteful. Jun Huang didn¡¯t like him.


    The man walked in with two servants in tow. In the servants¡¯ arms were stacks of paper. Qin Sheng went up to them and handed the man a silver ingot. He said something while pointing at Jun Huang. His voice was too low for Jun Huang to hear,


    After they had finished talking, the man gave Jun Huang a look. She looked familiar to him, but he couldn¡¯t put a finger on it. Jun Huang cupped her hands at him in greeting.


    In the end the official couldn¡¯t put a name to the face. Jun Huang let out a sigh of relief. It was fortunate that she had changed the way she dressed before going out today.

 Chapter 93

    Chapter 93: Rattling the Snake


    The administrative official handed the paper to them. Jun Huang read it over with a calm expression. She wasn¡¯t an official in the pce herself. She didn¡¯t know what the exam questions would be. Thus she couldn¡¯t be sure if this was legitimate.


    ¡°Do not let anyone know of this,¡± the official growled. ¡°If the emperor finds out, we¡¯ll all be thrown into prison.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Qin Sheng and his friends responded. They put the paper away and respectfully saw the official off with cupped hands.


    Jun Huang was still deep in thoughts even after the official had left. Qin Sheng walked up to her and patted her on the shoulder. She looked up at him with unfocused eyes.


    Qin Sheng smiled. He thought that Jun Huang must have been intimidated by the official¡¯s words. He said gently, ¡°The official didn¡¯t mean what he said. There¡¯s no need for you to dwell on it.¡±


    As if suddenly remembering something, he asked, ¡°By the way, do you want to have a drink with us at the Autumn House? To blow off some steam?¡±


    Jun Huang waved a hand at him. ¡°This gentleman doesn¡¯t want to rain on brother Qin¡¯s parade. However, now that I¡¯ve got my hand on the exam paper, I¡¯d like to study it on my own to make sure I will do well in the metropolitan exam.¡±


    Qin Sheng could understand that. Rich men like he and his friends could hand the questions to their honored guests and have the guests formte answers for them. They needed only to memorize the answers and write them down when the exam came. Poor men like Jun Huang, on the other hand, had to study hard themselves even with the leaked information.


    ¡°If so, this gentleman will not try to sway you. I sincerely hope you will perform well in the exam. Let us meet at another time.¡± Qin Sheng cupped his hands and left with his posse of men from rich families. He missed the dark look in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes.


    Jun Huang went straight back home and sent a message to Qi Yun. When Qi Yun visited in the evening, she was sitting in the garden alone with a piece of paper in her hand. Her eyebrows were tightly knitted together.


    Qi Yun walked up to her, his robe brushing against the leaves on the ground. He stepped on the twigs with his ck boots and the sound startled Jun Huang. She looked over at him.


    ¡°What did you find?¡± asked Qi Yun.


    Without a word, Jun Huang handed the paper to Qi Yun. He curiously took it. As soon as he saw what it was, his face darkened and his fingers tightened.


    ¡°Do you recognize it?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    Qi Yun nodded. He took a deep breath to settle his rattled mind. ¡°I do. It¡¯s the questions for this year¡¯s metropolitan exam. I¡¯ve seen the report the Ministry of Rites submitted to Royal Father.¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do about the official who has been selling the exam questions?¡± she asked, her eyes firmly on Qi Yun and her fingers tight around the teacup.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell Royal Father, of course,¡± Qi Yun said through clenched teeth. His anger was apparent from his expression. ¡°Northern Qi will not tolerate deceitful actions like this! Besides, the metropolitan exam is held to find talented men with integrity. It¡¯s not for scums like the official to exploit for his own gain.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a quietugh. She took a sip of tea before saying, ¡°A mere administrative official like him wouldn¡¯t be able to do this on his own. Someone is behind him. Does Your Highness know who is in charge of the Ministry of Rites?¡±


    Qi Yun widened his eyes and staggered backwards. ¡°Do you mean... second brother?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°Qi Chen probably doesn¡¯t know about this yet. However, you must remember that the emperor has charged him with the task of managing the ministry. It¡¯s not yet time for us to make him our enemy. We cannot expose this scandal ourselves.¡±


    ¡°Are we going to just let it go?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± she said with narrowed eyes. ¡°We can¡¯t get involved, but others can.¡±


    Qi Yun had learned how to read some of Jun Huang¡¯s nuance expressions. From her tone, he soon figured out that she was trying to kill with a borrowed knife. ¡°Do you mean we should get the news out through the Court of Judicial Review?¡±


    Jun Huang quirked her lips and nodded. ¡°Everyone knows that the Court of Judicial Review is fair and just. Once they know of this issue, they will report to the emperor. This won¡¯t be traced back to us, and Qi Chen won¡¯t be able to assert his influence on the court.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded and sat down. He took the tea Jun Huang had poured for him, barely managing to swallow down his ire.


    ¡°The gentleman is indeed clever,¡± Nan Xun suddenly walked out and said. ¡°I truly admire you for that.¡±


    Jun Huang threw him a quick nce before looking away. Nan Xun didn¡¯t take herck of response personally. He sat down next to Qi Yun and looked at the exam questions. He scoffed.


    ¡°What have you found, Qi Yun?¡± Jun Huang asked.


    Qi Yun felt his chest tightening in anger again. He mmed the teacup on the stone table, spilling the remaining tea over his fingers.


    Qi Yun¡¯s reaction was an obvious enough answer to Jun Huang¡¯s question. He must have found something incriminating. After all, Qi Yun was a royal prince who had not been through the hardships a peasant man would go through. A question from her was enough to provoke him into spilling his frustration.


    Qi Yun listed out what he had found over the past few days. The investigation had been depressingly fruitful. A good majority of the officials, including the ones who were often overlooked, had taken bribes, and many possessed real power.


    ¡°These men have been enabling their rtives and colluding with one another in pursuit of their own profit,¡± Qi Yun said furiously. ¡°They are going to destroy the country from the inside. It¡¯s truly unfortunate for Northern Qi to be gued with their existence.¡±


    Jun Huang paused for a moment before looking up at him. ¡°If you were able to find out this much in only a couple of days, it means that these are likely open secrets. The emperor must have known to some extent as well. Sometimes, to rule a massive country, you have to give some leeway to your people. If you hand the emperor all the evidence you have found, he will be perturbed, and he may not take any real action.¡±


    ¡°To be on the safe side, you should divide the evidence. One half you hand to the emperor and let him make the final call. The other half you keep in your hand as insurance.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. It made sense to him.


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun. ¡°Which part of the evidence do you think we should turn in to the emperor, Your Highness?¡±


    Nan Xun thought for a moment with his head ducked. ¡°Ignore how high or low grade the officials are. Anyone who is involved in rigging the spring exam, we don¡¯t report them. Anyone who is part of Qi Chen¡¯s circle, we don¡¯t report them, either. As for the rest, we¡¯ll pick the ones who have a certain level of influence to expose.¡±


    ¡°This way, we can show Qi Chen howpetent Qi Yun is. But since we haven¡¯t made a move on Qi Chen¡¯s major supporters, he won¡¯t consider Qi Yun a threat. On one hand Qi Yun will be able to prove himself to the emperor without making Qi Chen wary. On the other hand we can secretly weaken Qi Chen¡¯s power.¡±


    Jun Huang gave it some thoughts. Nan Xun¡¯s analysis was spot on. This is what they should do now. It was clear that Qi Chen not only had the support of his mother¡¯s family, but also the support of a group of people who stayed neutral and were loyal only to the throne.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun¡¯s analysis had made Qi Yun realize how much he still had to learn. He swore that he would catch up with them and be a man with both courage and wisdom. He would leave a mark on the world.


    When the sun was setting, Qi Yun got to his feet and bid them farewell. He had to n how he would inform the Court of Judicial Review of the leaked exam questions.


    Before he walked away, Nan Xun reminded him, ¡°You must not alert the snake by beating the grass.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. ¡°Of course.¡±


    Once Qi Yun had left, Jun Huang and Nan Xun were the only ones in the garden. Jun Huang lowered her head and quietly drank her tea, while Nan Xun looked at the flowers surrounding them without a word. After a while, a guard showed up.


    The guard cupped his hands. Jun Huang frowned and asked him what had happened. The guard replied, ¡°This subordinate was ordered to keep an eye on a seventh-grade official. The official had been acting suspiciously. Today I found him making his way towards Prince Chen Manor. I had no choice but to knock him out and bring him back.¡±


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes and shot up to her feet. ¡°Where is he now?¡±


    ¡°The woodshed.¡±


    Jun Huang threw a nce at Nan Xun, who nodded at her. They made their way to the woodshed. The moment they opened the door, they saw a young man being tied to a chair. He looked to be no more than twenty. His eyebrows were drawn close in a stubborn expression.


    Jun Huang scoffed at the young official, but in her head she was relieved. It was fortunate that she had taken precautions. For each official who had agreed to pledge loyalty to her, she had ordered a guard to tail him. If the officials had taken any suspicious actions, the guards were to tell Jun Huang immediately.


    If the guard had not reacted so quickly, Jun Huang would have been stabbed in the back by this dishonest official. She let out a sigh inwardly without letting her emotions show on her face.


    ¡°I told you that your hasty actions would have alerted the snakes hidden in the grass,¡± Nan Xun said sarcastically. ¡°Who knows how many among the officials that joined your circle will betray you like this man did?¡±


    ¡°People like him are in the minority,¡± said Jun Huang, her tone steely. One could even say she was prideful. ¡°Anyone with a clear mind would have seen which prince is a leader who can lead the country into prosperity, and which is an oppressor who knows only to exploit the people.¡±


    The official had not grasped the situation fully yet. He had been beaten up by Jun Huang¡¯s guard. His head was throbbing, and it felt like his bones had been dismantled. Every little move was unbearably painful to him.


    Nevertheless, he was a young and reckless man. Even though he was under Jun Huang¡¯s mercy, he feltpelled by his anger to Jun Huang. He thought that what Jun Huang did was no different from what a bandit would do, and that she wasn¡¯t a trustworthy person. He huffed out a scornfulugh. ¡°The gentleman is indeed cunning. You pretended to be a gentleman with integrity and gave a good pitch, but now you have had me tied up in this room. I wonder which part of your speech is honest, and which part is only lies.¡±


    Jun Huang twisted her lips into a smile as she approached the official. Sheughed. ¡°You are too humble, sir. As far as cunning goes, this gentleman is no match to you.¡±


    The official¡¯s face flushed. He knew he was the one to me here. If he hadn¡¯t broken his promise and tried to tell on Feng Baiyu, this ethereal man wouldn¡¯t have show himself again, and he himself wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this situation.

 Chapter 94

    Chapter 94: Exterminating Weeds


    The official¡¯s story was simr to that of the Senior Grandmaster. He, too, owed his sess today to Qi Chen. What differentiated them was that one knew to choose a good master to serve, while the other was foolishly loyal. Qi Chen¡¯s track record was far from spotless. It was indisputable that he hadmitted numerous atrocities. And yet the young official was unwilling to turn his back on Qi Chen.


    Jun Huang was prepared to spend her time convincing the official. She had confidence in her persuasive skills. She could make people believe that someone dead were alive. She never doubted that she would be able to change the mind of a man who chose to serve the wrong master.


    Nan Xun thought differently. He believed that someone who had betrayed you once was likely to betray you again. He was convinced that killing the man was the better option.


    Nan Xun put his hand around the hilt of his sword, preparing to draw his weapon. Jun Huang gave him a sideway look and pushed his hand back down. ¡°He must live,¡± she said right in front of the official.


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes turned sharp. ¡°Since when have you be so needlessly sympathetic? Don¡¯t you know one must destroy the roots of the weeds in order to eliminate them once and for all?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do,¡± said Jun Huang.


    Her response riled Nan Xun up further. He hit the already unsteady table with his palm, rendering the table into a pile of wood nks. The official hunched his shoulders up in fear.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t show any reaction. Slowly, she said, ¡°There aren¡¯t a lot of good officials in the imperial court of Northern Qi right now. Losing one is one too many.¡±


    Nan Xun scoffed and drew his sword at the official. ¡°What use does this dishonest man have? He would only be a burden to us.¡±


    The official wanted to defend himself, but he didn¡¯t know what he could say. As Nan Xun said, he had been dishonest. He fell silent and closed his eyes. It was a pitiful look.


    They couldn¡¯t reach a conclusion for the time being. Jun Huang stood up and said to the official, ¡°It¡¯s not that this gentleman can¡¯t find any other ally. I simply thought that you are a pure-hearted official, and you should know what integrity and shame mean. You are the one who betrayed me. Don¡¯t me this gentleman for being cold-hearted. I will give you one day to consider your options. If you insist on being stubborn, this gentleman cannot promise you that your parents will remain safe.¡±


    Jun Huang turned around and left. Nan Xun gave the official a meaningful look before sheathing his sword and following her out.


    Nan Xun quickly caught up to Jun Huang and stopped her. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡±


    Jun Huang looked at the green bamboo next to her. Among the four gentlemen of flowers and nts1, bamboo was second only to orchids in terms of her preference. Bamboo stood tall and straight, symbolizing the unbendable will of a gentleman. ¡°The official gave me an idea.¡±


    Nan Xun looked at her questioningly, waiting for her to continue.


    Jun Huang turned to him. Her eyes were calm, but her voice was determined. ¡°Compared to alerting the snakes, I¡¯m more afraid of being in the dark when we have already been exposed. We should turn this to our advantage and use this opportunity to confuse Qi Chen and his benefactor.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s words were vague, but Nan Xun was smart enough to figure out what she meant. He saw the value in her n. They could let Qi Chen find out that someone was trying to win over his people, but mislead him as to who it could be. They would be the fisherman benefitting from the fight between a m and a sandpiper.


    After a moment of silence, Nan Xun asked, ¡°Have you found his family?¡±


    ¡°That I¡¯ll need Your Highness¡¯s help,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile. The bamboo leaves behind her rustled as the silk robe Jun Huang wore fluttered in the wind. The fabric blended with the scenery like they were meant to be a pair.


    Noticing Nan Xun¡¯s gaze, Jun Huang schooled her expression into a cold mask. She turned back to the winding path and yawned tiredly. Only then did Nan Xun realize that it waste. He bid her farewell and left.


    The next day, Little Girl waited outside Jun Huang¡¯s room early in the morning. Once she heard that Jun Huang had woken up, she said through the screen, ¡°Gentleman Feng, the man who is kept in the woodshed requested to have a word with you.¡±


    Jun Huang arched an eyebrow. After getting freshened up, she made her way to the woodshed at the back of thepound. As soon as the official saw Jun Huang, he asked without ceremony, ¡°Can you promise to bring peace and prosperity to Northern Qi?¡±


    The question was a clear enough indication that the official was wavering. She smiled a little. ¡°You should see for yourself if you have doubts.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s open and honest attitude cleared thest of his reservation. He agreed to y double agent for Jun Huang and to provide fake information to Qi Chen.


    Jun Huang ordered the guard to loosen the restraint. The official rubbed at his sore arms and looked up at Jun Huang. After some hesitation, he asked, ¡°And you believe me so easily?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Jun Huang asked with an arched eyebrow. The official was rendered speechless. He couldn¡¯t be more grateful to Jun Huang. In this age of constant wars and conflicts, he was fortunate to have the trust of this elegant gentleman with delicate features and distant smile.


    He knew he had been foolish. Qi Chen¡¯s notoriety wasn¡¯t enough for him to betray the man who made him who he was today. He, however, wanted nothing more than to make Northern Qi a prosperous country where all people could lead a happy and peaceful life. That was something Qi Chen couldn¡¯t give him.


    In order to prove his loyalty, the official immediately asked for writing instruments and wrote a ¡°confession letter¡± right before Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. After he was finished, he carefully handed it to Jun Huang with both hands.


    Jun Huang¡¯s smile deepened as she read through the letter. Even the corners of her eyes were crinkled. But the smile was fleeting.


    Before the official left, he dropped down to the ground, using so much force that the impact of his knees hitting the ground sent dust flying into the air. Jun Huang frowned at him, wondering what he was trying to do.


    ¡°I thought I would spend my life wandering aimlessly. I am a stubborn fool with great ambition, but I had no way to make my dream a reality. Meeting the gentleman is the greatest fortune in all three lives of mine.¡± He bowed down to her. Frowning, Jun Huang helped him up and sighed.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this,¡± she said seriously. ¡°This gentleman is lucky to gain the support of a good official like you.¡±


    Tears streamed down the official¡¯s cheeks. He wiped his face clean with his sleeves before bidding her farewell.


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart was filled with a tangled mess of emotions. Nowadays, it was difficult for even the most talented men to seed. Many kind-hearted people suffered as a result. She let out a silent sigh and walked out of the room. Nan Xun was standing not far from her.


    It seemed that he had been waiting for a while. Jun Huang walked up to him. ¡°His parents?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve ordered people to keep watch. Nothing will happen to them. But are you really going to put your trust in him so easily?¡± Nan Xun wasn¡¯t convinced yet. The official had betrayed Jun Huang once. He was worried that he might stir up trouble again.


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°There are always uncertainties in the world. We have to learn how to believe in something. I¡¯m willing to believe that human beings are inherently good.¡±


    For reasons unknown to Nan Xun himself, seeing her face had calmed him down. He was willing to give the official the benefit of the doubt. Even if something went wrong, he was confident that he would be able to protect Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what he was thinking about. She walked towards the back garden. It was rare for Nan Xun to have this much free time. He had decided to spend the day in the garden Jun Huang had carefully put together. He was sure he would enjoy his time.


    After the official left Jun Huang¡¯s ce, he looked himself over. His clothes were rumpled and his face was stained. It was inappropriate for him to visit Qi Chen in this state. Thus, he decided to go back home first.


    Once inside, he saw his wife and child sitting in the hallway. His wife was watching their child y with a tender smile on her face. At that moment, he could not think of anything that was more precious to him.


    Seeing that the one supporting the family had returned, his wife walked up to him with a small smile. ¡°Where did you go yesterday? What has kept you so long? And did something happen? You look like a mess.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Yesterday I shared a few drinks with my friend. I got drunk and fell on my way back. I had no choice but to stay a night outside.¡± The official didn¡¯t want to make his wife worry, so he kept the truth to himself.


    They exchanged some small talk. The official hurriedly went to his room to get changed. After that, he left without even having breakfast. He had promised Jun Huang that he would deliver the letter to Qi Chen.


    In Northern Qi, morning meetings were convened every three days. Today, there was no meeting. The official went straight to Prince Chen Manor.


    Earlier, Qi Chen had received the news that some of his lesser known supporters had been used by Qi Yun for taking bribes. He was discussing what his next move should be with one of his confidantes.


    ¡°This gentleman believes that Your Highness should let this go,¡± his confidante said seriously. ¡°They are merely low grade officials who possess very limited power. What¡¯s more, the evidence has been delivered to the emperor. It¡¯s not worth it for Your Highness to rouse the emperor¡¯s suspicion for this matter.¡±


    Qi Chen narrowed his nted eyes in deep thoughts. He didn¡¯t say anything. Not long after, a page boy walked in and said that someone requested an audience with Qi Chen.


    The young official was led in by the page boy. It was the first time he had ever done something like this. His palms were covered in sweat and his breathing was shallow. He quickly came up to Qi Chen.


    Qi Chen had seen this man before, but he didn¡¯t remember the exact circumstance they had met under. ¡°What is the matter?¡±


    The official bowed and asked respectfully, ¡°This official has something to report.¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°There are people in the imperial court trying to sway the loyalty of Your Highness¡¯s supporters,¡± said the official. His tone was genuine and his eyes were clear. ¡°This official had pledged myself to Your Highness. I owe everything I am today to you. I refused to betray Your Highness. However, I am now being threatened by those viins. I have no choice but toe to Your Highness with this problem. This official is willing to pretend to be loyal to those men. I only hope that Your Highness can take care of my family in return.¡±


    Qi Chen nced at the confidante standing next to him. He sounds genuine and his eyes are clear, thought the confidante. Is what he said the truth, or very convincing lies?

 Chapter 95

    Chapter 95: We get what we deserve


    The official was worried that Qi Chen wouldn¡¯t trust his words. He quickly handed the letter to Qi Chen.


    Qi Chen was dumbfounded by what he read. There had been signs that someone was trying to steal his supporters away from him, but the signs were so subtle that he had overlooked them. Now he felt himself sweating because of this sudden realization.


    He was so angry he ended up letting out a sharpugh. ¡°Wonderful. These people dare to make their moves on me!¡±


    ¡°Do you know who they are?¡± the confidante asked.


    The official bowed down and shook his head. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he said, ¡°This official was threatened and coerced by a viinous man. He used my family as leverage. This gentleman was cornered into a dead end. Then, I suddenly remembered the gentleman Your Highness introduced me to on your wedding. I had no choice but to go to the gentleman for help. He knew that this official was Your Highness¡¯s supporter. He did all he could to help me rescue my family. That¡¯s how this official is able toe inform Your Highness of this issue.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s expression rxed a little when he heard that it was Feng Baiyu who had helped the official. After a moment of contemtion, he stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to leave the manor to attend to some business. You two should go as well.¡±


    Before he walked out, he patted the official on the shoulder, ¡°This is a good mark on your record. You will be rewarded in the future.¡±


    The official expressed his gratitude with great enthusiasm. His expression only changed when he ducked his head.


    Ever since Jun Huang had moved out, Qi Chen rarely saw Jun Huang. It was the first time that he visited her ce. Seeing that Qi Chen was here, the page boy watching the door rushed in to notify Jun Huang. ¡°The crown prince hase, gentleman Feng.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She knew Qi Chen woulde to find her as soon as he knew that someone was undermining his influence in secret. She pped her hands and said to the page boy, ¡°Lead him here. Later, if Qi Yun or Nan Xunes, stop them immediately.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± said the page boy. He re-entered with Qi Chen not long after.


    ¡°This gentleman didn¡¯t know Your Highness was visiting. I hope Your Highness will forgive me for theck of a proper wee.¡± Jun Huang quickly walked up to him, but her attitude was far from servile. Her words were more of a formality than an attempt to please him.


    Qi Chen knew how Jun Huang was. There was no point in taking it personally. He sat down on a stone stool and asked, ¡°Does brother Feng know that Qi Yun is impeaching some of my people?¡±


    Jun Huang sat down next to him and poured him a cup of tea. ¡°I have heard of the news, yes. What does Your Highness n to do?¡±


    She didn¡¯t tell him her opinions, but instead letting him speak of his intentions. Qi Chen looked down at the hot tea inside his cup and scoffed. ¡°I will leave them to rot, of course. They cannot even manage to deal with something so trivial. I am not responsible for the mess they¡¯ve made. They are useless to me.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s fingers stilled. She knew that Qi Chen was quick to cut his losses, but she didn¡¯t expect him to be so cold-hearted. If he became the emperor, people in Northern Qi would be living a torturous life.


    ¡°What does brother Feng think?¡± asked Qi Chen. Her silence had stretched a little too long for his liking.


    Jun Huang looked up at him and put the teapot down. After she had taken a sip of her tea, she said calmly, ¡°Your Highness is admirable for making the decision.¡±


    What she really thought was in stark contrast with her words. Jun Huang never left anyone an escape route. She had thought through what could happen before telling Qi Yun to request for the impeachment. If Qi Chen had been sentimental and sought the emperor out for this matter, he would be severely scolded by the emperor. If Qi Chen chose to abandon the officials like he had decided to do now, he would lose the trust of his supporters. The ones who had not been punished this time would think that Qi Chen was incapable of protecting them. Naturally they would turn to Qi Yun.


    For Qi Chen, he could only choose the lesser of the two evils.


    ¡°Brother Feng, I cannot take any obvious action in the court now. I¡¯d like to ask you to find out who it was that has been undermining me in secret. What do you think?¡±


    Jun Huang was surprised that Qi Chen would leave this task in her hand. She didn¡¯t know if she shouldugh. The one who had been undermining him was her! What answer could she give Qi Chen?


    At the same time, she was relieved. This meant that she would be able to further divide Qi Chen¡¯s power. Qi Chen had always been mistrustful. If he started to doubt people who had been loyal to him, she would be reaping the benefits. Why would she turn this opportunity down?


    Qi Chen¡¯s decision also showed that he still trusted her. That was a good sign.


    After giving it a second thought, she got to her feet and cupped her hands. ¡°This gentleman will not betray Your Highness¡¯s trust.¡±


    Qi Chen was pleased. He didn¡¯t ask why the official went to Jun Huang for help rather than going straight to him. Before he left, Jun Huang promised again to do all she could toplete this task, which made Qi Chen even more trusting of her.


    After sessfully misleading Qi Chen, Jun Huang and Qi Yun started to deal with the corrupt officials. As for the issue that someone had been selling exam questions without any regard to thew, it was already out of their hands.


    There was not much to investigate. Both the perpetrators and the evidence were clear. The head of the Court of Judicial Review barged into the manor of the administrative official with some runners. They arrested the official when he was still in his bed. The official¡¯s face paled in horror.


    The emperor was enraged by the scandal. The metropolitan exam was meant to be a way to find talents, and yet it had be a way for despicable men to profit. It was a truly atrocious crime. He decreed that the official was to be sentenced to death and executed this autumn. As for the schrs who bought the exam questions, they were sentenced to three months of imprisonment, and they were not allowed to attend the imperial exam at any level in five years.


    However, Jun Huang was not satisfied with the way this issue was dealt with. Anyone who was observant enough would be able to tell that a mere administrative official wouldn¡¯t be capable of doing this himself. There must be someone behind him.


    Qi Yun agreed with Jun Huang¡¯s analysis. He wanted to tell the emperor to investigate further, but he was stopped by Jun Huang and Nan Xun.


    ¡°It¡¯s still only my spection,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°How are you going to convince him without any evidence?¡±


    Qi Yun was silent. He had lost his ability to think in anger, but she was right. He clenched his teeth and scowled. There was nothing he could do.


    Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang and said, ¡°You have a n, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Jun Huang gave Nan Xun a small smile and exchanged a knowing look with him.


    In the afternoon, they went to the prison of the Court of Judicial Review. Qi Yun had been conducting the investigation in the court. Therefore he was able toe and go freely. It was easy for him to get Jun Huang and Nan Xun inside.


    The investigation on the officials had had a great impact on the court. More than half of the officials were proved to be guilty. Qi Yun was idealistic. He had ¡°invited¡± every one of the suspects to the prison. At the moment, this prison was more crowded than ever.


    The prison had always been cold. Even though Jun Huang had put on a fox fur coat before she left home, she could still feel the chilling air trying to burrow into her body. The inmates were dressed in only a thinyer of clothes. They cowered in the corner of their cells, their entire body trembling. And their lips had gone purple.


    Jun Huang frowned. These men had lead a luxurious life. They had been arrogant men dressing in the finest silk every day.


    But now? Now they were in a worse condition than the refugees. They didn¡¯t have enough food to quell their hunger. They didn¡¯t have proper clothes to keep them warm.


    Seeing the dark look in her eyes, Nan Xun followed her gaze and gave the inmates a once-over. In the dark, their bony pale faces were terrifying. He could tell what Jun Huang was thinking. He took Jun Huang¡¯s cold fingers in his hands and said gently, ¡°They have vited thew. They had to be punished for their greed. This is their own doing. You shouldn¡¯t dwell on it.¡±


    Jun Huang tilted her face to throw him a nce and nodded. She pulled her fingers away and put her hands under the coat, tightening the coat to warm herself up.


    Seeing that there were visitors, the inmates started muttering that they were innocent, that someone must believe them and appeal their cases for them.


    The three of them pretended to be blind to the inmates¡¯ plight and went straight to the cell the furthest inside. That was where the administrative official was kept. His face was as pale as a sheet. It looked eerie under the candlelight. He looked up at his visitors. His messy hair stuck to his faces.


    His eyes swept through the three of them until they settled on Jun Huang¡¯s face. He scoffed. ¡°You! How did I not see it?¡±


    Jun Huang looked at him without a word. ¡°The other inmates said that they were innocent,¡± she said after a moment of silence, her lips curved. ¡°Do you think you are innocent?¡±


    The official burst intoughter as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. Heughed so hard that he choked on his saliva and broke into a coughing fit. It took awhile for him to recover. ¡°It¡¯s not on me to decide if I am innocent,¡± he said, his eyes fixed on Jun Huang. ¡°I know why you¡¯re here. Even if I do tell you who is behind this, do you really dare to make a move on him?¡±


    He closed his eyes with a mocking smile on his lips.


    Jun Huang knew the official wouldn¡¯t say anything more. The corners of her mouth quirked up. ¡°You are willing to be the scapegoat for someone who¡¯s not rted to you. That¡¯s your choice. If you think it¡¯s worth it, so be it. Now I¡¯m sure you will like to rest. We will leave you alone.¡± She turned around and walked away. Nan Xun and Qi Yun exchanged a look before following her out.


    Outside the chilly prison, the sun was bright and warm. After a few steps, Jun Huang saw Qin Sheng not far from her.


    Qin Sheng and his friends had only bought the questions. They weren¡¯t considered to be irredeemable. They didn¡¯t have to stay in the cells in the dark basement. Once the investigation wasplete, they would be transferred to another cell. Then, they would be released after three months.


    Qin Sheng¡¯s gaze bore into Jun Huang. This handsome man had been wearing in clothes only a few days ago, and now he was in silk robe and a fox fur coat. Qin Shengughed at himself. He had met a great variety of people, and yet he mistakenly put his trust in this Feng Baiyu.


    Oh, what a pathetic joke he was!


    Jun Huang looked at Qin Sheng, who had been kept in the cell for a few days. She was surprised to find herself feeling nothing. She only realized then that her heart had hardened to the point that it became numb.


    Qin Sheng twisted his lips into a smile. ¡°What a cunning man brother Feng is,¡± he said calmly. ¡°This gentleman admires you for your clever ploy.¡±

 Chapter 96

    Chapter 96: Traveling Long Distance to Yangzhou


    Jun Huang could hear the sarcasm drip from Qin Sheng¡¯s words, but her expression betrayed none of her thoughts. Only when Qin Sheng was about to be dragged away by the soldier did she ask, ¡°You are a knowledgeable man. Why did you cast aside your dignity for power?¡±


    There was a moment of silence before Qin Sheng broke intoughter. ¡°There are tens of thousands of talented men in Northern Qi. Everyone is doing all they can to stand out in the spring exam. If we don¡¯t cheat, how do we make sure that we will rank among the top? Every man taking the exam has diligently studied for more than ten years, but in the end there will only be a handful of winners. We are forced to act this way. There¡¯s no point for brother Feng in trying convince me with titudes.¡±


    The soldier who was to take him away pushed him in the back. Qin Sheng stumbled and barely recovered his footing. Jun Huang wanted to say something, but she didn¡¯t think there was anything she could say that would be useful. She watched the men who had been prim and proper only a few days ago being taken away. A trace of bitterness sneaked into her heart.


    ¡°There are things we cannot control,¡± said Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang threw him a nce. She made sure no one was around before she said, ¡°From what the official said, it is clear that someone is behind him. Someone with great power. Do you know who is in charge of overseeing the Ministry of Rites?¡±


    ¡°The ministry is second brother¡¯s responsibility, but Sir Shangguan is the one who has been taking care of the daily affairs... Do you mean ¨C ¡± Qi Yun looked over at Jun Huang with wide eyes.


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes. ¡°Sir Shangguan?¡±


    ¡°Shangguan Yue¡¯s father,¡± added Nan Xun. ¡°The one and only Grand Chancellor of Northern Qi.¡±


    Jun Huang fell silent. Sir Shangguan was a well-respected man. He was also the most powerful person in Qi Chen¡¯s circle. The fact that he was able to be the Grand Chancellor was reason enough to be wary of him. They should refrain from make a move on him for now.


    ¡°We risk being overheard if we talk here,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Let¡¯s return first. We have to discuss this issue carefully.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. It wasn¡¯t a good ce to talk. Qi Yun called out for the servant to bring the coach that was parked outside the court. He waited for Jun Huang to get in before he and Nan Xun did. They left for Jun Huang¡¯s house.


    Once back home, Jun Huang told the door keeper that she wasn¡¯t going to take any guests today before she led Nan Xun and Qi Yun inside.


    Inside the front room, Jun Huang took off the fur coat and handed it to Little Girl. She ordered a servant to bring her a pot of tea before sitting down. She drank some tea to warm her body up.


    Taking a deep breath, she asked, ¡°What do you think we should do?¡±


    Before Nan Xun could say anything, Qi Yun piped up, ¡°Sir Shangguan is a powerful official who enjoys Royal Father¡¯s favor. As you¡¯ve said before, his every move is watched by Royal Father. It¡¯s impossible that Royal Father doesn¡¯t know what he¡¯s up to. Royal Father just chose to turn a blind eye to his actions. If we make a move on him, Royal Father will be unhappy. We should shift our focus elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°What exactly should we focus on?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    ¡°I say we target the prefect of Yangzhou. He is a rich but greedy man. He¡¯s been exploiting the local residents rather than protecting them. He is the one we should deal with first.¡± Qi Yun¡¯s eyes were cold. His fingers tightened around the teacup. This news must have been new to him. Qi Yun wouldn¡¯t have been so furious if there were any signs before.


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun. He nodded. ¡°Yangzhou is the biggest city in Northern Qi. The officials there are in the best position to oppress people for their personal gain.¡±


    Qi Yunughed harshly. He didn¡¯t realize that he had spilled some tea from his cup and soaked his purple silk robe. He growled, ¡°Do you know that he¡¯s been enabling his rtives and breaking thew to embezzle money?¡±


    ¡°So? We don¡¯t have the evidence to back us up.¡± Nan Xun didn¡¯t sugarcoat his response and pointed out directly the problem they were faced with. His tone was sharp and steely.


    Nan Xun¡¯splete disregard of Qi Yun¡¯s feelings silenced Qi Yun. Jun Huang watched them without a word and sipped her tea with a calm face.


    Qi Yun couldn¡¯t offer any counterargument. He tightened his fists and stared at Nan Xun. The air in the room grew tense. Finally, Jun Huang broke the silence. ¡°You can¡¯t leave the imperial city for now. I¡¯ll take care of the problem in Yangzhou.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous for you to go alone,¡± Nan Xun said without missing a beat.


    Jun Huang chuckled. ¡°I only need you to lend me a couple shadow guards.¡±


    Nan Xun knew that he wouldn¡¯t be able to convince Jun Huang otherwise. He sighed and didn¡¯t say anything. Qi Yun was worried. What Nan Xun said made sense. Best case scenario, Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t run into any trouble. If something did happen, however, it would be toote for them to help her when they heard of it.


    After some time, Nan Xun and Qi Yun left together. Jun Huang was hit by a sudden wave of exhaustion and was going to take a rest, but the page boy watching the door came in.


    The page boy cupped his hands. ¡°Gentleman Feng, someone is here to meet you.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. She wondered what this was about. Still, she told the page boy to let her guest in. It was the young official she had recruited. She quickly got to her feet and weed him in with a smile. ¡°You have done well. As long as you stay honest and do what you¡¯re supposed to do, you will have a bright future ahead of you.¡±


    The official knelt down before her. Jun Huang staggered back. She didn¡¯t expect him to do this. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡±


    ¡°If not for the gentleman, I will still be helping a bad man exploiting the people,¡± he choked, his eyes brimming with tears. ¡°I have told my wife about this matter. She also said that gentleman Feng is my Bo Le. If not for your trust, I would have...¡±


    Jun Huang never thought of herself as anyone¡¯s Bo Le. She was only trying to recruit talented people. The official had the potential to be great. That was why she decided to help him.


    Seeing that the official was unwilling to get up, Jun Huang sighed. ¡°What do youe here for?¡±


    Her tone was polite, but distant. It was as if she was hidden in a heavy fog and was unknowable and untouchable by others. The official blinked. How could someone like her be made of flesh and blood like him?


    It took a moment for the official to form aplete sentence, ¡°If the gentleman has any use of me, just let me know. This gentleman will not turn you down.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled and nodded. ¡°If I need your assistance, I won¡¯t hesitate to tell you. You don¡¯t have to feel like you¡¯re indebted to me. This is simply a fair trade.¡±


    ¡°Then... this gentleman will stop bothering you.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and told Little Girl to walk the official out. It was still early. She thought about what she had promised Qi Yun. She decided to visit Qi Chen.


    When she arrived at Prince Chen Manor, Qi Chen was in the garden with Nan Guyue, enjoying the warm sun. Nan Guyue¡¯s swollen belly had be more prominent in the past few days after Jun Huang had moved out. Her face was softer, too. She was in a lively conversation with Qi Chen with a smile on her face.


    Qi Chen spotted Jun Huang and beckoned her over. ¡°What is brother Feng here for?¡±


    ¡°The anniversary of my parents¡¯ death is in a few days. I¡¯ve nned to leave the city for a while.¡±


    Qi Chen was a little surprised. ¡°In a few days?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded.


    ¡°Where were they buried?¡±


    ¡°Yangzhou.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. It was human nature to want to mourn your loved ones. There was no reason for him to deny Jun Huang this request. ¡°I understand. Be careful on your way there. Do you need me to make arrangements for you?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head with a smile and looked up at the bright blue sky. Her heart was aching, but she didn¡¯t let it show.


    She knew that some pain was meant for her to shoulder alone. It was meaningless to tell anyone else. They wouldn¡¯t be able to understand. A few sympathetic looks were all she would get.


    Qi Chen trusted Jun Huang. Jun Huang knew that he had been on edge ever since he received the confession letter from the young official. He most likely wanted nothing but to find the person who had been undermining his influence.


    Jun Huang huffed. Even a careful man like Qi Chen slipped up every once in a while. He would never have expected that the one person he trusted the most was the one he should be most cautious of.


    After bidding Qi Chen farewell, Jun Huang walked out of the manor. She was going to leave for Yangzhou. It was best for her to start preparing for the trip immediatly. On her way back, she was stopped by a man.


    Jun Huang looked up at the familiar and stoic face. With a frown, she looked around to see if any of Qi Chen¡¯s people were nearby. She let out a sigh of relief when she was sure that no one was following her. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked with a lowered voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to Yangzhou with you,¡± Nan Xun said, his voice determined.


    Jun Huang widened her eyes. ¡°What?¡±


    Nan Xun chuckled and looked at Jun Huang with curved lips, his usually cold eyes shining with tender light. ¡°I have told the emperor that I need to take a leave,¡± he said gently. ¡°So don¡¯t be worried that it¡¯ll affect me in any way.¡±


    Jun Huang still had questions in her mind, but she was never a nosy person. Since Nan Xun had the time to apany her, she might as well take him with her. It would be a much easier trip.


    They bought themselves some necessities before returning to their respective homes. They agreed to meet outside the city the next morning to avoid any scrutiny.


    Jun Huang woke up at the crack of dawn. The world was only beginning to rouse. She ordered a servant to prepare a ferghana horse for her.


    Little Girl had finished packing for Jun Huang. She was worried. Over the past few weeks she had gotten to know Jun Huang. She knew that Jun Huang appeared to be cold and distant, but she actually had a good heart. She was quiet, but she treated the servants well. The payment was higher than in other households, and she never set up rules for them to follow. Everyone in this household adored Jun Huang.


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to take anyone with you, gentleman Feng?¡± Little Girl asked worriedly, her brows furrowed. ¡°You may be gone for weeks. This servant can¡¯t help but be worried.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled and shook her head without a word. The sun had risen. She took the package Little Girl handed her and mounted the white horse. She asked the servants to take good care of the house before riding the tall horse outside the city.


    Nan Xun was already waiting for her when she arrived. He came up to her and gave her a canteen. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a long ride. Take this.¡±


    She epted readily. Looking over at the path leading away from the city, she asked, ¡°How long will it take for us to reach Yangzhou?¡±


    ¡°If we aren¡¯t dyed, we¡¯ll be able to reach the city before nightfall.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. There was a faraway look in her eyes as she contemted their n. The investigation into the corrupt officials was a hot topic in the imperial city. It was impossible to be oblivious to the news. It must have reached Yangzhou as well. They had to get there as quickly as they could.

 Chapter 97

    Chapter 97: Yangzhou


    Nan Xun knew how urgent this matter was to Jun Huang. Without wasting any more time, he mounted and squeezed the horse¡¯s torso with both his legs. The horse broke into a gallop, bringing sand and dust up in the air. In the veil of yellow dust, Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were drawn to Jun Huang¡¯s aloof face. The silk robe she wore looked pristine against the backdrop. She looked like a goddess riding on her horse.


    Their horses galloped forward. Their clothes fluttered and rustled in the wind. The only thing they could hear was the swooshing sound air made. The beautiful scenery was left unnoticed as the two of them tried to reach Yangzhou as soon as they could.


    They arrived at the gate to Yangzhou city before sunrise. They dismounted and smiled a little at their destination.


    Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang, who looked back at him. They led their horses towards the checkpoint. After answering the guards¡¯ questions, they made their way inside. The streets were bustling with people roaming the stands. Jun Huang rxed visibly.


    She had seen how difficult life at the border was. She was afraid that Yangzhou might have suffered the same fate. If that were the case, she would have to conclude that the emperor was truly ipetent. Fortunately, the city was as prosperous as ever.


    As the biggest city in Northern Qi, Yangzhou had attracted many magnates. There were an abundance of business opportunities here. A good number of rich men moved their whole family and settled down in the city, which exined why the prefect of Yangzhou was corrupt. Every one of these businessmen was able to award him handsomely.


    The prefect was willing to do anything for money. As long as he received payment, he would dly turn a blind eye to any crimes. The heaven cared not about the mortal world, and the emperor was too great a distance away. That was why a mere prefect was able to assume total control of the city.


    ¡°Let us find a ce to rest,¡± suggested Nan Xun. ¡°Tomorrow we will start our investigation.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She knew when to be patient. After a long day on horse, the poison in her body was again rearing its ugly head. She rubbed at her chest with a pale face. Nan Xun immediately came to her side and supported her with an arm. Worried, he asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Jun Huang took a deep breath to suppress her difort, but she didn¡¯t try to move away from Nan Xun. Instead, she leaned against Nan Xun and let him support her weight. In his concerns, Nan Xun failed to notice her unusual behavior.


    Upon their arrival at the inn, the clerk could tell from their extraordinary presence that they were from a good family. Jun Huang and Nan Xun had changed out of their silk robes, but the fabric of their clothes were far from cheap. Moreover, they both possessed this innate aura that demanded others¡¯ attention.


    ¡°Are the gentlemen here for a meal or to stay the night?¡± The clerk swung his towel over his shoulder and came up to them with a servile smile.


    ¡°We¡¯re staying,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Prepare two of your finest rooms for us.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± The clerk rushed off to arrange the rooms for them. Nan Xun ced a silver ingot on the counter. The innkeeper widened his eyes. Such generous payment happened only once every blue moon.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t pay the innkeeper any attention. He pointed at the two horses they left at the door. ¡°Take good care of them.¡±


    The innkeeper hurriedly agreed. Once the rooms were prepared, Nan Xun helped Jun Huang up the stairs and ordered the clerk to send them some food.


    After the clerk had left, Nan Xun said to Jun Huang, ¡°You have to give your body time to recover. Don¡¯t be hasty.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. Once Nan Xun left, she shut the door and sat down at the table. She inhaled deeply and took her own pulse. Her body was in a good enough condition. She was simply exhausted from the trip. She took some painkillers she had made herself. It made her feel a little better.


    The next day, Jun Huang left the inn with Nan Xun and walked the street to find out what had been happening around the city. Yangzhou wasrge. It was a waste of time for them to do this together. After thinking through the pros and cons, Jun Huang suggested that they split up.


    Before they parted ways, Nan Xun reminded Jun Huang to not take risks on her own. If she found anything, she must tell him lest she get hurt. Jun Huang nodded and went west.


    This region was popted by poor people. The further she went, the more shabby the buildings were. Residents here were dressed in crude and even torn clothes. She felt her heart ache for them.


    Two children ran out from nowhere and pulled at Jun Huang¡¯s clothes. They looked up at her. ¡°Big brother, big brother! Please give us something to eat!¡±


    Jun Huang squatted down and tried to understand what was happening. Before she could say much, an old man walked out with a crutch. He pointed at the two children. ¡°Please don¡¯t be offended, gentleman. They are pitiful kids who have lost their parents.¡±


    Jun Huang got to her feet. ¡°Isn¡¯t there an orphanage for these kind of children?¡±


    The old man smiled a little and waved his hand. ¡°The gentleman must be new to the city. You don¡¯t know that there was a tax increase, do you? Originally, there was an orphanage in the city, but it was unable to continue its operation. These orphans can only beg for a living. It¡¯s a great misfortune that the emperor never noticed.¡± He got more and more riled up as he spoke. The wrinkles on his face deepened.


    Jun Huang was deeply rattled. She had never heard of a tax increase for the past two years! On the contrary, didn¡¯t the emperor cut the tax for Yanzhou out of kindness because of the drought hitting the city a few years back?


    She looked at the old man with dark eyes. ¡°Is it true?¡±


    ¡°Why would an old man like me lie to you without a good reason?¡± The old man gave her a smile before limping away. He gestured for the children to follow him. He was offering them a meal.


    Jun Huang tightened her hands into fists, her nails biting deep into her palms. Her thoughts kepting back to the fact that there had been a tax increase. The pain never registered in her brain.


    The more she thought about it, the more furious she got. She wanted nothing but to grab the prefect by the shoulders and questioned him if he was able to sleep at night as he exploited the people like they were animals.


    Nan Xun reached the inn before Jun Huang did. He waited a long time, and yet she had not returned. Worried that she might have been in danger, he decided to go find her. He happened to run into Jun Huang at the door. She looked as if her world had been turned upside down.


    Nan Xun frowned and checked her for any injury. He rxed when he saw that she wasn¡¯t hurt. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Jun Huang met his eyes with a frown. She looked around and gave Nan Xun a look. They knew each other well enough tomunicate without a word. They went inside the inn and made their way to her room.


    Once inside, Nan Xun made sure there wasn¡¯t anyone around before asking, ¡°What did you find?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s scowl was intimidating. She looked up at Nan Xun. ¡°Do you know about the tax increase in Yangzhou?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. The people are suffering. The emperor would not have increased the tax at time like this. Neither have I heard of such n... Did someone tell you this?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. Her heart was still boiling with rage. She took a gulp of the tea on the table. It was bitter, and the sweet aftertaste never came. It must have been brewed early in the morning and had gone cold over the day.


    It was bad for her health to drink too much cold tea. She put down the teacup and forced herself to calm down. She inhaled deeply.


    Nan Xun hummed. He had an idea. ¡°Tax revenue is normally recorded in detail. Even if the prefect has submitted false record to the imperial court, he must have kept a real ounting book somewhere in his manor.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes lit up. She exchanged a look with Nan Xun before turning to the window. Sunlight shone through the opened shutters. There was a silver lining still.


    Evil would never triumph against justice. She was convinced that there would be a way to punish this despicable man who tantly disregarded thew.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t so sure. The investigation in the imperial city had attracted a lot of attention. Yangzhou wasn¡¯t so far away from the imperial city that the news wouldn¡¯t have reached the prefect¡¯s ears. Perhaps the prefect had already made the preparations to catch the investigators in one swoop .


    Jun Huang knew what Nan Xun was worried about, but the clerk knocked before she could say anything. She opened the door to let the clerk in. The clerk brought them a pot of tea. ¡°This servant saw that the gentlemen have returned to your rooms. I knew your tea must have gone cold. Therefore I brew you a fresh pot.¡±


    Jun Huang looked down at the guests having their meals downstairs. No one stood out as suspicious, and there wasn¡¯t any onlookers around them. She shut the door and took out a silver ingot. ¡°May I ask you something, brother?¡± she asked as she approached him with a bright smile.


    The clerk was puzzled, but he couldn¡¯t stop his eyes from darting to the silver ingot. He nodded without thinking. At this point, he didn¡¯t really care what questions Jun Huang was going to ask.


    ¡°How has the prefect been treating his people?¡± Jun Huang decided to ease him into the conversation. She sat on a chair and yed with the ingot in her hand, all the while keeping her eyes on him.


    ¡°Ha! Isn¡¯t every official the same? We ordinary people have no way to even catch a glimpse of the prefect. He always travel through a sedan chair being carried by eight men. His feet never even touch the ground! And that¡¯s far from the worst thing about him. I heard that he just married a concubine some time ago. He, a fifty something old man,id his hand on a young and beautiful woman! What¡¯s more, he turned a blind eye to his son¡¯s wrongdoings, letting him force himself on a peasant woman. It¡¯s said that the woman resisted, and her whole family ended up being beaten to death ¨C ¡±


    The clerk rambled on and on. He told Jun Huang every rumor he had ever heard of, paying no mind to the truthfulness of his words. In the end, he let out a resigned sigh. ¡°That prefect is a poor excuse of a human being. No matter what crimes those rich menmit, as long as they pay, he will let them go without so much of a p on their wrists.¡±


    Jun Huang became more and more tense during his rambling. She handed the silver ingot to him and forced herself to put on a smile. ¡°Do not tell anyone of this conversation.¡±


    The clerk nodded hurriedly. ¡°This peasant will keep my lips sealed. I have exposed every dirty little secret of the prefect. If he gets a wind of this conversation, I will not be able to survive even if I had ten lives.¡±


    Once the clerk left, Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun. ¡°If what he said is true, there must be evidence showing that the prefect has been taking bribes over the years. And if he has let his son hurt people without intervening, there must be some proof at his ce as well.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°True. But next time, please don¡¯t just grab a random person and question them.¡±


    At night, the city quieted down considerably. There was barely any people on the street. Yangzhou was prosperous, but it was not the imperial city. Jun Huang and Nan Xun sneaked their way to the prefect¡¯s manor.


    They were dressed in ck and their faces were covered by masks. The only visible part of their features were their eyes, which shone brightly in the dark.

 Chapter 98

    Chapter 98: Shutting down Yangzhou


    Without hesitation, Nan Xun vaulted over the wall and scouted out the manor. Not long after, he reappeared andnded next to Jun Huang without a sound. ¡°The ce is heavily guarded. Even the royal soldiers posted in Yangzhou are here. We will have to be careful.¡±


    ¡°We have to get inside even if the entire army is here,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°This must end here.¡±


    Something shed through Nan Xun eyes. Despite his reluctance, Nan Xun decided to be honest with Jun Huang. ¡°I also saw someone we know.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s expression worried Jun Huang. She stared into his eyes. ¡°Who was it?¡±


    ¡°The clerk at the inn.¡±


    Jun Huang broke into cold sweat, but her expression remained calm. She took a deep breath and scoffed. ¡°If so, we will not show anyone mercy. If we don¡¯t get the evidence today, we will not find any tomorrow.¡±


    Nan Xun agreed. He thought back to the route he had just found. Without another word, he put an arm around Jun Huang and leaped over the wall,nding behind the fake mountain, hidden in its shadow.


    Nan Xun could feel how thin Jun Huang was with his arm around her torso. He felt a pang in his heart. Jun Huang put some distance between them and looked away. Her face was a perfect mask of aloofness.


    After the patrolling guards had passed through, Jun Huang and Nan Xun hurriedly made their way to the study. Nan Xun made sure to keep her safe along the way.


    Outside the study, they saw the silhouette of a man walking around in the room. Jun Huang shot Nan Xun a look and made a gesture at him. Without missing a beat, he took off the dagger he kept on his waistband and quickly picked open the lock. When they got inside, the man was nowhere to be seen. He must have gone through a secret door.


    Jun Huang surveyed the room carefully and thought back to where the man had been standing. There was a Buddha statue in the area. While everything else was covered in dust, the statue was perfectly clean. She rotated the statue with both hands and clink! The bookshelf next to the statue slowly moved aside.


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun. He shut the door and nodded at her. They went inside the secret tunnel together.


    The tunnel was almost pitch ck. The only light source was the luminous pearls attached to the wall. The dim light they emitted was just bright enough for the two of them to see the floor beneath their feet. They walked further inside, keeping near to the wall.


    As soon as Jun Huang saw a door, she felt something beneath her foot. A bell chimed. Jun Huang¡¯s pupils contracted.


    The man inside had heard the sound. He shot up to his feet and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    In that split second, Nan Xun lunged at the man with a push against the wall and hit the man in the neck with a knifehand strike. The man passed out before he could get a clear look at Nan Xun¡¯s face. His head hit the wall as he copsed.


    Jun Huang walked up to them. The prefecty on the ground, unconscious. She huffed and walked around his body, stopping at where the prefect had been a moment ago.


    There was a brazier on the floor. Next to it was the evidence he had yet to destroy. Jun Huang picked the documents up and browsed through them. The more she read, the colder her expression became. The prefect must never have expected that one day, these records he kept would be the evidence that had him imprisoned. Now, it was toote for him to cover his tracks.


    Jun Huang looked over at Nan Xun and whispered, ¡°Here¡¯s everything we need. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and followed her out.


    They returned to the inn as quickly as they could. As expected, the clerk who had been in the prefect¡¯s manor earlier was at the door, his eyes darting around looking for them. Jun Huang scoffed and took out a silver needle. From his blind spot, she threw the needle at him.


    The clerk felt a sting, but he didn¡¯t see or feel anything when he checked over his body. He didn¡¯t realize that the needle had gone into his flesh. In an hour, it would cause all the energy pathways in his body to copse, and he would die a painful death.


    This was the kind of person Jun Huang could be. If someone dared to conspire against her, she would make them pay. She would noty a finger on people who had not hurt her, but with people who had? She would pay them back double.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what was on the needle Jun Huang had just thrown. He thought that she only wanted to teach the clerk a lesson, so he didn¡¯t pay it any mind. They entered their rooms from the back of the inn.


    Before they did, he said, ¡°It¡¯s been a taxing night. You should rest. We¡¯ll leave early in the morning.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. It waste. The gate had already been shut. They couldn¡¯t leave the city even if they wanted to. Their only choice was to rest and leave tomorrow.


    The clerk waited for a long time for Nan Xun and Jun Huang to return. He quirked his lips into a wicked smile. They must have been caught by the prefect! Tomorrow, he would go to the prefect¡¯s manor for his reward. In his excitement, he failed to notice the dull pain in his body.


    He happily returned to his room. The moment he came in contact with the bed, a sharp pain shot through his body. He couldn¡¯t help crying out. His scream was so loud it cut through the night sky. One after another, the customers in the inn cursed out loud. Jun Huang opened her eyes without getting off the bed.


    The innkeeper knocked on the clerk¡¯s door, cursing and muttering. No one responded. He forced the door open and there the clerk was. The man who had been alive and well during the day nowy dead on his bed with a terrified look on his face. Blood gushed out from all seven of his orifices, and his limbs were twisted into unnatural angles. His eyes were wide and the eyeballs had rolled back into his skull. Under the candlelight, he painted a horrifying picture.


    ¡°He¡¯s dead! He¡¯s dead!¡± The innkeeper cried out as he ran outside. Hearing themotion, Nan Xun walked out of his room and followed the crowd to the scene. He was a soldier who had fought in many battles. He was no strangers to broken limbs and dead bodies. The way the clerk¡¯s body looked, however, still managed to make him frown.


    He thought back to the needle Jun Huang had thrown. His expression stilled. He didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be capable of cruelty such as this. Of course, he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to question Jun Huang now. He pretended nothing had happened and returned to his room.


    Jun Huangy on the bed with a nk face. Her heart was numb. It was as if she hadn¡¯t been the one who had caused all the chaos. She slowly closed her eyes. Tomorrow, there would be a storm awaiting her.


    When the prefect came to, he was still on the floor. His forehead was throbbing in pain. He touched the skin and felt the half-dried blood. He gasped as a stabbing pain spread from the wound. He cursed out loud. He looked over at where he had kept the documents. Nothing was there. The fire had been put out. And the things he was trying to destroy had disappeared as well.


    Before his anger could register in his brain, he felt panic rising from his heart and his clothes were drenched in cold sweat. The evidence must not be delivered to the emperor! He quickly recovered and rushed outside. He summoned his confidante and ordered him to shut down the entire city.


    The confidante didn¡¯t know what had happened yet. He frowned. ¡°You must not do this, sir. Yangzhou is the biggest city in Northern Qi. The emperor has decreed that the gate must be kept open unless there is no other choices...¡±


    ¡°What does it mean to have no other choices?¡± the prefect said through clenched teeth. ¡°If we don¡¯t act now, the scums who attacked me will escape. Then what awaits us will be the army the emperor send in to arrest me.¡±


    The confidante quickly grasped the situation. The records of Yangzhou¡¯s tax revenue must have been stolen. That was a disaster waiting to happen. They couldn¡¯t afford to waste any more time. He rushed to send a messenger to the guards stationed at the city gate. They were to shut the gate immediately and to search through every inch of the city.


    Fortunately, the clerk had reported to the prefect earlier. He said that there were two handsome men asking questions about the prefect. They appeared to be from outside Yangzhou. They were likely to be investigators from the imperial city.


    ¡°As expected, they shut down the city with no concerns to thew,¡± Nan Xun said with a serious expression. Now that the gate was closed, they would have to go through thorough questioning in order to leave the city.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes were dark. She huffed. ¡°He is getting desperate. If the news reached the imperial city, do you think Qi Chen would be able to protect him?¡±


    Nan Xun was surprised by her attitude. Her calm smile puzzled him. Why could she maintain herposure no matter what she was faced with? He had never seen her lose her cool.


    Jun Huang had noticed his odd look, but she didn¡¯t exin. Her smile dropped from her face as she looked out at the unusual number of soldiers walking the street. She sighed. ¡°Let us leave immediately. They will find their way to this inn in no time.¡±


    ¡°However, we will have a target on our backs if we leave the inn looking like this,¡± Jun Huang said with a smirk. ¡°Wait for me outside. I¡¯ll put on some disguise.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what she was nning, but he left without a word. From the rucksack Little Girl had packed for her, Jun Huang pulled out a dress she had told Little Girl to prepare. She did so just in case an emergency arose. She hadn¡¯t been sure she would need it.


    Little Girl was young. She preferred light yellow and pink. Jun Huang huffed out augh at the light yellow dress. She supposed beggars couldn¡¯t be choosers.


    She put on the dress and took off her white jade cap, letting her hair fall on her shoulders. Looking at the young woman in the bronze mirror, Jun Huang felt lost in time all of a sudden. When she dressed as a woman in the brothel, she hadn¡¯t had the time to really look at herself. Now, seeing her own reflection, it felt more like she was looking at a stranger.


    She didn¡¯t have time to dwell on her feelings further. She made her hair into a bun and put on a hair pin. Then she put on some makeup before walking outside.


    Nan Xun stared dumbly at Jun Huang. He had had the honor to listen to Jun Huang perform that time in the brothel, but now he was given the opportunity to spend time with her when she was dressed as a woman.


    There was a faint smile on her face, but her eyes remained distant. The way she moved her body was elegant, but there was also an air of determination about her that ordinary women did not possess.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Jun Huang asked with a frown. Nan Xun had been staring at her in silence for too long.


    Nan Xun came to his senses and gave her an awkward smile before looking away. ¡°Nothing.¡± He coughed. ¡°I¡¯m just wondering what you¡¯re nning...¡±

 Chapter 99

    Chapter 99: Two against the an Army


    Jun Huang looked down at the dress she was wearing. With a chuckle, she said, ¡°This is to prevent others from getting suspicious of us. If anyone asks, we are a married couple leaving Yangzhou to visit our family. Do not tell them our destination is the imperial city. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Nan Xun could not believe his ears. Had he heard Jun Huang wrong? She looked perfectly serious though. It didn¡¯t seem like she was joking with him.


    Jun Huang knew that Nan Xun had heard her. She walked towards the front door without sparing another nce at him. After a brief pause, Nan Xun jogged up to her with a smile he could not suppress.


    As they expected, there was a crowd waiting at the city gates. The doors were only half open in case someone decided to make a run for it. There were more guards stationed here than usual. Some of them were holding the portraits of Jun Huang and Nan Xun ¨C made ording to the description the clerk had given before he died. They used the portraits to screen through the crowds.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun exchanged a look. Jun Huang was now dressed in women¡¯s clothes, which softened her appearance considerably. Nan Xun, however, had not put on any disguise. Jun Huang quickly pulled him into an alleyway.


    Nan Xun was dragged away before he could react. Jun Huang put something under his nose. He touched the skin and felt a coarse patch of hair under his fingers.


    ¡°What is this?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang quirked up her lips. ¡°A fake mustache. Keep it on.¡± She pulled away and looked behind her. Seeing that no one had noticed them, she let out a relieved sigh.


    ¡°Come on. We have to return before the metropolitan exam.¡± Jun Huang made her way out of the alley before Nan Xun had recovered from his surprise.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Nan Xun nodded and caught up with her. They walked towards the gate shoulder to shoulder, but there was a noticeable distance between them. They were neither close nor distant from one another. It was the distance Jun Huang wasfortable with. Her aloofness had always kept others at arm¡¯s length.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun were stopped at the gates as everyone else. One of the soldierspared them to the portraits. Seeing that they didn¡¯t match the drawings, he asked, ¡°Where are you going? What is your rtionship? Where are you from?¡±


    ¡°Visiting our family. Husband and wife. Born and raised in Yangzhou.¡± Nan Xun gave an answer to every question the soldier had asked. The fake mustache made him look older, which added to the credibility of his words. The soldier didn¡¯t think anything was wrong.


    Their belongings had gone through thorough scrutiny. The soldier let them go. Jun Huang thanked him before walking away with Nan Xun. She let out a silent sigh.


    ¡°Wait, they don¡¯t seem like a married couple at all.¡± One of the soldiers suddenly said. He pointed at the distance between Nan Xun and Jun Huang. It was wide enough for another person to pass through.


    The soldier took a look at the portraits again. The more he looked, the more he saw the simrities. ¡°They are the ones we¡¯re trying to find!¡± He called out for the other soldiers to chase after Jun Huang and Nan Xun. The two of them shared a look before breaking into a run.


    The prefect had taken measures to stop them from escaping. Worried that they might disguise themselves and run away, he prohibited anyone from riding on a horse. Jun Huang¡¯s and Nan Xun¡¯s horses had been confiscated. They could only rely on their feet. The soldiers, on the other hand, chased after them on strong horses. The dust they brought up were so thick people started coughing.


    The soldiers would soon close in on them. Nan Xun stopped and looked back at their pursuers. Fleeing wasn¡¯t always the best strategy. He took out the evidence he had hidden under his clothes. Jun Huang came to a stop as well and looked at him.


    ¡°This won¡¯t work. They are riding on horses. They will soon be upon us. We must not let them get hold of the evidence, or our efforts would have been in vain. Take this. Run away on your own.¡± Nan Xun spoke in a steady voice. He handed the evidence to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang knew that he was right. Taking a deep breath, she looked up at Nan Xun¡¯s determined eyes, then at their pursuers. They were getting closer. If she didn¡¯t leave now, it would be toote. She ground her teeth together and took the evidence. Without a word, she whirled around and left.


    Nan Xun felt a faint sense of loss as he watched Jun Huang running away. He felt a little troubled by Jun Huang¡¯sck of hesitation. Nevertheless, he knew that they had no other choice. If Jun Huang stayed, neither of them would be able to escape. This way, he would be able to buy Jun Huang some time.


    ¡°Running away? Neither of you are getting out of our grasp today.¡± The general leading the soldiers scoffed. He rode on a white horse with a crimson red spear raised. He cut a formidable figure.


    Nan Xun leveled him with a cold stare. He took out his dagger. It was a custom made weapon. With a whip of his wrist, it transformed into a long sword.


    The design was only possible with the engineering teachings of Mohism. The de could be contracted into the hilt of the sword. The dagger form took up less space, and it was useful in avoiding detection.


    Gradually, Nan Xun found himself being circled by the soldiers. They were all on their horses, while he stood on the ground with his own two feet. No matter how one looked at this situation, Nan Xun was the clear underdog here.


    Nheless, he was a general who had fought in countless battles. He would not be intimidated by these men.


    ¡°Be prepared. I will not hold myself back.¡± His tone was as harsh as his cold sword. The soldiers flinch involuntarily.


    ¡°Take him!¡±


    ¡°Kill him!¡±


    They charged at Nan Xun. Nan Xun dodged the first strike by a small margin and did a front flip, kicking the man off the horse. The man survived the fall, but he was then trampled to death by his horse.


    Outside the city, the wind was strong and the air was filled with sand. It was difficult to keep one¡¯s eyes open. The men on the horses had troubles seeing what was happening on the ground. That was a weak point Nan Xun could exploit. What was more, the horses appeared to be agitated when the wind got strong.


    With that in mind, Nan Xun was having a much easier time fighting back. He focused on dodging when the air was still. Whenever there was a strong wind, he seized the opportunity to take out the soldiers one by one. He was sure he would be able to get out of this alive.


    After another soldier had been knocked off the horse, the general realized his mistake. He ordered everyone to dismount before engaging Nan Xun in a fight.


    Nan Xun had been fighting all his life, but not even he was able to take on this many trained soldiers on his own. Little by little, his stikes became weaker and weaker. The general noticed the change and hit Nan Xun¡¯s arm with the spear, forcing Nan Xun to let go of his sword.


    nk! Without a weapon, Nan Xun had no choice but to back away. The general made another stab at him with the spear. It was too quick for Nan Xun to move out of the way. He tried to go with the blow to lessen the damage.


    After hiding the evidence, Jun Huang hurried back to where Nan Xun had been. She saw that the spear was going to hit Nan Xun and, without thinking, she leaped forward and blocked the attack with her arm. Blood streaked down her hand and dripped to the ground, dying the earth red.


    In rage, Nan Xun kicked the general in the chest with all his force. The general didn¡¯t have the time to react and he flew backward. Nan Xun quickly steadied Jun Huang with a hand. His tone was harsh when he said, ¡°I told you to leave! Why did youe back?¡±


    Jun Huang forced herself to ignore the pain and tried to put on a smile. ¡°We came here together. We¡¯re leaving together. I¡¯m not going to abandon you.¡±


    Someone came up from behind Nan Xun and shed at him with a sword. Jun Huang caught the de with her bare hand, grinding her teeth together. The cold metal sliced into her palm. After the initial coolness came a burning pain.


    Nan Xun rushed to pick up his fallen sword and threw it at the attacker. The man died after coughing out a mouthful of blood. Jun Huang took a deep breath. She took the sword she had caught and stood back to back with Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun tilted his head back to nce at Jun Huang. Her light yellow dress was sttered with blood. Her arm was still bleeding. And there was a long gash on her palm.


    In contrast with her battered appearance, her eyes remained bright and beautiful. Her face was free of emotions as she raised the sword like a bloodthirsty demigod.


    She came back for me. Nan Xun was both ecstatic and angry. The fact that Jun Huang had taken two hits for him without hesitation put a heavy weight on his conscience.


    He was supposed to protect her! She deserved to be treasured and cared for. And yet he allowed her to get hurt because of him.


    The sound of de cutting fabric open broke him out of his trance. He felt pain shooting through his body from the open wound on his arm. Jun Huang threw him a re. She didn¡¯t say anything since she couldn¡¯t spare him the effort.


    Before his attacker could get another strike in, Nan Xun shed his sword horizontally and decapitated the man, his eyes shing with killing intent. The man fell to the ground. Blood gushed out from his neck.


    Jun Huang had gone into a killing rage. She wasn¡¯t that well-trained in swordsmanship. Her attacks were messy and unskilled. Still, she was able to kill quite a few men and keep her enemies away from her.


    These men were trained soldiers. They were meant to be the guardians of thend. And yet they were trying to kill the very people they had sworn to protect. Desperate time calls for desperate measures. They were willing to sacrifice theirrades¡¯ lives in order to get close to her.


    Jun Huang was forced to move out of the way. She, however, refused to let any attacksnd on Nan Xun, who was right behind her.


    In the end, her guard was broken. A sword was about to hit her face. In her wide eyes were the reflections of the de.


    At that moment, Nan Xun covered Jun Huang¡¯s body with his own and took the hit. Blood gushed out from his wound and painted her vision red. She froze in Nan Xun¡¯s arms, her body tensed.


    Nan Xun looked down at her and saw how pale her face was. She must have been terrified, he thought. He patted her on the shoulder and gently said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m by your side.¡± With that, he let go of her and rejoined the fight.


    She stared at Nan Xun¡¯s wounded back. A wave of emotions roared to life inside her heart. The situation, however, didn¡¯t allow her to think too much about her feelings. She narrowed her eyes and charged at the enemies.


    Seeing the murderous light in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes, Nan Xun threw caution out of the window and killed everyone who stood in his way. He would not let Jun Huang get hurt again. He kicked the man who tried to block his way and sent him flying. The man knocked off a few of his fellow soldiers as hended.


    Nan Xun had fought until he was covered in blood before. They were greatly outnumbered, but he was able to engaged a dozen men in a fight at once. His injury pushed him to fight with no regard for his own safety. One by one, the soldiers¡¯ bodies hit the ground.

 Chapter 100

    Chapter 100: Letter of Indictment


    The general could see that the scale had been tipped. He knew he would be sacrificing his men¡¯s lives for nothing if he continued this fight. The smart thing to do was to send for reinforcements. Nan Xun and Jun Huang were both injured. They wouldn¡¯t be able to run very far. Once reinforcements came, he would be able to catch them.


    He didn¡¯t want to lose any more of his soldiers. They had suffered enough casualties.


    ¡°Retreat!¡±


    The soldiers pulled back and mounted their horses. Before they could retreat, Jun Huang scoffed and whistled. The general was riding on her horse. It reared its front legs up suddenly, catching the general off guard. He fell off and face-nted into the sand, which sent him into a coughing fit until there were tears in his eyes.


    He knew that a smart man must pick his battles. He ground his teeth together and threw Jun Huang a venomous re. His subordinates helped him get on another horse. They rode away.


    Nan Xun could no longer keep himself upright. He dropped down to his knees. Jun Huang turned to him. This stoic man was kneeling in a pool of his own blood. His hair was dishevelled, but he didn¡¯t look unkempt. His robe was tattered. His wounds on both his arm and his back were still bleeding. The crimson blood made his ck robe a shade darker. He had to prop himself up with his sword to stop himself from falling down.


    Jun Huang helped him up and walked him to the white horse. They got on. Nan Xun took a deep breath and covered the wound on his arm. ¡°Let us go in the opposite direction of the imperial city,¡± he said quietly. ¡°They will be back. When they see that we have left, they will search through the route to the imperial city. Moreover, we are both hurt. We have to treat our injuries first.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°There are still some time before the metropolitan exames,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Do you really want to return in this state? Do you want to risk rousing Qi Chen¡¯s suspicion?¡±


    Jun Huang tightened her grip on the reign and squeezed the horse¡¯s torso with her teeth clenched. She rode towards the woods not far from them.


    Near the tree which was tall enough to reach the sky was a cave. It was located on a high ground. The terrain acted as a natural barrier and stopped wild animals from approaching. Jun Huang decided that it was a good ce for them to rest. She jumped off the horse and scouted the area before she came back for Nan Xun. She helped him dismount and led him to the cave.


    The inside of the cave was chilly. Jun Huang covered the ground with wilted grass before going out to gather some herbs that could stop hemorrhaging . She patched both herself and Nan Xun up. Afterwards, she looked through her rucksack and found the few poison needles she had left. She sighed.


    ¡°If I had had more silver needles with me, things would have turned out differently,¡± she said with a chuckle.


    Nan Xun leaned against the wall. His face seemed a lot less intimidating when he was injured. In response to Jun Huang¡¯s self-deprecating words, he said, ¡°You are not a god. How could you have known we would be faced with such danger?¡±


    ¡°Let us rest before we move out again,¡± added Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang nodded.


    She went outside and looked down from the cliff. There was a woman running away from a group of armed men. She wasn¡¯t that far away, so Jun Huang was able to get a clear look at her face. The woman was young. She couldn¡¯t be older than eighteen. She struggled to escape, but the men persisted in their pursuit.


    Jun Huang did not like to get involved in other people¡¯s business, but what she saw reminded her of the days when she was running away from Eastern Wu¡¯s soldiers. She had been as alone as this woman.


    She saw herself in the young woman. That was a good enough reason for her to step in. Jun Huang told Nan Xun what she was going to do and brought with her the remaining needles.


    When Jun Huang returned, she had an arm around a limping woman. The makeup on the woman¡¯s face was smeared, and her face was covered in dust. She looked like a mess.


    The woman thanked Jun Huang profusely foring to her rescue. The only response she got from Jun Huang was a simple nod.


    Inside the cave, the woman nced at Nan Xun, then at Jun Huang. Jun Huang cut her off before she could speak, ¡°Rest. I¡¯ll treat the wound on your leg.¡±


    The woman nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Jun Huang had changed into her silk robe earlier. Her elegance was difficult to miss. The woman couldn¡¯t help sneaking a few more nces at her.


    Nan Xun had changed into a new robe as well, which covered the wounds on his body. If not for the smell of blood in the air, no one would be able to tell he was injured. Neither Nan Xun nor Jun Huang looked like your average man.


    After stopping the bleeding and finishing dressing the woman¡¯s wound. Jun Huang got to her feet and sighed, her eyes focusing on the scenery outside. The woman quickly propped herself up by the wall and cupped her hands. ¡°Thank you for saving my life.¡±


    Jun Huang waved a careless hand at her. She had saved her, but it was only a spur-of-the-moment decision.


    ¡°Where are the gentlemen going?¡± the woman asked. She could tell from their clothes that they weren¡¯t from around the area.


    Jun Huang shot her an intimidating nce.


    The woman hurriedly said, ¡°I don¡¯t mean you any harm. It¡¯s only an innocent question. Besides... the gentlemen don¡¯t seem to be in good shape. Perhaps we can watch one another¡¯s back.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun, who shook his head at her. She knew she couldn¡¯t tell the woman the truth. Therefore she told the woman they were going to a town near the imperial city. ¡°How about you?¡±


    The woman¡¯s eyes were aze with hatred. She ground her teeth together and answered, ¡°I¡¯m going to the imperial city.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She didn¡¯t ask any more question. She didn¡¯t have the right, and she didn¡¯t want to alert the woman.


    Jun Huang continued to grind the herbs she had collected earlier. Her heart ached when she saw the wounds on Nan Xun¡¯s back. Thinking back to that moment still made her tense up.


    There were other scars on Nan Xun¡¯s back, but they had faded over the years. And yet she couldn¡¯t stop her fingers from trembling when she touched the uneven tissues.


    No generals could survive unscathed.


    She only felt the truth of the statement at this moment. Nan Xun earned everything he had through hard work. No one could argue otherwise.


    After resting for the night, Nan Xun had recovered enough to stand on his own. He had been through deadly battles before. As long as his tendons weren¡¯t cut and his bones weren¡¯t broken, he would be able to pull himself together. Jun Huang wanted to give him more time to rest, but they couldn¡¯t afford to stay any longer. If the prefect of Yangzhou reported back to Qi Chen before they returned, things would beplicated.


    The woman she rescued would be traveling with them. Jun Huang put the evidence she had hidden into her rucksack when the woman was looking away. They made their way to the imperial city.


    They had told the woman that their destination was another town. Therefore, when they reached the outskirt of the city, they bid the woman farewell and waited for some time before entering themselves. Nan Xun¡¯s instinct told him that the woman was here for some important business. As soon as he returned to his manor, he drew a portrait of the woman and handed it to his shadowguard. The shadowguard was to find the woman immediately and kept an eye on her without her noticing. The shadowguard made a sound of assent and left the manor.


    Nan Xun had taken a sick leave. The housekeeper immediately sent for a doctor when he saw Nan Xun¡¯s injury, which was in line with his story.


    Jun Huang¡¯s injury was a lot less seriouspared to Nan Xun¡¯s. The only wound that inconvenienced her was the cut on her palm.


    The doctor also checked over Jun Huang¡¯s injury when he came to Nan Xun¡¯s manor. The wound on Jun Huang¡¯s palm was best left unbandaged. The doctor gave her some ointment before leaving.


    Once she and Nan Xun were left alone in the room, Jun Huang debated over how she was going to hand the emperor the evidence. She couldn¡¯t do it herself. Neither could Nan Xun do it for her. As for Qi Yun, he had been attracting a bit too much attentiontely. It was better for him toy low for a while. If he was the one who gave the emperor the evidence, Qi Chen would start to see him as a threat.


    She couldn¡¯t think of a good candidate. Nan Xun said gently, ¡°There is still time before the metropolitan exam. Don¡¯t be too worried. We will discuss this matter further and make a decision.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded before taking her leave. Not long after, the shadowguard returned. He knelt before Nan Xun and said, ¡°This subordinate has found the woman you were looking for, Your Highness.¡±


    Nan Xun hummed. ¡°Have you found out why she came to the imperial city?¡±


    ¡°When this subordinate found her, she was in a residencepound looking for someone. She met up with an old man who appeared to be her rtive. From their conversation, it seems that the woman had attracted the attention of the prefect¡¯s son. He tried to force her to marry him. She refused. In the end that lead to a great tragedy. Her entire family was ughtered by the prefect¡¯s people. If not for gentleman Feng, the woman would have died as well.¡±


    After ordering the shadowguard to leave the room, Nan Xun fell into a deep contemtion. The woman would be the perfect candidate to submit the evidence to the emperor. However, she might not be willing to do so.


    The next day, he went straight to the woman. She was surprised to see him. With a finger pointing at Nan Xun, she asked, ¡°Why is the gentleman in the imperial city?¡±


    Nan Xun quirked his lips up. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. And this gentleman isn¡¯t here to talk about myself. I¡¯m here to ask you for a favor.¡± Nan Xun didn¡¯t know how to be anything other than straightforward, so he didn¡¯t try.


    The woman frowned. ¡°The gentleman may tell me what you need from me. If it¡¯s something I can do, I will help you.¡±


    ¡°Despicable men now run rampant in the country. People are suffering. The prefect of Yangzhou is a good example. He disregards thew and exploits the people he should be protecting. He must be punished. We have already gathered the evidence, but we cannot turn it in to the emperor ourselves. If you are willing, I hope you can help us deliver the evidence. This gentleman will be in your debt.¡±


    The woman gaped at Nan Xun with wide eyes. Seeing Nan Xun¡¯s puzzled expression, she cleared her throat and said, ¡°To be honest with the gentleman, I am here to appeal to the emperor myself. Before, I have gone to a few officials, but they protected their own. Not only did they refuse to help me, they also assisted the prefect in his attempt to eliminate me. If your friend had not stepped in, I would have... I would have disappeared from this world.¡±

 Chapter 101

    Chapter 101: Dress as a Commoner


    ¡°I have lost all hope of exposing his crimes, but here you are, offering me an opportunity. It¡¯s just that ¨C ¡±


    ¡°You have nothing to worry about,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°This gentleman will make the necessary arrangements, and you will be under my protection.¡±


    The woman dropped down to the ground, looking up at Nan Xun with teary eyes. ¡°This woman thought that the men who murdered my loved ones would never be brought to justice. I am fortunate to have met you and yourpanion. As long as I can avenge my family, I will happily give away my life. I beg you to make sure that those criminals get what they deserve.¡± Her tears fell to the ground and seeped into the earth. Their traces disappearing in the blink of an eye.


    The news was soon brought to Jun Huang¡¯s attention. When she met the woman, the woman immediately knelt down before her. ¡°Thank you for saving my life. This woman must first take my revenge. Once I have achieved my goal, I will serve you like I would my parents.¡±


    Jun Huang took a deep breath, her eyes bright. ¡°Do you understand that you will be putting yourself in great danger?¡± Jun Huang exined to her the risks she would face. She might end up losing her life for nothing.


    The woman looked Jun Huang straight in the eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind. If I can bring those men to justice, I don¡¯t care if the emperor decides to kill me afterwards. My life isn¡¯t worth much. I¡¯ll consider it a bargain if I can drag them to hell with me.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a sigh. She could tell the woman would not be swayed. She helped the woman up and told Little Girl to prepare an ink brush and a sheet of paper.


    The woman looked at Jun Huang questioningly, but didn¡¯t ask her any questions.


    Once the writing instruments were prepared, Jun Huang said, ¡°Write a letter of indictment. That will help your case.¡±


    The woman blinked and looked down at the ground, her face flushed in embarrassment. ¡°This woman has read books before, but... what I read were teachings on ways to be a good woman. I don¡¯t know how to write a letter of indictment.¡±


    Jun Huang fell silent. She could understand the woman¡¯s predicament. She picked up the brush and dipped it in ink. It didn¡¯t take too long for her to write a powerful letter of indictment. The words conjured up the image of a tragic woman exposing her bloody heart for all to see.


    Jun Huang put down the brush and blew on the still damp ink. Because of her injured palm, even those who were familiar with her handwritings wouldn¡¯t be able to tell that the letter had been written by her.


    The woman read over the letter. Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped onto the paper, which added a touch of sorrow to the already moving writing.


    Jun Huang handed the woman the evidence she and Nan Xun had collected. ¡°In an hour, the emperor will leave for the exam location to light the incense sticks, praying for the imperial court to gather new talent. That will be your chance to bring this case to him. If you miss this window, it will be difficult to find another opportunity. Nheless, no one would me you if you are scared.¡±


    The woman looked up at Jun Huang with determined eyes. ¡°I¡¯vee this far, and I¡¯ve had the fortune to know you two,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°I will not fear death. The gentleman doesn¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and left with Little Girl.


    When the time came, the woman waited at the spot the emperor was sure to pass through.


    From afar, she could see the man dressed in golden robe sitting on a sedan chair. Her heart was in her throat, and her palms were damp. She had thought that she was ready to die for her cause! And yet when she was faced with the possibility, she still felt intimidated.


    No one could be truly fearless in face of death.


    The sedan chair got closer and closer. Soon, it was right before her. She ground her teeth together and clenched her fists. Her nails burrowed into her palms almost deep enough to break the skin.


    She ran out and knelt down directly in front of the sedan chair.


    The emperor¡¯s guards hurriedly drew their weapons, thinking that this was an assassination attempt. They let out a sigh of relief when they saw that the figure was merely a frail woman.


    The eunuch at the emperor¡¯s side looked at her and said in a high-pitched voice, ¡°Who are you? How dare you block His Majesty¡¯s way? Do you have a death wish?¡±


    The woman bowed and raised the letter of indictment and the evidence above her head. In a steely voice, she said, ¡°This peasant has been wronged. I beg Your Majesty to seek justice for this peasant.¡±


    The eunuch scoffed. He was just about to cursed her out when the emperor cut in. ¡°Tell me whatever injustice you think you¡¯ve suffered,¡± he said coldly.


    ¡°The prefect of Yangzhou cares not about human lives. His son tried to force himself on this woman. When I resisted, he murdered my... my entire family. This woman was fortunate to have escaped. In addition, I possess evidence showing that the prefect raised taxes unbeknownst to the imperial court. I beg Your Majesty to get to the bottom of this matter.¡±


    The woman kowtowed to the emperor earnestly. The emperor huffed. ¡°Do you know what will happen to you if youmit libel against an official?¡±


    ¡°This woman has been telling the truth. Here are the evidence and the letter of indictment.¡±


    The emperor shot the eunuch a look, silently ordering him to take the documents from the woman. The eunuch had no other choice but to obey. Watching her with cold eyes, he took the documents and respectfully presented them to the emperor.


    The emperor¡¯s eyes went cold as he read. He didn¡¯t do anything that might damage his image in front of the people, but it felt as if his heart was in a tight grip.


    He knew that he could not hold every official to the highest moral standards. Fish could not survive in water that waspletely clear. That was why he turned a blind eye on some of the corrupt officials. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t expect the prefect to be so disrespectful of thew of thend, and he didn¡¯t expect a woman to expose the matter in public. It was a personal insult to him! As the supreme leader of the country, he would not let this offense go unpunished. He clutched the evidence in his hand and leveled his guards with a cold stare. ¡°Go to Yangzhou and arrest the prefect.¡±


    He turned to the woman, then to the eunuch. Without missing a beat, the eunuch said, ¡°The prefect¡¯s crimes have not been proven yet. You are the one who imed that he hasmitted the crimes. You have to be questioned by the Court of Judicial Review.¡±


    ¡°This woman has nothing to hide. There is no reason for me to refuse.¡±


    She didn¡¯t know that the emperor had already made the decision to kill her. The moment she was put into a cell, she was never meant to be released.


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang had promised to keep her safe. Once the prefect was arrested, they would rescue the woman.


    The emperor made quick work of the prefect, but said nothing about what to do with the woman. The officials in charge of the Court of Judicial Review didn¡¯t dare to make a move without his say so. They kept the woman in the jail, which made it easier for Jun Huang to get her out.


    The woman looked at Jun Huang with tears in her eyes. Jun Huang sighed. She knew what she was thinking. ¡°Don¡¯t enter the imperial city again. Let everyone forget about your existence. The perpetrators have been apprehended. Your family has been avenged. Stop dwelling on your hatred. Live your life to the fullest. That¡¯s the best thing you can do for your loved ones.¡±


    There were a thousand words the woman would like to say, but in the end she only uttered a simple ¡°Thank you.¡± Jun Huang noticed that it was gettingte. She told Little Girl to hand the woman some silvers before watching her leave on a coach.


    Looking at the silvers in her hand, the woman started sobbing. She clutched her clothes tight to suppress her sorrow. She reminded herself to memorize what her saviors looked like. She thought back to what Jun Huang had said. In the end, she settled down in a remote and peaceful town. She prayed for Jun Huang and Nan Xun every day.


    That was the best possible ending to the woman¡¯s story. There were too much suffering in the world. It was a good thing to keep one¡¯s distance from conflicts. Jun Huang was able to convince the woman to let go of her hatred. She couldn¡¯t, however, tell herself to do the same. Some hatred was too heavy a burden. Once it was on your shoulders, it was difficult to take off.


    The prefect was part of Qi Chen¡¯s circle. He was also a major source of ie for Qi Chen. Half of the bribe money the prefect took went directly to Qi Chen. Now the prefect had been dealt with. Qi Chen couldn¡¯t do anything about it no matter how angry he was. He could only be more careful.


    Nheless, Jun Huang was not willing to let him off the hook. She was already nning how she could take out some of the other officials in Qi Chen¡¯s circle.


    The emperor had been in a dark moodtely. The fact that there were even more students who had bought the exam questions was thest straw. He ordered the court to conduct an in depth investigation. Every student currently in the imperial city was living in fear. Even the innocent ones were afraid that they might be affected.


    The Court of Judicial Review had to look into the corrupt officials with Qi Yun taking the lead. They were having troubles sparing enough manpower to investigate the metropolitan exam. The emperor ordered Nan Xun to assist the court. The exam must be held without dy.


    Qi Yun finally had the time to take a breather. He invited Jun Huang for a talk at the Top Schr Tavern.


    As its name suggested, the tavern was a must visit for the examinees. Allegedly, every top schr in history had been to this tavern. It seemed as if every single schr taking the exam was in this room.


    Jun Huang was worried that some of the people here might have seen her in the tavern where she met Qin Sheng. She put on some in clothes and added a few moles on her face beforeing here with Qi Yun. She kept her guard up.


    The moment she walked in, she was faced with the arrogant man who had insulted her in the other tavern. She huffed. Even knowledgeable men like Qin Sheng had bought the exam questions. She was surprised that this man had not.


    Before she could get close, she heard the man having a debate on how they could apply their studies with other schrs. Jun Huang threw a nce at Qi Yun and sauntered up to them. Qi Yun had changed out of his court attire, but the silk robe he wore still attracted too much attention. He picked a spot near the wall and eavesdropped on their conversation.


    Jun Huang pretended to be someone taking the exam this year and partook in the discussion. She found out that the man was known as the best schr in Yangzhou. She was surprised and unconvinced. As she expected, he wasn¡¯t able to make anyments on the ancient texts Jun Huang brought up. He stuttered and imed that Jun Huang was being hard on him on purpose.


    The other men smiled awkwardly. They didn¡¯t know how to diffuse the situation. Jun Huang looked at him with cold eyes before putting on a smile. ¡°Does this brother know what makes one a loyal servant, and what makes one a lowly thief?¡±


    The man frowned and pushed Jun Huang away. He had had enough! ¡°So what if I don¡¯t know? Do you want me to ask my dad to disqualify you?¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes slightly. One of the other men couldn¡¯t stand on the sideline anymore. He pulled at Jun Huang¡¯s clothes and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s better that you stop this. He is from an obscenely rich family. Perhaps he truly can make you disqualified.¡±


    Jun Huang fell silent. The arrogant man thought that she was scared. He continued to boast about his family. Jun Huang drowned out his meaningless words. This man had been pontificating about his ambitions, and yet he could not give an answer to any of her questions. He knew nothing. There must be something fishy going on.

 Chapter 102

    Chapter 102: Androgynous


    Jun Huang sneaked away when the others were distracted and took a seat across from Qi Yun. ¡°Something isn¡¯t right.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. He had a theory. ¡°Many rich families keep impoverished schrs as ves. They are talented men who were deprived of the opportunity to prove themselves. Their lives have forced them to be properties of the rich and powerful.¡±


    Jun Huang arched an eyebrow. She had heard the rumors, but she had never met any ves like that before. She thought their existence was merely a myth, but Qi Yun clearly thought otherwise.


    They shared a look. Jun Huang smiled and took a sip of the hot tea on the table. After about the time for an incense stick to burn, the arrogant man bid his friends farewell and walked outside.


    Jun Huang nodded at Qi Yun. They got to their feet and followed the man.


    They ended up in a livingpound. Examinees from rich families often rent a house in the city as their temporary residence instead of living in an inn like the others did.


    The arrogant man went straight to one of the side rooms instead of returning to the main bedroom. He kicked the door open, startling the man inside the room ¨C it was a schrly man dressed in shabby clothes. He jumped up and asked what had happened as he moved towards the door.


    The arrogant man had already been in a dark mood. Seeing the crude clothes the schr wore made him even angrier. He kicked the schr in the stomach, knocking him off bnce. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a top schr?¡± said the arrogant man. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you told me about the criteria for loyal men and petty thieves? Do you want me to make a fool of myself?¡±


    The schr curled his body together, wincing. The arrogant man huffed and left with a flourish of his sleeves. Once he had disappeared, the schr struggled to stand up. His delicate face was bruised, but he took the abuse without anyints.


    Jun Huang and Qi Yun decided to visit the manter. They returned home and came back once the arrogant man and his servants had left. Jun Huang knocked on the door.


    The poor schr heard the sound and walked out. He saw two men dressed in expensive clothes waiting outside the fence. They both had a unique presence.


    The schr didn¡¯t knew what these men could possibly want from him, but he treated them with respect as he always did.


    That was how educated people were. Even if they were suspicious of someone, they would still follow the rules of proprietary.


    The schr cupped his hands and said, ¡°The gentlemen must havee for my master. He left some time ago. If you have anything ¨C ¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re here for you,¡± Jun Huang interrupted him casually.


    Surprised, the schr looked up at Jun Huang. He didn¡¯t know what he could do other than inviting them in for tea. He brewed a pot and poured Jun Huang a cup. ¡°This peasant¡¯s room is too poorly maintained for important guests such as the gentlemen. I hope the gentlemen could forgive me. The tea is also so terrible it is difficult to swallow. However, this peasant does not have anything better in my possession.¡±


    ¡°The gentleman doesn¡¯t have to be so formal with us,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile. She raised her cup of tea and drank some. In her hands, the worn teacup seemed to have been elevated into a priceless treasure.


    It took some time for him to recover. ¡°This schr doesn¡¯t know what the gentlemen are here for. And... how did you know about me?¡±


    Jun Huang put down her cup. ¡°The gentleman is a knowledgeable man. Why would you settle for serving these people? With your knowledge, you could have achieved great things.¡±


    The man blinked. Then he waved a hand in the air with a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know who told you about me. But don¡¯t you know that I¡¯m but a powerless ve? My job is to serve my master. The thought that I can one day achieve something great never crossed my mind. The gentleman can¡¯t be serious.¡±


    ¡°I want to know how you became a ve,¡± said Jun Huang.


    The schr didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be so blunt. He let out a bitterugh. ¡°My family has always been poor. When I was little, I did read some books written by the ancient saints. However, my family became so poor that we were close to starving. They had no choice but to sell me to servitude. With my status as a ve, freedom is an impossible dream. My only choice is to sell my knowledge and talents to my master. The world can be cruel.¡±


    Qi Yun was considering recruiting the man. Jun Huang could tell what he was thinking from the way he looked at the schr. She quirked her lips. ¡°If there¡¯s a better master for you to serve, are you willing to do so?¡±


    ¡°What does the gentleman mean?¡±


    ¡°Your ve status can be abolished. Then you will be able to attend the imperial exam yourself. You don¡¯t have to let others live in your glory. What do you say?¡±


    The schr felt his heart race. He never thought that one day he would meet his own Bo Le. He turned to Qi Yun. He had noticed the silent interaction between Jun Huang and Qi Yun. He knew Jun Huang must have been talking about Qi Yun.


    His gratitude was clear on his face. He was so overwhelmed he choked a few times, but in the end he shook his head. ¡°This peasant is fortunate to have earned the gentlemen¡¯s appreciation. However, I have an old mother to take care of. I cannot ¨C ¡±


    Qi Yun chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s nothing. Rest assured, I will take care of everything for you. Once you¡¯re settled in the city, you can have your mother move here with you.¡± Qi Yun¡¯s words were serious. He truly intended to take the man under his wing and had him be part of his circle. As a royal prince, he valued talented men just as much as Qi Chen.


    The man couldn¡¯t be more grateful. These people could change his life for good. He never expected the goddess of fortune to smile upon him.


    He had studied for more than a decade. And yet the fruits of his efforts was going to be reap by another person. Of course he felt resentful. With Qi Yun and Jun Huang¡¯s help, he would have a ce in the city. He knelt down before Qi Yun. ¡°This peasant will forever remember the gentleman¡¯s kindness. I will do everything I can to assist the gentleman.¡±


    Qi Yun hurriedly helped him up and broke into a wide grin.


    The arrogant man returned, breaking the moment. Seeing that there were two strangers in his manor, he cried out, ¡°Who are you? What are you doing here? I¡¯m going to report you ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I am the fourth prince Qi Yun. Did you say you want to report me?¡± Qi Yun took the token proving his identity off his waistband as he approached the man. The man felt weak in the knees and dropped down to the floor. Terrified, he kept his head low.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Your Highness wasing. I have failed to give you a proper wee, and I have wrongfully offended you. I beg for Your Highness¡¯s forgiveness.¡±


    Qi Yun huffed. He threw a nce at the dumbfounded schr before saying, ¡°I can spare your life, but this man is mine.¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course! Your Highness is free to take him. This peasant has noints.¡±


    This man isn¡¯tpletely hopeless, thought Qi Yun. He didn¡¯t want to waste any more of his precious time. He took the schr away with Jun Huang in tow. He made sure to acquire the schr¡¯s deed with a silver ingot before he left.


    The schr followed Qi Yun with his head down. He didn¡¯t expect his savior to be a royal prince! He was but a regr peasant. He didn¡¯t deserve the prince¡¯s appreciation.


    Qi Yun still lived in the pce. He couldn¡¯t take the schr in for the time being. Thus the schr was to stay at Jun Huang¡¯s ce.


    When Qi Yun was about to leave, he realized that he didn¡¯t know the man¡¯s name yet. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°This peasant is Zhang Yuan... I didn¡¯t know it was Your Highness who came to save me from my misery. If there¡¯s anything I have done that ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Qi Yun said, waving a hand dismissively. ¡°In private, you may call me gentleman Qi.¡±


    Not long after, the Court of Judicial Review came to retrieve Qi Yun. It seemed that they had made a breakthrough. It might be something important. Qi Yun left after sharing a few words with Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang ordered Little Girl to take Zhang Yuan to the east wing to rest. Zhang Yuan cupped his hands and left in slow and careful steps.


    Watching him go, Jun Huang felt exhaustion sneaking up on her. Lately, her body had not been in a good condition. If she didn¡¯t pay more attention to her health, it might have dire consequences.


    She gave the servants a few final orders before returning to the south wing. She slept until the moon had risen to the top of the sky. Frogs and insects croaked outside her room. Little Girl had been waiting at the door, worried that something might happen to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang propped herself up and looked around the pitch-ck room. After a pause, she put on a robe and brush her dark hair. She walked out of the room without putting on a hair band.


    Little Girl blinked dumbly at Jun Huang. She blushed when she realized that she had been staring. ¡°The gentleman possessed an androgynous beauty. If the gentlemen were a woman, you would have tens of thousands of admirers.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a quietugh. She brushed her hair back and drank some tea to clear her throat. The boundless night sky aroused a faint sense of loss in her heart.


    She had not slept well. The headache was almost unbearable. Her eyebrows remained furrowed because of the intrusive thoughts she couldn¡¯t silence.


    ¡°The prince is here, gentleman Feng,¡± Little Girl said after some hesitation. ¡°He knew that you were resting, so he has been waiting in the garden.¡±


    ¡°The prince? Nan Xun?¡±


    Little Girl nodded.


    Jun Huang cocked her head and walked out of her room. Little Girl followed her closely until they reached the garden. From afar, they could see Nan Xun standing in the pavilion. His clothes were covered in a warm glow, fluttering under the dim candlelight. His expression was steely and his thin lips were tight.


    It was said that men with thin lips were cold. Sometimes Jun Huang wondered if Nan Xun¡¯s heart had hardened too after witnessing countless deaths on the battlefields.


    Hearing her approaching, Nan Xun turned around to face her. Jun Huang was standing on the other end of the hallway. Her hair was long enough to reach her waist. It flew in the air whenever there was a breeze. The white robe with dark patterns she wore entuated her air of nobility.


    Sometimes, he thought that no clothes would be able to match her beauty. Every move of hers was graceful. If it had been a better time, she would have been...


    Nheless, she carried a burden no one could carry for her. Hatred turned her eyes into frost. The thought never failed to leave a bitter taste in his mouth.


    Jun Huang frowned as she walked up to Nan Xun. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head and sat down next to Jun Huang. For a moment, none of them talked. They silently watched the scenery in the garden.

 Chapter 103

    Chapter 103: A Man of Integrity


    The more she thought about it, the more convinced Jun Huang was that being Qi Yun¡¯s strategist was too small a responsibility for Zhang Yuan. He was a man with real talent and wisdom. It would be unfortunate if he ended up not reaching his full potential.


    Seeing Jun Huang¡¯s furrowed brows, Nan Xun wondered what she was thinking about. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, ¡°What happened? Have you run into trouble?¡±


    Jun Huang had been agonizing over this matter for a while. And Nan Xun wasn¡¯t some stranger she couldn¡¯t be honest with. She told him about Zhang Yuan.


    Nan Xun hummed and curved his lips into a smile. ¡°You can let him take the credit for this investigation. With the achievement, he will be allowed to take the exam as a special case.¡±


    Jun Huang had a moment of sudden realization. She pped the back of her own head. A smile found its way to her lips. ¡°Right. How did I not think of that?¡± She told Little Girl to retrieve Zhang Yuan immediately.


    Zhang Yuan was studying hard by the candlelight. Seeing Little Girl hurriedly walk up to him, he assumed that something bad had happened. He rushed to the garden following Little Girl. Before he could ask any questions, Jun Huang said, ¡°If you can attend the uing metropolitan exam, are you confident that you can pass the exam with high marks?¡±


    Zhang Yuan stared owishly at Jun Huang. He then turned to Nan Xun. He could tell that his man was someone not to be trifled with. He had an unusual aura about him. Zhang Yuan ruminated over Jun Huang¡¯s words. ¡°Even though the exam is near,¡± he said confidently. ¡°I am sure that I will be able to rank first.¡±


    ¡°If so, give the exam all you have,¡± Jun Huang said in a low voice, her lips quirked. ¡°Do not disappoint me.¡±


    It felt as if there was a thunderstorm inside his chest. Perhaps those ten years of hard work was all for this moment. He had thought that he could be nothing more than a studypanion who would always be a dirty secret. Jun Huang and Qi Yun were the ones who changed the course of his life. And now Jun Huang and Nan Xun were nning for his future, giving him a chance to earn his own glory.


    He dropped down to his knees before Jun Huang. ¡°If Zhang Yuan is able to rank first in the imperial exam, it is all because of the gentleman. If not for you, Zhang Yuan will still be locked in that tiny room. You have turned my life around.¡±


    Jun Huang helped him up with a frown. ¡°A man¡¯s obeisance is worth a great fortune. You don¡¯t have to be on your knees before me. I only gave you a gentle nudge. You only have yourself to depend on to earn top rank in the exam. No one will be able to help you.¡±


    The metropolitan exam came to an end as the prosecution of the Yangzhou¡¯s prefect reached a conclusion. There was now a lot less corrupt officials within the imperial court.


    The result of the exam was not yet announced, but from the way Zhang Yuan had been acting, he must have performed well enough to earn top rank.


    Jun Huang thought back to how Zhang Yuan had behaved a few days ago. The man who had lost his purpose in life now glittered like the purest gold. It was amusing to observe his transformation.


    It¡¯s probably a good time for a field trip, Jun Huang thought. That way, he can get the excitement out of his system.


    ¡°The weather is beautiful. If you can all make the time, how about we go to the temple outside the city together? We can enjoy the scenery in springtime.¡±


    Qi Yun had never said no to Jun Huang. He nodded. ¡°Good idea. The cases the Court of Judicial Review are dealing with now have seen good progress. I have some free time. It¡¯s good to go out for a walk every once in a while.¡±


    They were both eager about the n; Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to rain on their parade. Besides, it had been a while since thest time Jun Huang looked so rxed. Feeling his heart soften at the sight, he nodded in agreement.


    The others had all agreed to go. Zhang Yuan wasn¡¯t going to argue otherwise. They picked a day when the weather wasfortable and left for the temple together.


    In April, the flowers that bloomed in early spring had wilted. Birds perched on the branches and chirped. On the streets the pedestrians wore only a thinyer of clothes. Childrenughed in jolly on the arch bridge. Beneath it was a little boat floating along the river.


    It looked not unlike the imperial city of Western Que before it was destroyed. Western Que had been so beautiful that travelers were often reluctant to leave. Now, however, Western Que was no more. It was but a dream she could never recover.


    Dressed in in robe, Jun Huang took the lead. The breeze brought to her the pleasant smell of the earth. She waved her foldable fan like an elegant gentleman, attracting bashful smiles from the onlooking young women. They shyly handed their silk handkerchieves to her, many of which were decorated with the pattern of a mated pair of mandarin ducks1.


    Among the group, Jun Huang was the only one whose eyes were curved upwards like the shape of a peach blossom petal. Those eyes were as gentle as the river in spring. The faint smile on her face made her seem more approachable than usual. Herpanions were either pulling a stoic face, staring at Jun Huang, or acting like your typical schr. Hence Jun Huang was the one who stood out in the women¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Brother Feng is indeed popr,¡± Qi Yun couldn¡¯t help but tease.


    ¡°In terms of poprity, this gentleman is no match for you,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile. Nan Xun bit down augh.


    Jun Huang had been to the temple a few times, but the ce looked different in April. Stunningly vibrant cherry blossoms covered the sky. Many talented men had fallen in love with the view. Thus there were a lot more visitors in the temple.


    ¡°Thest time we came the temple looked different.¡± Jun Huang chuckled. ¡°The view in the imperial city sure changes frequently. I wonder if the ce will be just as beautiful the next time I visit.¡±


    There was a touch of mncholy in her tone, which Zhang Yuan did not know her enough to notice, while Qi Yun noticed but didn¡¯t know the reason for. Nan Xun was the only one who understood. Bitterness spread through his heart. He looked away. He didn¡¯t want to see the smile Jun Huang put on to cover her sorrow.


    Inside the temple, the air was filled with incense smoke. There were a good number of visitors here. The temple saw the most activity in April. Fortunately, there was some distance between the temple and the prosperous imperial city. Therefore, the ce wasn¡¯tpletely packed.


    They crossed the threshold and walked in. Jun Huang wasn¡¯t a believer in gods, but she held a healthy reverence to fate. Zhang Yuan, on the other hand, was here to seekfort. He knelt down on the prayer mat and closed his eyes with his hands put together.


    Jun Huang quirked her lips up. There was never ack of believers in the world. How could the Buddha possibly take care of everyone?


    Wan¡¯er had not forgotten about Jun Huang. She thought about the handsome man every day. How many young men possessed the same elegance as Jun Huang?


    After some hesitation, she decided to leave the pce. It had been a long time since shest saw Jun Huang. Her chest tightened at the thought that Jun Huang might have forgotten about her.


    Wan¡¯er put on a set of clothes that were worthy of her status and left the pce with her maids. She went straight to Jun Huang¡¯s ce, but she was stopped at the door.


    The pageboy looked at her helplessly. ¡°The gentleman really isn¡¯t home, princess.¡±


    ¡°You swear you¡¯re telling the truth?¡± Wan¡¯er demanded with wide eyes.


    The pageboy nodded earnestly. He wanted nothing but for thisdy to leave him alone.


    Wan¡¯er had been convinced that the pageboy¡¯s response was an excuse, and Jun Huang simply didn¡¯t want to see her. Now she wasn¡¯t so sure. After a moment of consideration, she asked, ¡°Do you know where your master is?¡±


    Jun Huang had not told the pageboy to keep her whereabouts a secret. And Wan¡¯er seemed to only want the best for Jun Huang. He took the liberty to tell her that Jun Huang had gone to the temple.


    Wan¡¯er felt a rush of satisfaction for reason unknown to herself. She remembered the moment she fell for Jun Huang. Jun Huang was standing before a crabapple tree appreciating the flowers¡¯ smell. Her face was so delicate the image had been forever burned into her memory.


    Wan¡¯er made her way to the temple. Once she arrived, she immediately rushed to the pce without a pause. Jun Huang, however, wasn¡¯t there. The only man she saw was Zhang Yuan, who knelt before the Buddha statue with a reverent expression.


    Zhang Yuan was dressed in in clothes, but he was a handsome young man. His face was tilted up with his eyes closed. Light reflected from the statue covered his face with a gentle glow. Wan¡¯er couldn¡¯t help being drawn to him.


    Earlier Jun Huang had left to attend to some business. She startled when she saw Wan¡¯er. She was about to hide when she noticed that Wan¡¯er¡¯s attention was on Zhang Yuan. She blinked. Had Wan¡¯er set her eyes on Zhang Yuan?


    A sly look shed through her eyes. She smiled. From where she stood, Wan¡¯er and Zhang Yuan looked like a match made in heaven. It would be unfortunate if Wan¡¯er stubbornly waited for Jun Huang to reciprocate her feelings. Perhaps it would be best to bring Wan¡¯er and Zhang Yuan together.


    Zhang Yuan was an honest man. He would not wrong Wan¡¯er. In addition, even though Zhang Yuan didn¡¯te from a powerful family, he would be able to achieve great things once he got top rank in the imperial exam. Wan¡¯er, on the other hand, was stubborn, but kind-hearted. If they got together, they would lead a happy life.


    Besides, Zhang Yuan was part of Qi Yun¡¯s circle. He would be under his protection.


    Jun Huang turned away and went to the path outside the temple to find Nan Xun and Qi Yun. She told them about her idea.


    Nan Xun agreed with her. From her description, it was clear that Wan¡¯er was at least attracted to Zhang Yuan. They weren¡¯t plotting against her per se. They were only going for a gentle push...


    ¡°If Zhang Yuan ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I simply feel like they will make a good couple,¡± Jun Huang said with augh. ¡°I¡¯m not forcing them to be together. It¡¯s up to them how their rtionship ys out.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. Qi Yun, too, understood what Jun Huang was nning. He had grown up with Wan¡¯er. Even though they were not born by the same mother, he still wanted Wan¡¯er to find a man with whom she could build a life, rather than wasting her time on Jun Huang.


    Once they had reached an agreement, they left Zhang Yuan in the temple. Nheless, Jun Huang was worried for Zhang Yuan¡¯s safety. She asked Nan Xun to order a shadowguard to protect Zhang Yuan. Once that was taken care of, she left for the city with Nan Xun and Qi Yun.


    Zhang Yuan got to his feet when he had finished praying. He turned around and saw Wan¡¯er staring at him from the door. Puzzled, he cupped his hands at her in greeting.


    He was about to leave, but then in her trance, Wan¡¯er dropped the silk handkerchief from her hand. She bent down hurriedly to pick it up. Zhang Yuan had walked up to her and reached for the handkerchief as well.


    Their handsnded on the opposite sides of the handkerchief. Wan¡¯er looked up at him. Their eyes met. Zhang Yuan quickly pulled his hand away.


    With her eyes downcast, Wan¡¯er picked up the handkerchief and muttered, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Zhang Yuan waved a hand in the air.


    A group of people passed through and someone knocked into Wan¡¯er. When she was about to fall, Zhang Yuan shot out a hand to steady her. He led her to the side of the room.


    Wan¡¯er was about tosh out in anger, but she swallowed down her words when she looked up and saw Zhang Yuan¡¯s delicate face. It was rare for a man to be able to render her speechless.


    Zhang Yuan blinked at Wan¡¯er questioningly. ¡°Are you alright, youngdy?¡±

 Chapter 104

    Chapter 104: Wary


    Wan¡¯er jerked back and shook her head, her face flushed. She couldn¡¯t think of anything to say, so instead, she darted her eyes away without a word. The smell of ink lingered in the air even after Zhang Yuan had stepped away.


    Silence followed. Looking around, Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t see Jun Huang or the other. Perhaps they have left to attend to something important, he thought. He turned back to Wan¡¯er and cleared his throat. ¡°If thedy isn¡¯t going anywhere else, may this gentleman apany you on a walk in the back garden? Earlier I heard that the peach trees in the temple have bloomed. If you are free, maybe we can enjoy the view together.¡±


    Zhang Yuan¡¯s words were polite, and his tone was gentle. It made it easy for her to ept his offer.


    Wan¡¯er nodded and lowered her eyes. ¡°If the gentleman is willing, this woman is d to oblige.¡±


    They walked along the quaint path. Pink peach blossoms falling down from the sky. It felt as if they were walking into thend of the celestials.


    Wan¡¯er rarely left the pce. She didn¡¯t know that at the back of the temple was a hidden scene of beauty that could rival the scenery in the pce. She watched with her mouth agape.


    Zhang Yuan tilted his head to look at Wan¡¯er. There was a small smile on his face. He shielded her from the passing visitors as they followed along the path.


    A few petalsnded on her head. Theyplimented her beautiful face like plum blossoms on white snow. A mellow fragrance filled the air. Zhang Yuan reached out to take the petals off her hair. Wan¡¯er flinched reflexively and turned around, her eyes meeting Zhang Yuan¡¯s. Zhang Yuan was the one who turned away first.


    He seems like an honorable gentleman, Wan¡¯er thought. Not as stunningly handsome as Feng Baiyu is, but still good looking enough to leave a strong impression. If Feng Baiyu truly will never fall for me, perhaps this man would be a better choice.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun saw Qi Yun back to the Court of Judicial Review. Afterwards, they left for Qi Chen¡¯s manor under the setting sun.


    To fill the silence, Jun Huang asked, ¡°Do you know what happened to the prefect of Yangzhou?¡±


    Nan Xun guided her to walk on the inside of the street. It had been pouring the night before. There were puddles everywhere on the ground. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang¡¯s robe to get dirty if a coach passed by and brought up a ssh of water. ¡°What else could his fate be? He is a criminal who cannot be redeemed. It¡¯s said that birds of a feather flock together. None of his family members are innocent, either. They were exiled to the border along with the prefect. However, the woman he forcibly married hasmited suicide. The reason is still unknown.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun. He stopped to look back at her. ¡°The emperor was the one who was in charge,¡± he said with a sigh. ¡°Even though I was helping the Court of Judicial Review investigate, some decisions were out of my hands. You don¡¯t have to look at me like that.¡±


    Jun Huang cleared her throat and looked away. A ray of sunlight shone through from the horizon before the sun vanished, covering the entire city in a warm orange glow. After winter came the spring, but the weather could still turn chilly from time to time. Even though it was April, Jun Huang still felt a little cold. She hugged her arms before her chest.


    After a moment of silence, Nan Xun said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you will have to do some work with Qi Chen to maintain his trust.¡±


    It didn¡¯t take long for Jun Huang to catch his drift. They had taken out quite a lot of Qi Chen¡¯s people the past couple of days. Qi Chen was now hypervignt. It was a good thing that Jun Huang had ordered people to feed Qi Chen information that would mislead him. Otherwise a man as mistrustful as Qi Chen would have guessed she was the one who had been undermining him in no time.


    She put away her foldable fan. They were getting close to Prince Chen Manor. Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun. ¡°Let us part way here. I will go talk to Qi Chen. You and Qi Yun must be careful in the imperial court as well. Don¡¯t let Qi Chen grow suspicious of you.¡±


    ¡°Of course. There¡¯s no need for you to worry.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. Without another word, she walked towards the manor. Nan Xun watched her go until she disappeared from his sight. He turned away and returned to his manor.


    The pageboy watching the door went up to Jun Huang with a sickly smile. ¡°What has the gentlemane here for?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a simple visit,¡± said Jun Huang. Inside, she was scoffing. These greedy men acted friendly to her only because she was favored by Qi Chen. Otherwise, what came out of their mouths would have been harsh insults rather than pleasant greetings.


    With privileges granted by Qi Chen, Jun Huang was allowed to enter the manor without asking for permission. She didn¡¯t want to waste her time on the pageboy, so she walked straight inside. Her robe brought up some dust from the ground. The foldable fan in her hand emitted the smell of sandalwood.


    Upon Jun Huang¡¯s arrival, one of the servants had gone to notify Qi Chen. Qi Chen had been sitting in the pavilion feeding koi fish in boredom. Hearing about Jun Huang¡¯s arrival, he ordered someone to walk her in. He sat with his back straight and dropped the remaining fish feed into the pond. The koi fish fought for the pellets with gusto.


    Jun Huang followed the servant to the pavilion, her lips curved into a faint smile. She cupped her hands respectfully at Qi Chen. ¡°This gentleman is pleased to meet Your Royal Highness.¡±


    Qi Chen gestured for Jun Huang to take the seat next to him. He pointed at the koi fish. ¡°Can you see what¡¯s special about them?¡±


    Jun Huang looked over at the pond with a frown. The fish swirled and swished in the water like regr fish. There was nothing unusual about it. She shook her head. ¡°This gentleman has not noticed anything out of order.¡±


    ¡°Understandable,¡± Qi Chen said with a quietugh. ¡°Brother Feng is a talented man. Even without me, you would be an asset every courtier tries to win over. You probably don¡¯t know how many people have fought until their hands were soaked with blood in order to achieve their goals.¡±


    Jun Huang sat in silence without giving him a response. She didn¡¯t know what Qi Chen¡¯s point was. It was safer for her to keep quiet. She didn¡¯t want to rouse his suspicion.


    Qi Chenughed lightly in response to her silence. He moved a cup of tea towards Jun Huang before raising his own. He sighed. ¡°I wonder when I will be able to truly gain Royal Father¡¯s approval. I understand less and less of what his thoughts are¡±


    ¡°What makes Your Royal Highness say so?¡± Jun Huang knew Qi Chen must have been scolded by the emperor in the imperial court, but she pretended to be oblivious.


    ¡°Early this morning, Royal Father asked me to see him and reprimanded me severly. He knows who among the courtiers are my people. The investigation on the officials in the imperial city has concluded that quite a few of my people have been taking bribes. He scolded me for not knowing how to tell the loyal officials from the dishonest ones. Ha. That¡¯s not something I have control over, is it?¡± Qi Chen couldn¡¯t stop himself fromining.


    Jun Huang listened without a word, but in her mind she agreed with what the emperor had said. Qi Chen was too short-sighted in his pursuit of power. Everyone knew that about him. His people naturally were men who didn¡¯t shy away from getting their hands dirty. Otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have chosen Qi Chen as their master.


    Most of his people hadmitted crimes, ranging from petty misbehavior to serious felonies. Usually Qi Chen was the one who cleaned up their mess. Now that their deeds had been exposed, Qi Chen had to focus on saving himself. He had neither the time nor efforts to spare for his people. As a result, Qi Yun was able to catch quite a few of them.


    The prefect of Yangzhou was another example. He was the main source of ie for Qi Chen. His exile meant that Qi Chen had lost one of his biggest supporters. Under these circumstances, he didn¡¯t dare to make a move.


    Nheless, he now bore a burning hatred for the people responsible for the decline of his power. He wanted nothing more than to find out who it had been and tear them to pieces.


    Thinking of the prefect, Qi Chen remembered that Jun Huang had visited Yangzhou a few days ago. ¡°The prefect was arrested around the same time as your visit to Yangzhou. Did you hear anything when you were there?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes shed. She looked down and shook her head. ¡°This gentleman did not hear anything. People from the imperial city suddenly came to arrest the prefect when I was still in Yangzhou. I had to ask around to find out what happened. I was worried that trouble mighte knocking if I stayed around. That was why I rushed to return to the imperial city.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°He is to me for not cleaning up his own tracks. Yangzhou is far from the imperial city, but he crossed a line. He deserves the punishment he received.¡±


    Jun Huang huffed silently. She thought back to what she had discovered when she was helping with disaster relief at the border. Had Qi Chen forgotten about what he himself had done? He was in no ce to criticize the prefect.


    ¡°The prefect exploited his people without restraint, but he failed to clean up his own mess. It may be a blessing in disguise that he was exposed. Your Royal Highness should stay out of this. Don¡¯t make the emperor grow suspicious of you.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°I understand. It¡¯s going to get better once the scandal has faded from people¡¯s memory.¡±


    ¡°What does Your Royal Highness n to do?¡± Finally Jun Huang had directed the conversation back to what she came to talk about. As soon as she said so, however, Qi Chen¡¯s expression changed. She thought back to her question. There wasn¡¯t anything suspicious about it. Something was wrong with the way Qi Chen reacted.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t immediately answer. He looked at Jun Huang, then at his surroundings, making sure there were no unwanted eyes watching. ¡°I n to wait and observe,¡± he said in a low voice. ¡°Those who have been plotting against me are bound to slip up one day.¡±


    ¡°Your Royal Highness is indeed clever,¡± Jun Huang praised.


    It was gettingte. She got to her feet and bowed at Qi Chen. ¡°Your Royal Highness should take some time to rx. This gentleman will take care of the rest.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded and ordered a servant to walk Jun Huang out. He waited in the pavilion. It took the time for an incense stick to burn for the servant to return. The servant said quietly, ¡°Gentleman Feng has not done anything suspicious. He went straight back to his ce.¡±


    Qi Chen let out a sigh of relief. He was d that Jun Huang hadn¡¯t been the one who betrayed him. What he didn¡¯t know was that Jun Huang knew someone was following her. She pretended to be oblivious on her way back. Once she arrived at her ce, however, she sent a message to Nan Xun.


    At night, Nan Xun sneaked into Jun Huang¡¯s ce. She was waiting for him in the garden.


    The teapot on the table was filled with only water. Little Girl had somehow learned that Jun Huang shouldn¡¯t drink tea at night, so she told the servants to stop serving Jun Huang tea after dinner. Jun Huang wanted tough. At the same time, she couldn¡¯t help but feel touched.


    Nan Xun appeared suddenly before her like a gust of wind. Jun Huang wasn¡¯t surprised. She knew Nan Xun was a master in martial arts. Otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have been able to break into Prince Chen Manor several times without the trained fighters in Qi Chen¡¯s circle noticing.

 Chapter 105

    Chapter 105: Mister Ji Bo


    ¡°What did you find out?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°Qi Chen is hiding something from me. He didn¡¯t talk about the corruption among the court officials in detail. He was being deliberately ambiguous, and it seemed like he was talking around something. His change of attitude must be his secret benefactor¡¯s doing.¡±


    Nan Xun echoed her feelings. After a pause, he said, ¡°The people I ordered to keep watch outside Prince Chen Manor spotted someone suspicious a few days ago. However, their face was hidden, and it waste at night. My people had to keep their distance to avoid detection. The figure is likely to be the one who has been helping Qi Chen.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve been attracting too much attention,¡± Jun Huang said with a sigh. ¡°They must have gotten wary. Now it will be difficult for us to find information to use against them.¡±


    They fell silent. Qi Chen must have ordered his people to destroy any incriminating evidence still in their possession. It was likely that he hadn¡¯t informed Jun Huang because Jun Huang had never gotten her hands dirty. There wasn¡¯t anything for her to get rid of.


    Jun Huang let out a sigh of relief. Perhaps she had not lost Qi Chen¡¯s trust. Well, technically Qi Chen was still wary of her, but he didn¡¯t know it was her.


    ¡°We have rattled the snake,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°To be on the safe side, we should stop trying to sway Qi Chen¡¯s people, or we risk being exposed.¡±


    Jun Huang disagreed. She looked up at the night sky with misty eyes, her lips quirked up in a half-smile. She didn¡¯t respond immediately. ¡°If we stop now, they will be suspicious of us. I say we continue to do what we¡¯ve been doing, but we stop going to the meetings in person. And we don¡¯t let those people join us. They will be our channels when we want to pass down certain information.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. What she said made sense.


    A pageboy came to inform Jun Huang that Qi Yun hade. Jun Huang exchanged a look with Nan Xun before ordering a servant to lead Qi Yun in.


    Recently, Qi Yun had been visiting Jun Huang more and more often. Whenever he had some free time, he almost always invited himself in to have a chat with her.


    Seeing Nan Xun was a surprise for Qi Yun, but he didn¡¯tment on it.


    Jun Huang had just been thinking of discussing the issue with Qi Yun. Since he was here already, she might as well talk to him about what they should do next. She ordered Little Girl to brew a pot of refreshing tea.


    Jun Huang was going to talk business, so Little Girl couldn¡¯t object to her order. She brought them a pot of tea and reminded Jun Huang not to drink too much before stepping aside.


    Jun Huang was a tea lover. She ignored the advice and finished a cup in one go. It woke her up a little. She poured a cup each for Nan Xun and Qi Yun before saying, ¡°Qi Chen¡¯s benefactor has gotten suspicious. What do we do next?¡±


    ¡°Qi Chen has been ruling his people with a tighter grip. What we do to in the future will not escape his notice. I don¡¯t know what we should do.¡± Qi Yun was feeling helpless. Things had not gone as he had expected. He had oversimplified everything. Once the situation became moreplicated, he lost his sense of direction.


    Nan Xun was a general; he had never been that adept at political maneuvering in court. Jun Huang was smart, but she wasn¡¯t that good at plotting for power. The stress on her mind had elerated the decline of her health.


    They continued brainstorming for the time it took an incense stick to burn, but they couldn¡¯t reach a conclusion. Jun Huang leaned against the stone table. She had to fight to keep her eyes open.


    Seeing how thin her clothes were, Nan Xun gave Little Girl a pointed look, silently telling her to bring Jun Huang something warmer. Little Girl left to retrieve a robe.


    ¡°Being hasty won¡¯t help us in any way,¡± said Nan Xun. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to exhaust herself. ¡°You are tired. We can continue this discussion tomorrow.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him and shook her head. Inhaling deeply, she stared at the sky. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    It waste. The chilly winds cleared away the fog in Jun Huang¡¯s drowsy mind. Nan Xun lowered his head in bemusement, while Qi Yun held tightly onto his teacup, his thoughts indiscernible.


    Nan Xun suddenly snapped his head up and said, ¡°We want to gain the world not through brute force, but through careful nning. The three of us won¡¯t be enough. Our priority is to find new followers.¡±


    Jun Huang paused. Nan Xun¡¯s suggestion was reasonable. Qi Yun too nodded. The same name came to the three of them- Mister Ji Bo. They shared a knowing smile.


    The sky grew a shade darker. Qi Yun had matters to attend to the next day. He couldn¡¯t stay. Before he left, he said in a serious tone, ¡°I will leave the task of searching for Mister Ji Bo in your hands.¡±


    Once he was gone, Jun Huang felt weak in the knees and almost fell over. Fortunately Nan Xun had a quick enough reflex to catch her. ¡°Have you forgotten about your condition?¡± he said gently. ¡°What if you copse?¡±


    ¡°I know my body,¡± Jun Huang said with a stilted smile and pulled away from Nan Xun¡¯s arms. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Nan Xun sighd. He didn¡¯t know what to do with Jun Huang. ¡°Qi Chen may not trust you as much now. If he knows that you have left the imperial city ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll make sure he doesn¡¯t find out,¡± Jun Huang said without thinking. ¡°It¡¯ste. If we¡¯re going to search for Mister Ji Bo, you should return now. We will talk about the details tomorrow.¡±


    Since Jun Huang had asked him to leave, Nan Xun couldn¡¯t possibly insist on staying. He sighed and turned away.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t return to her room in the south wing immediately. Instead, she went to the east wing and asked Zhang Yuan about what had happened between him and Wan¡¯er.


    Zhang Yuan was easily embarrassed. Jun Huang¡¯s direct question caused all the blood in his body to rush into his face. He stammered and couldn¡¯t form an answer.


    Mister Ji Bo followed the school of Ghost Valley1. Because of his unpredictable personality, many men had failed to convince him to leave retirement.


    Rumors had it the some people even visited him thrice like Liu Bei had with Zhuge Liang. Mister Ji Bo, however, refused to even meet these men in person. Instead, he ordered his servant to dismiss the visitors.


    It was also said that tracking Mister Ji Bo down alone was not an easy task. Today he might be in the imperial city; the next day he would appear on a mountain elsewhere. Fortunately, Jun Huang¡¯s investigation did yield some results.


    Right after her conversation with Nan Xun ang Qi Yun, Jun Huang had ordered a shadowguard to ask around. The shadowguard didn¡¯t return until after three days. He said that someone had spotted Mister Ji Botely. He now lived deep inside a mountain where vermin ran rampant. So far, no one had mustered the courage to venture in.


    Jun Huang hummed. ¡°Can we trust this information?¡±


    The shadowguard nodded. After a moment of silence, she ordered him to send Qi Yun a message. She would have to visit Mister Ji Bo in person.


    Qi Yun had been feeling restless ever since he heard about Jun Huang¡¯s n. This responsibility shouldn¡¯t fall on Jun Huang alone! Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t spare the time for the journey. And they couldn¡¯t afford to wait any longer. He didn¡¯t have a choice.


    It was close to the time for her departure. Jun Huang had nned to leave at once, but Qi Yun insisted on seeing her off. She couldn¡¯t say no to that, could she? When she arrived at the tavern, Nan Xun was already there, looking at her with an arched eyebrow.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous for you to go alone,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°The emperor rarely asks for me these days. The more I think about it, the more I believe I should go with you.¡±


    Jun Huang snorted. She knew they were only worried for her safety. It was true that she might run into trouble on her own. With Nan Xun at her side, idents would be less likely to happen.


    She took a deep breath and nodded. ¡°I appreciate the help.¡±


    Nan Xun let out a relieved sigh. He was worried that Jun Huang would say no to him. With that out of the way, he sat down and drank some tea to clear his throat. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a long and difficult journey. You should take a short rest. We will leave after noon.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She had not slept well the night before. It didn¡¯t take long before she was asleep on the divan. She was never someone who fell into a deep slumber, though. She could still hear the conversation between Nan Xun and Qi Yun.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to be a long journey, brother Nan,¡± Qi Yun said worriedly. ¡°No one can predict what may happen to you on your way. You must take good care of Jun ¨C of gentleman Feng.¡±


    After a pause, Nan Xun chuckled. He shifted his gaze to the sleeping Jun Huang and said in a low voice, ¡°I will protect her. Don¡¯t worry too much. You, on the other hand, will be staying in the imperial city on your own. Remember to not do anything reckless. Don¡¯t attract Qi Chen¡¯s attention. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do. You don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± Qi Yun turned to Jun Huang. Restlessness refused to leave his heart. He had a bad feeling about this trip.


    Thest time Jun Huang and Nan Xun traveled to Yangzhou, they came back bloody and tattered. When he saw the long gash on Jun Huang¡¯s palm, he broke into a cold sweat. He could have lost her! What he wouldn¡¯t do to take the pain for her.


    Jun Huang had shouldered too heavy a burden that shouldn¡¯t have been hers to bear. Now she was devoting her efforts in helping Qi Yun as well. It made him feel guilty.


    It started raining while Jun Huang was still resting. The sound woke her up. When she opened her eyes, Nan Xun and Qi Yun were drinking tea with their backs straight.


    She looked at them with inquisitive eyes. She had been asleep for a few hours. They couldn¡¯t have been so disciplined that they only drank tea. She sat up and approached them. She couldn¡¯t smell any alcohol. She raised an eyebrow.


    As if reading her mind, Nan Xun covered a smile. He looked outside the window and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s the rain season. Our trip will not be afortable one.¡±


    Jun Huang followed his gaze, her eyebrows furrowed. ¡°So? The rain won¡¯tst long.¡±


    It was about time. The Court of Judicial Review had sent a messenger for Qi Yun again. Qi Yun was exasperated. ¡°We have closed some difficult cases, but some issues are too widespread, we still have trouble tying those up. Royal Father has been urging us toplete our investigation sooner. The court must have found something.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t overtax yourself. And don¡¯t let other people lure you into making a mistake. When in doubt, go to my ce to consult Zhang Yuan. He is a clever man. He will be able to help you.¡±


    The rain stopped not long after she finished giving Qi Yun advice. Jun Huang and Nan Xun were prepared to leave. Worried, Qi Yun looked pensively at Jun Huang. There were many things he would like to say, but he didn¡¯t know how to say them.

 Chapter 106

    Chapter 106: Going astray


    ¡°Is there anything else troubling you?¡±


    ¡°None of us can predict what will happen,¡± Qi Yun said. He was still restless. ¡°Even if you haven¡¯t found Mister Ji Bo, remember to put your safety first.¡±


    ¡°We will find Mister Ji Bo,¡± Jun Huang said in a determined voice. ¡°I will not give up until we find him. Don¡¯t worry about us.¡±


    Nan Xun was getting impatient. Qi Yun¡¯s concerns weren¡¯t going to help them in any practical way. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he urged. ¡°The rain has stopped, but it might start again.¡±


    Qi Yun felt as if a fish bone was stuck in his throat, stopping his words froming out. He saw that there was no use for him to say anything, and he had important things to attend to. He reluctantly left the tavern.


    Nan Xun had been covering his ears. He was d for the return of silence. He turned back and saw Jun Huang staring at him.


    He awkwardly put his hands down. ¡°He talked a little too much.¡±


    Jun Huang ignored hisment and said, ¡°Why did you insist on leaving after noon?¡±


    Nan Xun paused. That was an unexpected turn of the conversation. ¡°This journey may turn out to be dangerous,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°Neither of us know what¡¯s ahead of us. I decide to bring more people. That way, we¡¯ll have some support even if something does happen.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t let people see me leaving the imperial city. If the emperor hears about arge group of men passing through the city gate, he will get suspicious. A few of the guards stationed at the gate are my people, but they are on the afternoon shift. That¡¯s why it¡¯s better for us to wait until now.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded without a word. With her rucksack in hand, she followed Nan Xun out. They surveyed their surroundings. There wasn¡¯t anyone who seemed like Qi Chen¡¯s informant. Nan Xun waved a hand at the dark alley. From the shadow out came a group of men wearing in clothes and armed with long swords. Their pulsing temples were a clear sign that they had a deep reserve of inner force.


    Her expression betrayed none of her surprise. The men followed after her and Nan Xun. They were well-trained. Their movement was so silent it was as if they didn¡¯t exist.


    Soon they reached the city gate. Nan Xun and Jun Huang stopped before the guards. One of them nodded when he saw Nan Xun. These must have been Nan Xun¡¯s men.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Nan Xun whispered at Jun Huang¡¯s ear.


    Jun Huang nodded and walked out of the city with Nan Xun by her side. No one had stopped them for a routine check.


    Nan Xun had made the necessary preparations the day before. A coach and some horses were hidden in a residence not far from the city. They only needed to retrieve it, and they could be on their way.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t hesitate to tell Jun Huang that the property was his. Generals like him were not allowed to enter the city without the emperor¡¯s decree. It didn¡¯t matter if the emperor had summoned them before, or if they were back from a triumphant battle. That was why he had bought a house outside the city. After an arduous fight, he woulde here to recuperate.


    His tone was casual, but Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help judging the emperor in her mind. How typical the emperor was! When the country was at risk, he expected his generals to spill their blood on the battlefield; Once they had triumphed, however, he kept them out of the city for fear of a coup. It wasughable.


    Seeing the coach Nan Xun had prepared, Jun Huang chuckled.


    Puzzled, Nan Xun asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Mister Ji Bo now lives deep inside a mountain,¡± she said, curving her lips into a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to find a path where a coach can travel on. Riding a horse will be the better choice.¡±


    Nan Xun fell silent in embarrassment. Jun Huang didn¡¯t have time to make him feel better. She went straight to a ck horse and pointed at it. ¡°I¡¯ll take this one.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t care which horse Jun Huang picked as long as she liked it. They mounted their horses and left for Mount Wuming1.


    Jun Huang thought back to the time she traveled to Yangzhou with Nan Xun. The two of them had been silent like they were now, but they had been riding faster at that time.


    Finally they arrived at the foot of Mount Wuming. Jun Huang tilted her head up. Perhaps only someone like Mister Ji Bo will be able to lead a life of peace in such chaotic time, shemented. He must have been living like a celestial being.


    Many had said that she was as aloof as a celestial being, but they didn¡¯t know how much was weighing her down. She could never transcend the mundane life. She had no other choice but to wade through the chaos in this mortal world in order to find her way out.


    Seeing the distant look in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes, Nan Xun frowned and patted her on the shoulder. ¡°Is something the matter?¡±


    Jerked out of her trance, Jun Huang shook her head with a smile. She looked at the narrow winding path and the ck horse she was riding. She sighed. ¡°It seems that we will have to walk from this point onward.¡± She let out a soundlessugh. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s for the best. If we make our way to the top on foot, perhaps Mister Ji Bo will see how earnest we are and decide to help us.¡±


    Nan Xun knew Jun Huang was only trying to lighten the mood. He gestured for his men to dismount. Then he ordered some of them to stay and watch the horses. He would bring only a handful of people with him.


    His people had been following him for more than a decade. They trusted Nan Xun to know what he was doing. No one posed any opposition.


    Jun Huang got off her horse and looked up at the darkened sky. ¡°It¡¯s going to rain again,¡± she said with her brows furrowed. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry and try to find Mister Ji Bo before that happens.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± said Nan Xun. He walked into the woods with Jun Huang. His men trailed after them silently.


    There was a path that should take them to the top of Mount Wuming, but it was clear that no one had been here for a while. Thorny vines hung from above at the mouth of the path, blocking their way in.


    The men exchanged a look. They were unwilling to damage thend. Jun Huang knew what her priority was. She took Nan Xun¡¯s sword from him and cut down the vines with a decisive sh, making way for them to pass.


    It was going to be difficult to navigate through the path. One wrong turn could cause them to get lost.


    The men shared a look as they walked. They silentlymended Jun Huang for having the endurance to travel through the difficult terrain. They had thought that Jun Huang was merely a frail gentleman. She couldn¡¯t possibly make it to their destination. And yet she persisted. She didn¡¯t even once fall behind them.


    They walked and walked, but they couldn¡¯t find a way out of the woods. The path had led them to the middle of nowhere.


    Suddenly, thunder cracked through the sky, splitting the gloomy grey of thick clouds. The falling rain obscured their view.


    They were deep inside the woods. The road forward was unknown to them, and they had no way to return. They were stuck here.


    There was no living ces in view for them to seek refuge in. Soon, they were soaked wet from head to toe.


    Jun Huang tightened her jaw and wiped away the rain on her face. ¡°Since we¡¯re drenched already, let us check what¡¯s over there.¡± She took the lead and go forward.


    Nan Xun hurriedly caught up with her. He brushed branches away as he walked. The rain didn¡¯t bother him at all.


    It was getting darker and darker. One could see no further than three meters away. And the rain had further decreased the visibility. It was almost impossible to even see what was right in front of you. To make things worse, there were a lot of vermins in the woods. They had to keep their eyes on not only the raod, but also on their surroundings.


    Something snapped. Jun Huang looked over at Nan Xun, the muscles in her neck tightening so much it might break. She slowly breathed out when she saw that Nan Xun had simply broken a tree branch that was in their way. Her skin was covered in cold sweat. The rain caused her body temperature to drop further.


    She turned back and walked forward. In her haste, she slipped and fell towards the edge of the hill. She yelped as her body pitched sideway.


    Nan Xun had been watching Jun Huang. Seeing that she was about to fall off, he leaped towards her and caught her hand.


    He pulled Jun Huang into his arms and shielded her with his body as they tumbled down.


    It all happened in an instant. When the guards heard the sound and rushed to where they had been, they were nowhere to be seen. The guards hurriedly split up to search for the two of them.


    Nan Xun held Jun Huang tight against his body. His one hand was on her waist, and the other was shielding the back of her head. He clenched his teeth as tree branches wed open the skin of his back. Fortunately, this area of the mountain was mostly covered in soft soil. There weren¡¯t a lot of rocks. And they had not fallen from a great height. His injury wasn¡¯t severe.


    Once they hadnded, Jun Huang looked up at Nan Xun¡¯s face. Her heart skip a beat when she saw how close they were. She quickly pulled away and helped Nan Xun up.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± she asked worriedly.


    Nan Xun moved his head and elbows experimentally. He let out a relieved sigh. ¡°I¡¯m fine. The cuts are shallow. My bones and tendons haven¡¯t been damaged.¡±


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t convinced. She circled Nan Xun to check over his body. His clothes were tattered, and his sleeves were torn by the branches. He looked like a ridiculous mess.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t find it in herself tough. She leveled Nan Xun with a sharp gaze. ¡°Do you know how dangerous your action is? What do you expect to achieve by jumping off after me like that? You¡¯re only getting yourself hurt along with me.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be so agitated. He scratched his head and awkwardly said, ¡°At that moment I couldn¡¯t exactly think. Besides, I couldn¡¯t possibly let you fall off on your own. I have promised to protect you.¡±


    ¡°To protect someone, you have to first protect yourself,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°If you can¡¯t even save yourself, how can you save other people?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what to say in response. He stopped talking. There was no use in arguing with Jun Huang.


    He looked around. He couldn¡¯t tell where they were now. The trees around them were tall enough to cover the sky. Rain fell through the cracks between the leaves.


    There was a cave a little away from them. Nan Xun said to Jun Huang, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t stay here in the rain. Let¡¯s take refuge in that cave until the rain stops. We¡¯ll talk about what to do next.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She helped Nan Xun towards the cave. The soil was as soft as snow. Their footprints were clear on the ground, one set of which were lighter than the other set.


    Jun Huang took a look inside when they reached the cave. It was a shallow one formed by piles of rocks, but it was more than enough to shield them from the weather.

 Chapter 107

    Chapter 107: Bite


    The air was chilly in the cave. If they didn¡¯t start a fire, they would catch a cold. Fortunately, Jun Huang had brought a flintstone with her. There was also some dry grass on the ground.


    Once the fire was started, Jun Huang squatted down and rubbed at her cold fingers.


    Someone like her has most likely has never been in such a situation before, Nan Xun thought as he watched Jun Huang. With a faint smile, he said, ¡°This won¡¯t do. Keeping wet clothes on is going to stop you from warming up. You should take them off and dry them in front of the fire.¡±


    They sat across each other with the fire between them. The warm glow created an air of intimacy. Jun Huang She took off her white jade cap, letting her wet hair down. She looked over at Nan Xun and found him looking back at her.


    Is she blushing, Nan Xun wondered, or is it merely a trick of the light?


    Jun Huang hesitated. A gust of wind swept through the woods. She shuddered, her teeth chattering. If she stubbornly insisted on keeping her wet clothes on, she might not be able to endure until they found Mister Ji Bo.


    Putting aside her reservations, she turned away from Nan Xun and untied the waistband of her outer robe. With her eyes downcast, she took off the robe and assembled a crude drying rack from dry branches. She draped her robe on the rack and sat back down with, hugging her arms close to her chest.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t say anything. He knew that as a woman Jun Huang must feel uneasy being so thinly-d with a man present. He himself found it inappropriate for him to stay in her proximity. He silently moved towards the mouth of the cave, ignoring the wet fabric clinging to his body.


    Jun Huang¡¯s inner clothes had turned dry about the same time as her outer robe. She put on the robe. Only then did she realize that Nan Xun was crouching at the mouth of the cave, all wet and ufortable. When the wind grew stronger, droplets of rain were brought further inside and fell on his head.


    She thought back to how Nan Xun had disregarded his own safety for her. It didn¡¯t sit well with her to let him suffered the weather like that. ¡°The wind is strong. You shoulde inside. Dry your clothes. Otherwise you will get sick.¡±


    Nan Xun cocked his head in bemusement. Taking a deep breath, he nodded and untied his robe. Jun Huang quickly turned away. When she turned back, Nan Xun had taken off his topwear. Shirtless, he dried his clothes before the fire.


    Jun Huang looked away after a quick nce. She touched the tip of her nose in embarrassment. She didn¡¯t know what to say to break the awkward silence, so instead, she picked up a stick and started writing on the ground.


    It was getting darker. Jun Huang walked to the edge of the cave and looked up. It didn¡¯t seem like the rain would break any time soon. She sighed. Nan Xun¡¯s shadow guards still had not found them.


    Once his clothes were dried, Nan Xun put them back on and nced at Jun Huang, which was enough for him to read Jun Huang¡¯s thoughts. ¡°No one expected the weather to be so harsh,¡± he saidfortingly. ¡°There¡¯s no use to dwell on it. It¡¯ste. My men are not going to find us tonight. We can also go search for them once the rain stopped. Your body isn¡¯t at its top condition. You should rest.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°What about you?¡±


    Nan Xun chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m a man, and I rarely get sick. Tonight I¡¯ll stand watch. You can sleep easy.¡±


    Jun Huang was tired. She had spent half a day traversing the mountain, and she had been soaked by rain. Now that her body was getting warm, she felt drowsiness hitting her in waves. She looked at Nan Xun, who gave her a smile and gestured for her to lie down.


    It was a waste of time to continue arguing. Jun Huang nodded andy down on the ground, not caring if the ground was dirty. It didn¡¯t take long for her to fall asleep. Her breathing was shallow and slow.


    Nan Xun forced himself to stay awake. They didn¡¯t know what dangers await them in this mountain. One of them had to keep watch. They couldn¡¯t take the risk.


    He added branches and twigs to the fire for the entire night, keeping the cave warm. When day broke it finally stopped raining. Basked in the sunlight, he stood up and stretched his arms, rxing his tense muscles.


    He heard footstepsing from the outside. He drew his long sword.


    ¡°Your Highness! Gentleman Feng! Where are you?¡± From a distance came one of the shadow guards¡¯ voice. Nan Xun let out a breath and slowly sheathed his weapon.


    He knelt down before Jun Huang and patted her lightly on the shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused, but then quickly lit up as she sat up. She looked around before her eyes came to focus on Nan Xun¡¯s face.


    ¡°They have found us,¡± said Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang got to her feet and patted soil off her clothes. They put out the fire before leaving the cave. It didn¡¯t take long for them to find the shadow guards. The guards let out a sigh of relief when they saw the two of them.


    One of the guards walked up to them. ¡°Are you hurt, Your Highness?¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head and surveyed theplicated terrain. They were in the middle of nowhere. The end of the path was beyond their view.


    Jun Huang felt her heart sink. She had thought it wouldn¡¯t take long for them to find Mister Ji Bo. She didn¡¯t expect to get stuck without a clear direction. However, she was never one to back down when faced with difficulties. Quite the contrary, she always tackled challenges she encountered head on.


    She narrowed her bright eyes and tightened her hands into fists. ¡°We should try to find our way out. Staying here isn¡¯t going to help.¡±


    Nan Xun agreed. They packed up what they needed and started exploring the woods. They took every turn they encountered and traveled through every path they found. As time passed, their expression darkened more and more.


    For days they roamed around the woods like headless flies. The long walk had almost exhausted all of Jun Huang¡¯s stamina. Even the trained shadow guards were panting. Nan Xun was worried that Jun Huang might copse.


    Every time he suggested that they take a short rest, however, Jun Huang would frown. She considered resting to be a waste of time. This time, looking at how sorry a figure the shadow guards now cut, she swallowed down her argument and sat down under a tree.


    Over the past few days, the poison in her body had been acting up, as if trying to demand her attention. She felt dizzy as soon as she sat down. She took a deep breath with her eyes closed, bracing for the pain.


    A hissing ck snake slithered towards her under the cover of fallen leaves. Jun Huang¡¯s body naturally emitted a unique fragrance. That was why she often wore sachet to cover the smell. The sachet had been rendered useless by the rain. Her fragrance attracted vermins like fire attracted moths. The snake sneaked up on her and bit down on her ankle.


    Jun Huang cried out in pain, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Nan Xun narrowed his eyes at the snake and drew his sword to cut it in half. The snake was flung backward. The two halves of its body were still wriggling even after its death.


    Jun Huang felt light-headed. She could barely keep herself upright. Nan Xun suppressed the urge to chop the snake into paste and hurried to Jun Huang¡¯s side. He steadied her with a hand on her shoulder, while his other hand lifted up her robe. Her sock had been dyed red by her blood. He felt panic seizing his heart.


    He rolled down her sock. The wound on her ankle was an ugly mess. Some of the guards couldn¡¯t help but gasp.


    Jun Huang tried her best to stay focus. Before she could open her eyes, a rush of pain shot from her ankle. She snapped her eyes open and saw Nan Xun sucking on the wound, preventing the venom from spreading. He did so like it was the most natural thing to do in the world.


    The shadow guards were as stunned as Jun Huang. They had never seen their general act this way. It was clear from his expression that he was concerned, but they didn¡¯t expect him to willingly cast his pride aside.


    They soon recovered and went off to retrieve water and start a fire. They acted in an orderly fashion like soldiers in an army would.


    Nan Xun had bent down to put his lips on the wound on Jun Huang¡¯s pale ankle. In her pain, Jun Huang did not even think about pulling away. She looked at Nan Xun with round eyes, a wave of feelings rippling through her heart. She had always felt something for Nan Xun, but she was good atpartmentalized her feelings. She would not allow herself to lose control. How could she let herself fall in love when her sole focus was on getting revenge?


    But again and again, Nan Xun had put her safety above his own. A few days ago he had jumped off after her without hesitation. And now this. She couldn¡¯t stop her heart from racing.


    Everything could be faked, but this feeling? It could only be real.


    It was as if a thunderbolt had struck her in the heart. She broke into goosebumps at her realization.


    Nan Xun, on the other hand, was blushing hard because of the intimacy.


    He had lived his whole life on battlefields. He rarely came in contact with any women. Things changed after he met Jun Huang earlier this year.


    Jun Huang usually dressed in men¡¯s clothes, though. Sometimes she could be even more masculine than many men. Her every move showed a strong and resilient character.


    Being this close to Jun Huang with everyone watching, Nan Xun couldn¡¯t stop his blood from rushing to his face. He didn¡¯t dare to look Jun Huang in the eyes.


    He spat out a mouthful of tainted blood. It was a shocking sight. The incident had made everyone more vignt.


    Jun Huang had known that she might encounter snakes or other vermins before she came to Mount Wuming. To be on the safe side, she had prepared some medicine that could cleanse poison, which was exactly what she needed now.


    Once her head was clear enough, she asked for her rucksack. She took out a silver needle and inserted it into her wound. The skin turned from a bluish grey to red, but the red was not the red of blood. It was more vibrant and harsh.


    Nan Xun frowned worriedly. ¡°What does this mean?¡±


    Jun Huang jabbed her ankle a dozen times before dropping the silver needle on the ground. A puff of green smoke went up and in a blink of an eye, the needle disappeared, corroded by the venom.


    Nan Xun and the guards looked at Jun Huang with wide eyes, worried that something might happen to her as well.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath. Seeing the pale faces surrounding her, she put on a smile and said gently, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    As if she had used up all her strengths to utter those few words, she fell forward and almost hit the ground. Fortunately Nan Xun had been keeping an eye on her. He caught her just in time.

 Chapter 108

    Chapter 108: Disorienting Formation


    Jun Huang¡¯s breathing was too shallow for Nan Xun¡¯s liking. He felt his chest tighten in fear. He had always found Jun Huang to be aloof to the point that she seemed untethered to the world; now he was terrified that she would truly part from the world.


    It took some time for Jun Huang to focus her mind enough to whispered to Nan Xun, ¡°Apply some salve on the wound for me, please. I... I can barely lift my hand.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He searched through her rucksack and found both salve that could elerate healing and salve that could cleanse poison. He cleaned up her wound before gingerly applying the salves. He then bandaged her ankle with a square handkerchief. His forehead was covered in sweat when he was done.


    The guards wasn¡¯t close enough to Jun Huang to get a good look on her injury, but Nan Xun was. From the two holes made by the snake fangs, he could see tender flesh underneath the skin. It rattled him deeply. His experience as a general was the only thing keeping his fingers from trembling. His jaw had been tightened throughout the process.


    ¡°You should rest,¡± said Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang looked up at the blue sky through the cracks in between the tree branches. She then looked down at her foot. Frustration welled up in her heart. For the first time, she resented her body for being weak. Even though Nan Xun had offered herfort, she refused to let herself be a burden.


    She got to her feet and inhaled deeply. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. Sitting here won¡¯t do us any good. The venom has been cleansed. I should take a walk to promote cirction. Come on. I won¡¯t drag you down.¡±


    She picked up a sturdy branch and used it as a crutch to help her walk.


    The guards shared an astonished look. Nan Xun clenched his fists. He knew Jun Huang was stubborn. Her resilience had enable her to keep moving despite her pain. He was both impressed and worried. He jogged up to her.


    One of the shadow guards said as he looked at Jun Huang¡¯s back, ¡°If I were him, I would have given up on walking. Gentleman Feng is indeed an extraordinary man.¡±


    The others nodded in agreement.


    Nan Xun had heard the guard¡¯sment. He too found Jun Huang to be morepetent than a great majority of men. A dignified and untouchable woman who was too possessed by revenge to be likened to a celestial being, but too graceful and aloof to be a mere mortal. She defied simple ssification.


    The walk uphill was a punishing one. The higher they got, the more steep the hill became. Without proper training, a slight shift of one¡¯s body could lead to a painful death.


    Jun Huang had trained herself with Nan Xun help, but not for long. Her injury made it difficult for her to walk on tnds, let alone this endless stone steps.


    Sweat streamed down from her forehead. Nan Xun looked down at her and saw that her ankle was swelling. He took Jun Huang¡¯s hand and led her to sit down on the side of the path. Jun Huang didn¡¯t resist.


    ¡°We need to dress your wound again,¡± Nan Xun said in a steely tone.


    Jun Huang only realized then that her ankle was swollen and her blood had seeped through the handkerchief. After merely the time for an incense stick to burn, the white fabric had been turned red. It was concerning.


    She sighed and looked up at Nan Xun. ¡°Do you have any liquor?¡±


    Nan Xun was bewildered, but that didn¡¯t stop him from directing the question to his shadow guards. One of the guards turned out to have a bottle of liquor in his possession. Nan Xun took it from him and handed it to Jun Huang. He assumed that she was going to drink some to dull her pain, but Jun Huang did something he did not expect her to do.


    She pulled out the cork and took a deep breath before pouring the liquor over her ankle. White hot pain shot through her nervous system and assaulted her brain. She ground her teeth together to endure this pain that many would not be able to bear.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Nan Xun grabbed the bottle and yelled at her, his eyes shot with blood.


    Jun Huang looked up to meet his eyes, her face had gone pale and her lips white. She took a shaky breath and slowly said, ¡°Alcohol is best for cleaning up wounds. It can prevent infection. I know what I am doing.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. Of course he knew alcohol could be used to prevent infection. Soldiers like him poured liquor on their injured parts all the time. He also knew how painful it could be. It was the kind of pain that burrowed inward until it reached the bones.


    He didn¡¯t intend to hand the bottle back to Jun Huang. Her eyebrows furrowed as she braced for the sharp pain in her ankle. Her fingers tightened and her nails bit into her palms. It took a good while for the pain to receded.


    The wound had turned pale and the bleeding had stopped. Nan Xun took a swig of the liquor to suppress the bitterness spreading from his heart. He took the bandages from one of his guards and again carefully dress Jun Huang¡¯s wound.


    Once that was done, Nan Xun pulled Jun Huang onto his back without a word. Jun Huang knew any arguments from her would only slow them down, so she kept quiet.


    Pouring liquor on her ankle had been thest resort. There wasn¡¯t anything else she could do to make herself recover faster. It would be unwise for her to insist on walking at the risk of infection.


    When she was a test subject to her master, she had endured pain much stronger than the snake bite. However, at the time she never felt the pain as keenly as she did now. Was it because now she had Nan Xun at her side?


    No matter how strong-willed she was, in the end, she was a regr woman.


    Her leg had gone numb. Shey boneless against Nan Xun¡¯s back. Nan Xun felt a sense of mncholy in his heart. He could smell the faint fragranceing from Jun Huang¡¯s body, but she was so light it was as if she didn¡¯t exist.


    They walked. Jun Huang was worried that she might weigh Nan Xun down, but every step he took was steady. He didn¡¯t even break a sweat.


    At the end of the stone staircase was a steep cliff. Another dead end. Nan Xun gently let Jun Huang down.


    Jun Huang looked closely at everything in her view. Finally, she spotted something. She pointed at the distance. ¡°Look. Isn¡¯t that a house?¡±


    Nan Xun and the guards turned to where she was pointing at. There was indeed a house hidden in a bamboo forest. The house itself was made of bamboo as well. A more impatient man would have missed it.


    ¡°That¡¯s where we have to go,¡± said Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll have to find a way there.¡± He was cautious as he led Jun Huang down the stairs. She pulled at his sleeve as they made their way back down.


    Jun Huang had mentally mapped out the route they should take. She was confident that they would be able to find their way to the bamboo house. After a day of travel, however, she noticed that something was wrong. Her eyebrows drew together.


    ¡°What?¡± Nan Xun stopped beside her and asked worriedly, ¡°Are you in pain?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and pointed at the parasol tree near them. ¡°We have been here before.¡±


    That got a reaction out of the guards. They looked over at the tree. Only after Jun Huang pointed it out did they realize that they have been going in circles.


    Alerted, they paired up and entrust theirrades to watch their backs. They put their hands around the hilt of their swords, ready to draw their weapons should something happen.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t think the root of the problem was as simple as a physical threat. She had a theory, but she couldn¡¯t be sure if she was right. After a moment of silence, she told Nan Xun, ¡°Leave a mark here. We¡¯ll go in the opposite direction.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He drew his sword and made a cut on the parasol tree. Blood-like liquid seeped from the cut. It looked eery in the dim light.


    Jun Huang¡¯s expression remained impassive. She dabbed her finger in the liquid and smelled it. The red looked offensive against her pale, almost translucent fingers. Nevertheless, there didn¡¯t seem to be anything out of ordinary.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± said Jun Huang. She stepped over the wilted branches on the ground and went in the opposite direction.


    After about the time for an incense stick to burn, they were right back at the parasol tree Nan Xun had marked. The guards were bbergasted. Some felt their hair stood on end. They had witnessed countless deaths, but they had never experienced something this bizarre. One of them asked in a shaky voice, ¡°What... what is happening? Can it be that there is... there is something of the ult nature here?¡±


    Jun Huang huffed. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. I think we have entered a disorienting formation. This may be Mister Ji Bo¡¯s weing gift for us.¡±


    Her tone was light, but inside her heart there was a storm. She stared at the parasol tree Nan Xun had cut earlier, trying to find anything out of ordinary. Her instinct told her that this tree was the center of the formation. It must be the key to their escape.


    Realization struck her suddenly. She looked up at the top of the tree. There were a number of bird nests there. At first nce, the nests seemed perfectly normal, but if one looked closely, there was a fracture in the illusion.


    Normally, bird nests were made of twigs and wilted leaves. These nests, on the other hand, looked like they were an extension of the branches themselves. No parasol tree would naturally grow out a nest. The nests must have been the reason they were trapped.


    She looked back at Nan Xun and pointed at the nests on the tree. ¡°Can you bring the nests down?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know why she asked him to do so, but he nodded anyway. He drew his sword and leaped onto the top of the tree, using the branches as his stepping stones. A few shes, and the nests dropped to the ground.


    A puff of pungent smoke went up. Everyone covered their noses as the smoke spread through the whole area, making it impossible for them to even see their own hands.

 Chapter 109

    Chapter 109: Challenges


    After Nan Xun jumped off the tree, he held onto Jun Huang¡¯s wrist without thinking. Jun Huang startled, her heart skipping a beat, but she didn¡¯t let it show on her face. She forced herself to look away.


    A loud bang. The smoke slowly dissipated. A gust of wind cleared out their view. Nan Xun pulled Jun Huang behind his back. After what they had been through the past couple of days, he would take no chances. He waved the smoke away from his view.


    Once the air was clear, the house they had spotted up on the cliff turned visible. This close to the house, they marveled at seeing such elegant architecture deep inside the mountain. Not everyone had the luck to live in a ce like this.


    While the others were appreciating the architecture, Jun Huang had her eyes fixed on the closed door. ¡°It is said that Mister Ji Bo is a master of divination through astronomical observations, and that he possesses unparalleled intelligence. This gentleman and mypanions have ovee many obstacles to pass the disorienting formation. Does Mister Ji Bo still refuse to let us in?¡±


    There was no response. The house was as lifeless as an abandoned ruin.


    Jun Huang frowned. Is there no one inside? She had heard how difficult it was to track down Mister Ji Bo. Perhaps he had left on a journey somewhere. It was also said that Mister Ji Bo was far from sociable. She was here to ask for his help. She would treat him like the most honored guest.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and turned around. ¡°I¡¯m afraid Mister Ji Bo is unwilling to meet us. Talented men often have their quirks. We should show him our determination.¡±


    Some of the guards did not agree with Jun Huang, but they didn¡¯t voice their opinions. In their minds, Jun Huang was the most talented man they had known. Over the past few days, they hade to realize that Jun Huang wasn¡¯t as unapproachable as she appeared to be. Instead, she was an extraordinary man who was both talented and well-mannered.


    Just when the guards were cursing Mister Ji Bo for being arrogant, Nan Xun asked, ¡°What should we do next?¡±


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes at the door. ¡°We wait. Make camp outside the house. If Liu Bei was able to visit Zhuge Liang thrice to gain his approval, we can as well. I don¡¯t believe that weck the patience to do the same.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. They came here to ask for Mister Ji Bo¡¯s help. It wasn¡¯t a good idea to get on his bad side. They must look at the big picture and set aside their personal grievances.


    Nan Xun ordered the shadow guards to set up camps. Jun Huang sat down under a tree and closed her eyes. Her ears were taking in every little noise around her.


    Inside the house, Mister Ji Bo raised an eyebrow when his page boy told him that his visitors had blocked the door.


    He put down his cup of tea and walked up into the attic. Through the window he could see Jun Huang and herpanions.


    Mister Ji Bo stroked his beard, a hint of appreciation showing on his face. ¡°It¡¯s been years since thest time someone broke my disorienting formation.¡±


    The page boy nodded. ¡°I have been keeping an eye on them since they entered the formation. I didn¡¯t expect the young man leading the team to be able to spot the weakness of the formation so quickly.¡±


    ¡°The leading one?¡± Mister Ji Bo pointed at Jun Huang. ¡°Do you mean the one sitting on the rock?¡±


    The page boy nodded without a word.


    Surprise shed through Mister Ji Bo¡¯s eyes. He was too far away from Jun Huang to get a good look at her face, but he could see her frail form. To think that a young man who seemed so weak could be so remarkable! It seemed that there were an abundance of talented men in Northern Qi.


    Before he left the attic, he said, ¡°Activate the second formation tomorrow. I want to see how good these young men are.¡± With that, he disappeared into the hallway.


    Jun Huang waited for the door to open, but it remained shut for the entire day. When she opened her eyes the next morning, their surroundings had changedpletely. Identical buildings circled around them. It was unclear which was real, and which was merely an illusion. The guards gaped at the sight. Then they turned to Jun Huang. They hoped that Jun Huang would be able to lead them out of the formation again.


    The disorienting formation was indeed unpredictable. Jun Huang scoffed. This man has crossed a line, she thought. They came with a benign purpose and a genuine heart, and yet Mister Ji Bo yed tricks on them again and again. She grew angrier the more she thought about it.


    Jun Huang looked around with cold eyes. One of the building was the real one, but they must not be reckless. No one knew what dangers awaited them inside the fake buildings. They should put their safety above all else.


    That was exactly what Nan Xun thought. He told his guards to remain cautious and to not let Mister Ji Bo¡¯s traps get to them. He followed Jun Huang closely, worried that she might get hurt again.


    The buildings changed positions at regr intervals, seemingly without rhyme or reason. Therefore they couldn¡¯t try their luck and enter every one of them. She thought of the parasol tree from yesterday.


    Among the chaos, something must remain constant. This disarray must have a pattern to them; she just hadn¡¯t seen it.


    What she had to do was to find the center. The one building that remained static.


    Now that she knew what she was looking for, she started searching for the eye of the formation. In no time, she found the one building that remained unmoved. She patted Nan Xun on the shoulder and took a step forward. An openughter rang through the area.


    ¡°The gentleman is indeed clever, but you have forgotten that the center can move too. Once it does, everything else follows.¡± Theughter faded out. The unmoving building started spinning at a speed that made it impossible to follow with human eyes. Jun Huang tried her best to track the movement, but in the end she lost it. She clenched her fists in anger.


    ¡°It seems that Mister Ji Bo is being difficult on purpose,¡± said Jun Huang. She grabbed Nan Xun¡¯s hand and barged into one of the buildings.


    Once they entered, all illusions merged into the one they were in. Not far from them, there was a man sitting on a divan. Recognition shed through his eyes when he saw Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang scoffed. ¡°Is this how you treat every guest? This gentleman has learned something today.¡±


    Mister Ji Bo didn¡¯t reply. He had recognized Jun Huang at the first nce. He was the one who said that whoever possessed the Blood Phoenix would be able to attain the world. He couldn¡¯t help feeling guilty.


    Jun Huang had no way of knowing what had happened before her time. She looked at Mister Ji Bo straight in the eyes. Hers was not the attitude of someone asking for help. Quite the contrary, it looked as if she was here to collect a debt.


    Mister Ji Bo quickly adjusted himself and cleared his throat. ¡°What are you here for?¡±


    ¡°We are here to ask Mister Ji Bo to leave retirement,¡± stated Jun Huang. She didn¡¯t intend to beat around the bush.


    What I said led her country and family to destruction, Mister Ji Bo thought. And her brother Jun Hao is still missing. His chest tightened. Even though he was living in the middle of nowhere, he was in no way out of touch with the world. He knew that Jun Huang was Ole Cragfiend¡¯s apprentice. That old man had once helped him too.


    He could not say no to Jun Huang¡¯s request.


    Mister Ji Bo cleared his throat. ¡°I can leave my retirement, but ¨C ¡±


    ¡°But what ?¡±


    ¡°If you want me to help you, you have to show me what you are made of,¡± Mister Ji Bo said in a righteous tone. ¡°If you have neither talent or character, how am I going to offer you my assistance? Even if you are not worried, I still have a reputation to maintain.¡±


    He waved a hand at the page boy at his side and asked him to pose the questions.


    The page boy stepped forward. ¡°You must pass three challenges.¡±


    Jun Huang threw a nce at Nan Xun. At this point, she was willing to go through thirty challenges to get what she wanted. She nodded and cupped her hands. ¡°Please go on.¡±


    The first challenge was a test of intelligence. The page boy would tell them a couple riddles for them to solve.


    ¡°The crescent moon hang on top of the east building. What character does it refer to?¡± The page boy met her eyes, waiting for her answer.


    She quirked her lips and, without any hesitation, answered, ¡°The answer is ¡®He¡¯, which means grain.¡± She added, ¡°In the lyric poem A Joyful Rendezvous by Lord Li Yu of Southern Tang, it went, ¡®Alone, I ascend the west building in silence. A crescent moon hangs above. Deep inside, lonesome parasol trees trapped the brisk autumn.¡¯ You used this poem as the basis of your riddle. Taking the left half of the character Lou, which meant building, andbining it with the image of a new moon, gives us the answer to this riddle.¡±1


    Her exnation demonstrated to the page boy her immense talent. He reflexively nced at Mister Ji Bo before telling her the next riddle.


    ¡°Southern Song remained, while Northern Song has fallen. What character am I referring to?¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her head in contemtion. Then she looked up at the sparrows flying in the sky. The answer didn¡¯te to her immediately.


    The others didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. They were soldiers. They knew nothing about wordy and riddles. After the time for an incense stick to burn, realization struck Jun Huang. She smiled and said confidently, ¡°The answer is ¡®Lin¡¯, which means forest.¡±


    The page boy widened his eyes. He asked in a hopeful tone, ¡°Does the gentleman knows the thought process behind the riddle?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°You based this riddle on the Jing Kang Incident, which marked the end of the Northern Song dynasty. The key is the two Songs. One dynasty has fallen, while the other remains. Combining the southern part ¨C in other words the bottom part ¨C of the two Song characters makes the character ¡®Lin¡¯.2¡± She cupped her hands at the page boy. ¡°You are a page boy, but you are knowledgeable. How admirable.¡±


    The page boy blushed. He was not used to beingplimented.


    He turned to Ji Bo, who turned to Jun Huang. Ji Bo didn¡¯t expect a woman to possess such a quick mind. If she had been born as a man, she would have be the most well-respected official of this generation.


    It was a shame that she had been born in such chaotic times.


    Jun Huang saluted Ji Bo. ¡°I have passed the first challenge. May the gentleman start with the second one?¡±


    Ji Bo pped. ¡°The gentleman is remarkably bright. Let us go into the next stage. This is a test on your ability to remain calm in face of dangers. Enter the formation I have set up and fight ten enemies. Which one of you wants to volunteer yourselves?¡±

 Chapter 110

    Chapter 110: Armchair Theorizing


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Nan Xun said politely and cupped his hands at Ji Bo. Ji Bo raised an eyebrow. He didn¡¯t know much about Nan Xun, but he did know that Nan Xun was a warrior who had been undefeated in his time defending the border.


    Since Nan Xun was apetent fighter, Ji Bo wasn¡¯t going to go easy on him. Ji Bo waved a hand at the page boy and had him lead Nan Xun out of the building. Jun Huang was going to follow them, but Ji Bo stopped her. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the gentleman stay here? You won¡¯t be of much help to him. If you get trapped in the formation too, you will only be a burden.¡±


    Jun Huang fell silent. He wasn¡¯t wrong. She stood on the side with her arms crossed, her eyes fixed on Nan Xun as he walked into a blue light.


    Nan Xun was befuddled when he first entered the formation Ji Bo had set up. All around him was an empty void. He gripped the hilt of his sword without a word. The lines on his face went rigid, which worried Jun Huang.


    Soon, a man holding a broadsword stepped out from the edge of the seemingly endless void. He was as tall and sturdy as a pine tree. The sword in his hand was so heavy that the veins in his arms threatened to break the skin.


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes turned cold. He tightened his grip on his sword.


    Without warning, the man raised his broadsword and struck at Nan Xun. Nan Xun dodged by a hair¡¯s breadth.


    The de hit the ground and sent sparkles into the air, leaving a deep cut in its wake.


    The attack was so powerful that Nan Xun could feel the force even though he hadn¡¯t been hit. His foe wasn¡¯t someone he could afford to underestimate. He drew his sword and lunged at the man.


    The man narrowed his eyes and blocked the attack with the body of the broadsword. Nan Xun had put a great amount of force behind his strike. His sword was under such pressure that it started to bend a little.


    The man continued to push back. Nan Xun knew that if he continued to apply brute force in this futile attempt to break the man¡¯s guard, he would lose his weapon. That would be far from ideal.


    With a twist of his wrist, he turned the tip of his sword and slided it upward along the broadsword¡¯s de. He kicked at the broadsword, propelling himself backward, andnded on the ground with a flip.


    The man was as relentless as a machine. He charged at Nan Xun again. Nan Xun was going to step aside, but his feet were stuck. There was a ck serpent coiling around his ankles. He looked to his side. A woman looked back at him with leering eyes and a raised eyebrow. Snakes and scorpions made themselves at home all over her body.


    Nan Xun knew he must stay focused. He cut down the snake and rolled to the side. He barely dodged the hit. If he had been a little slower, he would have been killed.


    More and more enemies came at him. Nan Xun knew he must deal with them quickly, or he would run out of stamina soon. Originally he was trying to spare these people¡¯s lives, but no more. Taking a deep breath, he shed his sword sideway, sending a short figure flying. He turned into a puff of green smoke uponnding.


    Nan Xun raised an eyebrow. So these aren¡¯t real people. It seems that I don¡¯t have to pull my punches.


    From then on, every strike of his sword aimed to kill. He managed to keep his enemies away from him. Even so, Nan Xun didn¡¯t get careless. His enemies each had their unique fighting style. Some tricks they used werepletely foreign to him. It was better for him to not take unnecessary risks.


    A moment of distraction allowed the seductive woman to get close to him. A venomous snake slithered around her fingers, its mouth opening wide, showing its sharp fangs.


    Nan Xun would not show her mercy even though she was a woman. He quickly seized her arm. She pouted at him and said in a sweet voice, ¡°Ah! The gentleman is so very forceful. It hurts.¡± She wrapped her fingers around Nan Xun¡¯s shoulder. There was a stinging pain. He looked down and saw a scorpion¡¯s tail burying into his flesh. Nan Xun threw the woman away with all his force. She turned into dust when shended. The scorpion had vanished along with her. The pain in his shoulder, however, remained.


    After about the time to brew a pot of tea, Nan Xun had taken out all his enemies except for a woman wearing a face veil. The woman¡¯s eyes were bright and familiar.


    Jun Huang¡¯s face shed through his mind. The woman¡¯s eyes looked almost identical to hers. His hands trembled. The woman gazed at him calmly. He wanted to say something, but he couldn¡¯t.


    The woman¡¯s eyes turned cold as she took out a silver needle. His heart clenched and he almost dropped his sword.


    The woman gave him a venomous look and threw the needle at him. Nan Xun only recovered from his shock when the needle almost hit him in the face. He blocked it with his sword and charged at the woman. He was inches away from cutting her down.


    The woman looked up at him with such lifelike eyes; suddenly the line between illusion and reality blurred. He forgot what was real and what wasn¡¯t.


    Seeing that Nan Xun had froze and the needle was going to bury into his pulse point, Jun Huang rushed forward and panickily shouted, ¡°Focus, Nan Xun! Don¡¯t let the illusion blinded you.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s unfocused eyes lit up. With a strike of his palm, the woman flew back like a fallen leaf. The face veil fell when shended. Nan Xun could finally breathe properly again when he saw the face.


    It wasn¡¯t Jun Huang.


    It couldn¡¯t have been her, but he was relieved nheless.


    Sweat broke from his forehead, wetting his cors. All his strength seemed to have drained from his body. He almost fell over.


    Ji Bo deactivated the formation. Jun Huang rushed to Nan Xun¡¯s side and supported his weight. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Nan Xun met her gaze. There was a fleeting sh of nervousness in her eyes. He took a deep breath to steady himself. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Ji Bo walked up to them. ¡°Congrattion, gentlemen, on passing the second challenge. Let us begin with the third one.¡±


    ¡°The third challenge is a test on your heart,¡± said the page boy. ¡°Please follow my master to his building, gentleman Feng.¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Nan Xun leveled Ji Bo with a frosty gaze, holding onto Jun Huang¡¯s hand to stop her from leaving.


    Ji Bo spared him a single nce before looking away, waiting silently for Jun Huang to follow him. Jun Huang knew Ji Bo was trustworthy. She patted Nan Xun on the shoulderfortingly. ¡°Go get your wounds treated. Mister Ji Bo is a talented man who has no match in this generation. He can be trusted. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡± She pulled away from Nan Xun and motioned for Ji Bo to take the lead.


    Nan Xun held onto the wound on his shoulder, his face pale as he watched Jun Huang and Ji Bo walk away. He was restless. He wanted nothing but to follow them, but the page boy would not let him.


    ¡°The gentleman is hurt,¡± said the page boy in a respectful tone. ¡°Please follow me and allow us to treat your wounds.¡±


    The shadow guards tried to talk Nan Xun into getting treated as well. Nan Xun had no choice but to follow the page boy.


    Jun Huang and Ji Bo walked through a winding hallway. After the time for a pot of tea to brew, they arrived at the door to Ji Bo¡¯s residence. Ji Bo opened the door and stepped inside. Jun Huang looked around before following him.


    It was a minimalistic room. The sandalwood incense filled the air with aforting smell.


    Once they were seated, Ji Bo poured Jun Huang a cup of tea. The fragrance was strong. She could tell it was a premium brand of spring tea. She took a small sip. The pleasant taste lingered in her mouth.


    Ji Bo was an elegant man. His features were delicate, and his clothes finely-tailored. The beard on his chin, however, looked out of ce. This close, Jun Huang was able to tell that it was a fake one. She quirked up her lips. ¡°It was unexpected for a talented man like you to pretend to be old. This gentleman has not met anyone who has done so.¡±


    Ji Bo touched his chin and realized that the beard he had taken such care to stick on was close to falling off. He awkwardly cleared his throat and peeled the fake beard off.


    ¡°The gentleman has talked about the two Song dynasties,¡± said Ji Bo. ¡°The two Songs cannot co-exist. The same is true of great talents. Does the gentleman understand what I mean?¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes. ¡°Mister Ji Bo cannot deny that for a short period of time, the two Songs did co-exist. It¡¯s a fleeting part of the grand history, but it cannot be ignored.¡±


    ¡°A desire for peace and quiet drove you to hide in the mountain. And yet you have done all you could just to trap us here. Can you exin to this gentleman what your intentions were?¡±


    Jun Huang had always had a sharp tongue. Ji Bo could not find any valid arguments.


    He was only thirty, which was the age when men were at their most ambitious. He knew a fractured world would merge into one country after a long period of time, and a single country would break down into several. He too dreamed of serving a great leader and uniting the world. However, he did not know what had been happening in Northern Qi, and he didn¡¯t know if Jun Huang truly wanted to put a wise man on the throne, or if she had ulterior motives.


    He turned to Jun Huang. ¡°Gentleman, no, Princess, do you truly want the best for the world? Or are you trying to achieve your own personal goal?¡±


    Jun Huang startled. How does Ji Bo know what has been happening in the world? More importantly, he knows about my real identity and doesn¡¯t try to hide it?


    ¡°To be honest, this gentleman does have my own agenda. However, everyone knows what Eastern Wu is trying to do. Do you really want to see endless wars continue to make people suffer?¡±


    ¡°As long as Eastern Wu stands, wars and conflicts will never cease to happen. Western Que is only a start.¡±


    Ji Bo didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be so blunt, but he could not deny the truth of her words.


    After a moment of silence, he asked, ¡°Who is the princess trying to put on the throne?¡±


    ¡°The fourth prince of Northern Qi, Qi Yun.¡±

 Chapter 111

    Chapter 111: The Grand Scheme of Things


    Ji Bo gave Jun Huang a doubtful look. He knew who Qi Yun was, but he couldn¡¯t say for sure that Qi Yun was the right candidate for the throne. After a thoughtful pause, he asked, ¡°Why him?¡±


    ¡°The world is now split into three countries, with Northern Qi being the strongest, Eastern Wu the most ambitious, and Southern Mu the most cowardly. These I¡¯m sure you know already. As for the reason I choose Qi Yun, it¡¯s not only because he is an old friend, but also because he will make a great leader. Take a good look at the imperial court of Northern Qi. Qi Chen couldn¡¯t care less about the people. It¡¯s too early for us to tell what kind of a man the youngest prince will grow up to be. The third prince never intends to participate in affairs in the court. Qi Yun is our only choice, and I¡¯m confident that he will live up to our expectations.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to swear on my life that Qi Yun will make a good emperor,¡± Jun Huang proimed in a strong voice. It was difficult to not be swayed by her.


    Ji Bo looked at Jun Hung¡¯s determined eyes. It was clear that even if he disagreed with her, she would persist until her vision came true.


    ¡°Please give this gentleman some time to consider,¡± said Ji Bo. He needed to sort through his thoughts. ¡°You must be tired. I have ordered my servants to arrange a room for you.¡±


    Jun Huang stood up and patted her wrinkled robe. ¡°Please do consider our offer carefully,¡± she said with a bow. ¡°If we can attain the gentleman¡¯s support, it would be like a tiger gaining a pair of wings. Without you, our goal might as well be a pipe dream.¡± She stepped out of the room. The page boy was waiting right outside.


    The page boy gave her a friendly smile and led her out. Worried about Nan Xun¡¯s injury, Jun Huang picked up her pace. The page boy covered up a smile. ¡°The gentleman doesn¡¯t have to be in such a rush. The general wasn¡¯t injured badly. A doctor has treated him earlier. Please don¡¯t worry about him.¡±


    Jun Huang stilled. Her cheeks became flushed in embarrassment. She paced herself, but she still felt as if she was walking on a tightrope. She couldn¡¯t express why this tension refused to leave her body.


    At the end of the hallway was an open space. Bamboo trees stood before them like an emerald green screen. The scenery was extraordinary. Ji Bo is indeed a man with expensive taste, Jun Huang thought. She broke into a faint smile when she remembered how Ji Bo had put on a fake beard just to appear more mysterious.


    The page boy tilted his head in question. Her frown had suddenly turned into an amused smile. He wondered what had caused the change in her expression. He shook his head. It wasn¡¯t in his ce to ask.


    They soon reached another building. The page boy left once he had walked her to the door. Jun Huang cupped her hands in thanks before entering.


    The building wasrge enough to amodate an army of people. The shadow guards had made themselvesfortable on the first floor. They stopped what they were doing to greet her.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Nan Xun?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    A guard with a clever glint in his eyes pointed at the ceiling, ¡°The prince is on the second floor. He told us to let you go upstairs once you¡¯re back.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She made her way up and gently knocked on the door. Nan Xun called out for her to enter.


    He put down the book in his hands and sat up. ¡°What did he say? Is he willing to help?¡±


    ¡°Mister Ji Bo has not given us a definite answer yet.¡± Jun Huang walked up to him and leaned in to check what he had been reading. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you interested in Chinese medicine as well, Your Highness?¡±


    Nan Xun smiled awkwardly at the book before closing it. ¡°No, not really. I happened to spot it on the desk. The page boy said it belongs to Mister Ji Bo. I started reading because I was bored.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded in understanding. She looked over at the wound on his shoulder and frowned. ¡°What did the doctor say?¡±


    Nan Xun pulled at his cor and smiled openly. ¡°Said it was a shallow wound. There¡¯s no need for you to worry.¡± He turned the conversation around and said jokingly, ¡°Usually you were the one getting injured. I suppose it¡¯s my turn now.¡±


    Jun Huang looked down at her healed ankle with a sigh. ¡°What kind of a joke is that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, I promise,¡± Nan Xun said, his expression turning serious. ¡°Our priority now is to convince Mister Ji Bo, or this journey will be all for nothing.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. Nan Xun was right. But she had made her case. Ji Bo wasn¡¯t one to be swayed easily. They could only hope that Ji Bo approved of their goals. They could not force him to join them.


    At night, the temperature in the mountain dropped by a good measure. Jun Huang twisted and turned in the bed, trying and failing to fall asleep. Finally she gave up. She got off the bed and put on a robe before walking out of her room, looking at the mountain range with unfocused eyes.


    The sound of light but mncholy flute reached her ears. It was so faint that she wouldn¡¯t have heard it if she hadn¡¯t been hyper aware of her surroundings.


    It didn¡¯t take long for her to decide to follow the sound. She stopped at the building she had talked to Ji Bo in earlier.


    Ji Bo¡¯s graceful form stood under the moonlight, his clothes fluttering in the wind and the jade flute in his hand radiated a faint glow.


    Jun Huang looked at him from a distance. The flute didn¡¯t sound heavy, but it expressed a deep sorrow. Memories from the night Western Que fell surfaced her mind. She was reminded of the deep pain she had felt that day when the army invaded.


    Sorrow gnawed at her heart. She didn¡¯t realize how pained her expression was.


    Ji Bo opened his eyes when he finished ying the song. He was surprised to see Jun Huang standing before him. Jun Huang collected her thoughts and cupped her hands at him. ¡°Sorry for intruding.¡±


    Ji Bo put away the jade flute and waved a hand at her. ¡°You were merely following your heart. Perhaps you were meant to hear that song, princess.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a quietugh. ¡°Please don¡¯t call this gentleman princess anymore. That girl died along with her family and country. Now, only Feng Baiyu walks the earth, and his sole focus is on getting revenge.¡±


    ¡°It is said that the white jade is pure and wless1,¡± said Ji Bo, smiling. ¡°I hope gentleman Feng can live up to your new name.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at the crescent moon without responding. An indescribable feeling sneaked up on her. ¡°Standing here, it seems as if the mountain and the river will always be this serene. The gentleman is indeed a man who prefers the quiet. I almost feel bad for asking you toe with us.¡±


    Ji Bo looked out of the hallway. Thiste at night, even the stars had disappeared from the sky, leaving only the bright moon. Every once in a while, a tired bird would fly through the woods to return to its nest.


    After a long silence, Ji Bo said, ¡°I have something to talk to you about.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s talk.¡± Jun Huang didn¡¯t ask what he wanted to talk about. She motioned for Ji Bo to take the lead and followed after him.


    The building was brightly lit. Ji Bo took a seat and poured her a cup of tea. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the gentleman has a deep passion for tea. Is it true?¡±


    Jun Huang paused. She wasn¡¯t sure why Ji Bo asked, and she wondered how Ji Bo knew. She waved a hand and didn¡¯t respond.


    It only took a nce for Ji Bo to tell that Jun Huang¡¯s body wascking in energy and blood. ¡°Consuming too much tea is bad for your health. The gentleman is meant for great things. You should take better care of yourself.¡±


    Jun Huang made a sound in acknowledgement. She knew drinking tea at night was bad for her health, but she could not quit the addiction. In the past she simply enjoyed the bitterness of the tea. Now she needed the tea to help sooth her pain.


    Ji Bo didn¡¯t interrupt her musings. When Jun Huang broke out of her trance, the candle on the table had burned through half its length. The table was covered in melted wax.


    ¡°What did the gentleman invited me in sote at night for?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    Ji Bo took a sip of tea. ¡°The gentleman spoke the truth earlier today. I have given it some consideration, and I came to the conclusion that you are right. That¡¯s why I invited you for an in-depth discussion. I was hoping we can talk about where the world is leading to.¡±


    Jun Huang rxed. Thankfully, Ji Bo still longed to achieve great things. Men like him would be a great asset for Qi Yun. When her inevitable death came, there would be someone who was devoted in serving Qi Yun. She couldn¡¯t ask for more.


    She gave him a salute and said genuinely, ¡°The gentleman truly considers people to be the foundation of the country. And you are a disciple of the Ghost Valley school. We cannot match your talent. With your help, Qi Yun will be able to create a peaceful and prosperous world.¡±


    ¡°Spare me thepliments,¡± Ji Bo said. ¡°Let us talk about what we are dealing with today.¡±


    They talked about everything that had happened in details. When they disagreed, they put the issue aside first. They would discuss those issues after they had gone over the important developments they had observed.


    Most of the time Jun Huang was the one doing the talking while Ji Bo listened. Every once in a while he would make some insightfulments. The effects, good or bad, of her actions were clear after their thorough discussion.


    When Jun Huang talked about their investigation into the corrupt officials, Ji Bo interrupted her for the first time. ¡°I think you have been too hasty in this matter.¡±


    Jun Huang stopped talking and waited for him to continue. She didn¡¯t take it as an offense. Those who possessed real strength were willing to listen to other people¡¯s opinions in order to learn about their shorings.


    ¡°Northern Qi is home to many talented people, and yet you have shrouded the country in fear by investigating the corruption. You even punished many men for buying the exam questions, among whom were a good number of schrs with great potential. Those schrs were only trying to ensure their own sess, and yet you dealt with them without any mercy. As for the prefect of Yangzhou, it is true that he must be dealt with, but you have alerted your foe by doing so. Qi Chen¡¯s benefactor will be even more careful now.¡±


    ¡°Almost every courtier is now under great pressure. They don¡¯t dare to speak up even if they haveints. That isn¡¯t ideal. Have you thought about how Northern Qi is going to fight Eastern Wu if they invade now? Do you know you are damaging the foundation of the country?¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s expression was calm, but Jun Huang could hear his frustration clearly. She could tell that he must be cursing her in his mind.


    ¡°I am waiting for Eastern Wu to invade Northern Qi,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I need them to. Otherwise all I¡¯ve done will be in vain.¡±


    Ji Bo shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s your mistake.¡±


    ¡°What does the gentleman mean?¡±


    ¡°Eastern Wu was able to break through the defense of Western Que because there was a mole within your country. Only with the help of the mole were they able to destroy the city gate that had stood intact for hundreds of years. They will not send out their armies again so soon. Even though they had an inside man, they still suffered a great loss in their fight against Western Que. It took them eight hundred deaths to kill a thousand soldiers. They need time to recover. They won¡¯t make a move in the near future.¡±


    ¡°Are we supposed to just wait?¡± Jun Huang asked urgently. She didn¡¯t have much time left. She couldn¡¯t afford to stand idle.


    Ji Bo didn¡¯t give her an answer. Instead, he directed the conversation back to the question he had posed, ¡°The only force capable of opposing Eastern Wu is Northern Qi. And yet you have destabilized its foundation. It is inevitable that some of the senior officials must have been angered by your actions. If someone decides to sell their country out for their own gains like your royal brother did, what do you think the odds are that Northern Qi will be able toe out triumphant?¡±

 Chapter 112

    Chapter 112: Fighting for Attention


    Jun Huang felt her heart sink. She had never considered the possibility that history might repeat itself. She broke into a cold sweat upon realizing her mistake.


    A gust of wind swept into the room. She shuddered and tightened her robe without a word, her face as pale as sheet. It was difficult to think about what could happen. She needed some time to sort through her thoughts.


    Ji Bo sighed. He chucked Jun Huang¡¯s now cold tea and earnestly said, ¡°It¡¯s only a possibility; You don¡¯t have to be so concerned. I will do all I can to assist you.¡±


    Jun Huang trudged her way back to the room she was staying in. She curled into herself on the bed, her body trembling. It was as if she were back to the day Western Que was burned to the ground. Screams and wails could be heard everywhere. She had witnessed most of her family being ughtered like animals.


    The next morning, Ji Bo sent the pageboy to check up on Jun Huang when she was still half-asleep. Her previous night had been gued with nightmares. Her body was covered in sweat. She propped herself up and gazed into the distance.


    The page boy called out for her again. He wondered what Jun Huang was doing.


    Jun Huang started her morning ritual and changed into a violet silk robe. On her waist was a fine jade carved into the shape of the mystical creature Qilin. The jade cap she wore glistened under the sunlight.


    She cut an ethereal figure, seemingly above the mundane matters in the mortal realm. In other people¡¯s eyes, she was so graceful it seemed as if a light breeze was following her every step. Her very presence attracted attention.


    The page boy stared owlishly at her when she walked out of the door. He was only brought back to the reality when Jun Huang called out for him impatiently. Mortified, he took Jun Huang to Ji Bo with his cheeks flushed.


    Jun Huang assumed that Ji Bo wanted to discuss business with her, so she quickened her pace. Nan Xun was at the door when she reached Ji Bo¡¯s building. She slowly came to a halt.


    She cupped her hands at Ji Bo in greeting. It was her principle to always treat people with the proper etiquette. ¡°I¡¯ve kept you waiting. I wonder why you are so urgent to see me?¡±


    ¡°I have been thinking about our conversation,¡± said Ji Bo. ¡°Since I have agreed to follow you back to the imperial city, it¡¯s best for us to leave as soon as we can. Qi Yun may be a remarkable man with the potential to be a great emperor, but he is still inexperienced. We should serve at his side to avoid unnecessary idents.¡±


    Jun Huang hummed. Ji Bo had a point, but she didn¡¯t immediately respond. Nan Xun had not yet fully recovered. She was worried that he might not fare well against the fatigue of traveling such long distance.


    She looked up at Nan Xun. As if he was able to read her mind, Nan Xun gave her a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ve mostly recovered.¡±


    ¡°If so, I will have my men make the necessary preparations,¡± said Ji Bo. ¡°How about we depart now?¡±


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang both nodded. They packed up their things and followed Ji Bo out of Mount Wuming. It took them only two days. Their return journey went so much more smoothly than their journey into the mountain.


    Once they arrived at the foot of the mountain, Nan Xun had his people bring them the horses they had left here when they arrived. Ji Bo shuddered when he saw the horses.


    His reaction was subtle, but it didn¡¯t escape Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. The thought that she should refrain frommenting on it to save Ji Bo¡¯s face never crossed her mind. ¡°Is Mister Ji Bo afraid of horses?¡± she asked.


    Before Ji Bo could answer, his page boy nodded and said, ¡°Master once fell from a horse. After that, he could not stand the sight of any horses, let alone ride on them ¨C ow!¡±


    The page boy rubbed at his forehead and pouted. Ji Bo had hit him with his foldable fan.


    Ji Bo threw daggers at the pageboy. ¡°You have forgotten your ce.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled. She told one of the shadow guards to find them a coach.


    Jun Huang was going to ride on a horse herself, but Nan Xun pushed her into the coach, saying that she shouldn¡¯t ride with an injured foot.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t argue with him. She would dly take the opportunity to talk about the current situation with Ji Bo.


    When they were close to the imperial city, Ji Bo turned to Jun Huang and said, ¡°The most important thing now is to prevent Qi Chen from suspecting us. It¡¯s a task that you must do yourself. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Jun Huang nodded. Neither of them said another word.


    Back to the imperial city, Jun Huang told Ji Bo to go to Nan Xun¡¯s manor. She couldn¡¯t let him stay in her ce. There were onlookers that might start spreading rumors. People already started to take notice that the royal princes frequently visited her. She dared not take any more risks. Fortunately, Nan Xun was a prince himself. It made sense for him to have a an advisor at his side.


    After a few uneventful days, Jun Huang received a message from Rou¡¯er. It turned out that Nan Guyue and Wei Lanying got into a feud.


    Nan Guyue had been blinded by Qi Chen¡¯s tenderness and insisted on getting married to Qi Chen. Her happiness, however, did notst long. When she first got pregnant, Qi Chen had been tending to her every need. He was so gentle with her it was as if she was the finest china that required the utmost care. Nan Guyue had been deeply moved.


    But someone told Qi Chen that if a pregnant woman was craving sour food, it meant the child was a boy, while a craving for spicy food meant the child was a girl. Unfortunately Nan Guyue had always preferred spicy food over sour food. Many senior servants in the manor therefore said that Nan Guyue must be pregnant with a girl.


    The statement had no medical basis, but Qi Chen believed it, and he wanted only a son. He was convinced that Nan Guyue would give birth to a daughter, so he started to keep his distance with Nan Guyue.


    At the same time, Wei Lanying had been trying to win Qi Chen back. Soon, Qi Chen set his eyes on her again and stayed almost every night in her room.


    Wei Lanying would not settle for simply having Qi Chen¡¯s favor; she had to unt it. Every day, she would visit Nan Guyue, calling her big sister as if they were close friends. In Wei Lanying¡¯s mind, Nan Guyue was no longer a threat to her.


    Nan Guyue was deeply annoyed, but she couldn¡¯t make a move on Wei Lanying; otherwise it might be considered an offense to Qi Chen. She wasn¡¯t stupid enough to challenge Qi Chen¡¯s authority. She could only take Wei Lanying¡¯s taunts and jeers with a clenched jaw.


    Her inaction prompted Wei Lanying to be even more aggressive. Sometimes she would insisted on telling her what Qi Chen had done during his stay.


    Nan Guyue was close to grinding her teeth t. Then, unexpectedly, Wei Lanying started having morning sickness. She immediately told Qi Chen and Nan Guyue.


    Qi Chen found her a doctor. The doctor¡¯s diagnosis, though, was that she was not pregnant, but simply having a digestive problem.


    Wei Lanying refused to take that as an answer. She was convinced the fetus had moved in her belly. She jumped to the conclusion that the doctor had been bought by Nan Guyue, and that Nan Guyue was trying to kill her child. She pulled at Qi Chen¡¯s clothes and spouted usations against Nan Guyue.


    Qi Chen had already been unhappy with Wei Lanying for giving him false hope. Her tears did not earn her anypassion. Qi Chen had never liked women who would throw a tantrum. He pushed Wei Lanying away and left without a single nce back.


    Nan Guyue watched the whole scene y out like an outsider. Once Qi Chen had left, she gave Wei Lanying the punishment of kneeling on the pebbled path. The path made for a painful enough walk for people wearing shoes. One could only imagine how painful it would be to kneel on the path.


    Wei Lanying refused to obey. However, Nan Guyue had learned to fight for her husband¡¯s favor after entering the crown prince¡¯s manor. She knew that she must stand her ground in the household of the future emperor. If someone dared to hurt her, she would make them pay. She had endured Wei Lanying¡¯s unting long enough.


    Wei Lanying was stuck between a rock and a hard ce. She knew Nan Guyue would not let her off the hook, and she had angered Qi Chen. Perhaps Qi Chen would forgive her if she knelt down in atonement.


    She dropped down to her knees and stayed like that for the entire night. She ended up losing consciousness then and there. Her maid was going to inform Qi Chen, but she was intercepted by Nan Guyue¡¯s men. The men carried Wei Lanying and her maid back to their building. Nan Guyue would not give Wei Lanying a chance to appeal to Qi Chen¡¯s sympathy.


    Afterwards, Wei Lanying were bedridden for more than a dozen days. Qi Chen had not visited her even once. She didn¡¯t know why until muchter. It turned out that Nan Guyue had warned everyone to keep Wei Lanying¡¯s punishment a secret. The information never reached Qi Chen¡¯s ears.


    Jun Huang found it amusing. When she was living in the Western Que pce, some of the consorts schemed against one another as well, but she never realized it could get so ridiculous.


    She sighed. Nan Guyue had been an innocent woman when she married Qi Chen. Now she had learned to fight for Qi Chen¡¯s favor the way concubines in pce fought for the emperor.


    Little Girl looked at Jun Huang questioningly, wondering why Jun Huang started frowning after letting out a chuckle. She gently patted Jun Huang on the arm. ¡°Has something happened, gentleman Feng?¡±


    Jun Huang gave Little Girl a sideway nce before shaking her head. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ve just missed a showdown.¡± As if she had suddenly remembered something, she asked Little Girl to prepare her clothes for her. She was going out.


    Little Girl looked out of the window. It was gettingte. She was only a maid, however, and couldn¡¯t possibly change Jun Huang¡¯s mind. She quickly bring Jun Huang an elegant robe.


    After getting changed, Jun Huang left her humble abode for the extravagant Prince Chen Manor, waving her foldable fan as she walked.


    Jun Huang had missed the feud between Nan Guyue and Wei Lanying, but she did have something to discuss with Qi Chen. Besides, she had to visit the manor every once in a while to maintain Qi Chen¡¯s trust.


    Qi Chen happened to have things to consult Jun Huang about. Her arrival smoothed out the frown between his eyebrows. They exchanged some pleasantries before entering the study. Qi Chen made sure to order the guards to keep anyone from disturbing them.


    It had been a while since Jun Huangst came to the study. It was often said that to find a rich man¡¯s darkest secret, one needed to look no further than his study. The same was true of Qi Chen.


    He showed the ounting book of the manor to Jun Huang without hesitation. It was obvious that he considered Jun Huang one of his own.

 Chapter 113

    Chapter 113: Two Birds, One Stone


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart started pounding as she browsed through the ounting book. Qi Chen dares to embezzle sovereign funds through the Ministry of Rites?!


    Because of the investigation on corrupt officials, Qi Chen did not dare to use the money he had so boldly stolen. He wanted Jun Huang to help him produce a fake record that would quell others¡¯ suspicions. If one day the emperor decided to ask him for the ounting book, he would have something to give the emperor.


    He had made up his mind. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t say no to him. However, she deliberately made a few mistakes in the record that were difficult to notice at first nce.


    Qi Chen then started talking about the interrtionships among the courtiers with Jun Huang. Whenever two officials appeared to have be closer, Qi Chen would try to figure out what the reasons might be. Jun Huang didn¡¯t realize that Qi Chen paid such close attention to the courtiers.


    The door creaked open, interrupting their lively conversation. Wei Lanying walked in dressed in a thinyer of silk. It was obvious that she didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be here. The fabric draped loosely over her shoulders, revealing her fair skin. She immediately pulled her robe tighter around her body when she saw Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang scoffed when she noticed a sh of annoyance in Qi Chen¡¯s eyes. She was not a man, but she knew men found nothing more insulting than seeing their wives and concubines expose their body to another person, especially when that person was a man.


    Jun Huang was Qi Chen¡¯s most valued strategist. He wasn¡¯t going to put the me on Jun Huang. Wei Lanying, on the other hand, had been poorly-behaved. She had made many mistakes during the past few days.


    ¡°Who let you in?¡± Jun Huang demanded in a steely voice, keeping an eye on Qi Chen¡¯s expression. ¡°The guards were told to not let anyone in.¡±


    As she expected, her words tipped Qi Chen over the edge. He pointed at the door and snarled at Wei Lanying, ¡°Get out! You are an embarrassment!¡±


    Wei Lanying didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen to be this harsh with her. Her hands shook under the te of snacks she was holding. She ground her teeth together with tears in her eyes, on the verge of losing herposure.


    Qi Chen did not show her any sympathy. He didn¡¯t even spare her a nce. With her dignity trampled, Wei Lanying shot Jun Huang a venomous re before stomping outside.


    Frustration threatened to burst out of her chest. She threw the osmanthus cake in her hand onto the ground. It broke into pieces and scattered everywhere.


    ¡°What happened, Lady Wei?¡± asked Wei Lanying¡¯s maid, as if Wei Lanying¡¯s angry expression wasn¡¯t enough to deter her. She could be obtuse at times.


    Wei Lanying red at her and said, ¡°Nan Guyue¡¯s insults I can endure. But a mere strategist dares to speak so harshly to me?¡± She tightened her fists, oblivious to the fact that her nails were digging into her palms.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the maid to figure out who Wei Lanying was referring to. Among all the strategists in this manor, Jun Huang is the only one who will go against Wei Lanying.


    ¡°Lady Wei should ignore lowly man like him,¡± the maid said with a worried frown. ¡°Don¡¯t let your bad mood harm your body.¡±


    ¡°I will not let Feng Baiyu and Nan Guyue off the hook easily,¡± Wei Lanying said through clenched teeth, her eyes shining with malicious intents.


    The maid was smart enough to know that this wasn¡¯t the ce for such conversation. She helped Wei Lanying back to her room and shut the door behind them. In her rage, Wei Lanying failed to notice her actions.


    Once the door and the windows were shut, the maid came to Wei Lanying¡¯s side and said quietly, ¡°Lady Wei must not let them walk over you again. You have tried being diplomatic, but they never showed you the same courtesy. Who knows what they have been saying behind your back? Maybe they have been mocking you for being weak!¡±


    The maid¡¯s words stoked the fiery anger in Wei Lanying¡¯s heart. She bristled.


    ¡°Oh? Do you have an idea for me to take them out?¡± she asked with her eyes narrowed.


    The maid broke into a smile and leaned into Wei Lanying. ¡°When the princess got pregnant, gentleman Feng was still living in the manor. And the first person to notice that she was pregnant was gentleman Feng rather than a doctor. Doesn¡¯t Lady Wei find it curious?¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°The crown prince had been busy with work at the time. He often stayed out and didn¡¯t return untilte at night...¡±


    Wei Lanying widened her eyes. ¡°Do you mean...?¡±


    ¡°The child has not been born yet. No one could say for sure who the father is. Even if it really is the crown prince¡¯s child, we can still nt the seed of suspicion in his heart. What do you think will happen then?¡± The maid pulled her lips into a devious smile.


    Wei Lanying wasn¡¯t convinced however. ¡°No, that won¡¯t work. Feng Baiyu is persuasive, and the crown prince trusts him too much. If Feng Baiyu takes the opportunity to fight back, I might lose the prince¡¯s favor once and for all.¡±


    The maid lowered her head in contemtion. After the time for a pot of tea to brew, her eyes glinted and her smile turned sickeningly sweet. ¡°Does Lady Wei remember that the prince¡¯s birthday is in a few days? We can n for him to catch Feng Baiyu and Nan Guyue in bed together. Even if the n ister discovered, all the guests attending the celebration will be the suspects. It won¡¯t be easy to trace it back to us.¡±


    Wei Lanying¡¯s heart started racing in glee. It would be a way for her to get revenge, and more importantly, to take out the biggest threats to her. It seemed obvious what her answer should be.


    She nodded and shared a knowing look with her maid. The maid knew what had to be done. At night, she sneaked out of the manor and bought some medicine in an apothecary located in the west side of the city. Once the preparations were made, she waited for Qi Chen¡¯s birthday toe.


    Time passed as quickly as a running river. It was Qi Chen¡¯s birthday. Nan Guyue was pregnant with his child, but she still woke up early and helped organize the celebration.


    Jun Huang arrived at the manor early in the morning. There would be something she could help with. The moment she stepped in, she saw Nan Guyue directing servants to hang thenterns along the hallway with a swollen belly.


    Jun Huang walked up to her and cupped her hands in greeting. ¡°There¡¯s no need for the princess to get your hands dirty. You can simply appoint a servant to oversee the others.¡±


    Nan Guyue turned to Jun Huang and greeted her with a nod. ¡°It¡¯s my first time holding a birthday celebration for the prince. It reassures me to supervise the preparations myself. Some servants can be careless. With me here, they would be more focused and less likely to ck off.¡±


    ¡°But your health ¨C ¡±


    ¡°The doctor has checked on me this morning. He said I¡¯ve been recovering well and my body isn¡¯t as weak as it was. He also told me that taking some walk is good for the child.¡± Nan Guyue¡¯s smile was tender and soft. When she talked about her unborn child, her eyes darted down to her belly and her hands came up to smooth over the skin, as if she was trying to feel the child¡¯s presence.


    A sense of serenity spread through Jun Huang¡¯s heart. She looked up at the servants on thedders. It wasn¡¯t safe for Nan Guyue to stay here. ¡°This gentleman can help. You shouldn¡¯t take the risk that one the servants may fall on you.¡±


    Nan Guyue hummed. She was going to check on the servants in the kitchen anyway. She nodded and turned around.


    Seeing a puddle on the ground, Jun Huang extended a hand to steady Nan Guyue without thinking, muttering, ¡°Be careful.¡± Nan Guyue smiled at her and didn¡¯t pull away.


    At a distance, Wei Lanying and Qi Chen took notice of their interaction. Wei Lanying had talked about her n with people from her family. One of her servants deliberatelymented on how much Jun Huang and Nan Guyue looked like a couple. Qi Chen¡¯s face darkened. He whirled around and left.


    A hint of satisfied smile tugged at Wei Lanying¡¯s lips. She followed after Qi Chen. Before she left, she gave her maid a pointed look. The maid broke off from the group and walked into the kitchen.


    Jun Huang left after walking Nan Guyue to the outside of the kitchen. Nan Guyue entered the room on her own. There was a big demand for manpower today in the manor. Nan Guyue had sent her personal maids to deal with the purchase. That was why she didn¡¯t have a maid with her.


    Wei Lanying¡¯s maid had spotted Nan Guyue when she was sneaking out of the kitchen. She lowered her head and quickly made her escape. Nan Guyue had not noticed her.


    There was a strong scent of cooked oil in the kitchen. Nan Guyue felt nauseous as soon as she walked in. A servant gave her a cup of tea and she readily epted. It made her feel a lot better.


    Soon, her eyelids grew heavy. She thought that she was simply tired. With a yawn, she walked out of the kitchen. She could barely open her eyes when a maid came out of nowhere and led her to a room.


    It was Wei Lanying¡¯s maid. She had been waiting outside. When Nan Guyue showed up, she rushed to take Nan Guyue to a room she had prepared for her n. She quickly took off Nan Guyue¡¯s dress, leaving her in only her inner garments. That was enough to mislead anyone.


    Nan Guyuey on the bed, unconscious. The maid scoffed and left. Now what was left was for their people to take Jun Huang here.


    Jun Huang started feeling a little thirsty when thenterns had all been hung. Looking around, she didn¡¯t see any teapot. She was going to look for something to drink when a page boy brought a teapot to her.


    ¡°Is the gentleman thirsty?¡± the page boy asked earnestly.


    Jun Huang nodded without thinking too much of it. The page boy poured her a cup and respectfully hand it to her.


    It only took one sip for Jun Huang to realize that something was wrong. Her head snapped up, and the page boy¡¯s wolfish grin came into her view. She cursed under her breath.


    She tried to move, but she was soon hit by a wave of dizziness. The purple sand teacup1 in her hand dropped to the floor. It was sturdy enough that it didn¡¯t break. After a couple rolls, the cupnded upright.


    ¡°You... you...¡± Jun Huang tried to get a good look at the page boy¡¯s face, but the more she tried to focus, the blurrer her vision became. Soon, the world faded into darkness and her consciousness slipped away.

 Chapter 114

    Chapter 114: Plotting


    The page boy caught Jun Huang and dragged her to the room Nan Guyue had been taken to. Once inside, he loosened Jun Huang¡¯s outer robe and put her next to Nan Guyue.


    Something was missing still. He pushed Nan Guyue into Jun Huang¡¯s arms. A smirk found its way to his face. He dropped the silk curtains and left.


    Qi Chen was entertaining his guests in the front room when the page boy ran up to him and dropped down to his knees. Qi Chen kicked at him with a frown. ¡°Look around you. Where¡¯s your manner?¡±


    The page boy trembled. With a shaky voice, he said, ¡°I ¨C I ran into the princess. She said she was not feeling well. She went to the side building to rest.¡±


    Qi Chen shot up to his feet and left for the side building, leaving a whole room of high-level officials to their own devices. Wei Lanying pulled her lips into a sharp grin and looked towards her maid. The maid lowered her head with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lady Wei. Everything¡¯s set up.¡±


    Wei Lanying smoothed a finger over her hair pin and tilted her face up. ¡°Oh? How about we go watch everything unfold?¡±


    She led her entourage of servants out of the room and followed Qi Chen to the side building.


    Jun Huang had not drunk much of the tempered tea. She therefore didn¡¯t stay unconscious for long. She rubbed at her throbbing temple as she opened her eyes. She frowned when she realized that she was on a bed with someone on top of her. She tilted her head and saw the unconscious Nan Guyue.


    Someone wasing. So this is what their n is, she thought. They want to make it look like I am having an affair with Nan Guyue. What a foul scheme!


    She didn¡¯t have time to think about what to do. She pulled Nan Guyue¡¯s cors closed before quickly getting off the bed and fixing her robe. She opened one of the window to the back of the building and climbed out, slipping away from the scene of a crime she nevermitted.


    Jun Huang had lived in the side building for quite a while. She was familiar with theyout. She managed to leave thepound through the back of the garden. On her way, she saw Qi Chen and a whole group of people making their way to the side building. It was obvious they were here to catch her and Nan Guyue ¡°in the act¡±. Jun Huang huffed out augh, her eyes as cold as ice.


    She didn¡¯t stay long. Once Qi Chen had entered the building, she left without leaving a trace behind. She found a safe ce to fix her appearance.


    The closer she was to the room, the more excited Wei Lanying got. She could no longer suppress her smile. Anyone who cared to look would be able to see it. Qi Chen, however, was thinking about only Nan Guyue. He had not even looked at Wei Lanying once.


    Worried that Nan Guyue might be in danger, Qi Chen barged into the room and saw Nan Guyue lying on the bed. Her dress was ced on her side.


    As if trying to announce her existence, Wei Lanying ran up to the bed and eximed in a high-pitched voice, ¡°Are you alright, big sister?¡±


    Nan Guyue jerked awake, her heart racing when she saw all the people filing into the room. She soon figured out what was happening. A quick nce to her side told her that no one else was with her. She let out a sigh of relief.


    Nan Guyue looked up at Qi Chen and tried her best to affect a calm tone. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°I was told that you weren¡¯t feeling well, so I came to check up on you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness,¡± she said softly. ¡°I was a little tired, so I came to take a short rest.¡±


    Wei Lanying was not willing to give up. She was convinced that Jun Huang must be hiding somewhere in the room. She had to make Jun Huang and Nan Guyue suffer. ¡°Your Highness, Ying¡¯er has a feeling that someone else is in this room, hidden from out sights.¡±


    Nan Guyue pointed at Wei Lanying andshed out, ¡°What are you trying to say?!¡±


    Her reaction only served to stoke Wei Lanying¡¯s self-satisfaction. She must be feeling guilty! Wei Lanying thought. Without asking for Qi Chen¡¯s approval, she opened the closet with dramatic ir. Then her gaze settled on the window at the back of the room. She walked up to the window and pushed it open. She didn¡¯t see anyone when she looked out.


    Qi Chen watched her without a word. His expression darkened when he realized that this was all Wei Lanying¡¯s ploy to get his attention. Nan Guyue looked over at Wei Lanying with cold eyes. She let out the breath she had been holding when Wei Lanying failed to find anything. ¡°What is little sister looking for?¡±


    ¡°I... I saw a man running into the room. I was worried that he would take advantage of big sister.¡± Wei Lanying put on an awkward smile. Qi Chen walked away with a huff. Wei Lanying immediately chased after him, trying to exin herself. The servants trailed after them, leaving Nan Guyue on her own.


    Nan Guyue¡¯s bravado crumbled. She leaned against the bed with a pale face. She thought back to what had happened. She had lost consciousness after drinking that cup of tea! Cold sweat broke out from her body. She touched her belly. Thank the gods that the child was unharmed.


    She had rxed her guard because other people had drunk from the same pot of tea. Could it be that there was a knockout drug that affected only pregnant women?


    From the way Wei Lanying had acted, it was obvious that someone must have been on this bed with her. Who could it be?


    She sat unmoving for a good while before getting off the bed. Her hand came in contact with something cool to the touch. It was a green jade pendant. It looked awfully familiar. She must have seen it somewhere.


    It was Jun Huang¡¯s. Nan Guyue had seen Jun Huang wear this jade today. Moreover, Wei Lanying had always hated Jun Huang. This did seem like something Wei Lanying would do to get rid of the two of them with one swift attempt.


    Nan Guyue breathed at a deliberate pace as she put on her dress. She pocketed the jade and left the room, making her way to the front building.


    Jun Huang only realized that she had dropped her jade pendant when she was right at the door to the front building. She was going to search for it when Qi Chen showed up. She cupped her hands in greeting.


    Qi Chen helped her up. He noticed that she wasn¡¯t wearing anything on her waist.


    ¡°I remember that brother Feng is partial to green jade,¡± Qi Chen said in feign nonchnce. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing one today? Also, where have you been? I haven¡¯t seen you all day.¡±


    Jun Huang knew what he was implying. ¡°When I arrived, I saw the princess busy at work even in her pregnant state, so I volunteered to watch over the servants for her,¡± she said in a dignified tone. ¡°My robe was dirtied in the process. I went to clean it, but the stain didn¡¯tpletelye off. And I¡¯ve lost my jade. I tried to search for it, but to no avail.¡±


    Qi Chen considered Jun Huang. There was indeed a stain on her robe. It was left there when Jun Huang dropped her teacup.


    He waved a servant over. ¡°The celebration is going to start. You might not have the time to return to your house. You should change your clothes in my room. Don¡¯t worry about your lost jade. I will give you a couple new ones in a few days.¡±


    Jun Huang cupped her hands in thanks. If she had turned Qi Chen down, he might take it personally. ¡°Thank you, Your Highness,¡± she said. She followed a page boy to Qi Chen¡¯s room and changed. When she walked out, the page boy handed her a white jade pendant, saying that Qi Chen had asked her to wear this for the time being.


    The celebration started. It was luxurious, but ultimately meaningless. Qi Chen took Jun Huang to meet all the guests. When that was finally done, she told him that she was tired. Qi Chen didn¡¯t stop her from leaving.


    Jun Huang had been lucky. She dodged the blow by a hair. But she might not be as lucky next time. A shudder ran down her spine. She sent a message to Nan Xun, asking him to meet her.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time Jun Huang asked Nan Xun toe visit, but she had never been as urgent as she was now. Worried, Nan Xun rushed to Jun Huang¡¯s ce. From her dark look he could tell something must have happened during the celebration.


    Before Nan Xun opened his mouth to ask, Jun Huang told him everything that had happened. Nan Xun had not been there himself, but his heartbeats grew erratic as he listened.


    ¡°I asked you toe because I need your help.¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I need to know who this foul culprit is. They have tried to destroy both me and Nan Guyue with such lowly trick.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a suspect?¡± Nan Xun asked.


    She nodded. ¡°It¡¯s probably Wei Lanying. Nan Guyue and I have both made her lose face recently. She might have done this in retribution.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t fall for the same trick. She isn¡¯t going to try again. I¡¯m just worried that she might refuse to give up until she gets to me. I don¡¯t have time to deal with her.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t be too worried. I¡¯m take some time to look into this matter. I¡¯m going to make sure she¡¯s too preupied to bother you.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s determined tone wasforting. Jun Huang took a deep breath and chuckled. ¡°We are most likely not the only people trying to teach Wei Lanying a lesson. Nan Guyue is stubborn and difficult, but she is a cherished child in her family. She has never taken such abuse. I¡¯m sure she wants nothing but to take Wei Lanying out once and for all.¡±


    ¡°This is Northern Qi,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°It¡¯s not so easy for her to eliminate someone.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled. It was time for her to offer Nan Guyue some assistance. Wei Lanying clearly had a death wish; Jun Huang might as well grant her what she had asked for.


    Nan Guyue was the crown prince¡¯s principal wife. It wasn¡¯t easy for Jun Huang to have a private meeting with her. When Jun Huang was trying to find a way to arrange a meeting, Nan Guyue sent a message to Jun Huang through a maid.


    The maid, who Nan Guyue had brought here from Southern Mu, approached Jun Huang and said, ¡°The princess asked for a meeting with you, gentleman Feng.¡±


    Jun Hunag narrowed her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. Everything went as she had expected. ¡°Take me to her, please.¡±


    The maid nodded and led Jun Huang to a tea house located in the west part of the city. The tea house seemed inconspicuous, but only the rich and the powerful could afford toe. She heard that some people even spent thousands of gold taels just to have a cup of tea here.


    Qi Chen had taken her here once. She never came on her own ord. Nan Guyue was smart enough to find a ce that was remote and less known. The tea house was perfect for private conversations.

 Chapter 115

    Chapter 115: The Downfall of Wei Family


    The maid led Jun Huang through a winding hallway to a garden. Inside the fence was an open area filled with flowers and greenery. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know that within the little tea house was a hidden paradise. She marveled at the stunning view.


    At the center of the garden was Nan Guyue. She had gained weight because of her pregnancy, but dressed in her fine silk dress, she was still beautiful.


    Hearing Jun Huang approach, Nan Guyue turned around and gestured for the maid to leave. Once they were alone, she took out a piece of green jade and handed it to Jun Huang. ¡°Do you recognize this, gentleman Feng?¡± she asked with a smile.


    Ah. Jun Huang snorted and cupped her hands. ¡°This gentleman has lost the jade a while ago.¡±


    Nan Guyue raised an eyebrow at her ready admission. ¡°May I ask the gentleman to exin how you lost the jade?¡±


    Jun Huang looked into her eyes. ¡°It is as the princess has spected,¡± she said, wrapping her lips carefully around every word.


    Nan Guyue¡¯s breath hitched. She was right. Wei Lanying had attempted to destroy her image in Qi Chen¡¯s eyes. What a cruel woman she was!


    Nan Guyue¡¯s expression was telling. She must have had an inkling of what happened and decided to talk to me, Jun Huang thought, her eyes flickering. ¡°This gentleman was thinking about discussing the issue with the princess, but I was weighed down by other responsibilities and couldn¡¯t find the opportunity to do so. Now that I¡¯m here, I will tell you what I know and what we can do.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Does the gentleman have a n?¡±


    Jun Huang quirked up her lips and quietly said, ¡°You and I both know what Lady Wei was trying to do, but the prince must not hear about this. Even though we are innocent, the prince is a mistrustful man. Moreover, at this critical juncture it is imperative that the prince stay focused. Lady Wei has proven herself to be short-sighted by trying to get rid of us.¡±


    Jun Huang continued, ¡°This gentleman has moved out of the manor. I don¡¯t have as many opportunities to deal with her. The princess, however, can easily make her suffer.¡±


    Nan Guyue frowned in confusion. ¡°What does the gentleman mean?¡±


    Jun Huang made sure no one was around before leaning close to Nan Guyue and whispered into her ears, telling her all the different ways for her to keep Wei Lanying¡¯s upied.


    Nan Guyue nodded in approval. Before she left, she handed the jade to Jun Huang. ¡°This belongs to you. The gentleman should take it. I agree with what the gentleman has nned. It will be enough to knock her down a peg.¡±


    Jun Huang took the jade respectfully and saw her off. Once Nan Guyue had disappeared from her view, Jun Huang scoffed at the jade in her hand and threw it into the pond without hesitation.


    She had lost it once. Keeping it might do her more harm than good. It was better to discard it.


    At night, Nan Xun visited when she was watching the koi fish fighting for food in the garden. Without a word, she dropped the rest of the fish feed in a saucer next to her and got to her feet.


    Nan Xun poured himself a cup of tea and downed it to clear his throat. ¡°I¡¯ve done some investigation on Wei Lanying¡¯s family.¡±


    Jun Huang arched an eyebrow as she sat down next to him. ¡°What did you find?¡±


    ¡°Sir Wei is not clean, and he hasn¡¯t taken much care in destroying the evidence. The men I sent to look into him soon returned with plenty useful information.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Jun Huang supported her head with a hand, her interest piqued.


    It turned out that Sir Wei had always been corrupted. Once he joined Qi Chen¡¯s circle, he became even more daring. He hadmitted many atrocities under the false pretense that he was following Qi Chen¡¯s orders. Masquerading as Qi Chen¡¯s representative, he had been exploiting the residents of the county town he oversaw.


    Normally, no one would turn their attention to an unimportant county town, but Wei Lanying had plotted against Jun Huang; Nan Xun wanted to punish her for what she had done. He didn¡¯t expect his investigation to be this fruitful.


    He told Jun Huang all his findings before asking, ¡°What do you want to do with him?¡±


    Jun Huang hummed. Too many scandals had broken out recently. Many officials had been demoted. They could have turned a blind eye to Sir Wei¡¯s deeds, but she wasn¡¯t going to. Sir Wei could only me his daughter for being foolish enough to make a move on Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang ordered a servant to bring her an ink brush and a sheet of paper. She listed every crime Sir Wei hadmitted and what evidence there was. Her handwritings popped from the paper, her strokes confident and steady.


    Jun Huang dropped the brush when she finished writing and read over what she had written. She nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Everyone in the city is on edge. It¡¯s challenging for me to meet with Qi Yun myself. It¡¯s different for you. Qi Yun is still working in the Court of Judicial Review now. When you go back, take this to the court and hand it to Qi Yun. Tell him to find a way to push the court into investigating Sir Wei.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He took the paper and quickly read the list, making sure that nothing was amiss. He folded the sheet of paper in half and tuck it under his robe. ¡°Rest assured, the Wei family will soon face its downfall. Wei Lanying won¡¯t be able to trouble you even if she wants to.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. Her consideration went beyond the issue with Wei Lanying. Sir Wei had been a ninth grade official. If not for the marriage between his daughter and Qi Chen, he would still be running errands in the Imperial Academy. It was due to Qi Chen that he was able to be an official overseeing a county town.


    And yet he tantly disregarded human lives and helped viinous men exploit innocent people. He deserved to be punished.


    Nan Xun noticed how pale her face was. It was gettingte. He shouldn¡¯t overstay his wee. He stood up to leave.


    Jun Huang looked up at him and said, ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone know of this. And don¡¯t let the Court of Judicial Review know you are involved. Qi Yun will figure out how to tell the court. You should stay out of this matter.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± With that, Nan Xun walked away.


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes in bemusement, watching Nan Xun¡¯s retreating form.


    The usation against Sir Wei attracted a great deal of attention from the Court of Judicial Review. The officials working in the court answered directly to the emperor. They didn¡¯t show Sir Wei any mercy. They presented the emperor with the list of crimes Sir Wei hadmitted. The emperor put most members of the Wei family to prison.


    Qi Chen was drinking wine at the brothel Autumn House when he heard the news. He went straight to the Court of Judicial Review. It was a ce, however, where evidence trumped all. Qi Chen was forbidden from visiting Sir Wei because Qi Chen was his son-inw.


    When Qi Chen returned to his manor, Wei Lanying was sobbing. She ran up to him and dropped down to her knees. ¡°I beg you to help my father, Your Highness! He must have been falsely used! He isn¡¯t young anymore. He won¡¯t be able to survive in the prison.¡± She broke into another burst of wails.


    Qi Chen was already in a foul mood after being turned away by the court. Wei Lanying wasn¡¯t doing herself any favor by sobbing and begging. He shot her a re and walked past her into the main hall. He ordered a servant to bring him a cup of tea to calm himself down.


    ¡°Is Your Highness going to leave him to rot?¡± Wei Lanying questioned with bloodshot eyes. ¡°Does Your Highness remember how my father has supported you when no one expected you to be the crown prince?¡±


    Qi Chen scoffed. ¡°What good does it do for you to beg me for help? Your father has failed to clean up his own mess. Do you expect me to anger Royal Father for him?¡±


    Wei Lanying didn¡¯t know what to say. Her sobs grew louder and louder, as if she wanted to be heard by everyone in the manor.


    ¡°Please, Your Highness, please save my father.¡± Wei Lanying crawled to Qi Chen¡¯s side and looked up at him with teary eyes.


    Qi Chen looked down at her. He did pity her to some extent. He sighed and drank some tea. The anger in his heart slowly drained out of his body. He patted Wei Lanying on the head. ¡°Stop crying. I will try to find a way to get your father out.¡±


    Wei Lanying nodded, her eyes still filled with tears. She left the room with the help of her maid.


    Afterwards, Qi Chen stayed in the room, thinking about what he should do. In the end he decided to send a man to retrieve Jun Huang. Jun Huang came not long after.


    Qi Chen¡¯s eyebrows were furrowed in deep thoughts. Jun Huang was observant enough to tell that it was about the Wei family. She had been the one pushing for that to happen after all.


    Jun Huang cupped her hands. ¡°What has Your Highness so urgently told me toe for?¡±


    Qi Chen looked up at her and hurriedly asked her to take a seat. He poured her a cup of tea. ¡°Does brother Feng know what has happened to Sir Wei?¡±


    ¡°This gentleman has heard the news,¡± Jun Huang said quietly. She looked up at Qi Chen and affected a surprised tone, ¡°Did your Highness ask me toe for Sir Wei?¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°Wei Lanying came to beg me for help. She is married to me. I can¡¯t let her lose a parent and do nothing. Before I returned to the manor today, I had visited the Court of Judicial Review. Those men did not show me any respect. I have to recuse myself? Ridiculous!¡±


    Jun Huang scoffed. Qi Chen spoke as if there was a nobel reason for him to help Sir Wei, but Jun Huang knew he was simply worried that he would be affected. Sir Wei had used Qi Chen as a cover for what he had done. His death would have a negative impact on Qi Chen.


    ¡°What does Your Highness n to do?¡± Jun Huang suppressed her disdain and asked calmly.

 Chapter 116

    Chapter 116: Company


    Qi Chen asked Jun Huang toe up with a good n. Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to let Sir Wei escape his punishment. She talked around the issues and discreetly deterred Qi Chen with what terrible things could have happened.


    In the end, Qi Chen asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t I just ask Royal Father to be merciful?¡±


    Jun Huang blinked, her eyebrows knitted closely together. ¡°Is Your Highness truly willing to lose the emperor¡¯s respect for an unimportant official? This gentleman thinks that stepping aside and letting Sir Wei burn may not be a bad thing in this case. At least the fire won¡¯t spread to Your Highness.¡±


    Qi Chen stared at her, giving her words some thoughts. She posed some valid arguments.


    In came the man he had sent to the Court of Judicial Review. ¡°The court has found evidence proving that Sir Wei has been exploiting the people,¡± he said. ¡°The evidence was submitted to the emperor. He dered that Sir Wei is to be executed in autumn.¡±


    Qi Chen motioned at him to leave. There was nothing else he could do. He told Jun Huang she was free to go as well.


    That was the end to Sir Wei¡¯s story. ording to Rou¡¯er, Wei Lanying had fallen ill when she heard the news. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what else was going on with Wei Lanying, but that woman had finally stopped troubling her.


    On a rare peaceful day, Little Girl went to Jun Huang and begged Jun Huang to go shopping with her. Jun Huang had been staying in the house for the past couple of days. Little Girl insisted that Jun Huang needed to get in touch with the real world a little.


    Jun Huang gave up on trying to argue. She tied her hair up with a hair band and went out with Little Girl.


    The weather was cold. Even though the streets were bustling with activities, Jun Huang still tightened her robe to keep herself warm.


    Little Girl looked around with childlike wonder. Jun Huang, on the other hand, never liked crowds. If not for Little Girl, she wouldn¡¯t have leave thefort of her home to take on this torturous trip.


    After walking past a few blocks, they saw Nan Xun from afar. Nan Xun spotted her too. They were both surprised. Nan Xun quickly recovered and made his way to her in long strides.


    Being careful had be part of Jun Huang¡¯s instinct. She quickly surveyed her surroundings. When she turned back, Nan Xun was right before her, his lips quirked up in a lopsided smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There isn¡¯t any of Qi Chen¡¯s people here.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness,¡± greeted Jun Huang. She didn¡¯t take offense at his cocky response.


    Nan Xun gestured at two of them. ¡°Our fates are indeed intertwined. Again, we happened to run into each other in this sizeable city.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness speaks the truth,¡± Jun Huang said in an aloof tone.


    Nan Xun¡¯s page boy came up to them with a smile and said respectfully, ¡°Your Highness, we still have to go to the jade store.¡±


    That reminded Nan Xun why he was here. He turned to Jun Huang. ¡°Since you¡¯re free, why don¡¯t youe with me? I can use thepany.¡± Before she could say anything, he led her into a jade store not far from them.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t have anything better to do; she had no intention to say no to Nan Xun. But it was inappropriate for him to drag her around in public. She pulled away and walked shoulder to shoulder with him. They entered a jade store that was known for its quality products.


    Once inside, Nan Xun started to look over the different pieces of jade, his smile dropping from his lips in concentration. Jun Huang followed him around and madements every once in a while. Nan Xun always listened to her attentively.


    ¡°Is it someone¡¯s birthday?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun looked up fromparing the two pieces of warm jade in his hands and tilted his head toward Jun Huang. ¡°Prince Duan¡¯s birthday is in a few days. What of it?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m simply asking.¡±


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t stop wondering what kind of rtionship Nan Xun had with Prince Duan. After spending some time agonizing over the question, she coughed and said with feign nonchnce, ¡°Are you close with Prince Duan?¡±


    ¡°We have a good enough rtionship. Prince Duan is kind to me. He doesn¡¯t look down on me for not bearing the royal family¡¯s surname like the other royal princes.¡± He huffed out a self-deprecatingugh.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t let the bitter feeling in her heart show. She nodded and leaned against the counter, looking at the various jade products on disy. She then turned to the jade pieces in Nan Xun¡¯s handa and suppressed a smile.


    ¡°Do you know what Prince Duan¡¯s preferences are?¡± she asked, affecting a casual tone.


    Nan Xun was quiet for a moment. He shook his head awkwardly and cleared his throat. ¡°I know he is partial to jade, but that¡¯s about it.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She took the warm jade from Nan Xun¡¯s hand and put it aside. Her gaze flicked to the various jade products in the store. They certainly appealed to themon eyes. ¡°This jade may look beautiful, but its beauty is a shallow one,¡± she exined to Nan Xun as she looked around. ¡°It¡¯s for people who don¡¯t understand what good jade is.¡±


    A clerk standing near them turned to her and approached her with a smile. ¡°From the gentleman¡¯s words, it¡¯s clear that you are a man who appreciates good jade. I suppose it shouldn¡¯t be surprising. The gentleman is as good-looking as a piece of white jade yourself. This servant is impressed.¡±


    ¡°You are too kind,¡± Jun Huang said politely, a small smile tugging at her lips and her delicate eyes lighting up. Nan Xun stared at her dumbly. The air of nobility inherent to her was the most attractive thing about her, and the abundance of knowledge she possessed earned her the respect of others.


    ¡°In this case, the jade we offer to regr customers may not be worthy of your taste. I will bring you our most precious collection from the back.¡± With that, the clerk disappeared into another room, his face flushed with excitement.


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Prince Duan has an expensive taste. These regr jade products may not be good enough for him. It¡¯s a good idea to pick from the store¡¯s special collection.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. Perhaps it was fate that brought Jun Huang to him today. With Jun Huang¡¯s help, he certainly would not embarrass himself again.


    The page boy was reminded of what had happened a few years back. He couldn¡¯t help theugh escaping his mouth. Jun Huang turned to him questioningly. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    The page boy threw a nce at Nan Xun before waving a hand in denial. ¡°No, nothing. I just thought of something funny. It¡¯s trivial and not worthy of the gentleman¡¯s attention.¡±


    Little Girl wasn¡¯t going to let that go. She pulled at the page boy¡¯s sleeve and looked at him with her big round eyes. ¡°What is trivial? Why don¡¯t you tell us and let us have augh as well?¡±


    Little Girl had been working in Nan Xun¡¯s manor, but she rarely served at his side. Embarrassing things like the one the page boy spoke of was known to only a few of Nan Xun¡¯s personal servants.


    The page boy snuck another nce at Nan Xun. Jun Huang covered a smile and asked, ¡°Why are you looking at him?¡±


    ¡°Um... a few years back, the prince spent a great deal of time trying to find a good gift for Prince Duan¡¯s birthday like he is doing now. Unfortunately, he picked a piece of jade that¡¯s intended to be a child¡¯s toy. It was said that Prince Duan jokingly scolded the prince for that and gave the jade to his child.¡±


    The page boy broke intoughter again. He couldn¡¯t help it.


    It took a moment for Little Girl to grasp the story. She bit her lips to stop herself fromughing. Her face had turned red from her efforts.


    Jun Huang maintained a perfect mask of calmness and turned to Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun coughed. It had been a while ago, but he was still a little embarrassed. His ears were red when he looked away. ¡°That was in the past. The story is only worth getting told as an anecdote. Nothing more.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s impressive for Your Highness to have such great story to tell,¡± Jun Huang said teasingly.


    The clerk could feel the change in energy in the room when he walked out with a decorative box. He looked around and didn¡¯t see anything amiss. He turned back to Jun Huang. He didn¡¯t want to offend anyone by staring.


    ¡°Please take a look at this thumb ring,¡± The clerk said as he opened the box.


    Jun Huang looked over and saw a glistening jade thumb ring at the center of the box. She could tell the material used was of fine quality. The white jade was free of impurities or ws.


    Nan Xun followed her to the clerk. Compared to this thumb ring, the warm jade he had set his eyes on was merely a pale imitation of the real thing. He picked up the thumb ring and turned it over in his hand. The more he looked at it, the more he believed that it was the perfect gift. He turned to Jun Huang for her opinions.


    In the end, he bought the jade thumb ring. He asked the clerk to wrap it and delivered it to his manor. Someone would be there to take the ring and pay the clerk.


    When Jun Huang and Nan Xun left the jade store, it was close to noon. Most restaurants had opened, and there were servers trying to attract customers on the street. It was a lively scene.


    One of the servers approached Nan Xun and Jun Huang when he spotted them, his smile lighting up his entire face. ¡°Do the gentlemen want toe in for lunch?¡±


    ¡°No...¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Nan Xun cut her off. ¡°Please prepare us a fine dining room. We will be inside in a moment.¡±


    ¡°At your service!¡± the clerk replied. Nan Xun¡¯s page boy followed the clerk in.


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to spend your money on this.¡±


    Nan Xun waved a hand at her. ¡°You have just solved a big problem for me. Consider this meal my thanks. Please ept it.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded reluctantly and resigned herself to following Nan Xun into the tavern. They made their way to a booth on the second floor. Jun Huang¡¯s eyebrows jumped up when she saw the different dishes covering the entire table. ¡°If I didn¡¯t know Your Highness, I would think you were trying to bribe me. All this food for us? Ha, this is enough to feed a family for a month.¡±


    Her sarcasm was clear to Nan Xun¡¯s ears. The page boy must have forgotten himself when he was ordering. This warrants a deduction to his wage, Nan Xun thought. He has to learn not to be wasteful.


    ¡°In my manor there is a cook who prepares our meals. As a result, my page boy has failed to order the right amount of food. How about we eat some of it and deliver the rest to the orphanage?¡± Nan Xun was clearly trying to win Jun Huang¡¯s forgiveness. It was just difficult to look past his stoic expression to discern his true intentions.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t serious. There¡¯s no need for you to fret.¡± Jun Huang fell silent. She picked up a teacup and took a sip with her eyes lowered.


    Without a word, Nan Xun started to dive in. Neither of them said anything as they ate. Even after they had finished the meal, Jun Huang was still quiet.


    ¡°What¡¯s been happening on your side?¡± Nan Xun asked as he ced his chopsticks on the table.


    Jun Huang met his eyes and put down her teacup. ¡°Everything is as it should be.¡±


    ¡°How about Wei Lanying?¡± Nan Xun asked worriedly. ¡°Has she been troubling you?¡±


    ¡°No. I heard that she fell ill. With the pressure of what has happened to her family on her shoulders, I don¡¯t think she will be thinking about me anytime soon.¡±


    Nan Xun hummed. He was still worried. ¡°She may not be doing anything ontowards now, but she remains a threat to you. No one can tell what she may be capable of in the future. You must stay on your guard.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. Outside the window, fallen petals fell from the sky, painting a perfect picture of springtime. Down below were the bustling crowds roaming the prosperous imperial city. At that moment, the liveliness seemed to be within her reach.

 Chapter 117

    Chapter 117: An Invitation from Qi Chen


    Only those who were involved in affairs of the court understood the dangers lurking within the imperial city. One wrong move could mean the difference between life and death. Vignce was an integral part of survival.


    ¡°How about the assassins who attacked me that night? Have you found anything?¡± Jun Huang was suddenly reminded of the incident. Too many things had happened since then. She had forgotten about it.


    Nan Xun shook his head with his brows furrowed. A sigh escaped his lips. ¡°No. Not at all. They were well-prepared. I couldn¡¯t find any clues that may lead me to the perpetrator.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t concern yourself too much about it,¡± Jun Huang said. ¡°The fact that you couldn¡¯t find anything is an answer in and of itself.¡±


    ¡°I will keep on investigating.¡±


    Jun Huang gave him an nomittal smile. She didn¡¯t think it would be an easy task. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t able to find anything after such a long period of time. It was likely that his investigation would only lead him to a dead end.


    She looked at him seriously. ¡°Clearly someone powerful was behind the assassination attempt. Be careful when you are investigating. Don¡¯t wake the sleeping dog from its slumber.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°What do you n to do now?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head after a moment of silence. She took a deep breath and said, ¡°I can only take one step at a time and cross the bridge when Ie to it.¡±


    ¡°Do take care of yourself.¡± Nan Xun noticed that Jun Huang was acting differently from how she had been before. Ji Bo must have said something to her, and he wouldn¡¯t be wrong to do so. This wasn¡¯t a good time to take Qi Chen out. Being hasty would only attract troubles.


    Clever people like her was born this way. They had to think through every option they had, and would always choose a slow but reliable solution over a swift but risky one.


    At the beginning, Jun Huang sought to only take her revenge. She could afford to follow her heart. Now with Ji Bo in their ranks, she had toe up with a n before making every move, which wasn¡¯t a bad thing per se, but it was an added weight on Jun Huang¡¯s shoulders.


    Nan Xun felt a bitter taste in his mouth when he noticed how slim Jun Huang had be. She looked as if she was wasting away right before his eyes. His feelings threatened to burst out of his chest and he could feel his unspoken words forming a lump in his throat. ¡°Jun Huang, you... you have to take better care of yourself,¡± he said, apropos of nothing.


    Jun Huang looked up at him with questioning eyes, but she didn¡¯t voice her confusion. Instead, she gave him a nod, again keeping him at arm¡¯s length.


    He wanted to ask Jun Huang if she knew that her ailing body would copse if she continued to overtax herself both physically and mentally. He wanted to ask if she knew that her days were numbered and she was sacrificing her life in her pursuit of revenge.


    But he was in no ce to question her, was he? Jun Huang knew what she was doing. She gave more thoughts to her every action than Nan Xun ever did.


    He didn¡¯t say anything.


    After lunch, Nan Xun offered to walk Jun Huang back, but she turned him down. ¡°I want to stretch my leg a little. It¡¯s daytime. Nothing will happen to me. Besides, Qi Chen might have someone keeping an eye on my ce now. If he knows we have been talking, I¡¯ll need to find an excuse again.¡±


    Nan Xun opened his mouth to argue, but decided against it. Jun Huang, as usual, was in the right. He watched her walk away with Little Girl in tow.


    Jun Huang wandered back to her house with Little Girl. Little Girl was beaming as she yed with what they had bought before. Her bright smile was in stark contrast with Jun Huang¡¯s expressionless face.


    Upon their arrival, the door-watching page boy rushed to them. ¡°You have finally returned, gentleman Feng.¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Jun Huang asked with a frown.


    ¡°The crown prince sent a man,¡± said the page boy with a finger pointing inside.


    Jun Huang took a quick look inside before nodding at the page boy and entering the main hall. Qi Chen¡¯s housekeeper walked up to her with a wide smile and cupped hands. Jun Huang returned the gesture. ¡°Did the prince send the housekeeper here for something urgent?¡±


    ¡°The prince told me to invite the gentleman back to the manor,¡± said the housekeeper.


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°Has the prince told you what for?¡±


    ¡°This servant cannot possibly question the prince¡¯s order. The gentleman will know what the prince wants when you meet with him.¡± His answer was perfectly in line with his status. His respectful tone gave her no reason to feel offended.


    Jun Huang knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to get an answer out of the housekeeper. She nodded and followed him to Prince Chen Manor.


    With the privileges granted by Qi Chen, she was able to enter the manor without asking for permission. The housekeeper left after walking her to the door. She entered the main hall on her own.


    Qi Chen was drinking tea on the main seat, waiting for her arrival. At the center of the hall was a long table, on which was a piece of fine silk topped with a great variety of exotic items. It was quite an impressive sight.


    Masking her confusion, Jun Huang walked up to Qi Chen and bowed. ¡°What does Your Highness need this gentleman for?¡±


    Qi Chen got to his feet and put down his teacup before approaching Jun Huang. He gestured at the table. ¡°Brother Feng is a talented man who has an eye for rare artifacts. Come take a look at these things.¡±


    Jun Huang gave the items on the table a once-over before turning to Qi Chen. She knew what he had asked her here for, but she pretended to be oblivious. ¡°What are these for?¡±


    ¡°Prince Duan¡¯s birthday ising,¡± said Qi Chen. ¡°Naturally I have to pick a good gift for him.¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°I want only the best for him.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded in understanding and turned to the table. In her heart remained a trace of doubt regarding Qi Chen¡¯s action. She could tell that these were things Qi Chen had collected over the years. She wondered why he was suddenly being so generous. Her instinct told her that it wasn¡¯t merely a birthday gift for Prince Duan, but she couldn¡¯t be sure.


    While she was still deep in thoughts, Qi Chen started going through the items. He took out a piece of fine jade from a delicately forged box. The jade was warm to the touch. From afar one could see a faint glow shrouding the jade. It certainly was a rare treasure.


    ¡°What about this?¡± Qi Chen asked with the warm jade in his hand. Jun Huang collected her thoughts and took the jade from Qi Chen. It was of good quality, but she didn¡¯t think it would make a good gift.


    She shook her head and returned the jade to the box. Looking over at the other items, she wondered how Qi Chen had acquired these things. Had he been exploiting people where she could not see?


    A premium piece of sandalwood. An ink stone emitting a elegant fragrance. A luminous pearl as clear as crystal gem. These were luxurious but impractical things. They would never be of use. Her gaze settled on an open scroll of painting.


    Time had tinted the paper a brownish yellow, which did not take away from the painting¡¯s beauty, but instead added a touch of uniqueness to the already stunning picture. Sttered ink formed a river running down from a mountain range. On the riverbank stood an old tree. A tired crow perched on top of it. In a distance white smoke rose from a cooking stove into the air. With only ck ink, the artist was able to create a vivid picture. She could imagine herself being within the world it had depicted.


    Jun Huang could not tear her eyes away. She walked towards the painting and took a closer look. This was it. She was sure this would be the perfect gift. ¡°How about this painting, Your Highness?¡±


    Qi Chen came to her side and looked down at the scroll. ¡°This is the work of an old master, but the other parts of the painting are missing. Won¡¯t it be inappropriate if I gift the prince with only one part of the whole artwork?¡±


    Jun Huang only knew then that this was merely a piece of the puzzle. The entire picture must have been a real sight to behold. Art pieces were often lost because of wars. It must not have been easy to acquire even a single scroll.


    ¡°This gentleman doesn¡¯t think so. Everyone knows that Prince Duan is a jade connoisseur. However, Your Highness must know as well that what Prince Duan truly loves are artifacts with historical value. He must have received lots of jade every year, but not a lot of people would think of giving him ancient paintings. He will appreciate it if Your Highness gifted this painting to him.¡± Her tone was genuine. Originally Qi Chen had decided to give Prince Duan jade, but she had changed his mind. He nodded.


    ¡°Brother Feng is right. I will do as you suggested.¡± He ordered a servant to wrap the painting up, taking great care to specify how it should be protected and what kind of box should be used. The attention to detail made Jun Huang even more suspicious of his intention.


    While she was thinking about what Qi Chen was trying to do, he handed Jun Huang a jade pendant. ¡°What does the gentleman think about this?¡±


    Jun Huang darted her eyes to the jade. What was Qi Chen trying to do? She took the pendant and checked it over. ¡°It is of great quality...¡±


    ¡°You can have it then,¡± Qi Chen said. He then turned back to the table and fell silent.


    Jun Huang remembered him saying that he would give her a piece of green jade on his birthday. She had thought he was joking, but it turned out he was being serious.


    Jun Huang looked down at the jade with a quietugh. She wasn¡¯t going to turn his gift away and offended him. She put it away.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t actually a jade lover. She simply thought that wearing an essory would help her project the image of a graceful gentleman. That was why she either wore a jade pendant or a satchel. Many were drawn to the illusion of an elegant man she had created.


    Nan Guyue entered the room. Her expression changed when she saw the jade pendant in Jun Huang¡¯s hand. Jun Huang huffed out a silentugh. She knew what Nan Guyue was worried about. Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t do things that would harm herself. She bid Qi Chen farewell and took her leave.


    On the day of Prince Duan¡¯s birthday, Qi Chen sent a man to Jun Huang¡¯s ce early in the morning. The man brought her a set of clothes worthy of the asion and said that Qi Chen would like Jun Huang to apany him.


    Jun Huang had been wondering about Qi Chen¡¯s rtionship with Prince Duan. At Qi Chen and Nan Guyue¡¯s wedding, she had exchanged a few words with Prince Duan, but it wasn¡¯t enough for her to get a good feel of the man. This would be a good opportunity.


    She changed into the clothes the man brought her. The turquoise robe was decorated with intricate patterns, its sleeves lined with golden silk. It was a luxurious piece of clothing. Jun Huang narrowed her eyes at her reflection in the bronze mirror. She picked up the white jade cap from the table and tucked her hair under the cap. She then took out her foldable fan and the jade pendant Qi Chen had given her. One she held in her hand and the other she hung on her waist. It looked as if she had walked right out of a painting.

 Chapter 118

    Chapter 118: Stories of the Past


    Everyone was stunned into silence when Jun Huang walked out of the room. Had the turquoise she wore transformed her into an unmatched beauty, or had she elevated the robe into the perfect embodiment of the mncholy sky? What was indisputable was that everything else paled inparison to her. It was as if she was the only person left standing in the world.


    The housekeeper snuck a few nces at her. Gentleman Feng is a man, he thought, but I¡¯ve never seen anyone so beautiful. He is indeed an extraordinary person with no match in the world.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Jun Huang. The housekeeper had been staring at her during their trip to Prince Chen Manor. It wasn¡¯t obvious, but Jun Huang could feel his eyes on her.


    The housekeeper¡¯s face turned red in mortification. He was more than forty years old for heaven¡¯s sake, and yet here he was, feeling bashful because of Jun Huang¡¯s polite but aloof smile. He shook his head and continued forward.


    Inside the manor, Jun Huang could see Qi Chen and his two consorts at the door. Nan Guyue wore a blue dress that wrapped around her body like petals of an unbloomed flower. The dangling ornament on her hairpin chimed as she walked. Wei Lanying¡¯s face was still pale from the illness she had only just recovered from. Her yellow dress was rendered poignant by her air of sadness. The tassels in her hair dropped to the side of her ears. She sported a more adorned look than Nan Guyue.


    Qi Chen had not dressed too differently for the asion. He wore a dark blue silk robe and a simple white jade cap. He was startled at the sight of Jun Huang as she greeted him. It boggled his mind that Jun Huang could made such amon color so elegant.


    ¡°This gentleman has kept Your Highness waiting,¡± Jun Huang said softly.


    Qi Chen¡¯s head jerked up and his eyes flicked to the side. He huffed out a silentugh. He had made a fool of himself.


    They exchanged some pleasantries. Jun Huang asked Nan Guyue if she was feeling well and if the child was healthy. Jun Huang then turned to Wei Lanying and politely asked if she had recovered from her illness.


    In reality, their minds were preupied with different thoughts that had nothing to do with what they were talking about. The smalltalk was merely an illusion of diplomacy.


    The coach had been prepared. Qi Chen led them in. They set out for Prince Duan Manor.


    It only took the time it would take for a pot of tea to brew for them to reach their destination. Outside the manor, there were already a line of officials waiting to enter. It was a clear indication of how much the officials respected Prince Duan.


    The housekeeper at Prince Duan Manor had been waiting at the door. He approached them when he spotted Qi Chen and bowed at him. ¡°The prince said to let Your Highness in directly.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded before helping Nan Guyue into the manor. He reminded her to watch her steps, his eyes soft and considerate. From the outside, they looked like the perfect couple.


    But Jun Huang knew it was merely an act for the courtiers. Qi Chen had always been pretentious.


    It wasn¡¯t long before she started to get bored. At the time being, not a lot of people had been allowed to enter. Qi Chen was busy engaging Prince Duan in a pleasant conversation.


    Jun Huang remembered Prince Duan. She had assigned someone to investigate him. It was said that Prince Duan waspletely free of ambitions or desires, and that he was a prince who was content with being a prince. Today, though, for reasons she could not exin, Jun Huang had a feeling that Prince Duan wasn¡¯t as indifferent to power as people said. He must have a hidden agenda.


    If Prince Duan was ambitious, though, why wasn¡¯t the emperor more wary of him? Jun Huang could not figure out the answer. She said a few words to Qi Chen to excuse herself and went outside to get some fresh air.


    Prince Duan Manor was intricately designed. Every part of the architecture had a feel of quaintness to it. Decorating the hallway were a number of pcemps made of colored ss. Not far from her was a fake mountain. It felt as if she had walked into thend of the celestials.


    She followed along the path and went deeper into the manor. She wanted to see for herself if any secretsy within this ce.


    Opportunities were awarded to those who put in the time and efforts. Not long after, she heard a conversation between two old women. They must have worked in this manor for years.


    ¡°Good heavens, Lady Fu has suffered a miscarriage!¡± one of them said.


    The otherughed and responded, ¡°What¡¯s so surprising about that? It¡¯s not the first time something simr has happened. Many consorts and concubines live in this manor, but none ever give birth to a child sessfully.¡±


    ¡°You are right,¡± said the old woman. ¡°It is odd that among all the women who have gotten pregnant before, none were able to produce an offspring.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Ever since the prince parted with that woman, this manor has not seen any newborns. I heard she is doing just fine in the pce.¡±


    Snap! With her attention solely on the conversation, Jun Huang identally stepped on a twig, alerting the two old women. Jun Huang¡¯s heart started to pound in frenzy.


    Before the old women could find their way her, a pair of strong and callused hands pulled Jun Huang into an artificial cave behind the fake mountain.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± One of the old woman was approaching. Jun Huang could see her delicately adorned shoes. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know who it was that stood behind her. Neither did she knew if the old woman would spot her. Nevertheless, she managed to keep herself silent. The only thing she could hear were her thundering heartbeats.


    She held her breath. A racoon jumped out of nowhere andnded at the old woman¡¯s feet. The woman rxed her guard and picked the racoon up.


    If she had tilted her head even by a little, she would be able to see Jun Huang. Jun Huang could feel the person behind her drawing a dagger, preparing for the worst to happen.


    ¡°What did you see?¡± the other woman asked. ¡°Who¡¯s it?¡±


    The woman near Jun Huang straightened and held the racoon up, patting dirt from its body. ¡°No one. It is the racoon Lady Fu has lost. Now that I have found the racoon, it is best that I return at once. Otherwise thedy will be most displeased.¡±


    ¡°Go, quickly. Lady Fu has been in a foul mood because of her miscarriage. If you¡¯rete to return, she won¡¯t hold back from scolding you.¡±


    ¡°Hear, hear.¡±


    The two women left together. Jun Huang let out a sigh of relief. The moment she rxed though, she felt warm breaths hit the nape of her neck. Her body tensed up again, and sweat started breaking out from her forehead.


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Nan Xun said, letting out a softugh.


    The familiar voice finally allowed Jun Huang to rx her guard. She nced at Nan Xun before walking out of the cave. She smoothed a hand over her wrinkled robe. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I took a walk because I was bored,¡± Nan Xun said honestly. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to run into you.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded without a word. She thought back to what the old woman had said. Who was the woman in the pce they spoke of? Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun. He must know something as someone who had lived in Northern Qi all his life. She asked, ¡°Did you hear what they said?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded without a word.


    ¡°Do you know who they were talking about?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Nan Xun told Jun Huang a story. It was a story that no one in the pce dared to bring up.


    Simr tales had been performed on stage in different parts of the country. When Prince Duan was young, his brother ¨C the current emperor ¨C was only the crown prince, and Prince Duan was not yet granted the title. Prince Duan had grown up together with Consort Zhen. They promised to marry each other in the future. Unfortunately, Prince Duan had neither power nor supporters. Life did not always go the way he wanted.


    Everything changed once the crown prince took over the throne. Consort Zhen was forced to enter the pce because of the selection process to fill the emperor¡¯s harem. Prince Duan lost both his brother and his lover that day.


    He had been close with the emperor. He never expected his brother to rob him of his love, and he didn¡¯t expect the woman who had shared many nights with him to marry another man.


    ¡°Rumors had it that Prince Duan cannot forget about Consort Zhen, but Consort Zhen was heartless. Afterwards, Prince Duan never fell in love again. In his manor, there were concubines, but no wives. Without a principal wife, the servants treated every concubine with the respect they would show to a wife.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her head, humming. ¡°Why did you say Consort Zhen was heartless? Why did the old women say that Lady Fu lost her child because of the consort?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a long story.¡±


    Nan Xun could tell Jun Huang was interested. He told her everything he knew.


    It turned out that Prince Duan had thought that Consort Zhen had been forced to enter the pce by the emperor. After a long period of dark days passed in wanton abandon, he finally pieced himself back together. He didn¡¯t marry anyone. There were, however, always serving concubines at his side to satisfy his needs.


    Every time a serving concubine was pregnant, she would have a miscarriage. It took some time and efforts for Prince Duan to find out that Consort Zhen was responsible.


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°Why would she do it?¡±


    Nan Xun huffed out augh. ¡°What else could the reason be? She simply cannot bear to see Prince Duan have a child with another woman.¡± Nan Xun cocked his head at Jun Huang. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Do you really think that Prince Duan would just let the emperor take away the woman he loves and do nothing? If he has let Consort Zhen marry the emperor and hasn¡¯t stopped her from killing his offsprings, he must be more calcting than he appears to be. I don¡¯t think this matter is as simple as it seems.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s analysis made sense. There must be something hidden behind it.


    After a moment of silence, Nan Xun asked, ¡°What do you want to do?¡±


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes in bemusement. Before she could open her mouth, a page boy showed up. Jun Huang knew him as one of Qi Chen¡¯s servant.

 Chapter 119

    Chapter 119: Visiting Prince Duan Manor at Night


    Jun Huang threw Nan Xun a nce. ¡°We won¡¯t find anything in broad daylight. Tonight, we wille back to look for clues.¡± Without dy, she rushed to the path where the page boy walked,ing to a slower pace with a calm expression. No one would be able to tell what she had been doing.


    The page boy sighed in relief when he saw Jun Huang. He had been worried that he would be punished for not being able to locate her. He looked at her appreciatively. Her robe had been wetted by the dew on thewn, but her grace was unaffected by the dark patch on the fabric. This was what a proper gentleman look like.


    Nan Xun waited until Jun Huang and the page boy had disappeared from his view before walking towards the main hall, his movement slow and rxed.


    Jun Huang returned to Qi Chen¡¯s side. Qi Chen only asked her a few simple questions before quickly putting her short absence aside. Nan Guyue and Wei Lanying were no longer with him, but instead were dragged to another part of the room by other wives and concubines. The women gathered together talking about what their husbands had done for them. A few of them blushed in adoration and covered a besotted giggle.


    As soon as Nan Xun walked into the hall, he was ambushed by a couple courtiers who knew him personally. He hadn¡¯t even had the time to drink some hot tea. They showered him with ttering words, which only served to give Nan Xun a headache.


    Even so, he was capable of being diplomatic. He would never joined them in their undesirable deeds, but he could pretend to be mildly interested in what they were saying.


    Jun Huang sat at Qi Chen¡¯s side, drinking tea and nibbling snacks. Her attention, though, was on Prince Duan. Her beautiful eyes glistened with a light so brilliant it could rival a luminous pearl.


    She covertly looked over at Prince Duan. He was too busy dealing with his guests to notice her gaze. asionally he was struck by the feeling that someone was watching him, but he didn¡¯t notice anything unusual whenever he turned around.


    From her observation, Jun Huang came to the conclusion that Prince Duan¡¯s rxed gait was merely a front. His true self was far from apathetic. There was an indescribable chilliness about him.


    After dinner, the sun started setting, and the bustling energy in the manor died down as quickly as fireworks. The guests had left. Jun Huang bid Prince Duan farewell with Qi Chen before parting way with Qi Chen too.


    Night had not yet fallen, but the moon was already showing its face. One only needed to know what to look for to spot it.


    Jun Huang walked towards her house. She had turned down Qi Chen¡¯s offer to give her a ride. The saying went that walking after meals would help one lived to the age of ny-nine. Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t be able to live that long, but walking the heaviness in her stomach off after eating was still a good idea. That was why she insisted on going home on her own.


    She walked slowly, as if she was waiting for the night to fall, or she was appreciating the vendors¡¯ cries to attract customers¡¯ attention. When she arrived at the door to her house, the sky was dark, and the moon was hidden behind a patch of dark cloud.


    She sighed at the sky and strolled into her house, wading through the darkness of the night. She was going to ¡°visit¡± Prince Duan Manorter. The robe she was wearing was far from practical. She had to change. Besides, the robe was too extravagant for her liking.


    Jun Huang had Little Girl prepare a hot bath for her. Once she had cleaned herself, she put on a set of ck clothes ¨C another gift from Qi Chen. From a distance, the attire looked no different from the in clothes peasants wore, but up close, it was obvious that the ck fabric was of high quality. The silk was sewn together with gold threads.


    She rarely bought clothes herself, but Qi Chen gave her new ones frequently enough that she never ran out of clothes to wear.


    When Nan Xun arrived, she was fixing her hair before a bronze mirror. Her dark hair ran through her pale fingers. The strands tangled and danced with the movement of her hands. Nan Xun watched her from the door, unwilling to interrupt her.


    Jun Huang had felt his presence the moment hended at her door. She simply decided to not say anything. Nan Xun leaned against the doorframe, his figure captured and reflected by the bronze mirror. Jun Huang could see him clearly, but he never intended to hide from her.


    Jun Huang put on a wooden hairpin to keep her hair in ce before turning back to face Nan Xun. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡±


    It was neither a question nor a statement, but a throwaway line that was so soft it could be lost in the wind. Nan Xun schooled his expression into indifference and walked towards her.


    There was a strand of loose hair by Jun Huang¡¯s ear. Without thinking, Nan Xun held it between his fingers. Jun Huang widened her eyes slightly, but she didn¡¯t move. Nan Xun, who suddenly realized how inappropriate his action was, hurriedly tucked the strand of hair under Jun Huang¡¯s cap and pulled away, embarrassed.


    Jun Huang¡¯s surprise quickly gave way to indifference. She smoothed a hand over herbed hair before getting to her feet and ncing at Nan Xun. She turned to look outside the door.


    It was dark. The star and the moon were hidden. There was no source of light outside.


    Jun Huang darted her eyes back to Nan Xun. He was dressed in tight-fitting clothes with narrow sleeves. His hair was loosely tied, the ck strands moving in the air with a white hair band. Jun Huang considered his look. ¡°This fits Your Highness.¡±


    Nan Xun knew Jun Huang was only teasing him. Still, a smile broke through his stoic expression and he said deliberately, ¡°How do I look?¡±


    ¡°Not bad,¡± Jun Huang said calmly. She hid a few silver needles and a dagger under her clothes. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He took the lead to move out of the livingpound with Jun Huang following closely behind. They made their way to Prince Duan Manor.


    There were stores and stands which remained open even thiste at night. To avoid detection, they had purposefully taking to dark alleys to avoid those areas.


    Outside Prince Duan Manor, there were only two dozing children at the door. Their eyes were so bleary, it was likely that they would be able to fall asleep standing.


    Jun Huang threw Nan Xun a look. Without missing a beat, Nan Xun surveyed the outside of the manor and soon spotted the point of weakness they could enter through. He took Jun Huang¡¯s cold fingers and led her there.


    Her fingers were intertwined with Nan Xun¡¯s, but Jun Huang paid it no mind. She let Nan Xun drag her through an alleyway to a grove behind the manor.


    The wall here was taller, but there weren¡¯t any guards stationed here. Jun Huang looked up at the top of the wall, her lips pursed in displeasure.


    She wasn¡¯t well-trained in martial arts. Her only weapon of choice were her silver needles, and she didn¡¯t know light body technique1. She agonized over what she should do.


    Nan Xun covered a smile and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Jun Huang turned to him with a faint smile. ¡°This gentleman will need to ask Your Highness to help me.¡± From her tone it was difficult to tell if she was being serious. Her dimples and curved lips made Nan Xun¡¯s chest burst with wants. He almost lost control of himself.


    People trained in martial arts were more disciplined than others. Nan Xun felt as if a cat was scratching his chest, but he quickly focused his mind. With a deep breath, he put an arm around Jun Huang¡¯s waist. Jun Huang flinched a little at first, but she soon rxed when she realized what Nan Xun was going to do.


    Nan Xun focused his qi in his energy center and with a push of his foot, he leaped over the wall into the manor. Even with the added weight of Jun Huang in his arms, his movements never faltered, and they didn¡¯t make a sound when theynded.


    They circled the fake mountain, keeping an eye for patrolling guards as they moved their way to the study, nning to look for anything that might give them a clue. They never thought that they would run into Prince Duan himself. Outside the study, however, they heard two men talking.


    Qi Chen, who should be in his own manor spending the night with his beautiful wife, was here in the study with Prince Duan. The only light source in the room was a candle. The dim light casted long shadows on the door. Jun Huang, however, was sure that it was Qi Chen. She could recognize his voice from only a few uttered words.


    She shared a look with Nan Xun, which was enough for them to understand each other. They moved closer to the study and hid in a shadow, listening in on the conversation inside.


    Prince Duan and Qi Chen¡¯s conversation was perfectly ordinary. There was nothing incriminating about it. Nothing worthy of attention. Jun Huang¡¯s eyebrows drew closer and closer.


    Qi Chen and Prince Duan are too familiar with each other, she thought. They don¡¯t act like uncle and nephew.


    A bold spection formed in her mind. It wasn¡¯t, however, the time to make a move yet. To be on the safe side, more investigation was required before she coulde to a conclusion. Therefore she didn¡¯t tell Nan Xun about what she thought.


    After about the time for a pot of tea to brew, Nan Xun and Jun Huang decided to leave. Prince Duan and Qi Chen were now talking about poetry and art. They didn¡¯t want to risk getting caught for eavesdropping on things that weren¡¯t helpful to them. They were both preupied when they made their way out.


    What they didn¡¯t know was that not long after their departure, Prince Duan and Qi Chen finally got to the business. Prince Duan looked up at Qi Chen and drank some tea, the taste lingering in his mouth. ¡°Have you made the preparations I asked you to make?¡±


    Prince Duan¡¯s expression was grave, under which was a whirlwind of emotions. Qi Chen was used to this sudden change of attitude from Prince Duan. He nodded.


    Their conversation was directed back to literature and art. In the small hours of the night, the words they exchanged were known to only themselves.

 Chapter 120

    Chapter 120: A Stroll under the Moonlight


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t dropped her pensive expression ever since they left Prince Duan Manor. She was so focused on her musings that she failed to notice the bumps on the road. She stumbled and almost fell. Fortunately, even though Nan Xun was preupied as well, he had been keeping an eye on Jun Huang. He quickly caught her.


    It took a moment for Jun Huang to recover. She awkwardly pulled away from Nan Xun¡¯s warm embrace and put some distance between them. In the dim light it was difficult to get a clear look of his expression, but Jun Huang could tell that Nan Xun was smiling.


    Insects chirped from both sides of the road. The sound was faint, but it was audible. It somehow softened the chilly night where the sky was free of neither stars nor moon. A tender feeling snuck up on them, unbidden. They both pretended to not notice.


    Jun Huang looked at the scenery surrounding her. A sense of rue crept into her heart. Many have spent their lives pursuing the throne, but sometimes she wondered if being an emperor was a good fate for anyone. The mantle was a shackle that one had to wear for life. Only in death would the burden be taken away. Would someone like Qi Yun be able to shoulder such weight?


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what Jun Huang was thinking. He assumed that Jun Huang was upset with their brief physical contact. He wondered how he should apologize, but he couldn¡¯t find the words. He ended up looking into the distance like Jun Huang was, as if a solution would pop up if he stared hard enough.


    The dark clouds in the sky gradually dissipated, revealing the crescent moon. Silver light covered the mossy green stone road with ayer of white glow. From afar, it looked like a fog had risen from the ground, adding a touch of mystical feel to the path.


    It felt wonderful to stroll under the moonlight. Jun Huang¡¯s steps were slow and rxed. She wanted to enjoy the scenery as long as she could. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t going to deprive her of such a simple joy. He stayed at Jun Huang¡¯s side.


    Finally, Jun Huang broke the silence. ¡°What do you think about Qi Chen and Prince Duan?¡± She tilted her head to face Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun gave it some thoughts, but couldn¡¯t give her an answer. Jun Huang fell into deep contemtion, stroking her chin. Qi Chen and Prince Duan¡¯s rtionship wasn¡¯t what it appeared to be.


    ¡°Qi Chen is Consort Zhen¡¯s son,¡± Jun Huang continued. ¡°Consort Zhen used to be Prince Duan¡¯s lover, and was taken away by the now emperor. Not only did Prince Duan not hold a grudge, but he also let Consort Zhen get every one of his unborn children killed. And he maintained a close rtionship with Qi Chen. It doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Jun Huang scoffed. There was a simple answer that could exin everything. The spection was a bold one. She didn¡¯t have enough proof yet, so she kept quiet about it.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Nan Xun asked,ing to a stop.


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes at the dark alley next to them and pointed at it. ¡°Don¡¯t you think Prince Duan resembles a beast lurking in a dark alleyway? Hidden in shadow, his agenda remains unknown to anyone. But he is still there, a threat that we must not ignore.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s words weren¡¯t baseless, but for now, Prince Duan had not yet shown his hands. They couldn¡¯t do anything but to wait for Prince Duan and Qi Chen to slip up. Then they could eliminate the two in one swift attempt. The mantis had not yet caught the cicada; the oriole could only wait patiently.


    The street broadened gradually as they walked. Soon, they had reached the main street where there were more activities. Jun Huang noticed a blushing young woman and a poor schr who followed after her. He held the poem he had written for the woman in one hand, and the hairpin the woman had gifted him in the other.


    Jun Huang watched them curiously. Nan Xun wondered if she was envious.


    ¡°One day, someone will treat you the way the schr treats his lover,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Someone will hold you dear to his heart. He sees you and only you.¡± He spoke as if he was telling a joke, but in truth, he was speaking from the very bottom of his heart.


    Jun Huang threw him a nce, her heart beating as steady as it had ever been. She hadn¡¯t expected Nan Xun to say something like that, but her surprise was quickly masked by a lopsided smile. ¡°Your Highness is truly an expert in romantic affairs.¡±


    She fell silent. The couple had disappeared from her view.


    When they were approaching Jun Huang¡¯s house, Nan Xun suddenly asked, ¡°If there is a way to cleanse the poison in your body, will you put off making Qi Yun the emperor and put aside the schemings that followed, and instead focused first on treating your ailment?¡±


    Surprised, Jun Huang looked at him with her brows furrowed. In her calm eyes there were reflections of the bright moon. Her expression was as distant and faint as a half-forgotten memory.


    She didn¡¯t usually dwell on the fact that her death was less than a year away. If Nan Xun hadn¡¯t mentioned it, she wouldn¡¯t have spared her fate any thoughts. She curved her lips into a smile. ¡°I know about my condition. I have ordered a few people to try to find a cure; it¡¯s just that ¨C ¡±


    ¡°What? Tell me if you have encountered any problems. I may not be clever like you are, but I can help you.¡± Nan Xun¡¯s tone was hurried. He barely stopped himself from grabbing Jun Huang¡¯s hands. He wanted her to take better care of herself, to not tire herself for others¡¯ sake to this extent.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t oblivious to his feelings, but something was better left unsaid. She didn¡¯t know how much time she had left. There might be a cure, but the odds that she would be able to find it was slim. She couldn¡¯t see a future in which she was alive and well. She wasn¡¯t someone who would bet on a solution that wasn¡¯t yet in her grasp.


    That was why she had continued to push herself even though her health was deteriorating. Every night, she had to rely on calming medicine to drive the nightmares away, which was the equivalent of trying to put out a forest fire with a cup of water. The root problem remained unsolved.


    She couldn¡¯t allow herself to rx. There were too many things she had yet to do. If she didn¡¯t do all she could while she was still capable, she would die with a heart heavy with regrets.


    Nan Xun could tell what Jun Huang¡¯s decision was from her expression. He sighed. There were many things he would like to say, but he didn¡¯t think it was in his ce to say them. He kept silent. In his heart, he promised to help Qi Yun gain the support he needed as quickly as possible. Only then would Jun Huang be able to stop pushing herself.


    After a moment of silence, Nan Xun bid her farewell. Jun Huang let out a long breath as she watched him leave. A trace of panic crept up to her. She pushed it away and walked into her house.


    She didn¡¯t feel like sleeping after she had bathed herself. She picked up a book and started reading under the candlelight, word by word and line by line.


    When she heard three rings of a gong indicating that it was past midnight, she finally put down the book and ced some calming herbs at her bedside. She took off her outer robe andy down, covering herself with the nket. Slowly, she closed her eyes.


    It had been a busy day. Her body was exhausted, but her mind was wide awake. It took a long time for her to be lulled into slumber by the scent of the herb.


    Ever since that day, Jun Huang had been having troubles sleeping. Her brain refused to rest even when her body was dead tired. The calming herb helped a little, but any little noises would be able to wake her up. Whenever a servant walked past the hallway with slightly heavier footsteps, she would be jerked out of her sleep. Even when she did fall asleep, it was a restless one at best. She often found herself stuck in an endless nightmare. She couldn¡¯t find a way out.


    Finally, her body copsed from all the work she had forced it to go through. Today, when day broke, she didn¡¯t open her eyes. Little Girl saw how pale Jun Huang was when she entered the room to serve Jun Huang. Jun Huang¡¯s hair was stuck to her forehead because of her sweat.


    Little Girl flung herself to the bedside and shook Jun Huang¡¯s body. Despite her illness, Jun Huang was still conscious. She could hear Little Girl crying by her side, but she couldn¡¯t open her eyes.


    Jun Huang wanted to ask Little Girl to stop wailing at her ear, but she was stuck in her frozen body. She sighed inwardly.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Little Girl¡¯s bawling to attract other servants¡¯ attention.


    ¡°What happened?¡± a servant asked. ¡°Why are you crying?¡±


    Everyone working here knew that Jun Huang didn¡¯t like it when other people entered her bedroom. Normally, Little Girl was the only one who served Jun Huang personally. The servant stayed outside the door.


    Little Girl was young. Jun Huang¡¯s copse had scared her. She didn¡¯t know what to do. The servant¡¯s voice was like a lifeline to her. She clung to it as if her life depended on it. ¡°The gentleman ¨C he won¡¯t wake up no matter what I do ¨C ¡±


    The servant understood how grave the situation was. He put aside his reservation and ran in. He nced at Jun Huang, then at Little Girl. There was a tangled mess of emotions in his heart, but he forced himself to calm down.


    ¡°Go get a barrel of hot water so you can wipe the gentleman¡¯s face clean.¡± With that, he went outside and sent for a doctor. Then he told someone to send a message to Nan Xun. Afterwards, he ran back to Jun Huang¡¯s bedroom, his forehead covered in sweat.


    The doctor came. When he was about to take Jun Huang¡¯s pulse, Jun Huang, who had been immobile since the morning, suddenly opened her eyes and leveled the doctor with a frosty stare. For a split second, it seemed as if there were two pupils in each of her eyes, but it was as fleeting as a trick of the light.


    Her cold look wasn¡¯t aimed at the doctor, but the doctor staggered back in shock all the same. He swallowed down the lump in his throat and said, ¡°The gentleman has finally woken up. May this old man take your pulse and see what the cause of your illness is?¡±


    ¡°This gentleman is fine,¡± Jun Huang said, pushing herself up. She turned to Little Girl. ¡°Walk the doctor out.¡±


    With Jun Huang¡¯s order, the doctor had no choice but to follow Little Girl, but he paused when he reached the screen at the door. ¡°This old man has spotted the calming herb ced at your bedside. It seems that the gentleman has troubles falling asleep. Your face is also too pale to be healthy. You are preupied with too many thoughts all the time. It¡¯s no wonder that your body cannot take it. The gentleman is still young, but you will be suffering in old age if you continue to live like this... The gentleman should consider giving yourself a break. Let yourself be carefree for a few days.¡±

 Chapter 121

    Chapter 121: Looking for A Cure


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°Thank you for the reminder, doctor. This gentleman will keep that in mind.¡±


    In truth, she didn¡¯t pay that much attention to the doctor¡¯s words. She was only humoring him.


    Once she was left alone in her room, Jun Huang let out a long breath. Her arms gave out and she barely stopped herself from hitting the bed frame. The conversation earlier had used up all her strength. Shey back on the bed and covered herself with the nket.


    After the time for an incense stick to burn, she finally recovered enough to get off the bed. She put on an outer robe and got to her feet, but her legs started to wobble after only a few steps. She was ill after all. She supported her weight against the wall and sat down on a stool.


    That was what Little Girl saw when she returned to the room. She frowned and walked up to Jun Huang. ¡°How can the gentleman care so little about your own health? Why did you get off the bed even in this state? The doctor has said that you must rest!¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at Little Girl. She was just in need for a helper. She asked Little Girl to retrieve her medical supplies from the other room. Forcing herself to fight against the overwhelming drowsiness, Jun Huang opened the bag full of silver needles of different lengths and picked one that was as long as her middle finger. She jabbed at her left wrist, her movement far from gentle.


    Again and again, she put holes all along her arm. It was a horrifying sight. Jun Huang held her breath and let the waste energy in her body circle through her system before breathing it out. With her eyes narrowed, she pulled out the needle. The tip was drenched in ck blood. Crimson droplets started to seep out of the holes she had put in her arm.


    It was painful even for her. Sweat broke out of her forehead. She carefully controlled her breathing. She took the silk handkerchief Little Girl handed her and wiped away the crimson blood, but then ck blood started to ooze out. Little Girl widened her eyes, unable to form aplete sentence.


    Jun Huang let the blood stream down her arm until the bleeding stopped on its own. She let out a relieved sigh. When She turned around, Little Girl was right next to her. Jun Huang had been too hasty and therefore hadn¡¯t asked Little Girl to leave the room. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know how she should exin her condition to Little Girl.


    As if she was able to tell what Jun Huang¡¯s concerns were, Little Girl muttered, ¡°This girl will not tell a soul about what I¡¯ve seen. The gentleman can rest easy.¡± She turned to leave. Jun Huang stopped her when she was at the door. Little Girl looked back at her questioningly, awaiting her order.


    ¡°Send a messenger to Prince Chen Manor and tell the crown prince I have caught a cold. Tell him that I can neither take guests or leave my ce. Send someone else to tell Nan Xun that I am well.¡±


    Little Girl startled. She thought that Jun Huang had lost consciousness, but Jun Huang had been awake the whole time! Little Girl hurriedly ran out of the room and passed on Jun Huang¡¯s orders.


    Nan Xun was worried when he heard that Jun Huang had copsed, but before he could leave his manor, Jun Huang¡¯s messenger arrived. The messenger rxed when he saw that Nan Xun was still in his manor. ¡°What a coincidence, Your Highness. Gentleman Feng has woken up. He said that he is feeling well, and that there is no need for Your Highness to check on him.¡±


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t sure if Jun Huang had truly recovered, or if those were simply words offort. He debated if he should visit anyway, but he decided against it. Jun Huang must have sent Qi Chen a message as well, he thought. She¡¯s probably worried that Qi Chen will spot me if I go.


    As Nan Xun expected, Qi Chen visited Jun Huang immediately after he got the message. Even though Jun Huang had said she couldn¡¯t take any guests, he was still too worried to stay put. He ordered a servant to prepare some ginseng and velvet antler. With a whole group of servants, Qi Chen set out for Jun Huang¡¯s ce.


    Qi Chen was worried about catching a cold, so he didn¡¯t enter Jun Huang¡¯s bedroom. Instead, he stayed on the other side of the screen as he talked to Jun Huang.


    ¡°Are you feeling better, brother Feng?¡± Qi Chen asked after he had told his servants to leave.


    Jun Huang¡¯s head was clearer after letting out some of her blood, but her legs were still weak. Shey back onto her bed. ¡°This gentleman is feeling better now. Thank you for your concerns, Your Highness.¡±


    She pretended to cough, which sent her into a serious coughing fit. It felt as if she was going to cough her lungs out.


    Qi Chen thought that Jun Huang had started coughing due to her answering his question. He thus told her to rest well before taking his leave.


    Nan Xun had been waiting for news in his manor, but Jun Huang had not sent any other messengers. His heart was in a tight grip for the whole day. At night, he finally made the decision to visit Jun Huang. The messenger had told him that Jun Huang was alright, but Nan Xun could not rest easy until he saw for himself that Jun Huang had recovered. He would be the next one to copse if he let his heart continue to pound this hard due to his worry.


    Originally Nan Xun was going to enter through the front door, but when he got close enough to see the entrance, he saw the men Qi Chen had left outside Jun Huang¡¯s ce. Qi Chen must have been worried that he wouldn¡¯t be able to get updated promptly should something happen to Jun Huang.


    The front door was no longer an option. Nan Xun looked around and snuck his way to the back of the livingpound. This spot was closer to the south wing. Behind the wall was the building Jun Huang¡¯s room was in.


    Nan Xun was a master of light body technique. With a push of his foot, he lept into the air andnded on the other side of the wall. He made sure that no one was around before making his way to the south wing.


    The room was still lit by candlelight. Nan Xun could see Jun Huang¡¯s silhouette through the paper window. He frowned and quickened his pace.


    With a quiet creak, he opened the door. The servants seemed to have left the door unlocked so that Jun Huang could call out for help if needed. Cold wind swept into the building and sent the paintings hanging on the wall fluttering.


    In the silence of the room, Jun Huang heard the creaking door and the fluttering sound clearly. She frowned.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± she asked, alert.


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± said Nan Xun as he entered the room. Jun Huangy on her bed, her face pale. She had lost even more weight. Her skin might as well be hanging over bare bones.


    She was holding a book with her hands resting on her torso. Her broad sleeves fell to her elbows, showing her delicate wrists. Beautiful, but terrifyingly fragile.


    Her frail form made Nan Xun angry. You push yourself to this extent for Qi Yun, he cursed in his head, but do you know that he is only using you?


    He stared at Jun Huang coldly, but didn¡¯t voice his thoughts. Jun Huang looked up at him in confusion.


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart ached when he looked at her thin face. He couldn¡¯t suppress himself any longer. ¡°If you want to find Jun Hao, if you want to make the traitor that destroy your family and country pay, you have to take care of yourself. That¡¯s what you must do first. You have to rest so that you can live long enough to achieve your goals.¡±


    ¡°I know what you want isn¡¯t merely to destroy Eastern Wu. You want to see this war-tornnd unite into one peaceful country as well. If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s even more important that you take care of yourself. Don¡¯t worry us so much.¡± His anger drained from his voice as he spoke, and his scolding turned into a plea. Nan Xun was incapable of staying angry at Jun Huang once he met her eyes. He could only turn his anger to himself.


    Jun Huang looked at Nan Xun with round eyes. She would be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t touched by his concerns, but she knew her body. Her knowledge in medicine was enough for her to tell that she couldn¡¯t give Nan Xun a future.


    How could she not know that Nan Xun was worried? She knew even that Nan Xun reciprocated her feelings. But knowing was one thing. The reality was a different matter. She didn¡¯t have enough life in herself to give Nan Xun what he wanted.


    As long as Jun Huang didn¡¯t tell Nan Xun what she felt, Nan Xun would keep his feelings to himself. He thought that Jun Huang knew not the love two people could share, that she was driven by only revenge and a desire to see the world unite. He didn¡¯t know that Jun Huang was keeping her feelings a secret because she couldn¡¯t see a future for the two of them.


    If she admitted to Nan Xun what she felt, what would Nan Xun do once she took herst breath?


    That was the problem with being clever. She would never be free of concerns for the future. Jun Huang pushed her overwhelming emotions aside and took a deep breath, pulling her lips into a cold sneer.


    Even with such a cruel smile on her face, Nan Xun still found her unbelievably beautiful. Jun Huang had to force herself to ignore the fondness in Nan Xun¡¯s eyes. How deep is this man¡¯s feeling, she wondered. But she couldn¡¯t dwell on it. She had to purposefully wield her words like weapons to deter him.


    ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing. There¡¯s no need for you to worry.¡±


    ¡°I ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Nan Xun!¡± Jun Huang cut him off. She ced the book on the bedside table and met his gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you have been prying into my business too muchtely? You and I are merely allies. There is no reason for you to be this nosy. Your Highness is kind, but your kindness is too much of a burden to me.¡±


    Nan Xun never knew that Jun Huang was capable of such cruelty. Her voice was so cold it was as if they had always been enemies. He felt his heart clench at her words.


    ¡°You ¨C you¡¯re too stubborn for your own good!¡± Nan Xun¡¯s expression darkened. In his rage, he stormed away, mming the door shut after him. The bright moon only served to stoke his ire. He vaulted over the wall, disappearing into the night.


    Jun Huang lost all her strength and flopped down to her bed, breathing heavily. She knew what she had said was hurtful, but she didn¡¯t want Nan Xun to waste his time on her. He deserved someone he could build a life with.


    She had knocked off the book she ced on the bedside table when shey down, but she didn¡¯t care. Slowly, she closed her eyes, seeking the warmth Nan Xun had left behind.


    But what was gone was gone. There was only a cold and empty void in his ce.

 Chapter 122

    Chapter 122: Solution


    Nan Xun made his way back to his manor in silence. He cursed silently, his cold smile growing colder as time went by. He was mad at Jun Huang for casting his concerns aside like they were worthless. Did she not know how much he cared for her?


    He finally calmed down when he reached his manor. With a deep breath, he entered and ordered a shadowguard to meet him in his room.


    ¡°What does Your Highness need?¡±


    ¡°Find out if there¡¯s an expert in cleansing poison, or if there¡¯s a medicine that can cure all poisons,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°If you do find anyone or anything, bring them back to me. Understand?¡±


    ¡°Understood, Your Highness. Rest assured, this subordinate will not disappoint you.¡± The shadowguard cupped his hands and left the room once he was sure Nan Xun had finished talking. He cupped his hands at Ji Bo when he ran into Ji Bo on his way out.


    Ji Bo had been living away from society. Even being invited by Jun Huang to the imperial city wasn¡¯t enough to make him lose his calm. He would act as he had always been no matter where he was. He saw Prince Nan Manor as simply another lodging. He didn¡¯t see himself as being dependent on Nan Xun.


    The door to Nan Xun¡¯s room had not been shut when Nan Xun and the shadowguard were talking. Ji Bo, who had always had good ears, heard everything Nan Xun said. Once the shadowguard left, Ji Bo cleared his throat and knocked on the door.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Ji Bo entered the room. Nan Xun was at the table, a thoughtful scowl pulling the corners of his mouth downward.


    ¡°This gentleman can see that Your Highness is troubled. What happened?¡±


    Nan Xun considered keeping Jun Huang¡¯s condition from Ji Bo, but he decided otherwise. Ji Bo was here on Jun Huang¡¯s request, and he was an intelligent man. He might be able to convince Jun Huang. Nan Xun told him about what had happened.


    Ji Bo was surprised. How had he not noticed that Jun Huang was in such a bad condition? When hest saw Jun Huang, she seemed perfectly fine. Was she really gued with such potent poison?


    But it didn¡¯t look like Nan Xun was lying to him; there was no reason for the prince to do so anyway. Ji Bo decided to give Nan Xun the benefit of the doubt. He would visit Jun Huang tomorrow.


    The next day, Ji Bo left the manor early in the morning. Nan Xun was going assign a page boy to serve him, but Ji Bo turned the offer down. He was used to being free to go wherever he wanted on his own.


    Before Ji Bo left the manor, Nan Xun came to find Ji Bo and said, ¡°Please do your best to convince her, Mister Ji Bo. Her body can¡¯t take any more abuse. You are a talented man. She respects you. She will listen to you.¡±


    His eyes were so genuine, it was impossible for Ji Bo to say no to him.


    He didn¡¯t know if other people were able to see how much Nan Xun cared about Jun Huang, but he certainly could. Nan Xun was obviously in love with Jun Huang. However... He sighed inwardly. The limited time he had spent with Jun Huang was enough to give him a glimpse into Jun Huang¡¯s mind. He knew what she was set on achieving. Someone like her would never give up on her own goals for love.


    Ji Bo kept his thoughts to himself. What a shame. Nan Xun and Jun Huang would make a good couple. They would be happy together


    To avoid rousing suspicion, Ji Bo rarely visited Jun Huang. Most of the time Jun Huang was the one to visit him in Nan Xun¡¯s manor. Ji Bo dressed himself as a regr schr. The page boy at the door was observant enough to recognize him from afar. There were still Qi Chen¡¯s men keeping watch outside. The page boy darted his eyes and quickly went up to Ji Bo.


    ¡°Oh, finally you havee, sir!¡± The page boy eximed at the top of his lungs, attracting Qi Chen¡¯s men¡¯s attention. ¡°Gentleman Feng has been waiting for you! He is too tired to do anything. He¡¯s looking forward to listening to you reading books to him! Gentleman Feng is in a good mood today. He is sure to pay you handsomely!¡±


    Ji Bo startled. He rubbed at his ears and looked over at the page boy. Naturally he knew why the page boy was acting this way. He exchanged a few words with the page boy, saying that gentleman Feng had always been generous, ying the part of a shring to read books to Jun Huang.


    Once inside, Ji Bo gave the page boy a look. ¡°Your voice is loud enough to cause anyone¡¯s heart to stop. Please don¡¯t yell at me the next time you see me. I¡¯m too old to take it.¡±


    He made his way to the south wing, leaving the page boy standing awkwardly with his hands over his mouth.


    Ji Bo followed a maid inside, taking in the way Jun Huang had maintained the ce as he walked. When they reached the south wing, the maid went inside to notify Jun Huang. Ji Bo looked over at the garden. Blooming flowers filled the area with bright colors. He couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from the stunning view.


    The maid returned and motioned at him to enter. ¡°Gentleman Feng said to let you in, sir.¡±


    That pulled Ji Bo back to reality. He smiled bashfully and whipped his fan open to cool his face down. He walked into Jun Huang¡¯s room.


    Hearing that Ji Bo was here, Jun Huang insisted on getting off the bed. She cupped her hands at Ji Bo. ¡°Mister Ji Bo has graced this humble ce with your presence.¡±


    Ji Bo disregarded her polite greeting and huffed at her sheet-white face. ¡°This gentleman cannot take thepliment. It seems that you can¡¯t even take care of yourself. I¡¯m having doubts about what future we have. Perhaps the battle is already lost.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s head jerked up. ¡°You have crossed a line.¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to think of Ji Bo as an arrogant man. She didn¡¯t want to admit that her body was deteriorating, either. Through the force of sheer stubbornness, she kept herself upright. Both of them refused to sit as they stared each other down.


    Little Girl was startled when she brought tea to the room. Jun Huang¡¯s face had be even paler. Her form was so unsteady, she could be knocked down by a mere breeze.


    ¡°You should have a seat, gentleman Feng! This won¡¯t do!¡± Little Girl¡¯s eyes were round and bright. They were like crystal gems when she focused on someone. It seemed as if she was able to see all the pain and suffering in the world, but at the same time there was always an innocence to her gaze.


    Jun Huang could no longer supported her own weight. She did have to let her body recover. She epted Little Girl¡¯s suggestion as the olive branch it was and sat down. With a quietugh, she asked Little Girl to leave before turning to Ji Bo. ¡°This gentleman has been too harsh. I hope you will forgive me.¡±


    What Ji Bo wouldn¡¯t give to be a good enough doctor to help Jun Huang! He couldn¡¯t bare watching Jun Huang destroy her own health. He leveled Jun Huang with a cold stare. ¡°You better take care of yourself, Jun Huang. If you don¡¯t even value your own life, how can I trust you? I might as well throw myself under Qi Chen¡¯s banner. Qi Yin has passed away. The empress has been banished. Even though Consort Zhen is not yet the empress, older brother alwayses before younger brother in inheriting the throne. Normally Qi Yun won¡¯t even stand a chance in bing the emperor. If I serve Qi Chen with all I¡¯ve got, there is a good chance that he will make me the Grand Chancellor in the future. I will be able to do what I want then.¡±


    Ji Bo had not spouted any lies. It was also true that Jun Huang didn¡¯t have any right to keep Ji Bo on their side. She picked Ji Bo simply because he had a vision he would want to realize.


    She couldn¡¯t take the risk. Even though the emperor seemed to have lost his fondness for Qi Chen, he was still protecting Qi Chen. Without the emperor¡¯s intervention, Jun Huang was sure that they would have found evidence against Qi Chen during their investigation.


    The emperor had a closer rtionship with Qi Yun. Nevertheless, Qi Chen was still the crown prince. Even if Qi Yun was able to garnered the same respect and dread from other people as Nan Xun did, he was still a prince. Nothing more.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been getting weaker and weaker. I¡¯ve often found myself in situations where my body can not keep up with my mind. When Western Que was destroyed, I got hit by a poison so potent that even my mentor hadn¡¯t been able to cleanse it. To make things worse, I was bit by a venomous snake some time ago. It won¡¯t be long before my body stops functioning.¡±


    ¡°I have thought that I would eliminate Eastern Wu soon, avenging my family and restoring the world to peace at the same time. However... the way forward is unclear. Who knows which path is the right one? I have been too hasty. That I have to admit. But tell me, what else can I do?¡± She saw Ji Bo as both a brotherly figure and a parental figure. He was at once her friend and her mentor. She was as honest with him as she could be.


    Ji Bo had not known that her body was close to being burned out. He frowned, overwhelmed by a strong wave of regret. He sighed at Jun Huang¡¯s pale face.


    After the time for a pot of tea to brew, Ji Bo looked up at Jun Huang and said, ¡°This gentleman has a n that may be viable.¡±


    Jun Huang rxed and let out a sigh. ¡°The gentleman may be upfront with me.¡±


    ¡°The fourth prince has been attracting a little too much attention. The crown prince may have be suspicious of him. We have to find a scapegoat before Qi Chen strikes.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°Does the gentleman have a candidate?¡±


    ¡°I can pledge myself to the third prince and use the ipetent prince to oppose the crown prince. If we let them destroy each other, the fourth prince will be able to gain the throne without attracting bacsh.¡±


    Jun Huang never did anything without thinking her options through. She found Ji Bo¡¯s solution to be too risky. She shook her head. ¡°Everyone considers the third prince to be ipetent, but who knows if he is truly foolish, or simplyying low? It is easy for us to say that we will keep him as a temporary emperor; it will be difficult to dethrone him once he gains the throne. I think the third prince might have been staying out of the conflicts because he is level-headed.¡±

 Chapter 123

    Chapter 123: Testing Water


    ¡°No, no.¡± Ji Bo made a circr motion with his hand and folded his fan to tap at the table. ¡°The throne is too tempting a reward for the prince to say no to. Who doesn¡¯t want to know what it feels like to sit on it? The third prince may not appear to be ambitious, but that is because the former and current crown prince have shone too brightly that the third prince became unnoticeable, and the prince doesn¡¯t have a strategist to help him. If he is told that despite him being the third son, he can still be the crown prince the way the second prince acquired the title, he will dly take the opportunity. If he believes that he has a chance to be the emperor as long as the crown prince is out of the picture, do you really think he will be able to resist?¡±


    ¡°Besides, the fourth prince has attracted more and more supporters. Taller trees are often the first to be toppled by strong wind. Something has to be done. It¡¯s better for us to stop fighting for the throne and let the third prince fight it out with the crown prince. We will be the fisherman who profits in the end.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know if Ji Bo would be able to convince the third prince, but she herself had been swayed. It might be a viable solution. There was just too big a risk. She was the one who asked for Ji Bo¡¯s help in shaping the world; she wasn¡¯t going to let him take all the risks.


    Ji Bo could tell what Jun Huang was worried about. ¡°Rx. I¡¯ve lived long enough to see and experience every type of dangers. And I know one cannot catch a tiger cub without venturing into the tiger den. Leave this matter to me. I will be alright.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t immediately respond. The more she thought about it, the less she liked the idea. Ji Bo possessed real talent. Having him assist the third prince was akin to using a spear to kill a fly. It wasn¡¯t fair to Ji Bo.


    A sinct series of knocks came from the door. Jun Huang had thought it was Little Girling with her medicine, but instead it was Nan Xun, holding a bowl in his hands.


    They had had a fightst night. The air was soon filled with awkwardness. Nan Xun cleared his throat and walked up to Jun Huang. He handed the ceramic bowl to her and said, ¡°You should drink this.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She took the bowl and finished the medicine in one go. The bitterness put a frown on her face. She swallowed down the offending taste and looked up at Nan Xun.


    She watched him without a word. After a moment she told him what Ji Bo and she had talked about. Nan Xun¡¯s expression remained passive. It seemed as if he had known about Ji Bo¡¯s idea beforehand.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t make a decision herself. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Nan Xun turned his face to Ji Bo, who gave him a pointed look. Without missing a beat, Nan Xun turned back to Jun Huang and said, ¡°I think Mister Ji Bo is right. It¡¯s better to be careful now. Even though Qi Chen has yet to suspect you, the false information sent by the young official can only keep your identity a secret for so long. It¡¯s better to find a scapegoat now.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned, looking at him with sharp eyes. ¡°Do you really think so?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Nan Xun said in a more decisive tone. It was high time that Jun Huang had a good rest. ¡°That¡¯s decided then. You don¡¯t have to worry too much. Allow yourself to recover.¡±


    ¡°The prince is right,¡± agreed Ji Bo. ¡°The most important thing for you to do now is to let your body recover. The rest you can think about afterwards.¡±


    Jun Huang sighed in resignation. They both considered this a good idea. She couldn¡¯t possibly continue to argue.


    The medicine helped her regain focus. She got to her feet and said to Ji Bo and Nan Xun, ¡°I¡¯m tired of staying in my room. Come with me to the garden.¡± She turned to walk outside. Seeing that Jun Huang was wearing only a thinyer of clothes, Nan Xun took a robe and draped it over his arm before following her. Jun Huang was weak enough as she was. She didn¡¯t need another cold.


    Even though it was April, it could still get chilly when there was wind. Nan Xun hurriedly put the robe around Jun Huang¡¯s shoulders.


    Ji Bo couldn¡¯t help but smile. He knew when to excuse himself. ¡°Since we have reached a conclusion, I will stop bothering you,¡± he said, cupping his hands. ¡°You must have things to discuss. Please excuse me.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay for lunch?¡± asked Jun Huang, confused.


    Ji Bo chuckled, whipping his fan open. Without another word, he turned around and left, leaving Jun Huang and Nan Xun in the garden.


    The servants knew Jun Huang preferred the quiet. They were even less inclined to bother her when she was sick. That was why there was no one else around.


    Nan Xun looked over at the brilliant view in the garden. In his heart was a mess of emotions. He didn¡¯t dare to meet Jun Huang¡¯s eyes.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to say anything either. They stood silently for a good while.


    Jun Huang yawned, breaking the stillness in the air. Nan Xun quickly said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to push yourself if you¡¯re tired. Let me walk you back.¡±


    Jun Huang simply nodded. They walked side by side back to the south wing. Nan Xun stopped at the door and turned to Jun Huang. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t say what I have said yesterday. I hope you won¡¯t take it to your heart.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a quietugh. ¡°Of course I won¡¯t.¡±


    At her smile, Nan Xun¡¯s heart finally started to beat normally again. ¡°You should rest. I will leave you alone.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She didn¡¯t ask him to stay.


    She leaned against the door frame, watching Nan Xun walk away until he disappeared at the corner. She let out a long breath and rubbed at her forehead. Exhaustion began to overtake her again. She opened the door and returned to her room.


    On her bed, she thought back to her temporary loss of strength. Her concerns had taken a toll on her body. She never expected the ailment to be this serious. It took her days to recover.


    The servants had been worried about her. They could finally breathe easy when Jun Huang regained her health. Someone even asked a monk toe exorcise the bad luck.


    Little Girl became even more of an unstoppable force afterwards. She was convinced that Jun Huang must have copsed due to exhaustion. Whenever Jun Huang stayed in her study untilte at night, Little Girl would nag her for days. As a result, Jun Huang dared not to stay in her study now. She instead stayed in her room when she wanted to read.


    Naturally, Jun Huang had to visit Qi Chen and let him know she was alright. She got changed and left for Prince Chen Manor.


    Qi Chen let out a sigh of relief when he saw that Jun Huang had recovered. He told the servants to prepare a meal and asked Jun Huang to stay for lunch.


    Nan Guyue¡¯s belly had be more and more pronounced, and her eyes softer. She smiled at Jun Huang and said politely, ¡°I¡¯ve heard the prince say that the gentleman was sick, but because of my condition I wasn¡¯t able to visit the gentleman. I hope you don¡¯t me me for that.¡±


    ¡°The princess is too kind,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes.


    ¡°Brother Feng has lost weight because of your cold,¡± Qi Chen said suddenly. Jun Huang looked up at him, unsure of his intentions, but Qi Chen didn¡¯t exin.


    Nan Guyue said, ¡°The prince is worried that the gentleman has not been eating well. If you are so inclined, you are wee to have your meals in this manor.¡±


    Jun Huang blinked. She didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen to be so generous to a strategist. Qi Chen must have his reasons. Jun Huang, though, knew her ce. She smiled a little. ¡°This gentleman is grateful for Your Highness and the princess¡¯s hospitality. This gentleman does have decent food at home though. My tired appearance is simply a result of my recent recovery from the cold.¡±


    They ate in silence. When Qi Chen finished eating, he put down his bowl and chopsticks. ¡°Is brother Feng done?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°Your Highness?¡±


    ¡°Come walk with me.¡± Qi Chen left the room. Jun Huang caught up with him after bidding Nan Guyue farewell.


    They walked in silence. When Qi Chen stopped, they were at the side building. Jun Huang wondered what Qi Chen wanted, but she didn¡¯t ask. Instead, she simply followed Qi Chen¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°You have moved out of the manor, brother Feng,¡± Qi Chen turned to say to Jun Huang, ¡°but this ce will always be yours. You are wee to move back whenever you want to. Nothing is different. Wei Qian is also still at your service.¡±


    Qi Chen had always trusted her. No matter how hard others tried to break that trust, they failed. He gave her more and more privileges. That, however, unsettled Jun Huang. Her instinct told her that Qi Chen possessed power she didn¡¯t know about and Qi Chen didn¡¯t intend to tell her about. He might seem to keep no secrets from her. In reality, there were many things she was kept in the dark of.


    They made a round in the garden. Qi Chen left to attend to his business. He told Jun Huang to stay for a while, but Jun Huang was troubled. She wasn¡¯t in the mood to appreciate the scenery. She sent a man to inform Qi Chen before leaving the manor.


    Nan Xun should know about this, Jun Huang thought. Before she reached her house, she made a sudden turn and walked towards Prince Nan Manor.


    Jun Huang told Nan Xun about her doubts, hoping that Nan Xun would be able to answer her questions.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t that familiar with Qi Chen. He didn¡¯t have an answer himself. He only told Jun Huang to not dwell on it too much, lest she worry herself sick again.

 Chapter 124

    Chapter 124: Provocation


    After a few days, Qi Yun, who Jun Huang hadn¡¯t heard from for a while, came to visit. As soon as Jun Huang walked into her house, a servant came to notify her that Qi Yun was waiting for her.


    Jun Huang was surprised. In order to not worry Qi Yun, she had asked Nan Xun and Ji Bo to keep her copse earlier a secret. She didn¡¯t want people to make a big deal out of her condition.


    Qi Yun was drinking tea when she got to the garden. She stepped on a twig and the sound jerked Qi Yun out of his thoughts.


    Qi Yun got to his feet and patted his wrinkled robe. He whipped his broad sleeves loose before cupping his hands in greeting. ¡°Please forgive this gentleman for intruding.¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head with a smile. ¡°What happened?¡± She took the seat across from him and turned to him.


    The Court of Judicial Review had a lot less cases to deal withtely. Therefore, Qi Yun had moved back to the pce. He was allowed less freedom than when he had been living in the court, so it had been a while since hest came to visit Jun Huang. He didn¡¯t know she had been ill, but he did notice that she had lost weight, and that she smelled of herbs.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we talk about a hidden force at y in supporting second brother? After some time spent on thinking about this issue, I believe that it is likely to be rted to Consort Zhen.¡±


    Jun Huang raised an eyebrow at him. ¡°Why do you say so?¡±


    ¡°I know what power every courtier possesses, but the members of the harem remain unknown to me. In addition, this force seems to have been helping Qi Chen ever since he was born. Even the banished empress still has her people. Consort Zhen, who has maintained her influence in the pce for decades, must hold considerable power in her hands.¡± Qi Yun kept his eyes on Jun Huang as he talked, worried that he might have made a mistake.


    Jun Huang considered his words. It was obvious from Qi Yun¡¯s expression that he was nervous. Shemented, ¡°It¡¯s worth considering.¡±


    Jun Huang had just recovered. With everything she had to worry about, she didn¡¯t really have the patience to deal with Qi Yun. ¡°Is there anything else?¡±


    Qi Yun could tell that Jun Huang was asking him to leave. He hurriedly stood up and cupped his hands. ¡°It¡¯s about time for me to return to the pce. Please excuse me.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°If you don¡¯t have any responsibilities at the Court of Judicial Review, you should visit the emperor more. You don¡¯t need any more achievements for the time being. Leaving a good impression on the emperor is your priority.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± Qi Yun walked outside. Soon, he was out of Jun Huang¡¯s view.


    Jun Huang sat quietly in the garden. She poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip. In the end, she decided that she had to go to Prince Chen Manor. She had to find out something from Qi Chen. Even if she couldn¡¯t get a direct answer, she could at least get a feel of his attitude.


    She stood up and fixed her sleeves before walking outside. It didn¡¯t take long for her to reach the manor. The page boy watching the door knew that Qi Chen was inside. He let her in.


    Qi Chen happened to be free when Jun Huang visited. He walked up to her and asked her how she had been. When they were left alone and Jun Huang felt like it was about time, she asked, ¡°There is something this gentleman has been wondering, Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Qi Chen asked, turning to face her, still fumbling with a crabapple flower with a hand.


    ¡°At critical times like this Your Highness still remains confident, as if nothing will be able to hurt you. I¡¯m wondering what Your Highness¡¯s reasons are, and if there is someone helping you behind the scenes.¡±


    Jun Huang had tried her best to mask her intentions, but the questions still are suspicious. She was betting on Qi Chen¡¯s trust for her.


    Qi Chen leveled Jun Huang with a heavy gaze. Jun Huang knew she must not insist on getting an answer. She dropped down to her knees and affected a respectful expression. ¡°This gentleman has nothing to hide. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s difficult to understand what the schr officials and military officials in the court are thinking. Your Highness needs their help in your pursuit of the throne.¡±


    Looking at Jun Huang, Qi Chen felt a pang of guilt for the sh of doubt in his heart. Jun Huang had been his most loyal supporter. Without her, he wouldn¡¯t be where he was today.


    He sighed and helped Jun Huang up. ¡°Come with me,¡± he said, pointing at the garden.


    Jun Huang nodded and followed him. She maintained the perfect mask of aloofness as she wondered how Consort Zhen, who was a member of the harem, exerted her influence on the imperial court.


    The past couple of days, Ji Bo had not beenzing about. He needed a n that would make sure that he entered the third prince¡¯s manor without arousing suspicion. The prince must be willing to trust him with important matters.


    He went to Jun Huang for advice. He was sure that Jun Huang would be able to help hime up with a good n.


    The day he went to visit Jun Huang was a sunny day. Jun Huang looked at him questioningly. It was rare for Ji Bo toe find her on his own ord, but over the past few days he had been here twice already.


    Despite her surprise, Jun Huang was still able to treat him with the proper courtesy. She invited Ji Bo inside and poured him a cup of tea. ¡°Mister Ji Bo has said you are going to pledge yourself to the third prince. You should be careful in visiting me. People will talk if they see you here.¡±


    ¡°I know there is a risk,¡± said Ji Bo. ¡°But the third prince is exactly what I¡¯m here for.¡±


    With her brows furrowed, Jun Huang looked up at him, waiting for him to continue.


    ¡°This gentleman has found a way to pledge my allegiance to the third prince, but I¡¯ll need your help.¡± Ji Bo met her gaze, cataloging every minute change of her expression.


    Jun Huang¡¯s face remained passive. She knew as soon as Ji Bo stepped into her ce that Ji Bo must have something to ask of her.


    After a moment of silence, she said, ¡°You can be frank with me. If it¡¯s something I can help with, I will do all I can.¡±


    ¡°This gentleman possesses a piece of jade of the finest quality. Ayman¡¯s eyes may not be able to see its value, but anyone who knows how to appreciate jade will know it¡¯s worth more than a thousand gold taels. Even if they like it, it will be too expensive for them to pay for it. If I show them this piece of jade, how do you think they will react?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond immediately. Ji Bo¡¯s n could work. They just had to find someone who appreciated good jade, but was stingy and greedy. That would be the first step.


    ¡°I need to find a good target,¡± added Ji Bo.


    Jun Huang spared him a nce before nodding. ¡°I know.¡±


    It had to be someone important. Someone who would be able to provoke a conflict between the third prince and Qi Chen. It had to be... one of Qi Chen¡¯s confidantes. Her eyes lit up and her smile deepened. She had an idea.


    Ji Bo knew Jun Huang must have thought of someone. Even though he had a keen observation for the development of the politicalndscape, he didn¡¯t know Qi Chen¡¯s circle of supporters enough to know who among them was partial to jade.


    The first person who came to his mind was Prince Duan, but Prince Duan was the emperor¡¯s brother. He might be willing to pay for the jade. Besides, his rtionship with Qi Chen was still unclear to them.


    What was more, the third prince wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to fight his own uncle for a piece of jade. Ji Bo wasn¡¯t willing to take the risk.


    The one Jun Huang thought of was the Minister of Rites. The Ministry of Rites was under Qi Chen¡¯s care. Sometime ago it was hit by the scandal of leaked exam questions. Qi Chen had found a scapegoat to keep the minister untouched, but there were rumors that the minister was not an honest man.


    The minister was one of Qi Chen¡¯s confidantes, and he was greedy. He was the best candidate Jun Huang could think of now.


    ¡°I have someone in mind,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile. ¡°Mister Ji Bo may take your leave. I will make the arrangements for you.¡±


    Ji Bo trusted Jun Huang to get things done. He cupped his hands and sauntered away. This matter could be either simple orplicated. It all depended on how one went about it.


    After some hesitation, Jun Huang made her way to Prince Nan Manorte at night. Nan Xun had ordered the door watcher to let her in when she came. She was therefore able to enter quickly.


    The temperature had dropped by a good margin after sunset. She tightened the ck fox fur around her shoulders. Her illness had made her even susceptible to cold. She had to dress warmly whenever she went outside.


    From the distance, she could hear the sound of a de splitting air with the sheer velocity of its strike. She knew Nan Xun must be training his swordsmanship. She quickened her pace and saw his tall and handsome form standing under the moonlight, his breathing slow and his grip steady around his sword. The de reflected the silver light to his dark and steely eyes.


    He was dressed in a robe with narrow sleeves, which was suitable for fighting on a mount. Strings tied his sleeves tightly around his wrists. No matter how much force one exerted, the strings would not break.


    Nan Xun noticed Jun Huang the moment she arrived, but he continued with his training, leaping and shing open the air with the de. His movement was quick and decisive. His robe fluttered whenever he did a flip.


    Finally, he was done with his practice. He let out a breath. A maid waiting on the side came up to him and handed him a cup of water. Then she gave him a square handkerchief. He wiped away the sweat on his forehead. When his heartbeats had slowed down to the usual pace, he turned to Jun Huang.


    ¡°What brought you here sote at night?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I need your help,¡± Jun Huang didn¡¯t hesitate to answer him.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t going to turn her down. He looked into her eyes and asked, ¡°What is it? Just tell me.¡±


    Jun Huang told him what she and Ji Bo had nned to do. She added, ¡°I need to know the minister¡¯s routines, which I can¡¯t find out myself. You are part of the imperial court. You must have more opportunities to observe the minister. I hope you can give me a hand.¡±


    Nan Xun fell silent. Someone who didn¡¯t know him would assume he was debating if he should help Jun Huang, but in reality, he was simply going through the minister¡¯s routine in his head. He remembered he had run into the minister in the southern part of the imperial city several times. ¡°I think I know where the minister passes through every day.¡±

 Chapter 125

    Chapter 125: The Third Prince¡¯s Manor


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to give her an answer so readily. The next day, she told Ji Bo to wait on the south street. She and Nan Xun would stay in a tea house nearby, watching from one of the booths on the second floor.


    The minister did show up. Behind him were a group of servants. He walked the street like a fox unting its master¡¯s power. The bystanders avoided him like the gue. Clearly the minister had been terrorizing the locals.


    Ji Bo spotted the minister immediately. With a smile, he ran onto the street and knocked into the minister. Nan Xun and Jun Huang could tell from their vantage point that he had done it on purpose. Both Ji Bo and the minister staggered back after the collision.


    Before the minister could curse Ji Bo out, a piece of blood jade fell out of Ji Bo¡¯s clothes and tumbled to the minister¡¯s feet.


    With a panicked expression, Ji Bo ran to pick up the jade, but the minister beat him to it, turning the jade over in his hand appreciatively.


    The jade was indeed a rare treasure. Its appearance had a translucent quality to it. Crimson red crawled along the jade as if there was blood pulsing under the surface. The name blood jade couldn¡¯t have been more fitting.


    Among the officials who weren¡¯t rich enough to afford such jade, the minister happened to be the one who understood jade the most. As Ji Bo and Jun Huang expected, the minister¡¯s eyes were glued to the jade the moment heid eyes on it. He wanted to make it his.


    ¡°This is the only thing supporting my family and myself, sir!¡± Ji Bo said when the minister was about to leave. ¡°You can¡¯t just take it away!¡± He ran up to stop the minister from leaving.


    The minister¡¯s expression changed faster than one could turn a book page. He threw Ji Bo a cold nce and said, ¡°This is my jade. You tried to steal it from me when you knocked into me. And now you dare to im that it belongs to you? Ha, do you have a dead wish?¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s lips tightened at the minister¡¯s tant lies. There were more and more onlookers on the street, but they were simply enjoying the drama. None of them said anything to help Ji Bo.


    The minister kept spouting curses at Ji Bo to mask his guilt. Ji Bo looked at him with hurt in his eyes like a kicked puppy.


    His expression changed when he saw the third princeing this way from afar. A disdainfulugh apanied his sudden turn of attitude. He looked into the minister¡¯s eyes. ¡°I wonder if you will get your tongue twisted with all the lies you¡¯ve been telling.¡±


    ¡°How dare you!¡± the minister eximed. ¡°This is my jade! How dare a petty thief like you talk to me like that?¡±


    Ji Bo maintained his smile. ¡°If the good sir ims that this jade is yours, this gentleman has a few questions: where is the jade from, and what are its special qualities?¡±


    The minister didn¡¯t know what to say. In panic, he yelled at Ji Bo with his hands over his hip, ¡°What about you? Can you tell me about the jade?¡±


    ¡°The jade was from the South Sea. It was unlike any regr jade. Throughout its formation, the essence of sun and moon has concentrated into this mineral. At first nce the red veins seems to be the color of the blood, but it¡¯s actually more simr to the color of cinnabar. Blood jade such as this is rare enough. One that is as wless and perfectly round as this one? There is no other in the world.¡±


    Ji Bo told only the truth. The minister¡¯s palms began to sweat. It was likely that the jade would slip out of his hand any second.


    Ji Bo¡¯s words were actually said for the benefit of the third prince. He wanted the third prince to realize that the jade in the minister¡¯s hand was something you didn¡¯t see every day. That was his n to provoke a confrontation, to push the third prince to the center stage.


    The minister¡¯s focus was on the blood jade. He hadn¡¯t noticed that the third prince had showed up and was looking at the blood jade as well.


    The minister lost his calmpletely. ¡°That ¨C that doesn¡¯t mean this is yours! Who knows if you¡¯re telling the truth?¡±


    Ji Bo huffed. ¡°Oh, what a joke! I just told you where this jade was from. Now I can also tell you that there is a piece of amber at the center of the blood jade. Within the amber is a flower. This piece of jade has be such a unique beauty without any human intervention!¡±


    The minister stared intently at the jade. There was indeed a piece of amber inside. The flower had maintained its original form, as lifelike as a living nt. He waspletely entranced by the jade¡¯s beauty.


    Even the third prince¡¯s self-control had slipped. He took the opportunity to take the jade from the minister.


    The minister barely stopped the barrage of curses from falling out of his mouth. Even a fool like him knew that he must not offend a royal prince. He shut his mouth, unsure how he should get the jade back.


    ¡°Please seek justice for this peasant, Your Highness.¡± Ji Bo knelt down before the third prince, who frowned at him with inquisitive eyes.


    ¡°How have you been wronged?¡±


    ¡°This piece of blood jade is a family heirloom of this peasant. I identally dropped it, and the minister took it from me, using me of trying to steal the jade from him. But it¡¯s mine! And yet I¡¯m forced to shoulder such me. How cruel fate can be!¡± Ji Bo¡¯s voice was hoarse. It was difficult not to pity him.


    The third prince stared at the wless blood jade. He wanted it for himself as well. As a royal son, though, he couldn¡¯t possibly do such a thing in public. He nced at Ji Bo. ¡°If so,e with me. I will figure out who this jade belongs to myself.¡±


    The minister swallowed his words when he saw the third prince¡¯s cold eyes. ¡°Your Highness has made the right decision.¡±


    ¡°Does the minister intend toe with me as well?¡± the third prince asked with narrowed eyes.


    Even if he had been as brave as a bear, the minister wouldn¡¯t dare to argue with the third prince about anything. With an awkward smile, he fled with his servants in tow.


    The third prince nced at Ji Bo. This wasn¡¯t a good ce for conversation. He told Ji Bo to get up and follow him back to his manor.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun had seen everything from the second floor of the tea house. Jun Huang¡¯s expression was difficult to read. She fondled with her teacup, her thoughts indiscernible.


    Nan Xun sighed. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that such treasure was given to a man like the third prince.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled a little. ¡°It is a fine piece of jade,¡± she said after drinking some tea. ¡°But it¡¯s not as magical as Ji Bo imed. The minister and the prince were deceived.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Ji Bo said the jade has taken form in the nature without human intervention, but that¡¯s a lie. It¡¯s made that way through artificial means.¡±


    Nan Xun sighed. He had believed that they would give the third prince such a fine gift. He was naive.


    He finished his cup of tea and snorted. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect things to go so smoothly. Even the gods are helping us.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t look convinced. A frown appeared on her face. ¡°No, it¡¯s not as simple as you think. This is simply the first step. Now we¡¯ll have to see if Ji Bo will be able to convince the third prince to fight for the throne.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°True. I have heard that the third prince has not been interested in taking on any responsibility. It may be difficult to talk sense into that wooden head.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll never know without trying. Now we wait for the good news from Ji Bo.¡±


    Jun Huang dropped her dark look. I should put some trust in Ji Bo¡¯s persuasive skill, she thought. Ji Bo is a follower of the Ghost Valley school after all. Convincing the third prince shouldn¡¯t be too difficult for him.


    Nan Xun nodded. He finished thest of his tea before taking Jun Huang¡¯s cup and chucking the remaining liquid. He was studiously implementing the doctor¡¯s order to stop her from consuming too much tea. Jun Huang huffed out augh.


    ¡°Since we have done what we are here for, we should both return home,¡± said Nan Xun as he fixed his sleeves.


    Jun Huang nodded. She nced at the street before getting to her feet and smoothing over her wrinkled robe. She then followed Nan Xun downstairs.


    Jun Huang turned down Nan Xun¡¯s offer to walk her back, but Nan Xun insisted. Resigned, she let Nan Xun escort her.


    The third prince took Ji Bo back to his manor. Even though the prince had said a few words in support of Ji Bo in front of the minister, Ji Bo knew that the prince wanted the jade for himself as well. Ji Bo didn¡¯t say anything. He wanted the prince to be the one to initiate the conversation.


    Call him stubborn, but Ji Bo was sure the prince would ask him for the jade of his own volition.


    Nan Xun kept thinking about what had happened earlier as he walked Jun Huang back. He stared at the ground with his brows furrowed. Jun Huang had noticed his troubled expression when they left the tea house. She had kept quiet about it.


    Finally, Jun Huang came to a stop and turned to Nan Xun. ¡°I know you have a lot of questions. You can just ask me. Don¡¯t keep it in until you worry yourself sick.¡±


    Since Jun Huang was so open about it, there was no reason for Nan Xun to dwell on the question on his own. He asked, ¡°Are you confident that this n will work?¡±

 Chapter 126

    Chapter 126: Greed


    ¡°It will work,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°You know that I never fight a battle I can¡¯t win.¡±


    Her chilly gaze made Nan Xun feel exposed. He turned away and cleared his throat. ¡°Mister Ji Bo is talented, but most talented men are power hungry. Aren¡¯t you worried that Ji Bo will turn to the third prince¡¯s side for real?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s only putting on an act.¡±


    ¡°You know what I mean,¡± Nan Xun said in a rush. It concerned him that Jun Huang didn¡¯t even think about the possibility.


    Jun Huang could tell he was worried. She let out a soundlessugh. ¡°We can talk back at my ce.¡± She turned to leave. Nan Xun was right behind her.


    Back in her ce, Jun Huang told the page boy to shut the door; she wasn¡¯t taking any more guests today. The page boy nodded in understanding and closed the door, separating the inside from the outside world.


    Jun Huang led Nan Xun to the garden. The robe she wore today was a little too long. It covered the back of her feet and dragged over the ground, bringing up dust into the air when she walked down the stairs. Nan Xun could see particles flying under the sun.


    His mind was elsewhere, but his footsteps remained steady. They soon reached the garden.


    Since the arrival of spring, sometimes there would be a couple sparrows perching on the fake mountain. They seemed at home there. Even a passersby wouldn¡¯t scare them away.


    There were wet patches over the stone table. It was clear that the servants had only just finished cleaning. Jun Huang didn¡¯t care much. She was fine as long as the stools were dry.


    Hearing that Jun Huang had returned, Little Girl hurriedly brewed a pot of medicinal tea and brought it to the garden. She wiped the table dry with her handkerchief beforeying the tea set down and pouring a cup of tea.


    Jun Huang was mesmerized by the dancing smokeing from the teapot. Thebined scent of medicine and tea was pleasant to her senses.


    Nan Xun had frowned at Little Girl when she first came in, thinking that she had brought Jun Huang tea. He rxed when he realized that it was medicine.


    Good thing it¡¯s not tea, he thought to himself, or I would have to throw the teapot away.


    He snorted silently, oblivious to the fact that Jun Huang had taken in all the changes in his expression. She simply decided to notment on it.


    ¡°Can you tell me why you trust Ji Bo so much?¡± Nan Xun intended it as a simple question, but the hint of jealousy was clear in his tone. He didn¡¯t realize it himself. He didn¡¯t know he had be so attached to Jun Huang that he was unwilling to see her smile at another man. Subconsciously, he saw Ji Bo as a rival.


    It was possible that Jun Huang preferred someone who was as smart as she was. Intelligent people often ended up matching up. Rich men normally marry women from rich families. There was some merit to the idea of finding a partner from a simr background.


    Jun Huang was clever, but she could be slow sometimes in matters of the heart. She didn¡¯t realize that Nan Xun was jealous. She drank some of the medicinal tea and said, ¡°My master is an old friend of Ji Bo¡¯s master.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s master Ole Cragfiend was theplete opposite of Ji Bo¡¯s master Guigu1. No one could even imagine them knowing each other.


    Guigu was a well-respected man. Many were eager to befriend him. At the same time there were people who were jealous of Guigu¡¯s knowledge and talent. There had been many attempts to take Guigu¡¯s life.


    In theory, those petty viins shouldn¡¯t have been capable of hurting a smart man like Guigu.


    However, Guigu knew nothing about poison and concealed weapons. He was a man of integrity. He refused to fight people through such lowly means.


    It didn¡¯t mean that someone else wouldn¡¯t use foul tricks to get to him. Once, when Guigu was traveling the mundane world, a group of men spotted him. Guigu had noticed his tails, but he decided to wait and see what they intended to do. He got careless.


    Hit by a concealed weapon, Guigu was on the brink of his death when Ole Cragfiend happened to pass by. He took Guigu back to his house and cleanse the poison.


    At the time, Ole Cragfiend hadn¡¯t known that the stray he picked up was the famous Guigu. The potent poison was what attracted his attention. Fascinated, he did multiple experiments and produced a cure without intended to. Ole Gragfiend only realized who his patient was when Guigu woke up.


    That was how the two met. During Guigu¡¯s stay in Ole Gragfiend¡¯s house, they gradually developed a bond, which became so strong that they considered each other brother and left no secrets untold between them. Whenever one of them had the time, they would visit the other to have a chat.


    Ji Bo knew Ole Cragfiend had saved Guigu¡¯s life and befriended him. He also knew Jun Huang was once Ole Cragfiend¡¯s student.


    Nan Xun slowly rxed. But then he wondered if being Guigu¡¯s student truly was enough for them to put their trust in Ji Bo. He kept his doubts in his heart.


    A mere nce was all it took for Jun Huang to get what he was thinking. ¡°Ji Bo is a rare talent that everyone wants on their side. Since I have decided to use him, I¡¯m not going to doubt him.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still necessary for us to keep on our guard. Then we will be prepared if one day Ji Bo turns on us.¡± Nan Xun was worried that Jun Huang would misunderstand him. He quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m not someone who thinks the worst of everyone, but you have said it yourself: Ji Bo is well known for his talent. If the third prince finds out who Ji Bo is and promises him power and great fortune, who knows if Ji Bo will say yes? He is not like you. You may be able to stay true to yourself because of your desire for revenge, but others may not.¡±


    Jun Huang gave him a tight smile. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that one should recruit people he trusts, and trust the people he has recruited? Besides, everyone has the right to make choices for his own life. If Ji Bo chooses to serve someone other than Qi Yun because he believes that person will make a better leader, I am in no ce to judge.¡±


    Nan Xun fell silent. He knew that if he continued to argue, they would only end up fighting a meaningless fight. He stayed in the garden without another word.


    Jun Huang knew he still didn¡¯t agree with her, but she trusted Ji Bo¡¯s integrity. She considered him to be a leader and a gentleman.


    The third prince marveled at the blood jade in his hand. He had almost forgotten about Ji Bo¡¯s existence.


    Originally, Ji Bo had nned to let the third prince start the conversation, but now he had had a change of mind. He had to take matters into his own hand. Otherwise a fool like the third prince would make him wait forever.


    ¡°This gentleman is named Ji Bo. It¡¯s an honor to be in your presence, Your Highness.¡± Ji Bo cupped his hands with a dignified grace.


    The third prince had heard of Ji Bo, but this man couldn¡¯t be that much older than thirty. He scoffed. ¡°Do you honestly think you can get away with using Ji Bo¡¯s name? His fame had reached all parts of the country. He must be a godlike man with a strong presence. You can¡¯t be Ji Bo.¡±


    ¡°One must not judge a book by its cover, Your Highness. Does Your Highness truly think that this gentleman is an imposter?¡± Ji Bo¡¯s tone was calm. He wasn¡¯t demanding the third prince to believe him. Those words were merely building up to what he was going to say next.


    It was clear that the third prince didn¡¯t really believe Ji Bo. He sat on a stool and looked closer at the blood jade. Every once in a while he would let out a appreciative sigh. He wasn¡¯t a true expert on jade, but he would never admit hisck of knowledge.


    Ji Bo scoffed silently. The prince truly was a fool. He didn¡¯t even doubt that the jade wasn¡¯t as valuable as Ji Bo had imed it to be!


    Ji Bo was tired of wasting his time. He cleared his throat and put on a servile smile. ¡°This gentleman can tell from Your Highness¡¯s extraordinary features that you will be a great leader.¡±


    The third prince spared Ji Bo a nce without showing much reaction. He wondered what this strange man wanted to do.


    That was the effects Ji Bo was aiming for. He smiled and continued, ¡°Your Highness has helped me get out of a difficult situation, and I could see great future lying await for Your Highness. If Your Highness can trust this gentleman, I¡¯m willing to help you make that future a reality.¡±


    The third prince¡¯s expression tightened. He looked around before letting out a sigh. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked, narrowing his eyes at Ji Bo.


    ¡°What does Your Highness think I meant?¡± Ji Bo¡¯s smile was faint. The brilliant light in his eyes made him look like the reincarnation of a fallen god.


    The third prince fell quiet. The more he thought about Ji Bo¡¯s question, the more confused he was. ¡°Why do you want to help me?¡±


    Ji Bo waved his foldable fan with a smile. ¡°There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who seek to leave a trace in the history after death, and those who pursue self-interest while they are alive.¡±


    The third prince pulled his lips into a sharp grin and asked, ¡°Which kind are you then?¡±


    The third Prince¡¯s tone was far from friendly. Ji Bo chuckled. His brief moment of silence conveyed a great many unsaid words. ¡°This gentleman is shallow. I have no great ambition. I only wish for Your Highness to grant me a ce in the pce once you gain the throne.¡±


    The third prince frowned. ¡°If the gentleman can help me rece the crown prince, I will give you not only a ce in the pce, but also all the riches and beautiful women in the world...¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I¡¯m asking for,¡± said Ji Bo, waving a hand in denial and shaking his head. ¡°This gentleman is asking for one privilege and one privilege only. I ask for Your Highness to make me the State Preceptor. This gentleman has no other wishes.¡±

 Chapter 127

    Chapter 127: Magic Tricks


    ¡°The State Preceptor?¡± the third prince eximed. ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind!¡±


    Cold sweat broke out of his skin, and his fingers trembled around the blood jade. To understand the reason why the prince reacted so strongly, one had to look back to what had happened in Northern Qi decades ago. At the time, Northern Qi still had a State Preceptor, whom the then emperor trusted with all his heart. He even allowed the State Preceptor to enter the area where the harem resided in freely.


    The now emperor had been a child reared in swaddling clothes. Ever since his birth, he was considered to be the crown prince. His father was very fond of him.


    But the emperor¡¯s trusted State Preceptor colluded with other officials andid his dirty hands on the harem. He got involved with one of the emperor¡¯s consorts and almost got the crown prince killed for his own gain.


    A mere State Preceptor like him was able to manipte the fate of the entire country. Even the emperor hadn¡¯t realized his true nature at first. Things could have gone awfully wrong.


    On a stormy and thundering night, the State Preceptor snuck into one of the consort¡¯s pce. From the ease with which he navigated the pce, it was clear that it wasn¡¯t his first time.


    After fornicating with the consort, the consort startedining how her child was deprived of the opportunity to be a crown prince simply because he was younger. Wasn¡¯t it unfair?


    The child had been the State Preceptor¡¯s son. He, of course, wanted his son to be the crown prince. It was a great shame that his son was the younger brother. The consort¡¯s words prompted him to make a n to put his son on the throne.


    An idea formed in his mind. Overnight, the area where the harem resided in was filled with filth. Dead crows could be seen everywhere. The emperor was furious. He ordered the State Preceptor to look into the matter.


    It all went ording to the State Preceptor¡¯s n. He held a ritual to pay tribute to the gods and rigged the ritual so that all clues pointed to the empress¡¯s pce.


    Fortunately, the empress was no regr woman. She knew about the State Preceptor¡¯s affair with the consort, and she could tell that this was an attempt to frame her. She had no choice but to fight back and give the perpetrator a taste of his own medicine. She found out that the consort and the State Preceptor were behind this, and that they had a child.


    The empress told the emperor her findings in private, who doubted her at first. But then he himself witnessed the State Preceptor making his way to the consort¡¯s room. The rest was easy enough to figure out.


    In rage, the emperor decreed that there would be no State Preceptor in Northern Qi from then on. Northern Qi became the first country to abolish the position. At first people mocked Northern Qi for doing so, but then the memory started to fade from people¡¯s minds.


    ¡°If you im to be Mister Ji Bo, how can you not know about Northern Qi¡¯s rule?¡± the third prince sneared.


    Ji Bo looked up at him with calm eyes. ¡°This gentleman knows the history that lead to the abolishment of State Preceptor. However, once Your Highness bes the emperor, it will only take an order for you to change that. If this gentleman can truly help Your Highness, it isn¡¯t unreasonable for Your Highness to grant me the position.¡±


    ¡°The gentleman certainly talks big,¡± said the prince. ¡°In this world, however, too many people are all bark and no bite. How can you prove that you are as good as you im to be? Besides, I still don¡¯t believe that you are theuded Mister Ji Bo. If you truly are an extraordinary asset, I may consider making you the State Preceptor. But are you?¡±


    Ji Bo looked into the third prince¡¯s eyes. ¡°If Your Highness has doubts, this gentleman will show you what I¡¯m capable of.¡±


    Ji Bo pulled his lips into a smile, waving his fan slowly. The prince had be tempted to fight for the throne.


    Ji Bo didn¡¯t say when he was going to prove himself to the third prince. Instead, he simply told the prince that he needed some time to prepare.


    The third prince was in no rush. He would see for himself what Ji Bo was going to do.


    When Jun Huang was little, she once left the pce on a trip with Qi Yun.


    At the time, Northern Qi and Western Que were on friendly terms. Every once in a while Qi Yun would be sent to Western Que by the emperor to get to know Western Que¡¯s customs. That was how Northern Qi showed their goodwill. To return the favor, Western Que too would send their royal princes to Northern Qi.


    It was simr to how kingdoms in ancient time sent their princes to the other kingdoms as hostage to ensure peace, but in this case, the princes were not hostages. Rather, they served as a window for cultural exchange.


    Once, Qi Yun came to Western Que on the Lantern Festival. Western Que¡¯s celebration was different from that of Northern Qi.


    Before Qi Yun departed from Northern Qi, his mother had fallen ill. He wanted to ask the emperor to let him stay, but his mother forbade him from doing so. She told him that men had to be responsible and not give in to their emotions. Qi Yun had been upset ever since he arrived at Western Que.


    Jun Huang always spent time with Qi Yun whenever he visited. This time, seeing how troubled Qi Yun looked, Jun Huang decided to drag Qi Yun out of the pce to see the celebration in the city.


    When Jun Huang found Qi Yun, he was at the door, staring into the distance. Jun Huang ran up to him and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Hey, what are you worrying about?¡±


    Qi Yun cocked his head at Jun Huang and told her about his mother¡¯s illness. Jun Huang pursed her lips in sympathy. Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up. She said, ¡°Today is the Lantern Festival. There are a lot of things to see in the city. How about I take you out of the pce? There may be some interesting trinkets you can buy for your mother. She will be happy.¡±


    ¡°What if your father knows of it?¡± Qi Yun asked worriedly.


    ¡°How would he know if I don¡¯t tell him? Besides, it¡¯s Royal Father. Nothing too bad wille of it. There¡¯s no need for you to worry. Royal Father is very kind to me. He can¡¯t even raise his voice to me. If we are found out, just tell him I have forced you toe with me. Now let¡¯s think about what your mother may like.¡±


    Jun Huang was only seven or eight back then, but she acted like a little grown-up. Her features were gentle and delicate. The pink dress she wore made her look even more adorable.


    Qi Yun nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Don¡¯t worry. If we¡¯re caught, I¡¯ll share your punishment.¡± He got to his feet and patted his chest as he spoke.


    Jun Huang nodded in satisfaction and dragged Qi Yun to her room. After rummaging through the dresser she managed to produce two set of peasant clothes. There were also a number of silver bills. Once prepared, they made their way into the city.


    Jun Huang was a mischievous child. She had snuck out of the pce many times. It went just as smoothly this time.


    They walked along the crowded street. Qi Yun hadn¡¯t had the opportunities to leave the pce when he was in Northern Qi. He gaped at all the pedestrians roaming the city. It was the first time he truly understood why people would describe crowd as a sea of floating heads.


    This must be a rare sight for mother since she entered the pce, he thought. I¡¯ll tell her about what I saw in detail once I¡¯m back!


    ¡°Come. Let¡¯s go that way.¡± Jun Huang pointed at the other side of the street. Following her gesture, Qi Yun saw a performer being surrounded by spectators. He nodded and followed Jun Huang.


    They were tiny enough to make their way to the front of the crowds. There was indeed a man performing tricks. He blew fire out of his mouth and made living men appear out of thin air. The crowds roared up in cheers. The energy in the area was electric.


    Then, a group of men appeared. The leader of the group was a burly man with enormous ears. Behind him were a good number of pointy-faced servants who resembled monkeys more than they did men. They elbowed through the crowds and stopped before the performer. Without warning, the leading man pushed at the performer.


    No one dared to stop the thug. Jun Huang watched the intruders with a clever glint behind her cool gaze. Worried that they would get hurt, Qi Yun grabbed Jun Huang and tried to pull her away.


    The thug ordered his servants to beat the performer up. Those men did not pull their punches. In no time, the performer was bracing against the pain on the ground, his face bruised and swollen.


    Little Jun Huang had a kind heart. She could not stay on the sideline when someone was suffering. She broke out of Qi Yun¡¯s hand and ran up to the performer. Qi Yun wasn¡¯t able to stop her.


    She stood before the performer and red at the thug. ¡°In broad daylight you dare to vite thew? Do you know what punishment you will be getting? If the emperor knows you are bold enough to hurt people without regard on hisnd, it wouldn¡¯t save you even if you had nine lives.¡±


    Jun Huang was born with a strong presence. She managed to make the thug pause with her words. The thug recovered shortly when he reminded himself that he was facing a little girl. There was no reason for him to be intimidated.


    Qi Yun tensed up when he saw that the thug was going to grab Jun Huang. Before he could step in, the performer pulled Jun Huang behind him and said, ¡°She is only a child. I will pay you back. Just give me a few more days.¡±


    ¡°Ha, a few more days, you said. I have waited long enough! It¡¯s clear that you don¡¯t n to pay your debt. I shouldn¡¯t have lended you money when your old man died. Look how much trouble that has brought me.¡±


    So that¡¯s what this is about, Jun Huang thought. Her eyes darted between the two men. She broke out of the performer¡¯s arms and cleared her throat. ¡°If it¡¯s about money, there¡¯s no need for you to turn to violence. Now, how much does he owe you?¡±


    The thug nced at Jun Huang in surprise. He held up two fingers. ¡°Two hundred silver taels.¡±


    Jun Huang considered taking out the money she had hidden under her clothes, but that wasn¡¯t appropriate for a girl. She looked up and happened to spot Qi Yun. She waved him over and asked him to pay the thug.


    Once the thug had left, Jun Huang and Qi Yun stayed to help the performer clean up the mess. When they were about to leave, the performer stopped them. ¡°Thank you for what you¡¯ve done today. This gentleman does not have anything to give you in return...¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± said Qi Yun. ¡°You are an unusual talent who can use spells! Why do you act like you are inferior to others?¡±

 Chapter 128

    Chapter 128: Reaping the Benefits


    The man didn¡¯t immediately respond. With a chuckle, he said, ¡°Those are not spells. Just magic tricks. If you¡¯re interested, I can teach you two some basic ones.¡±


    Jun Huang and Qi Yun were of course interested. They nodded earnestly.


    The magic tricks were easier to do than they had expected. Soon, they were able to do them themselves. They set out for the pce with a content heart.


    On their way back they had a run-in with some bandits. They were rescued by the guards who left the pce to search for them. Afterwards Jun Huang was grounded for a month, but that wasn¡¯t the important part of the story.


    Jun Huang thought about what she should do to help Ji Bo prove himself. Ji Bo was highly respected and even revered. Many were convinced that he was god reincarnated. She decided to teach Ji Bo how to do those magic tricks.


    After some preparation, Ji Bo took the pigeon a servant had brought him and, with a wave of his hand, the pigeon disappeared. Then he swung his broad sleeve like a whip and out came a flower with petals of five colors. The flower exploded into a handful of colorful petals and fell from the sky. It was shocking enough to make one question reality and beautiful enough to captivate one¡¯s heart.


    Another wave of his hand, and hundreds of doves flew out from his sleeves. They took off to the sky and arranged themselves into the third prince¡¯s name.


    The third prince stared up in awe. He didn¡¯t know that these doves were kept and trained by Jun Huang. He was gullible enough to believe that Ji Bo was a celestial being descended from the heaven, and that Ji Bo was able to manipte reality at will.


    Ji Bo let out a quietugh. He didn¡¯t say anything, but his silence spoke volumes.


    ¡°The gentleman is indeed the reincarnation of a god,¡± the third prince said respectfully. ¡°I was wrong to have doubted you. I hope the gentleman can forgive me.¡±


    Ji Bo waved his hand dismissively. ¡°There¡¯s no need for the prince to be this formal with me.¡±


    The third prince shot one of his servants a look. The servant quickly picked up the blood jade and presented it to Ji Bo with both hands. Ji Bo nced at it and said, ¡°Consider this jade my gift to Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± The third prince took the blood jade and turned to his servants. ¡°Go prepare the finest room for Mister Ji Bo. He is going to be the most honored guest in our manor from now on.¡±


    The servants nodded and left. Some was not yet recovered from the awe-inducing performance they had witnessed.


    The third prince invited Ji Bo to take the main seat with a servile smile and started talking about the recent development in the world. The change in his attitude was striking.


    At the same time, Jun Huang was talking to Qi Yun about the situation in the imperial court. Without ceremony, Jun Huang said, ¡°We shouldy low.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Qi Yun asked with a frown.


    ¡°Qi Chen possess more power than us for the time being. That¡¯s not something we can change immediately. If we are too hasty, we risk exposing ourselves. If Qi Chen knows we are the ones who have been working against him, we will be at a great disadvantage.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him. ¡°We can¡¯t fight him headon. Otherwise we risk losing everything. If we stay in the dark, we can at least protect ourselves. Besides, Qi Chen is the crown prince assigned by the emperor. We can¡¯t possibly go against the emperor¡¯s will openly, no matter the reasons.¡±


    Qi Yun opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He looked at Jun Huang¡¯s gentle and beautiful face, then at the falling leaves behind her. For a moment, he couldn¡¯t say anything.


    Jun Huang sighed. ¡°We back off now to conserve our strength,¡± she said quietly. ¡°I¡¯m not telling you to give up on the throne. Qi Chen has his feet firmly in the court. Our efforts will only be able to destabilize his position a little. He now has many supporters, even more so than the emperor. Our top priority ¨C and our best option ¨C is to seek help from courtiers who are against Qi Chen.¡±


    Qi Yun calmed down once he heard Jun Huang¡¯s analysis. He met her eyes and asked, ¡°What is your n?¡±


    ¡°Qi Chen¡¯s most powerful enemy is the banished empress. The death of her son would not be so easily forgotten. She can serve as a proxy for us to connect with potential allies. There are officials who have been oppressed by Qi Chen. There are also officials who disagree with how Qi Chen do things. They are the ones we can use.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s tone was so casual, it was as if she was talking about the taste of tea with Qi Yun, instead of talking about changing the politicalndscape of the country.


    Qi Yun frowned. ¡°Then...¡±


    Jun Huang gave him a smile. ¡°We back off. Stay in the shadow. Let the third prince have his fight with Qi Chen. Naturally, Qi Chen will assume that it is the third prince who has been undermining him. Once they end up crippling each other in their feud, we will be the fisherman reaping the benefits.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded after some thinking. He then asked about Ji Bo. He frowned worriedly when he heard that Ji Bo now served the third prince.


    His worries weren¡¯t enough to sway Jun Huang. She leveled him with a calm gaze and said, ¡°Ji Bo ys an important role in this n. I hope Your Highness isn¡¯t going to doubt our own people.¡±


    Mortified, Qi Yun turned away and cleared his throat. Once he had left, Jun Huang stayed in her garden and looked up at the grey sky. Whatever she was thinking, it didn¡¯t show on her face.


    Ji Bo had gained the third prince¡¯s trust in only a few days. The third prince started going to Ji Bo for advice.


    Today, the third prince visited Ji Bo¡¯s temporary residence as usual. Ji Bo sat at the desk, waiting for the prince¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°Is the gentleman waiting for me?¡± the third prince asked with a smile as he approached Ji Bo.


    Ji Bo turned to him and nodded. ¡°Naturally. This gentleman believes that it is time for us to take action.¡±


    The third prince sat across from Ji Bo and frowned. ¡°What action?¡±


    ¡°Does Your Highness intend to do nothing and wait for the throne to fall on yourp?¡± Ji Bo asked with an arched eyebrow.


    ¡°What does the gentleman propose?¡± asked the third prince.


    ¡°I heard that Your Highness¡¯s mother is an old friend of the banished empress. Is that true? And your mother entered the pce through the empress?¡±


    The third prince widened his eyes in horror. How did Ji Bo know that? Cold sweat broke out from his back. It seemed as if Ji Bo was able to see through others¡¯ souls. It sent a chill down his spine.


    Ji Bo smiled and turned the conversation around. ¡°The former crown prince may have angered the emperor, but the emperor had raised Qi Yin himself. He did care about Qi Yin. Qi Chen¡¯s different. We both know how Qi Chen gains the title of the crown prince. I won¡¯t go into the details. After Qi Yin¡¯s death, the emperor has started to forget about the wrongdoings of Qi Yin. And the banished empress still holds a special ce in the emperor¡¯s heart. If Your Highness can help the banished empress out of her difficult situation, she will be grateful to you. Through cooperating with the banished empress, Your Highness can also make use of Qi Yin¡¯s remaining supporters. It¡¯s a fail-proof n.¡±


    The third prince nodded in agreement. He was never someone who was good at maneuvering in the political world. It didn¡¯t urred to him that Qi Chen might realize what he was doing if he opposed Qi Chen so openly. He simply thought that with the banished empress¡¯s help, the throne would be right within his reach. Now all he had to think about was how he could enter the pce to contact the banished empress.


    Ji Bo truly deserves his fame, he thought. He is both brave and clever.


    He was fortunate to have met Ji Bo. Otherwise he would still be living his luxurious but meaningless life. Then he truly would have no chance in seeding the throne.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go make the necessary arrangements. The gentleman should take some rest. Please excuse me.¡± With that, the third prince hurried away.


    Ji Bo watched him go. Once he was left alone, he wrote Jun Huang a letter and sent it to her through her pigeon. Once that was done, hey down and closed his eyes. This was only the start.


    Jun Huang soon received Ji Bo¡¯s letter. Her eyes darkened in contemtion. In the letter, Ji Bo had described his experience in the third prince¡¯s manor in detail. He also mentioned that the third prince had shown an interest in taking the throne.


    Jun Huang scoffed and handed the letter to Nan Xun. ¡°The third prince may have been doing nothing up until this point, but that was because he had no one to help him. That was the only reason he appeared to have no ambition. What a cowardly man. Now that he had acquired Ji Bo¡¯s help, his greed has be evident.¡±


    Nan Xun read over the letter carefully. Jun Huang was right. It was human nature to covet what one didn¡¯t have. The third prince was born into the royal family. It was impossible for him to be free of a desire for power.


    A thought struck Nan Xun¡¯s mind. He frowned. ¡°What if the banished empress tells the third prince that you have asked her for help? If the third prince knows that he is being used, he will tell Qi Chen about it. Then we¡¯ll be in trouble.¡±


    Jun Huang smirked. ¡°The banished empress won¡¯t tell the third prince about me. She¡¯s been stuck in the pce all her life. Revenge is now her only drive. She doesn¡¯t care who is going to avenge her son for her. She won¡¯t tell the third prince. She may even help us.¡±


    Her smile deepened. Nan Xun was momentarily lost in her eyes.


    The third prince was impatient. He entered the pce the next day, iming that he was here to greet the emperor.


    The emperor was pleased. The third prince had not entered the pce for a good while. He knew that this son of his was ipetent and poorly-behaved. It was rare for the third prince to even think about visiting him.


    ¡°This son enters the pce not only to visit Royal Father,¡± said the third prince. Subtlety was an alien concept to him.


    ¡°Oh? Are you going to visit your mother as well? That will be good. It¡¯s been a while since shest saw you...¡±


    ¡°This son wants to visit the banished empress,¡± the third prince said. He lost all his confidence the moment he uttered those words. He snuck a few nces at the emperor and saw the emperor¡¯s expression darken.

 Chapter 129

    Chapter 129: Verbal Duel


    The third prince gulped and took a deep breath before telling the emperor what Ji Bo had told him to say, ¡°This son knows that Royal Father would be unhappy with this request. However, the empress treated me with kindness when I was young. She taught me how to be someone who can shoulder some of Royal Father¡¯s burdens. Now that she is grounded in the Cold Pce. It would be disgraceful of me to cut our tiespletely.¡±


    He squeezed two drops of tears out of his eyes. The emperor frowned. The third prince¡¯s mother had always been prone to disease. When the prince was little, she almost died of an illness. At the time, the empress used to let the prince stay at her pce. The prince therefore saw the empress as another mother.


    The emperor sighed. ¡°Since you care about her so much, you can go. But don¡¯t stay too long. The Cold Pce isn¡¯t a ce for someone like you to be.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Royal Father.¡± The third prince couldn¡¯t suppress his smile. He bowed before the emperor and made his way to the Cold Pce.


    He knew the Cold Pce was supposed to be a deste ce, but he still felt a pang of mncholy when he saw it with his own eyes. He had spent a big part of his childhood with the empress. He couldn¡¯t imagine how a woman like that would fare after her fall from grace.


    He went through a winding path and entered the pce. Some of the older concubines turned to him with foggy eyes and pointed at him with shaky fingers. The empress happened to see him when she left her room to retrieve some water. She frowned and approached him after some hesitation.


    ¡°What are you doing here? You are a royal prince. You shouldn¡¯t step foot in such a ce.¡± Even after being banished to the Cold Pce, the empress¡¯s presence remained as strong and imposing as a blooming peony. She had not lost her grace.


    The third prince tensed up. He wasn¡¯t as close to the empress as the emperor believed. He had always been more afraid of the empress than he respected her.


    Taking a deep breath, he cupped his hands at the empress. ¡°This son has not entered the pce for a while. Today I came to visit the empress. Please forgive me for not doing so sooner.¡±


    The empress nced at him before leading him back to her room. She offered him a cup of tea and asked, ¡°Tell me, what are you here for?¡±


    ¡°I am truly ¨C ¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t visit unless you have something you want from me,¡± the empress cut him off. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you toe up with an excuse. Even if you find a good one, you still have to tell me what you need in the end. Might as well skip the formalities.¡± The empress took a sip of her tea and looked up at him with her almond-shaped eyes.


    The third prince took a deep breath to muster his courage and said, ¡°This son is here to ask for the empress¡¯s help in dealing with second brother.¡±


    He called Qi Chen his second brother, but from the dark look in his eyes it was clear he wanted nothing but to skin Qi Chen alive.


    The empress huffed out a surprisedugh. She didn¡¯t expect the third prince of all people to aim for the throne. He had been so ipetent no one even considered him a potential candidate! She scoffed inwardly. She knew what the third prince was made of. He would not be sessful.


    The third prince knew that the empress doubted him. He hurriedly added, ¡°This son has gained the support of the talented Mister Ji Bo, empress. I can not only gain the throne, but also avenge big brother and get you out of this ce.¡±


    At the mention of the son she had lost, the empress¡¯s heart clenched and her hands tightened into fists. Her nails dug into her flesh, but the dull pain never registered in her brain. Even after all this time, she still held this hatred close to her heart. She even dreamed taking Qi Chen¡¯s life with her own hands to console her son¡¯s spirit.


    The third prince suppressed a smirk. He could tell he had caught the empress¡¯s attention. He added, ¡°Second brother is more than willing to hurt his own brother in order to gain the throne. He isn¡¯t going to be a good leader. This son may not be the most talented prince, but I care about the country ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Enough. Just tell me what you want from me.¡± The empress didn¡¯t want to listen to a fool pontificate about how noble his intentions were. It was soughable it made her stomach churn.


    The third prince wasn¡¯t smart, but he could tell when other people were annoyed with him. He cleared his throat and told the empress that he needed her support to eliminate Qi Chen. He asked for the empress to rally her supporters for him. In exchange, he would avenge Qi Yin for her. And once he became the crown prince, he would do all he could to free the empress from this glorified cage of a pce.


    After the time for an incense stick to burn, the third prince got to his feet and smoothed over his robe. When he left, there was a hint of excitement in his expression.


    The empress watched him go. She now had two princes on her side. She had all she needed to take her revenge. These two princes both wanted the throne, however, which could cause some problems.


    She was smart enough to recognize that the more support she had, the more likely she would be able to achieve her goal. She would not let this opportunity to eliminate Qi Chen slip by. No one would stand in her way.


    Her eyes grew frosty. With a huff, she shut the door.


    The third prince¡¯s new-found confidence was clear in the way he held himself. Since he obtained the empress¡¯s support, he hade to stand taller and walk with straighter back. The oncezy prince now even attended the morning meeting early. The emperor was impressed with his change.


    Qi Chen, on the other hand, was alerted. The third prince¡¯s sudden change in behavior was clearly a warning sign.


    Qi Chen¡¯s concern was proven right. When Qi Chen was making his report on the reconstruction of the border, the third prince suddenly stepped forward and put on the expression of a martyr risking his life to save the others. ¡°Royal Father, this son has heard a rumor. I¡¯m not sure if I should speak of it...¡±


    The emperor frowned. The third prince had changed for the better recently. He nodded and decided to give the prince a chance. ¡°You may speak your mind.¡±


    ¡°I heard that second brother has taken full responsibility for the reconstruction of the border. ording to my informants, however, second brother has embezzled quite a lot of funds during the process. Is it true?¡± The third prince turned to Qi Chen. Every word he uttered was a jab at him.


    Tension built up in the court. The officials talked among themselves. They had known about Qi Chen¡¯s crime a long time ago. They just didn¡¯t dare to bring it up before the emperor.


    The emperor had actually got wind of the news. He didn¡¯t expect the third prince to be reckless enough to bring it up in public. No matter how much the emperor disapproved of Qi Chen, Qi Chen was still the crown prince he had chosen. He couldn¡¯t criticize Qi Chen before others.


    The third prince was oblivious to his own mistake. He was pleased with having made Qi Chen speechless.


    Qi Chen looked up at him and pulled his lips into a cold sneer. ¡°I don¡¯t know where third brother heard of this rumor. However, by insulting me before all the officials, is third brother truly trying to seek justice for the people? Or is there something else you want?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t twist the truth, second brother!¡± the third prince persisted. ¡°Everyone is waiting for your answer. Are you trying to change the subject because you feel guilty?¡±


    Qi Chen shot the third prince a re, but it wasn¡¯t going to deter someone whose brain was filled with nothing but water. The third prince pointed at Qi Chen and retorted, ¡°What¡¯s that for? Have I been wrong? If I¡¯m mistaken, why don¡¯t you give us an exnation?¡±


    Qi Chen dropped down to the floor and looked up at the emperor. ¡°This son has volunteered to go to the border out of my love for the people. I know how much they have been suffering. Why would I steal money from them for my own use? This son doesn¡¯t know who has been spreading the rumors with such malicious intent. If Royal Father doesn¡¯t believe me, you can check my ounting book. If any of the ies seem suspicious, this son is willing to take my punishment.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve given your word!¡± The third prince would not let Qi Chen off the hook. He continued, ¡°If we do find something, is second brother willing to give up your title as the crown prince?¡±


    ¡°You ¨C !¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± The emperor mmed his fist against the table. The loud bang startled everyone into silence. Qi Chen knelt on the floor without a word. The third prince stood on the side with his head lowered, wondering what the emperor meant by this.


    The emperor swept his gaze over his two sons and scoffed. ¡°It is unbing for the crown prince and a royal prince to argue in such a childish way. Where are your manners? You are brothers. It would be bad enough for you to refuse to help each other. But you two? You were at each other¡¯s throat like rabid dogs! Have you forgotten your ce? Have you no respect for me?¡±


    Qi Chen bowed down until his head touched the floor and said respectfully, ¡°This son dares not do so.¡±


    Feeling weak in the knees, the third prince dropped down to the floor as well. With a shaky voice, he said, ¡°This son has made a mistake.¡±


    The emperor didn¡¯t even spare them a nce. They stayed there until the meeting concluded, and they only got to their feet after the emperor had left. Qi Chen red at the third prince and huffed before leaving with a flourish of his sleeves. The third prince ignored him like he had been a stone on the sidewalk.


    Just like that, the third prince had reced Qi Yun in bing Qi Chen¡¯s biggest concern. Qi Chen had always been decisive. He pulled out the men he had put to watching Qi Yun and assigned them to keep an eye on the third prince. He ordered them to report back to him as soon as the third prince did anything unusual.


    Without Qi Chen¡¯s people constantly watching his back, Qi Yun felt much more rxed. Before, in order to not rouse Qi Chen¡¯s suspicion, he either stayed in the pce or in the Court of Judicial Review. He truly had Jun Huang to thank. Otherwise he would still be living under close scrutiny.


    He had his people make a reservation in a tavern. Then he went to Jun Huang¡¯s ce to invite her for dinner.


    When he arrived, Nan Xun and Jun Huang were having tea. Qi Yun chuckled and said, ¡°Big brother must have a lot of free time. I didn¡¯t expect you to be here.¡±


    Jun Huang stood up to greet him before taking her seat and pouring a cup of tea for Qi Yun. Qi Yun didn¡¯t try to be needlessly formal with her. He sat down and finished the tea before saying, ¡°If not for you, gentleman Feng, I wouldn¡¯t be able to visit today. Second brother¡¯s attention is now solely on third brother. I¡¯ve finally regained some freedom. Thus I made a reservation in the tavern to express my gratitude. I¡¯d like to ask you to join me.¡±

 Chapter 130

    Chapter 130: Return of the Men in ck


    Jun Huang nodded. She didn¡¯t think much about Qi Yun¡¯s request. Nan Xun, on the contrary, was displeased. He knew Jun Huang wasn¡¯t helping Qi Yun simply because he was her old friend, but also because he was the best candidate for future emperor Northern Qi had now. Nheless, he couldn¡¯t help feeling jealous.


    Nan Xun quirked his lips up. ¡°It seems that the fourth prince only has eyes for gentleman Feng. Despite the fact that I am here as well, you only invited gentleman Feng to dinner. This brother is feeling left out.¡±


    Nan Xun had spoken in a lighthearted tone, but Qi Yun couldn¡¯t let that usation slide. He got to his feet and forced himself to smile. ¡°This brother is d that you have the time to share a meal with us. Let us go to the tavern now.¡±


    Jun Huang threw a brief nce at Nan Xun before standing up. They left for the tavern together.


    They had arrived early. The food therefore had not been prepared yet. A clerk brought them a pot of premium Longjing tea. Jun Huang felt the urge to try some, but Nan Xun took away her cup and told the clerk to bring them a pot of water. The clerk nodded and walked out of the booth.


    Qi Yun expected Jun Huang to protest, but she simply leaned against the window and looked outside. The tavern was located at the center of the imperial city. From the booth one could overlook half of the entire city. It was an awe-striking view.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know the gentleman is so close to my brother,¡± Qi Yun said with an awkward smile, trying to fill the silence. ¡°I¡¯m envious.¡±


    Jun Huang looked over at Nan Xun before quickly turning away. She had done so on reflex and wasn¡¯t trying to convey anything. Nan Xun was staring at Jun Huang with a mysterious smile. Qi Yun wondered what he was thinking about.


    Once the meal was ready, they took their seats. There was a table full of different dishes, but Jun Huang didn¡¯t say anything. Nan Xun thought back to thest time he had invited Jun Huang to share a meal with him. They had an argument because his page boy ordered too much. He had thought Jun Huang would say something this time as well, but Jun Huang started eating without a word.


    Qi Yun invited Jun Huang to show her his gratitude. He moved his chopsticks to the fish and picked up a piece, intending to drop it on Jun Huang¡¯s te, but Nan Xun stopped his attempt with a hand, his eyebrows furrowed.


    Qi Yun was puzzled and a little upset. He was trying to show Jun Huang his appreciation! And yet Nan Xun had taken the spotlight as if he was the host.


    ¡°What does brother Nan mean by this?¡± Qi Yun asked through clenched teeth.


    Nan Xun nced at him and said, ¡°Gentleman Feng doesn¡¯t eat fish.¡±


    Nan Xun pulled his hand back. Qi Yun too dropped his chopsticks in mortification. He raked through his memory, trying to remember Jun Huang¡¯s preferences.


    Vaguely, he remembered a young Jun Huang telling him that she didn¡¯t eat fish, that she was born with an aversion to the taste and couldn¡¯t even stand the smell.


    When Jun Huang looked up, Qi Yun¡¯s eyes were glued to her. She smiled. ¡°Please forgive this gentleman, Your Highness. There are many people who don¡¯t eat fish. I happen to be one of them.¡±


    As if waking up from a dream, Qi Yun dropped his gaze and gave Jun Huang an apologetic smile.


    Jun Huang chewed absentmindedly. She wondered how much Qi Yun remembered from their time together as children.


    Seeing that Jun Huang was distracted, Nan Xun changed the subject and said, ¡°Have you made any progress in your investigation on your mother¡¯s death, Qi Yun?¡±


    Qi Yun¡¯s face fell. He pursed his lips and shook his head. With a deep sigh, he said, ¡°There are people trying to stop me from finding the truth. I still haven¡¯t found a good lead.¡±


    Nan Xun was quiet for a moment. In the end, he offered some words offort. ¡°Take your time. Don¡¯t be too hasty. The truth is out there. You will find it sooner orter.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. They ate in silence.


    After the meal, they started talking about what they should do next, but their conversation was interrupted by Qi Yun¡¯s page boy. The page boy entered the room after knocking and whispered something into Qi Yun¡¯s ear. Qi Yun¡¯s expression changed and he shot to his feet.


    ¡°I have urgent business to attend to in the pce. Please excuse me for leaving early.¡± Qi Yun cupped his hands before turning to Nan Xun. ¡°Please walk gentleman Feng back, brother Nan. It may be unsafe to be alone on the street at time like this.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°Of course. Leave that to me.¡±


    When they arrived at the tavern, the sun had only just started to set. Now the outside was lit bymps and moonlight. Jun Huang read the riddle written on one of thenterns before her, her attention caught. Nan Xun turned to her and saw the warm glow surrounding her. A tender feeling snuck up to him. He suddenly felt the urge to touch her face, but he pulled his hand away when Jun Huang turned to him as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°What?¡± Jun Huang noticed Nan Xun¡¯s heavy gaze on her. She frowned. Is there anything on her face? She touched her cheek in puzzlement.


    Nan Xun chuckled. He walked towards her and stopped when they were only a step apart. When he extended his hand, Jun Huang closed her eyes reflexively, her eyshes casting shadow on her cheeks. She was beautiful. It took all of Nan Xun¡¯s self-control to stop himself from touching Jun Huang.


    ¡°There is a flower on your hair,¡± Nan Xun said quietly. He took the cherry blossom from the top of Jun Huang¡¯s head. The faint fragrance enveloped them. Jun Huang¡¯s face looked a touch more vibrant because of the cherry blossom.


    Jun Huang had learned topartmentalize her feelings. Thoughts about love and romance never even surfaced her mind. She nodded and walked outside. Nan Xun quickly followed her.


    ¡°The moon is beautiful today,¡± said Nan Xun, pointing at the crescent moon in the sky.


    Jun Huang tilted her head. The moon was bright and clear against the greyish blue backdrop. The street was lined withmps, shrouding every pedestrian in a warm orange glow. Beautiful women covered their faces shyly while talented gentlemen recited poems praising the moon. It seemed like a scene straight out of a painting.


    Jun Huang nodded after a long pause. ¡°Yes, it is. The moon is far away from us, but its beauty is irresistible and unique.¡±


    Nan Xun opened his mouth to say that the moon wasn¡¯t all that was beautiful tonight, but before he could say anything, his instinct told him that someone was going to attack them. He took Jun Huang¡¯s arm, his eyes going cold.


    Jun Huang frowned at him questioningly. Nan Xun put his index finger against his lips in warning. Jun Huang surveyed their surroundings without a word.


    It was quiet save for the sharps croaks of birds returning to their nests. Even the sound of bamboo leaves falling to the ground was audible. Jun Huang felt the undeniable tension in the air. The air was heavy and thick.


    A group of men dressed in ck appeared out of the shadow. Jun Huang looked at them pensively. The leading man seemed awfully familiar ¨C It was the same man who attacked them warned Nan Xun that they would strike again.


    Nan Xun rxed a little. He knew these men¡¯s target was him. As long as Jun Huang left him here, they would not keep chase.


    He turned back to Jun Huang and said in a calm tone, ¡°You should go now. I¡¯m their target. They must havee prepared ¨C ¡±


    Jun Huang stopped him with a re and stepped before Nan Xun, pointing at the leader of the group. ¡°Why do you keep on harassing Nan Xun?¡±


    With a scoff, the leader drew his sword and lunged at them. Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect the man to attack without saying anything this time. Nan Xun quickly took out his dagger and extracted the de with a whip of his wrist. He pulled Jun Huang behind him with one hand while blocking the leader¡¯s attack with the other.


    The tip of the man¡¯s sword hit the body of Nan Xun¡¯s de, sending sparkles into the air. Nan Xun kicked at the man. Feeling the swishing air before the kicknded, the man quickly dodged away.


    The other men charged at Jun Huang and Nan Xun. Jun Huang huffed and took out her foldable fan.


    She did not simply epted her weaknesses like many other would. In private, she had asked Nan Xun to train her. She wanted to be of help when danger struck.


    The fan should be light and easily breakable, but in her hand, it was transformed into a weapon that seemed to weigh a thousand tons.


    She hit one of the attackers in the stomach, sending the man flying backward with a grunt. Jun Huang was using their force against them. She was able to deter the lesser fighters among the group.


    The leader engaged Nan Xun in a fierce fight. Every blow of his was intended to kill. Jun Huang frowned. With a push against the wall, she lunged at the leader and knocked the de away with her fan. The man pulled back cautiously.


    Without thinking, Jun Huang shielded Nan Xun with an extended arm, her eyes frosty. Nan Xun felt his heart soften for her protectiveness.


    The leader broke into uglyughter, hurling insults at Nan Xun. ¡°Oh, this is rich! Nan Xun, our prince with a different surname, needs the protection of a frail schr! That will break anyone¡¯s illusion of the brave warrior prince!¡±


    Jun Huang knew the man was trying to provoke Nan Xun. She wasn¡¯t going to do anything reckless. That would only bring Nan Xun troubles. She took a deep breath and turned to Nan Xun, who nodded at her. Jun Huang epted his silent suggestion and stepped back.

 Chapter 131

    Chapter 131: Blood Loss


    Nan Xun pointed his sword at the leader of the attackers. The silver light reflected from his de added a harsh edge to his stoic face. He looked like a messenger from hell. Alerted, the men in ck cautiously circled Nan Xun.


    The leader made a gesture. His men charged at Jun Huang and Nan Xun again. This time, they were able to catch Jun Huang off guard. With her fan she could deal with a couple enemies. Surrounded by five to six men, however, she was forced to back away further, out of the circle of Nan Xun¡¯s protection.


    The men¡¯s eyes shone with the intent to kill. Jun Huang tried her best to fight back with her fan, but her hand had gone numb from the impact and her movement slowed down. One of the men widened his eyes when he noticed her fatigue and stabbed at her fan with his sword. Without a way out, Jun Huang moved with the strike and turned aside. The de missed her by a hair, but her fan was knocked out of her hand.


    Tension built up in her body. She focused intently on her foes. She wasn¡¯t going to give up simply because she had lost her weapon.


    A man came at her with a sword. Jun Huang leaped into the air and kicked at the man¡¯s head with all her force. Blood geysered out from the man¡¯s nose as he fell. He took hisst breath on the ground.


    The remaining men surrounding Jun Huang shared a wary look. They didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be able to strike back as hard as she had done without a weapon. They recognized her as a formidable foe and charged at her in unison.


    Jun Huang backed away towards Nan Xun. Noticing her situation, Nan Xun kicked up a sword and threw it towards Jun Huang¡¯s attackers. Harsh wind flew past her ear. The spinning sword managed to take out a few of the men. Jun Huang widened her eyes, her heart beating fast.


    The sword had missed her by only a few inches. If she had moved, or if Nan Xun¡¯s aim had been even a little off, she would have been the one killed.


    With a frown, Nan Xun made a y at attacking the leader and seized the opportunity to move towards Jun Huang. He pulled Jun Huang closer to him and kept the men away from them with a swept of his sword.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath to focus her mind. Nan Xun worriedly asked, ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head.


    The men closed in on them again. Jun Huang swapped position with Nan Xun. With a decisive sh, Nan Xun decapitated the man who was charging at them. It was too bloody a scene for most people to witness. Nan Xun reflexively turned Jun Huang¡¯s face towards him to stop her from looking. He didn¡¯t want her to see such cruelty again.


    Nan Xun fought hard to protect her. He wasn¡¯t willing to let her get even a scratch.


    The men realized that Jun Huang was Nan Xun¡¯s weakness. All their subsequent attacks were aimed at Jun Huang. Nan Xun pulled Jun Huang out of harm¡¯s way again and again. Soon, they were backed into a dead end. Jun Huang took out her silver needles and prepared to strike. Someone observant would have noticed the reflection, but these men were too careless to notice such details.


    Jun Huang held onto the needles. She had left her house in a rush today, so she only brought three needles with her. She must make sure that the needlesnded on her targets, and she must use them at the right moment.


    Nan Xun was good enough a fighter to keep his foes wary. They stayed out of his attack range.


    Both sides were trying to feel the other out. Neither was reckless enough to make the first move.


    Had the tide been turned? As soon as Jun Huang rxed her guard even by a little, the leader of the men struck at Jun Huang with an open palm. She wasn¡¯t fast enough to dodge it.


    A glint shed through Nan Xun¡¯s eyes. He stabbed at the leader, who pulled back his hand quickly and twirled against Nan Xun¡¯s de. He stopped behind Nan Xun and, before Nan Xun could react, shed at Nan Xun with his sword.


    His movement was quick and precise, giving Nan Xun no time to defend himself. He took the hit right in his back.


    The sound of swishing air torn clothes were almost offensive in the quiet. Jun Huang could hear the cold metal slicing into human flesh. A phantom pain shot down her spine. Without thinking, she threw a silver needle at the leader, who noticed the reflection dodged her attack with a simple tilt of his head. He charged at Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun ground his teeth together to brace for the pain and picked up his sword to parry the leader¡¯s attack. He almost drop his weapon when the two des collided. The deep, long gash on his back split open. He ignored the cold sweat mixing with blood streaming down his aching body.


    Jun Huang knew they had to retreat. She took out a marble and threw it hard at the ground. The marble exploded into colorful sparks before thick smoke rose up, filling the air with a pungent smell and obscuring everyone¡¯s view.


    Jun Huang forced herself to stay calm. With the smoke as her cover, she threw another silver needle at the leader and hit the man in the stomach. No matter how observant the leader was, he couldn¡¯t dodge an attack he couldn¡¯t see. The pain in his stomach told him that he had lost his chance. He could only watch Jun Huang and Nan Xun escape.


    Jun Huang helped Nan Xun flee to another street and they blended into the crowd. In the evening, the imperial city was filled with people. Many of them were attracted by the food stands lining the street. Jun Huang let tension drain from her muscles. Sweat started to break from her forehead, a bted reaction to the danger they had faced.


    Nan Xun put a hand over the wound on his shoulder de. His face was as pale as sheet. Every step he took pulled at his wound and sent white hot pain down his body. He had fought in numerous battles. This was far from the most serious injury he had suffered. With Jun Huang at his side, however, it was as if his sense of pain had woken up from its dormant state and he felt everything more keenly.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Jun Huang asked.


    Nan Xun tilted his face toward her. A hint of smile appeared on his pale face. He shook his head, his breathing slow and heavy. He staggered a little as he walked.


    Jun Huang frowned. She knew how much Nan Xun hated showing his weakness. She took Nan Xun back to his manor as quickly as possible. Before she said anything, Nan Xun ordered his servants to keep quiet and forbade them from sending for a doctor. Everyone was concerned about him.


    ¡°I have learned some basic medical skills from my mentor,¡± Jun Huang said to Nan Xun. ¡°Your wounds need to be treated now. We don¡¯t want an infection.¡±


    Nan Xun took a deep breath and nodded. ¡°I will be in your care.¡±


    Jun Huang told a servant to help Nan Xun into his room and prepare some clean bandages. She then asked for amp, a dagger, a bowl of hot water, and some ointment.


    Nan Xun¡¯s wound was on his left shoulder. When she entered the room, Nan Xun¡¯s clothes had been stripped down by the servant. Jun Huang widened her eyes at his sculpted torso before quickly looking away. She prepared herself mentally and shifted her attention back to Nan Xun. Color had drained out of his skin due to the blood loss.


    Jun Huang swallowed down the lump in her throat. It was imperative that she stopped the bleeding at once. She asked the servant to leave beforeing to Nan Xun¡¯s side. Nan Xun sat on the bed cross-legged with his eyes closed.


    ¡°It will hurt. If it¡¯s too much to bear, you can bite into this.¡± Jun Huang handed him a folded handkerchief.


    Nan Xun tightened his jaw and shook his head. Jun Huang didn¡¯t have time to waste on trying to change his mind. She took a deep breath and cleaned out the blood around the open wound. She then heated up the dagger on top of a candle.


    When the de started to glow in red, Jun Huang moved it away from the fire. With a trembling hand, she held onto Nan Xun¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m going to start.¡±


    Nan Xun was prepared. Jun Huang clenched her jaw and pressed the dagger against the gash on his shoulder. His flesh sizzled as the heat closed up his wound. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help his pained gasp. He ground his teeth together to stop himself from embarrassing himself. Sweat streamed down his forehead andnded on the bed.


    Jun Huang moved the dagger away from Nan Xun¡¯s shoulder. His wound had finally stopped bleeding, but the skin had turned an angry red from her treatment. Jun Huang¡¯s hand trembled and the dagger fell to the floor.


    Nan Xun forced himself to breathe properly. His eyes fluttered open and he caught Jun Huang¡¯s cold fingers, fighting against gravity with what little strength he had left. He saidfortingly, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I can take the pain. When I fought in wars, I did this to myself to stop the blood loss and prevent infection all the time. I¡¯m alright...¡± His voice became quieter and quieter until he fell silent.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t stop herself from tearing up. Don¡¯t cry, she told herself. You can¡¯t afford to show such weakness. It took a moment for her to blink back the sting under her eyelids. She picked up the ointment and applied it to Nan Xun¡¯s shoulder carefully before wrapping his shoulder in bandages.


    She let out a long and shuddering breath. Sweat dropped from her chin to Nan Xun¡¯s body.

 Chapter 132

    Chapter 132: Hidden Agenda


    Once Nan Xun¡¯s injury was treated and the things she used as medical equipment had been put away, Jun Huang asked, ¡°How many times have they attacked you since that night?¡±


    Nan Xun clenched his teeth and reluctantly said in unsteady voice, ¡°Twice.¡±


    Jun Huang huffed out a bitterugh. ¡°I am indeed fated to be alone. Simply by existing I¡¯m bringing dangers to people around me. If not for me, you won¡¯t be hurt so badly.¡± Her voice started to tremble and she choked out thest few words, which didn¡¯t escape Nan Xun¡¯s attention.


    He held Jun Huang¡¯s fingers in his hand and said seriously, ¡°That¡¯s not true. I should be the one to apologize. If not for me, you won¡¯t be dragged into this mess again and again. I am their target. You are an innocent bystander.¡±


    Jun Huang looked into Nan Xun¡¯s dark eyes. The flutter in her heart felt like a physical force, and the warmth enveloping her fingers a solid weight. She jerked her hand back and averted her gaze.


    The pain became so strong that it made speaking difficult. Nan Xuny against the bed frame and ground his teeth together.


    Jun Huang turned back to Nan Xun. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were shut as hey prone on the bed. Jun Huang felt a pang of guilt.


    ¡°If I had not been with you, you wouldn¡¯t have ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I told you, It¡¯s not your fault at all,¡± Nan Xun said without opening his eyes. ¡°They wanted me gone. Don¡¯t think too much.¡±


    ¡°You got hurt protecting me,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I can¡¯t pretend that it never happened. Since your injury should be kept a secret, I will take responsibility for dressing your wound.¡±


    Nan Xun opened his eyes in surprise. Seeing how determined Jun Huang was, he decided that this was a good thing. Spending time with Jun Huang every day was a good way to build their rtionship.


    He nodded. He had no reason to turn her offer down. Jun Huang let out a relieved sigh. She had been worried that Nan Xun would say no.


    For the next few days, Jun Huang never stayed the night at Nan Xun¡¯s ce, but every evening she would visit Nan Xun to redress his wound.


    She had tried to be discreet, but no walls could keep out unwanted eyespletely. One of Qi Chen¡¯s servant had seen her.


    Today, Jun Huang went to the tavern and ordered some food suitable for Nan Xun¡¯s condition as usual. She brought the food to Nan Xun¡¯s manor. At the front door, she knocked into a man dressed in peasant clothes.


    The food spilled all over the ground. The man staggered and almost fell as well. He looked up and was about to make his grievances known, but he grew silent when he saw that it was Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang was focused on the spilled food she could never recover. She missed the way the man was looking at him.


    When she looked up with a sigh, the man had schooled his expression into indifference.


    ¡°This gentleman has been in a hurry. I hope the gentleman can forgive me for the troubles I¡¯ve undoubtedly caused.¡± Jun Huang was polite. Even though the man was a peasant, she still called him a gentleman.


    The man cupped his hands. ¡°No, no. I have been careless. I have ¨C ¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite alright. If there¡¯s nothing else, please excuse me for leaving now.¡± It was about time for her to dress Nan Xun¡¯s wound. Seeing that the man didn¡¯t intend to respond, she cupped her hands and went into the manor, paying no mind to the spilled food. She told the page boy watching the door what had happened and asked him to clean up the mess. She then made a turn to Nan Xun¡¯s building.


    The man outside pulled his lips into a feral grin. He patted his clothes clean and made his way to Prince Chen Manor.


    He had seen Jun Huang enter Nan Xun¡¯s regrly over the past few days. He believed it was about time he told Qi Chen. He walked into Prince Chen Manor and intended to go find Qi Chen, but Qi Chen wasn¡¯t someone who would meet with a mere peasant. The man was stopped outside the main hall.


    ¡°I¡¯m a recent hire,¡± the man said hurriedly. ¡°I have matters to discuss with the crown prince.¡±


    The guard who stopped him clicked his tongue and leveled him with a disdainful stare. ¡°Do you think the prince would meet with anyone who ims to have business with him? Go back where you¡¯vee from. Don¡¯t be a nuisance here. The prince will not see a nobody like you.¡±


    The guard took a step toward the man. The man staggered and fell to the ground, whining in pain. Themotion alerted the housekeeper. He walked out and snapped, ¡°What are you doing? Where do you think you are? This is not the ce for such behavior!¡±


    ¡°This man came out of nowhere,¡± said the guard. ¡°He insisted on meeting the prince. I can¡¯t make him go away.¡±


    The man crawled his way to the housekeeper¡¯s feet. ¡°I have information for the prince, sir. Please let me meet with him. This is too important a matter. I¡¯m worried that the prince may me me if I don¡¯t tell him immediately.¡±


    The housekeeper hesitated. The man seemed convinced, and if he had stopped the man when the man had important information to tell, Qi Chen might me him.


    ¡°Wait here,¡± the housekeeper said after a moment of silence. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to the prince.¡±


    He went inside. Qi Chen was at the desk flipping through some documents. He respectfully said, ¡°Your Highness, a servant requested for an audience with you. He imed to have urgent information to share.¡±


    Qi Chen looked up at him. Annoyed, he got to his feet and paced around the room. In the end he told the housekeeper to let the man in. The man dropped down to the floor with a loud thud.


    ¡°This servant has some information for Your Highness. When this servant walked past Prince Nan Manor a few days ago, I saw a familiar face. It was Your Highness¡¯s strategist gentleman Feng! At first I thought it might be a coincidence, so I went back to Prince Nan Manor at the same time the next few days. And gentleman Feng was there every day! I¡¯m afraid...¡± He looked up at Qi Chen¡¯s expression before continuing, ¡°This servant was afraid that gentleman Feng may be nning something, so I came to tell Your Highness.¡±


    Qi Chen frowned and looked over at the housekeeper. After a pause, he asked, ¡°How long has it been since thest time Feng Baiyu visited?¡±


    ¡°More than ten days,¡± said the housekeeper. ¡°Gentleman Feng said that he was feeling under the weather. He didn¡¯t want to spread the cold to Your Highness. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯te.¡±


    The exnation wasn¡¯t enough to tamp down the doubt in Qi Chen¡¯s heart. He was born mistrustful. Nheless, he didn¡¯t want to lose a strategist who was both brave and clever like Jun Huang. He said to the housekeeper, ¡°Tell Feng Baiyu to meet me here.¡±


    The housekeeper could tell Qi Chen was in a dark mood. Without a word, he hurried to Jun Huang¡¯s ce. Jun Huang happened to be back from Nan Xun¡¯s manor. They ran into each other at the door.


    ¡°Housekeeper? Why are you here?¡± rm bells started ringing in Jun Huang¡¯s heart. In the past, even when Qi Chen had urgent matter that required Jun Huang¡¯s assistance, he never sent the housekeeper to personally retrieve her. Something was wrong.


    ¡°The prince ordered this old servant to bring the gentleman to the manor,¡± the housekeeper croaked.


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°Does the housekeeper know what has happened that requires my attention?¡±


    The housekeeper had been serving Qi Chen for years. He had seen how much Jun Huang had helped Qi Chen. After some hesitation, he decided to give Jun Huang a heads-up. ¡°A new servant is convinced that gentleman Feng has a close rtionship with Prince Nan Xun. He went to the prince for this matter.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Jun Huang murmured in a soft tone, masking the concerns in her heart. She put on a smile. ¡°Then let us go to the manor now. We don¡¯t want to keep the prince waiting.¡±


    Once they arrived at the manor, Jun Huang could feel the tensioning from the main hall. She maintained a calm expression.


    The housekeeper took her to the hall. Before she entered, he reminded Jun Huang to be careful. Jun Huang thanked him with a smile before walking in.


    There was a familiar-looking man on the floor. Next to him stood Qi Chen, who had a scowl on his face. It was a rare time that the crown prince actually looked authoritative.


    ¡°This gentleman is here to see Your Highness. What has Your Highness told me toe for?¡±


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to let Qi Chen know that she had been informed of the situation. She pretended to be oblivious, ncing at the man kneeling before Qi Chen.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always trusted you, brother Feng,¡± Qi Chen said without preamble. ¡°However, I was told today that your loyalty lies elsewhere, that you have been close with Nan Xun. What do you say about this usation?¡±


    Jun Huang raised an eyebrow and chuckled. ¡°This gentleman¡¯s loyalty to Your Highness has been proven by time. Does Your Highness believe what the petty man said?¡±


    ¡°Liar!¡± the man eximed, looking up at Jun Huang. ¡°A few days ago I saw with my own eyes that you had entered Prince Nan Manor. And the days after you were there as well. Isn¡¯t that enough proof that you have been unusually close to Prince Nan Xun?¡±


    Jun Huang took a look at the man¡¯s face. It was the man she had knocked into a few days ago.


    She pulled her lips into a sharp smile, her eyes as cold as ice, making it difficult for the man to continue meeting her gaze. He knew what he had seen; still Jun Huang¡¯s eyes made him feel as if he had been the one who made a mistake. He lowered his head and looked down at the floor.


    ¡°You imed that I¡¯m close with Prince Nan Xun. I have a question for you. What do you seek to achieve by driving a wedge between me and the crown prince?¡±


    There was an undeniable weight in her voice. The man shuddered and almost face-nted into the floor.

 Chapter 133

    Chapter 133: Secret Meeting


    The man¡¯s reaction was too strong and his expression too nervous; it was evident that he had ulterior motives. Qi Chen¡¯s pupils contracted. He had been deceived by this petty liar!


    Furious, he hit the table with his palm and stepped on the man¡¯s back, pinning him to the floor.


    ¡°Who sent you? What are you trying to do?¡± He applied so much force that the man was almost t on the ground. The man¡¯s silence further angered Qi Chen. He kicked the man in his back. The man face-nted into the floor with a pained grunt.


    ¡°You better be honest with me,¡± Qi Chen said in a murderous tone. ¡°Otherwise you won¡¯t see the sun tomorrow.¡±


    It was obvious that Qi Chen would go through with his threat, and the man had never been particrly brave. He stammered, ¡°Please spare my life, Your Highness. It¡¯s... it¡¯s the fourth prince! I... I¡¯m the fourth prince¡¯s spy... A week ago ¨C no, a couple days ago, the fourth prince sent a message to me, telling me to break the trust between the crown prince and his strategist. This servant was coerced! He took my family hostage as leverage. This servant has no other choice...¡±


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes. The man was clearly lying. He couldn¡¯t even get his story straight.


    She walked up to him and took out a silver needle with a smirk, showing it to the man. ¡°It¡¯s best that you stop lying. If I find out you have been dishonest, I will put this needle into your vein. Do you know what will happen then?¡±


    The man startled trembling uncontrobly, curling into himself and gulping as he stared at the needle. ¡°I... I¡¯ve been telling the truth! If the gentleman doesn¡¯t ¨C ¡±


    Before he could finish, Jun Huang seized his arm and drove the needle in a few inches. The man was on the verge of tears. Jun Huang gave him a bright smile. ¡°This needle has been immersed in poison for a year, soaking the poison up. If I push it in further, you¡¯ll feel like you are being eaten alive by hundreds of insects. In the end you¡¯ll die with blooding out of all seven of your orifices.¡±


    ¡°No... stop! I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll tell you the truth!¡± The man was almost scared to death. He didn¡¯t dare to keep on with his lies. ¡°It¡¯s the third prince! He paid me to do this ¨C ¡±


    With a push of her finger, Jun Huang drove the needle further in. The man widened his eyes before losing consciousness.


    Jun Huang took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands clean. She turned to Qi Chen with cool eyes. ¡°Your Highness has heard what the man said.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°I thought he was being dishonest. It turns out that my suspicion is right.¡± He spat. Who or what has given third brother the confidence to oppose me?


    ¡°What does brother Feng think of this?¡± Qi Chen asked, looking up to meet Jun Huang¡¯s gaze.


    Jun Huang hummed. ¡°The third prince is now trying to gain support from the courtiers. Before, we never considered him a potential rival. Therefore this gentleman does not know yet why the third prince would do such a thing.¡±


    Qi Chen huffed. ¡°What else can his reason be? He wants the throne! He should look into a mirror. It¡¯sughable that someone like him dares to even try to go against me.¡±


    ¡°This gentleman believes the best thing to do is to wait and see what his n is. It doesn¡¯t mean that we are to do nothing. We should put more people to keep watch on the third prince.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°Brother Feng is right. I will give the orderster.¡± Thinking back to how he had suspected Jun Huang, he tried to make amends. ¡°I was deceived by this petty man. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust brother Feng. I hope brother Feng won¡¯t take offence.¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Jun Huang put on a fake smile. She could hear the warning underlying Qi Chen¡¯s benevolent words. No matter how little, there was some doubt in Qi Chen¡¯s heart. She cupped her hands and bowed at him. ¡°This gentleman has sworn my loyalty to the prince, and time has proven that your wish is mymand. No one is in the ce to say otherwise. My only goal is to continue serving Your Highness as your strategist and help you be the emperor.¡±


    She had injected all the genuinity she could muster into her words. It hit Qi Chen deep in his heart.


    ¡°I am fortunate to have gained a strategist like brother Feng. I know you¡¯re loyal to me. Things like this will never happen again.¡± Qi Chen helped her up. It looked as if he truly trusted her with all his heart.


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and contemted how she should exin away her visit to Nan Xun¡¯s ce. Something came to her mind.


    ¡°Nan Xun has saved my life, Your Highness, but he is a stubborn man who is difficult to sway,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°It may be better if we stop trying to gain his support and turn to other people.¡±


    Qi Chen fell silent. So Jun Huang had been trying to sway Nan Xun still. Nan Xun was impossible to persuade, though. He refused to take anyone¡¯s side. It was a waste of time to continue trying. Qi Chen nodded.


    That signified his renewed trust in Jun Huang. He had promised to not doubt Jun Huang¡¯s loyalty again.


    ¡°If so, you should stop wasting your time on him. I have other things to attend to. You may do whatever you want to do.¡±


    Jun Huang took his words as an order for her to leave. She saluted him calmly.


    ¡°Since Your Highness is busy, this gentleman will return to my ce.¡±


    Jun Huang walked away, sparing no nce for the unconscious man on the floor. Qi Chen gave the man a single venomous re before ordering someone to get rid of the man.


    Back to her house, Jun Huang started to question what had happened. The third prince had plotted to make Qi Chen doubt her! That was not a good sign. Things could have gone very wrong.


    She fell into a deep contemtion. The tea on the table had gone cold when she broke out from her trance. She decided to ask Nan Xun and Ji Bo toe.


    It was easy for her to send a message to Nan Xun, but asking Ji Bo toe was a different story. Ji Bo was now staying in the third prince¡¯s manor. She would need Nan Xun¡¯s help in this. She ordered a man to inform Nan Xun of her request.


    Nan Xun came with Ji Bo at his side. When they walked in, Jun Huang was sitting in the garden. It was the beginning of summer, and yet Jun Huang had a robe around her shoulders. Clearly her body had notpletely recovered from the illness.


    Nan Xun frowned. He wanted nothing but to put Jun Huang in her bed and tell her to rest.


    Ji Bo looked at her with disapproval. ¡°Are you still sick?¡±


    Jun Huang got to her feet to wee them, taking off the robe and handing it to Little Girl with a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said casually. ¡°It is easy to catch a cold in early summer. Little Girl was worried that I might fall ill again, so she insisted on putting that robe on me. I don¡¯t really feel cold. It¡¯s getting a little warm, actually.¡± She told Little Girl to brew another pot of tea for them.


    Nan Xun was worried about Jun Huang. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go back to your study? It is windy today...¡±


    ¡°So? It¡¯s summer. I may not be as healthy as your are, but I¡¯m not that weak. You don¡¯t have to worry too much. I know my own body. It¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    There was an edge in her tone. Nan Xun had known her for some time. He knew she would get mad if he continued to argue. He shut his mouth.


    While Little Girl was away, Jun Huang said, ¡°I asked you toe because Qi Chen asked for me earlier today.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± asked Ji Bo.


    Jun Huang told them everything. Nan Xun felt his heart speed up. Ji Bo frowned in response.


    Jun Huang turned to Ji Bo in question. ¡°What is the gentleman thinking?¡±


    Ji Bo shook her head and sighed. ¡°I have earned the respect of the third prince. He treats me like one would with a god. I have not been staying in his manor for long though. Even though the third prince trusts me, his people don¡¯t. They consider me to be a strategist who talks big but is incapable of doing anything on my own.¡± He let out a tiredugh. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard anything about this n.¡±


    Jun Huang tightened her fists. She had thought the idea was Ji Bo¡¯s. No matter how effective the n was, it was easy to see through. Jun Huang was able to tell something was wrong immediately. It was perfectly wed for their purpose.


    However, Ji Bo didn¡¯t know about this n, which meant that it was all the third prince¡¯s doing.


    Jun Huang frowned. A chill ran down her spine at her realization. It would take time for the third prince to nt a spy in Qi Chen¡¯s manor. Every servant had to go through a long and careful filtering process before they were hired, and they were supervised by the senior servants in the manor. This meant that even before Qi Chen became the crown prince, this man had been lurking in the manor in order to disrupt Qi Chen¡¯s rtionship with his confidantes. To sum up... the third prince had always wanted the throne.


    Ji Bo had reached the same conclusion. He sucked in a breath and said, ¡°If so, the third prince has always been ambitious. He acted the way he did simply because he wasn¡¯t ready yet.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he has set his eyes on the throne a long time ago,¡± said Jun Huang. Her voice was as calm as still water, but her eyes were cold enough to freeze anyone. ¡°Gaining your support revealed his true nature. You are the opportunity he¡¯s been waiting for.¡±

 Chapter 134

    Chapter 134: Personal Caretaker


    Jun Huang slowly let out a breath and pulled her lips into a smile. ¡°Fortunately the strategist at his side is you. The third prince is now so focused on going against Qi Chen, he has shown all his hands. He¡¯s putting himself at risk. It¡¯s a good thing for us that the two of them are going to be head to head with each other. The third prince isn¡¯t going to be able to defeat Qi Chen.¡±


    Little Girl entered with a pot of tea and left immediately after refilling their cups. Jun Huang took a sip and looked up at Ji Bo. ¡°How does Mister Ji Bo intend to make the third prince stand out more? He has to be an even bigger threat for him to take up all of Qi Chen¡¯s attention.¡±


    Ji Bo nodded. ¡°I have some ideas.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you share your ideas with us?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s one thing we can do,¡± said Ji Bo. ¡°We can have the third princepete for achievement with the crown prince.¡±


    Jun Huang cocked her head, puzzled. ¡°Achievement? What do you mean?¡±


    Ji Bo smiled and waved a hand in the air. ¡°That is between the heaven and myself. You only have to wait and see.¡±


    His cryptic words didn¡¯t give Jun Huang an answer. She turned to Nan Xun, who shrugged. ¡°I am a regr general. I don¡¯t understand anything out of you two¡¯s mouths.¡±


    Jun Huang pouted. Nan Xun was a general, but he was a man both brave and clever. Sometimes he could be as quick as she was. But for this, neither of them could guess what Ji Bo was implying.


    Ji Bo smiled. He always believed that some words were better left unsaid. There was no need for Jun Huang and Nan Xun to know every detail about his n. What would happen would happen.


    He finished his tea and looked up at the sky. After a brief moment of silence, he stood up and bowed at Jun Huang. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I should return to the third prince¡¯s manor. Otherwise he may get suspicious.¡±


    Jun Huang stood up and returned the gesture. ¡°You¡¯re right. What¡¯s important is the big picture. I will not keep you here.¡±


    Ji Bo nodded. After taking a step, he turned around and smiled at Jun Huang. ¡°Now that I¡¯m staying in the third prince¡¯s manor, it¡¯s not easy for us to meet up. If you have any urgent matter you need to discuss with me, you can go to the owner of Tianxin1 Teahouse. He¡¯s with me.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± said Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang looked away once Ji Bo disappeared from her view. She sighed. The discussion had taken a toll on her. Her temples started to throb now that she didn¡¯t have anything to focus on. She rubbed at her forehead and sat back down on the stone stool.


    Nan Xun frowned as he approached. Without thinking too much, he massaged her temples to help her relieve the tension.


    Jun Huang closed her eyes and let him do so. Nan Xun looked down at her fluttering eyshes. How could such a beautiful woman be seen as a handsome gentleman?


    He stared and didn¡¯t notice that Jun Huang had opened her eyes. When he broke out of his trance, Jun Huang was looking at him. Her calm eyes were as clear as a pond in wintertime.


    Nan Xun pulled his hands away and coughed to cover up his embarrassment. Jun Huang didn¡¯t react to that. She picked up her teacup and savored the quality tea.


    Just when Nan Xun started to wonder if Jun Huang had forgotten about his existence, Jun Huang looked up at him and asked, ¡°What do you think about the third prince?¡±


    Nan Xun gave the question some thoughts before answering. ¡°We thought the third prince did not intend to get involved in politics, but it turns out he is a beast lurking in the dark. With that knowledge, it makes sense for us to keep our guard up. But I don¡¯t think we need to be overly concerned. We will give him the attention he is due, but no more.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She raised an eyebrow at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you think we have to stop seeing each other so often? The third prince has ordered his people to report my visits to Qi Chen. In the future it may be used against us...¡±


    ¡°I disagree,¡± Nan Xun replied without thinking.


    Jun Huang blinked in surprise. She didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to disagree so quickly. She hesitantly asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    Nan Xun looked up at her with so much emotions in his eyes that Jun Huang¡¯s heart started racing. ¡°You said so yourself: I got hurt because of you, so you have an obligation to take care of me. Is the famous Jun Huang going to break your promise?¡± He raised an eyebrow, satisfied with his argument.


    Jun Huang huffed out a soundlessugh. It was her fault that Nan Xun got hurt, and she did feel guilty about it. She should be the one to take care of him.


    Seeing that Jun Huang was considering the request, Nan Xun pushed further, ¡°I¡¯m injured. There are a lot of things that I can¡¯t do myself. However, my injury has to be kept secret. There¡¯s no one else who can take care of me but you. Of all the people I trust, you are the only one who knows medicine. Therefore you should be the one to stay at my side.¡± Nan Xun spoke with such certainty, it was as if he thought his proposal was the most logical solution.


    Jun Huang¡¯s lips twitched. Nan Xun was being unreasonable. When she was about to say something, Nan Xun dropped the cup he had been holding. It hit the table and tumbled onto the floor, shattering into pieces.


    Panic seized her heart in a tight grip. She could see Nan Xun¡¯s fingers trembling. He couldn¡¯t close his hand properly. She rushed to his side and took his fingers in her hands. ¡°What happened? Are you alright?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s breathing was a little shallow. Sweat broke out of his forehead and streamed down his stoic face. It took a moment for the burst of pain to fade.


    His silence made Jun Huang even more worried. ¡°What wrong? Tell me!¡± As she spoke, she grabbed Nan Xun arm and took his pulse.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. That hit must have hurt my nerves. It¡¯s painful, but it gets better after a while.¡±


    After taking his pulse, Jun Huang understood the severity of his condition. She frowned. Nan Xun¡¯s injury hadn¡¯t been this serious a few days ago. ¡°Why has your injury gotten more serious? Have those men ambushed you again?¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head and took some time to steady himself. ¡°The emperor was in a good mood yesterday. He told me to spar with him. I can¡¯t let him know about my situation, so I obliged him. The wound reopened. I patched myself up when I returned. I didn¡¯t know it¡¯s going to worsen this much.¡±


    Jun Huang pursed her lips. Nan Xun must have felt it when his wound opened in his sparring session with the emperor, but he stubbornly persisted.


    Seeing the concerned lines on Jun Huang¡¯s face, Nan Xun let out a quietugh. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°If I am to stay in your manor, we have to find a good excuse. Qi Chen is mistrustful. I can¡¯t test his trust in me again...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± With that, Nan Xun turned away to leave with a hand covering his shoulder.


    Once he returned to his manor, he had a servant prepare a brush and some ink for him. He wrote a letter describing how he had rescued Jun Huang and had got hurt in the process. He requested for Qi Chen to let Jun Huang stay in his manor for a few days. She would take care of his injury, and he would consider the debt paid.


    He read the letter over before ordering his shadowguard to deliver it to Qi Chen. The shadowguard epted the order and left for Prince Chen Manor without making a sound.


    Qi Chen frowned at the letter delivered to him, wondering what Nan Xun had meant by this.


    Seeing Qi Chen¡¯s expression when he entered the room, the housekeeper asked, ¡°Has Your Highness run into a problem?¡±


    Qi Chen looked up at the housekeeper. The housekeeper had served him for decades. He was someone Qi Chen could trust with all his heart. After a moment of silence, Qi Chen handed the letter to the housekeeper.


    The housekeeper took a moment to think before asking, ¡°What does Your Highness intend to do?¡±


    ¡°Nan Xun imed to have been injured because of brother Feng and asked me to let brother Feng take care of him. I can¡¯t figure out what he hopes to achieve by this. I¡¯m not sure what I should do.¡±


    ¡°This old servant believes that it¡¯s not a good time to offend Prince Nan Xun,¡± said the housekeeper. ¡°He has written you a letter personally, which means that he wants to see how you will respond. If Your Highness turns him down, Prince Nan Xun will think you don¡¯t want him on your side.¡±


    Qi Chen hummed. The housekeeper had a point. Nan Xun took the time to write him a letter. It must be because he was trying to get a feel of Qi Chen¡¯s attitude towards him. Qi Chen had to give Nan Xun what he wanted.


    Qi Chen let out a breath, his brows furrowed. ¡°Go let brother Feng know about this and tell him what I think. He is a man capable of looking at the big picture. Nan Xun has gotten hurt because of him. He will agree to stay in Nan Xun¡¯s manor for some time.¡±


    The housekeeper nodded and left for Jun Huang¡¯s ce. Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen to agree so readily. It took some time for her to recover from her shock.

 Chapter 135

    Chapter 135: A Woman¡¯s Love


    Seeing Jun Huang¡¯s frown, the housekeeper assumed that Jun Huang was unwilling to stay in Pince Nan Manor. He went on to say, ¡°The gentleman must know what¡¯s at stake here. Please keep the big picture in mind.¡±


    Jun Huang quickly recovered and gave him a proper smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I understand. I will do it¡±


    Jun Huang was about to leave when Nan Xun visited her. There was a faint smile on his face.


    ¡°How can you be sure that Qi Chen will agree?¡± Jun Huang asked. She¡¯d been wondering about this for a while.


    Nan Xun gave her a smile in response. Jun Huang put aside her confusion and followed him. This time, she was able to go with Nan Xun without arousing anyone¡¯s suspicion.


    Inside the pce, Wan¡¯er sat in her garden, watching servants putting upnterns with a bored expression.


    The old matron who had been taking care of her ever since she was little gave her a fond smile. ¡°It¡¯s windy outside, princess. You should stay indoors. You¡¯re turning sixteen in a month. It¡¯s considered bad luck if you catch a cold at time like this.¡±


    ¡°I want to leave the pce, granny,¡± Wan¡¯er looked up at the grey-haired woman and said.


    The old matron startled. She didn¡¯t know Wan¡¯er had been down because she wanted to go out. The old matron looked around and only let out the breath she had been holding when she saw there was no one near them. ¡°This is not a good time for you to do so,¡± she said quietly. ¡°You are a princess. You can¡¯t just leave the pce at will. If the emperor know of it, there will be severe scolding...¡±


    ¡°There is someone Wan¡¯er must see,¡± Wan¡¯er said earnestly, her eyes brimming with tears. ¡°The longer I stay in the pce, the more I miss him. If I don¡¯t do anything, I will fall ill before my sixteenth birthday.¡±


    The old matron had watched Wan¡¯er grow up. She couldn¡¯t bear to see Wan¡¯er in pain. She sighed. ¡°If so, the princess must be careful. Remember to take some personal servants with you.¡±


    Wan¡¯er nodded. A hint of smile broke through her gloom. She happily changed into a pink dress. The old matron curved her lips at the sight of Wan¡¯er¡¯s obvious joy.


    Wan¡¯er imed to be leaving the pce to visit Qi Chen. Once outside, she took a deep breath and felt her body rx instantly. The inside and the outside of the pce belonged in the same world, but inside, the air was heavy and constraining, very much unlike the liberating air around her now.


    Wan¡¯er set out for Jun Huang¡¯s ce. When she arrived, however, she only saw a page boy at the door. No one else seemed to be around. She frowned.


    ¡°Please notify gentleman Feng that Wan¡¯er is here to visit him,¡± she said after putting on a proper smile, her voice gentle.


    The page boy was a clever one. He kept a mental list of every visitor to the manor. He remembered Wan¡¯er from herst visit. He didn¡¯t know who Wan¡¯er was, however. He assumed she must be from an important family.


    ¡°You just missed the gentleman, mydy,¡± the page boy said respectfully. ¡°He¡¯s left and won¡¯t return until a few days after.¡±


    Wan¡¯er leaned in, trying to get a look inside. She wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°Are you telling the truth? Or maybe... he just doesn¡¯t want to see me?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± said the page boy. ¡°Gentleman Feng is away. Do you have a message for him? If so, this servant can pass down your message to gentleman Feng when he returns.¡±


    Wan¡¯er looked away. In the end she shook her head with a rueful look in her eyes. ¡°Perhaps this means we are not meant to be together. Forcing this rtionship will never be a possibility. Perhaps this is the sign telling me to give up.¡± She excused herself and turned around. In her rush, she stumbled and almost fell. Fortunately her personal maid was able to catch her.


    ¡°Are you alright, princess?¡± the maid asked worriedly.


    Wan¡¯er shook her head, her eyes unfocused. It took some time for her to regain control of her own mind. A trace of sadness crept into her heart.


    She had intended to ask again if Feng Baiyu felt anything for her, if there was any chance that he would like to marry her, but she didn¡¯t even manage to talk to him in person. Maybe their fates were never meant to cross.


    The maid didn¡¯t know what Wan¡¯er was thinking about. Worried that Wan¡¯er might be feeling ill, she helped her up into the sedan chair and left for the pce.


    The page boy was shocked when he heard the maid call Wan¡¯er princess. He realized that Wan¡¯er¡¯s visit could have significant repercussions. He asked another servant to take his ce before rushing to Prince Nan Manor himself.


    Jun Huang was in Nan Xun¡¯s garden appreciating the quiet view when a servant told her someone from her house hade. She straightened up and saw that it was the page boy watching her door.


    Before the page boy could say anything, Jun Huang asked, ¡°What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?¡±


    ¡°The princess visited earlier,¡± said the page boy.


    Jun Huang blinked. She had been running herself to the groundtely. She almost forgot about Wan¡¯er. Thest time she saw the princess was at the temple. It had been a while.


    She thought that Wan¡¯er would have forgotten about her after this long absence. To her surprise, Wan¡¯er sought her out again.


    When Nan Xun came to the garden, Jun Huang was lost in thoughts with her eyebrows furrowed. Worried, he turned to the page boy and asked what had happened.


    The page boy told Nan Xun everything. He quickly walked away once Nan Xun dismissed him.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Wan¡¯er is someone who loves so deeply,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°It¡¯s a rare thing in the pce.¡±


    Jun Huang nced at him before letting out a ruefulugh. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s often said that members of the royal family are cold-hearted. The one exception, unfortunately, fell in love with the wrong person. Her love has all been in vain. She doesn¡¯t deserve being hurt like this.¡±


    Jun Huang paused before continuing, ¡°I only wish Princess Wan¡¯er can find a good match and forget about me. We are never meant to be.¡±


    Nan Xun felt a pang of jealousy at her words. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to be this concerned for another person. He pursed his lips and said, ¡°You¡®re not obligated to do anything just because Wan¡¯er likes you. There¡¯s no need to worry so much. If you are tired of her, I¡¯ll talk to her for you.¡±


    Jun Huang looked at Nan Xun, supporting her head with a hand. With augh, she said, ¡°Oh? How rational Your Highness is being. If there is a woman who is so madly in love with you, how is Your Highness going to turn her down?¡±


    Nan Xun blushed a little at her teasing words. When Jun Huang turned away to look back at the koi fish in the pond, he coughed and said, ¡°If it¡¯s not someone I like, I¡®m not going to do anything no matter how much the woman has done for me. You care too deeply. That¡¯s why you are always worried.¡±


    Jun Huang sighed. ¡°Princess Wan¡¯er is a young woman. Your Highness has been a soldier fighting at the border. You may not understand her feelings.¡± Her words were so faint they sounded like a quiet sigh, but Nan Xun had heard everything.


    The jealousy in his heart grew stronger. He didn¡¯t want to continue with this conversation. Coincidentally, the injury on his shoulder was throbbing in pain again. It was time to change the dressing on his wound. ¡°If you have the time and effort to think about trivial things like that, you might as well dress my wound for me. That¡¯ll be more productive.¡±


    Jun Huang stared owlishly at him. Since that first time she patched Nan Xun up, Nan Xun¡¯s personal guard had been the one to change the bandages. She was only in charge of making the ointment. Today, however, Nan Xun had ordered his guard to look into something for him.


    Embarrassed, Jun Huang didn¡¯t even know where she should start. Seeing her bashful expression, Nan Xun let out a soundlessugh, which pulled at his muscles and made him gasp in pain. Jun Huang hurried to his side to support him, her eyes concerned.


    ¡°The medicine is losing its effect. If we don¡¯t treat your wound now, it may get infected. Come on.¡± She helped Nan Xun up and led him to his bedroom.


    Jun Huang tried her best to push away her shyness, but she wasn¡¯t very sessful. With her head bent low, she focused on the medicine she was making. Nan Xun had taken off his top wear and was resting on his bed with his eyes closed. Jun Huang hesitantly approached Nan Xun when the medicine was done.


    Last time she didn¡¯t really have the time to feel shy, and it had been in the evening, so she didn¡¯t think much of her actions. Now, under broad daylight, Jun Huang didn¡¯t even know where to put her hands facing with Nan Xun¡¯s bare torso.


    Nan Xun chuckled, delighted by her shyness. When she untied the bandages, though, she identally brushed against his wound. Nan Xun flinched.


    ¡°What happened? Does it hurt?¡± Jun Huang paused to look at Nan Xun, watching his expression closely, worried that she might hurt him again.


    Nan Xun tightened his jaw and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡±


    The deep frown on Jun Huang¡¯s face had not smoothed out. ¡°The bandage seems to have gotten stuck because of the blood. It¡¯s going to hurt a little. I¡¯ll be as gentle as I can.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and took a deep breath before closing his eyes, waiting for the pain to hit.


    Jun Huang breathed in deeply. Her usually cold fingers had gone colder. She gingerly untied the knot and gently peeled away the bandages. In the end she was barely breathing.


    As she had said, thest of the bandage had been stuck to the wound when the blood dried. She couldn¡¯t peel it away without applying some force. She debated what she should do.


    Nan Xun noticed she had stopped what she was doing. He opened his eyes and saw Jun Huang frowning at his wound like it was her worst enemy. He ground his teeth together and stripped the bandage away on his own.


    The angle was awkward, and he had used too much force. Instantly blood poured out of his open wound. He sucked in a breath. All color had drained from his face.

 Chapter 136

    Chapter 136: Sparring


    Jun Huang¡¯s breath hitched. As someone who had witnessed her fair share of deaths and violence, she was able to recover shortly and apply medicine to Nan Xun¡¯s wound to stop the bleeding. She exhaled slowly, letting tension drain out of her body.


    She looked closely at the cut on Nan Xun¡¯s back. She had cleaned the wound to prevent infection with a heated dagger. The newly grown flesh was pink and raw. It should have healed in a couple of days.


    However, Nan Xun had sparred with the emperor and hurt his shoulder again. The wound was reopened and his nerves had been damaged.


    Jun Huang felt a pang of guilt. If not for her, Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t be suffering so much. If not for her, Nan Xun could have dealt with those viins without such serious injury. She had been the one dragging Nan Xun down. She got him hurt.


    Nan Xun looked over at Jun Huang questioningly and saw the guilt in her expression. It was the rare time that the calm mask she was used to wearing broke and revealed her true feelings. He wondered if he should be worried or pleased.


    Nan Xun held onto Jun Huang¡¯s icy fingers. ¡°I told you it¡¯s not your fault. I was to me, not you. They wanted to hurt me. I¡¯m sorry for getting you involved.¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and took a deep breath to steady herself. ¡°If you haven¡¯t shielded me with your own body, I may have died that night...¡±


    An idea struck her. She looked up at Nan Xun with bright eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not good enough in fighting. You¡¯ve always been the one protecting me. Would you mind training me? I can¡¯t promise that I will be as good as fighting as you are, but at least I won¡¯t be a burden to you anymore.¡±


    Nan Xun was going to say no, but the hopeful look in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes made him swallow down his words.


    It¡¯s not a bad thing for Jun Huang to be able to defend herself, he thought. He couldn¡¯t stay at Jun Huang¡¯s side always. And the training might improve her health. Jun Huang had been getting weaker by the day. He had to do something.


    Nan Xun sighed. He had to make sure Jun Huang knew what she was getting into. ¡°I can train you, but a strong will is required to learn martial arts. You won¡¯t be able to get better overnight. I hope you won¡¯t me me when it gets too difficult.¡±


    ¡°Of course I won¡¯t,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I¡¯m not that easily deterred.¡± A brilliant smile tugged at her lips. Nan Xun darted his eyes away. He could barely suppress his feelings for her.


    Jun Huang awkwardly scratched at her nose. She went back to applying ointment to Nan Xun¡¯s wound and wrapping his shoulder up. When that was done, her forehead was covered in sweat. She returned to the room she was staying in.


    Nan Xun was going to train her in basic hand-to-handbat. Jun Huang woke up at the crack of dawn and tied her hair up neatly. She checked herself before a bronze mirror and left her room.


    Today, she wore a short robe with narrow sleeves and a pair of dark pants, which were suitable for a training session. She had a delicate face, however, and didn¡¯t look particrly like a fighter. Instead, she looked more like a studypanion.


    When Jun Huang arrived, Nan Xun had already been practicing with his sword for a while. He covered up a smile when he saw her.


    Jun Huang ignored his reaction. She took a seat in the garden and drank some tea before saying, ¡°Have you decided what you are going to teach me?¡±


    Sheathing his sword, Nan Xun calmed the energy circting in his body and threw his sword to the shadowguard who had been sparring with him. He approached Jun Huang and picked up a teacup to have some tea. ¡°I¡¯ll spar with you and see what level you¡¯re at.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know much about martial arts, but what Nan Xun said made sense to her. Teachers often tested new students when they entered schools. This must have been a simr situation.


    She was worried about Nan Xun¡¯s injury, however. With a frown, she said, ¡°How about I spar with the shadow guard? You can evaluate me by watching. You¡¯re hurt and I ¨C ¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Since I¡¯m going to be the one to train you, it makes sense that I should be the one to test you.¡± Nan Xun threw the shadow guard a cold re, who didn¡¯t know what he had done to deserve the re, but got the hint and walked away. ¡°I can fight you with one arm. You won¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    Jun Huang pursed her lips. Once Nan Xun had taken his rest, they walked to the training ground. As he had said, Nan Xun put his injured arm behind his back and faced Jun Huang with one hand.


    Nan Xun had taught her a few tricks before. Jun Huang hadn¡¯t had a lot of time to practice, but she remembered some of the moves.


    Watching Nan Xun with narrowed eyes, she put her fist before herself. With lightning speed, she charged at Nan Xun, who moved forward instead of backing away. When Jun Huang struck him with her fist, Nan Xun seized her arm to stop the blow. Jun Huang threw her weight against Nan Xun and forced Nan Xun to let go of her beforeing to Nan Xun¡¯s back.


    Nan Xun was experienced. With a quick step he whirled around and caught Jun Huang¡¯s striking fist in a viselike grip. He let go when Jun Huang grimaced. He took a step back and said, ¡°You need to have a n. You can¡¯t keep attacking and forget about defending yourself. Otherwise your foe may catch you off guard.¡±


    Jun Huang knew she had a lot to learn, and she dly took the advice. She nodded and started with the basics ¨C the horse stance.


    She kept at it until the sun had risen to the top of the sky. The heat was smothering. Jun Huang squatted at the center of the garden without moving. The sunlight was scorching against her skin. She persisted with a clenched jaw. Sweat fell from her forehead to her chin before dropping to the ground. In an instant the sweat was dried.


    Past noon, a servant announced that lunch was ready. Nan Xun walked up to Jun Huang and said, ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s eat something. Then you can practice some more.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a breath and nodded. Her legs had gone numb and sore from the strain. She almost stumbled when she tried to stand up. Nan Xun caught her before she hit the ground.


    ¡°You alright?¡± Nan Xun asked worriedly.


    ¡°I¡¯m alright,¡± said Jun Huang. She gave Nan Xun a smile and inhaled deeply. After massaging her aching calves, she stumbled her way to the dining hall with Nan Xun.


    After lunch, they took a short break. Nan Xun was worried that Jun Huang might not be able to endure more training, so he told her to rest for the day. Jun Huang was eager to learn, however, and wasn¡¯t willing to stop training so early. She was worried that she would getzy. She turned Nan Xun¡¯s offer down in a determined voice.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t going to argue. Once the temperature had dropped to a morefortable level, he led Jun Huang to the garden. Jun Huang¡¯s steps were steadier now. It wasn¡¯t as easy to make her lose her bnce. Maybe it¡¯s time to teach her some simple moves, Nan Xun thought.


    He told Jun Huang to stand upright. He then took Jun Huang¡¯s arm in his hand and pulled at it before telling Jun Huang to break his hold.


    Jun Huang tried his grip, but Nan Xun was too strong for her to fight against with brute force. She had to fight smartly.


    In the morning Nan Xun had showed her some moves she could use to fight in close quarter. She stepped forward and used her left leg to lock one of Nan Xun¡¯s leg before whirling around to try throwing Nan Xun to the ground.


    Nan Xun reacted before she could do so. He seized her shoulder and used her weight to bring her down. Jun Huang hit the ground with a pained grunt, the impact sending dust into the air. She had to clench her teeth to stop herself from crying out.


    ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Nan Xun had tried to use as little force as he could and had lessened the impact with some tricks. He didn¡¯t want it to hurt too much for her. Jun Huang¡¯s reaction made him panic. He was worried that he had still been too forceful.


    It took a moment for the pain to fade. Jun Huang took a deep breath and, while Nan Xun was least expecting it, yanked Nan Xun down with all her force. She shot to her feet and pulled her hand away from Nan Xun.


    Before Nan Xun could hit the ground, he broke the fall with his elbows and jumped back to his feet.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to make a foul move like that,¡± Nan Xun said resignedly.


    ¡°A fighter has to be cunning.¡± Jun Huang raised an eyebrow at him.


    Nan Xun could tell that Jun Huang had potential. With more training, she would be able to defend herself. He didn¡¯t like seeing her get hurt, but training in martial arts always came with pain. Compared to getting hurt by their enemies, Nan Xun would rather Jun Huang experienced what a real fight would entail by sparring with him. Then she would know what to expect when dangers struck.

 Chapter 137

    Chapter 137: Discovery


    Nan Xun had made up his mind. He would not go easy on Jun Huang anymore. When she charged at him, he yanked her to the side by her wrist and hit her in the back with his palm when she lost her bnce. Before she fell, Nan Xun caught her with an arm around her waist, but his attacks didn¡¯t stop here. A kick to the back of her knees made her stagger. She dropped down to one knee, unable to get up.


    Nan Xun hardened his heart and stopped himself from looking away. He knew he had not done any permanent damage to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang propped herself up, eyes shooting daggers at Nan Xun as she charged at him again. She pulled back her fist when she was about to hit Nan Xun and ducked under Nan Xun¡¯s arm to gent behind him. She kicked him right in the hip, but her full force wasn¡¯t enough to knock Nan Xun off his feet. His knees only bent a little before he recovered his stance.


    During the sparring session, Jun Huang was defeated again and again. Her back was still numb from Nan Xun¡¯s knifehand strikes. It felt as if her bones were going to fall apart. Sucking in a pained breath, she carefully sat down on the stool in the garden, her joints screaming inin.


    Over the next few days, new bruises appeared on Jun Huang¡¯s body almost every day, but she neverined. Nan Xun knew, nheless, that she must be in pain. To help sooth her pain, he ordered a servant to prepare Jun Huang a medicinal bath every evening, which could help with her cirction and elerate healing.


    Today, after a training session, Jun Huang bid Nan Xun farewell and went straight to her room. She didn¡¯t feel like eating, so she told the servants to not prepare her dinner. She took off her sweat-drenched clothes and immersed herself into the medicinal bath.


    The bluish ck medicine made her fair skin look even more striking. Her long hair draped over her shoulders, the color melting with the dark liquid.


    Jun Huang closed her eyes and let the heat envelop her in a warm nket. She was almost asleep when her door creaked open. Jun Huang jerked awake and asked from behind the screen, ¡°Who¡¯s it?¡±


    Nan Xun stilled when he realized what Jun Huang was doing. He cursed himself for barging in. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± he said after clearing his throat.


    Jun Huang let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Wait outside for a moment. I¡¯ll be with you soon.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Jun Huang pulled herself out of the wooden barrel, bracing for the pain with a tightened jaw. Her wet hair stuck to her body. The contrast in color was striking.


    She put on her clothes before sauntering outside her room. Her face was still red from the bath. She felt a little embarrassed for facing Nan Xun in this state. Nan Xun too was mortified. He didn¡¯t immediately speak up about what he was here for.


    ¡°The training has been a little too heavy these couple of days,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°I¡¯m here to give you a massage. It can help your muscles rx, and you won¡¯t feel as tired tomorrow.¡±


    Jun Huang hummed. A massage would be beneficial to her training. She nodded and sat on the empress chair in the room. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Nan Xun moved a stool to Jun Huang¡¯s side. Jun Huang had closed her eyes. She must be tired. Nan Xun didn¡¯t try to wake her.


    He put one of Jun Huang¡¯s legs on hisp and gently rubbed circles over the acupuncture points along her calves. He remembered he had kicked Jun Huang under the knee a few days ago. He rolled her pants up and saw the bruise that had not faded even after days. It looked almost offensive on her fair skin.


    When Nan Xun held onto Jun Huang¡¯s ankle, she jerked awake and looked up at Nan Xun with bashful eyes. A woman¡¯s ankles were sensitive. Jun Huang let out the breath she had been holding andy back down on the chair.


    ¡°It is said that women are tender, but you have such strong backbone ¨C so very unlike most women,¡± Nan Xun said teasingly. ¡°But you are not like most men either. Your skin is too soft and fair.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s face heat up. She didn¡¯t know what to say about that.


    She couldn¡¯t help the moan escaping her mouth when Nan Xun massaged her ankles. The air in the room grew thick.


    Arousal hit Nan Xun right in his gut. It felt as if there was a cat scratching his heart. He shot to his feet and took a deep breath to stop himself from reacting.


    A servant had heard Jun Huang when he was bringing tea to her room. He startled and dropped the teapot. The sound of it shattering cut through the silence. The servant thought that he had happened upon his master¡¯s ¡°business¡±. He scrambled to leave.


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang were startled by themotion outside. Jun Huang went still. Nan Xun staggered backward. This wasn¡¯t good.


    ¡°I have to go check,¡± he said. With a final nce at Jun Huang, he rushed out of the room as if he was fleeing from a beast.


    The servant was nowhere to be seen. Nan Xun frowned. He had a bad feeling about this.


    Jun Huangy down on the empress chair and smothered herself with a pillow, her face flushed. What had she been thinking?!


    At night, Jun Huang was having troubles sleeping. Her heart had not stopped pounding ever since what happened in the evening. She kept remembering Nan Xun¡¯s gentle look. Her heartbeats were deafening.


    She fell asleep after the day had broken. The maid in charge of taking care of Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to disturb Jun Huang, but the sound she made when cleaning up the shattered teapot woke Jun Huang up.


    Jun Huang rubbed her eyes and tried lifting her arms and legs. Because of the massage, her muscles were not as sore as they could have been. She asked for things to clean herself up with before getting off the bed.


    She made her way to the dining hall after getting ready for the day. Nan Xun gave her a brief nce and looked away. Embarrassed, Jun Huang greeted him and took a seat far from Nan Xun. She finished a bowl of congee beforeying down the utensils.


    Seeing how little Jun Huang had eaten, Nan Xun asked, ¡°Do you not like the food?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head without a word. Nan Xun didn¡¯t ask again.


    They went to the courtyard they had been training in and let their bodies digest. Then it was time to start training again.


    Because of what happenedst night, Nan Xun was hesitant to have any physical contact with Jun Huang. He didn¡¯t know how Jun Huang felt about him. To be on the safe side, he taught Jun Huang a couple moves and told her to practice herself.


    Jun Huang was distracted. She wasn¡¯t so much practicing the moves as performing the actions without putting any force behind it. She was so distracted she most likely wouldn¡¯t notice Nan Xun even if he walked past her now.


    ¡°Focus!¡± Nan Xun snapped. ¡°This is not a game!¡±


    Jun Huang jumped, turning to Nan Xun with unfocused eyes. She soon recovered and started practicing the moves with all her heart.


    Nan Xun nodded approvingly and took a seat. He watched Jun Huang train in earnest with a hand supporting his head, drinking tea every once in a while.


    When Qi Yun entered the manor with his page boy, it was still early in the morning. The world had only started to awaken. Surrounded by vibrant lives, Jun Huang repeated the same movement again and again. Nan Xun watched her with a cup of tea in his hand. It seemed as if he was indifferent to what he was seeing, but Qi Yun knew that wasn¡¯t true.


    Qi Yun greeted Nan Xun after a pause. ¡°I heard the servants say that brother Nan is teaching gentleman Feng how to fight. I didn¡¯t believe them, but it is true. How unexpected.¡±


    Nan Xun threw him a cool nce and nodded. ¡°His body is in a poor condition. That has to be changed. This will help with his health.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. Jun Huang was brave and clever, but her health was a problem. He hoped that Jun Huang would be able to assist him for many years toe, so he epted Nan Xun¡¯s exnation easily. He sat down under the shade and watched her train.


    After about the time for an incense stick to burn, Jun Huang stopped, her face covered in sweat. Only then did she realized that Qi Yun was here. She approached them with a frown.


    Nan Xun took a handkerchief from a servant before handing it to Jun Huang. She wiped away her sweat and slowed her breathing down. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Your Highness hade,¡± she said to Qi Yun with her hands cupped. ¡°I hope Your Highness won¡¯t me me for not greeting you earlier.¡±


    ¡°The gentleman is too kind. I have visited without notifying you two in advance. I¡¯ve intruded upon you.¡± Qi Yun shot to his feet and helped Jun Huang up.


    Jun Huang straightened her back. She was going to hand the handkerchief back to the servant, but Nan Xun suddenly reached out to take it. She stilled, dropping the handkerchief on the ground. Jun Huang bent down to pick it up just as Nan Xun was doing the same.


    Their fingers touched. Jun Huang jumped away. The awkwardness in the air was smothering.


    Qi Yun narrowed his eyes at them. What had happened to these two? He didn¡¯t voice his question. After a brief moment of silence, he drank some tea and said, ¡°I visited today because I¡¯ve found something in the pce. After some deliberation, I came to the conclusion that it¡¯s wise to tell gentleman Feng and brother Nan.¡±


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang shared a look. They put aside their difort and awkwardness. Qi Yun must have found something important.


    ¡°What is it?¡± asked Jun Huang.

 Chapter 138

    Chapter 138: Bold Spection


    Qi Yun looked around. Jun Huang could tell what he was concerned about. She gave Nan Xun a pointed look.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t immediately respond. He ordered the servants to leave after a moment of silence and said, ¡°Everyone in this manor is trustworthy.¡±


    Jun Huang threw him a nce. ¡°The fourth prince is right to be cautious. Has Your Highness forgotten that the third prince¡¯s spy had infiltrated Prince Chen Manor? Even someone as mistrustful as Qi Chen can¡¯t keep his manor free of unwanted eyes. Is Your Highness sure that you have not let any mole in with all the tasks at your hands?¡±


    Nan Xun opened his mouth, but he didn¡¯t have a goodeback. Jun Huang was right. It was high time that he cleaned house and rooted out any potential liabilities.


    Jun Huang coughed and directed the conversation back to its original course. ¡°What has Your Highness found?¡±


    ¡°Some time ago I realized that Consort Zhen has been keeping secrets. I often see messenger pigeons near her pce. Even though consorts are allowed to exchange letters with their families, it¡¯s still unusual for one of them to maintain such frequentmunication with the outside world. Therefore I had my people keep watch outside the pce, and they saw Consort Zhen leaving the pcete at night.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t unusual for concubines to spy on one another. They often did so to gain ckmail materials. The emperor usually kept a blind eye on the feud between his concubines.


    Qi Yun had always been watching those in Qi Chen¡¯s circle, among whom Qi Chen¡¯s mother was most worthy of his time and attention. After all Consort Zhen was involved in his mother¡¯s death.


    From his observation, he realized that Consort Zhen had been sending and receiving many letters every day. He therefore put more people to surveince duty at her ce. To his surprise, one of his men came to him not long after.


    ¡°Your Highness, this servant saw with my own eyes that Consort Zhen has left the pce tonight on her own,¡± said the servant. He kept his head low as a show of respect.


    With his brows furrowed, Qi Yun nodded and asked, ¡°How long has she been gone?¡±


    ¡°No more than the time to brew a pot of tea,¡± said the servant.


    Members of the harem are forbidden from leaving the pcete at night, Qi Yun thought. Why would Consort Zhen break the rule? He couldn¡¯t figure out an answer himself.


    Ignoring the servant kneeling on the floor, Qi Yun got to his feet and walked out.


    At night, the pce was even more heavily guarded. Normally Qi Yun wouldn¡¯t be allowed to leave either, but since he was now working for the Court of Judicial Review, the guards assumed that he must have urgent business to attend to. They didn¡¯t stop him.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Qi Yun to catch up with Consort Zhen. She had worn a cape to help her blend into the night.


    This is worth investigating, Qi Yun thought. He snuck closer to Consort Zhen.


    Suddenly, there were footsteps approaching. Consort Zhen whirled around in an instant. Qi Yun hurriedly step into the shadow to stay out of sight.


    A woman dressed in fine clothes showed up and walked up to Consort Zhen. She bowed at her and said, ¡°My master has been waiting. Pleasee with me.¡±


    Consort Zhen looked around before nodding. She pulled down her hood and followed the woman into an alley.


    Qi Yun trailed after them. He didn¡¯t dare to even breathe a little heavily.


    The alleyway led to the brothel Phoenix House. In order to not arouse any suspicion, he stayed outside, waiting for Consort Zhen toe out.


    After about the time for an incense stick to burn, Consort Zhen walked out of the door. At her side was Prince Duan.


    Qi Yun gaped at them. He knew this meant something big, but he couldn¡¯t sort through the threads on his own. He immediately went to Jun Huang¡¯s ce to seek her out, only to be told that Jun Huang had been staying in Nan Xun¡¯s manor for the time being. That was why he visited so early this morning.


    Jun Huang fell silent in bemusement. Nan Xun, on the other hand, was reminded of something. He cleared his throat and said, ¡°It seems that Qi Chen was meeting Prince Duan in Phoenix House when west went there.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡± Jun Huang turned to him, waiting for him to exin.


    ¡°Last time we followed Qi Chen to Phoenix House, I saw someone leaving the booth Qi Chen had been staying in before we went upstairs,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Because of the circumstances, I wasn¡¯t able to get a clear look. From the information we have now, that person is likely to have been Prince Duan.¡±


    At the time, they had been surrounded by an army of women. Jun Huang wasn¡¯t able to get a good look at the second floor either. When she saw Qi Chen, though, there was an empty cup on the other side of Qi Chen¡¯s table. Prince Duan must have been there.


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°Why would they have a secret meeting in a brothel?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been wondering,¡± said Qi Yun.


    ¡°Things aren¡¯t as simple as they seem,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°The shared history of Prince Zhen and Prince Duan alone posed many possibilities.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°Exactly what I¡¯ve been thinking.¡± She turned to Qi Yun and asked, ¡°What do you think the rtionship between Consort Zhen and Prince Duan is?¡±


    Qi Yun thought carefully about every little thing he had seenst night. He shook his head. ¡°There were a lot of people there. I was worried that I might be spotted, so I didn¡¯t stay for long once I saw that it was Prince Duan. I didn¡¯t enter the brothel either, so I didn¡¯t know what they were talking about. When they left the building, however, I saw Prince Duan fixing Consort Zhen¡¯s robe. They looked close.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Jun Huang muttered without thinking. Nan Xun and Qi Yun shared a puzzled look before turning to her with a frown. What had she meant by that?


    Seeing them staring at her with questioning eyes, Jun Huang awkwardly cleared her throat and said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m afraid that Qi Chen, Prince Duan, and Consort Zhen are in cahoots. They probably use Phoenix House as their meeting spot. As for what they have been nning, I don¡¯t know enough to take a good guess.¡±


    Nan Xun and Qi Yun continued to try connecting the dots, oblivious to Jun Huang¡¯s inner musings. She had a theory.


    She suspected that Qi Chen was actually Prince Duan and Consort Zhen¡¯s son. Before, the idea had only been a suspicion. Now she was more and more convinced that it was true.


    Nan Xun turned to her and noticed the preupied look on her face. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± he asked curiously.


    ¡°Hm? Ah, nothing, no.¡± Jun Huang shook her head, but it wasn¡¯t as determined as she would like it to be. She didn¡¯t have concrete evidence proving that Qi Chen was Prince Duan¡¯s son instead of the emperor¡¯s. The implications were too many for her to voice her doubt now.


    Nan Xun and Qi Yun couldn¡¯t read her thoughts. They assumed that Jun Huang was simply distracted because she was tired from the training. Besides, there were many things stopping them from reaching the same conclusion as Jun Huang¡¯s.


    If Consort Zhen had been pregnant with Prince Duan¡¯s child, why would the emperor disregarded everything to put her in his harem? Prince Duan wasn¡¯t someone who couldn¡¯t protect his own wife and son. And even though Prince Duan and Consort Zhen had met up in private, they did have a troubled history. Prince Duan was still holding a grudge against Consort Zhen.


    It also didn¡¯t make sense for Prince Duan to go against the emperor for one woman. In Northern Qi, even getting involved with a pce maid or eunuch was a capital offense, let alone for a prince and a consort to have an affair.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think Prince Duan will throw everything away for a woman who has betrayed him and married someone else,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions. That won¡¯t help.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded in agreement.


    ¡°With that said, Prince Duan did meet with Consort Zhen in secret,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I can¡¯t think of any other exnation for once lovers like them to meet each other in a brothel. Qi Chen must have been the missing link.¡±


    Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang with an eyebrow raised. Now he knew what Jun Huang¡¯s spection was.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have any evidence backing ourselves up; no one would believe us,¡± said Nan Xun. He thought that Jun Huang had made things tooplicated. ¡°Besides, Prince Duan and Consort Zhen are both cunning and experienced. We are lucky to have caught them this time. We don¡¯t know if we will be able to catch them meeting up again.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond. Nan Xun could tell he had been too forceful. He opened his mouth to apologize, but Jun Huang didn¡¯t give him the chance. She turned to Qi Yun and said, ¡°We won¡¯t be able to get an answer simply by talking. What about your mother, Your Highness? Have you found anything?¡±


    Her tone was casual, but Qi Yun¡¯s hand trembled around his teacup, spilling tea all over his fingers.


    Jun Huang could tell something was wrong, but she didn¡¯t point it out. She pretended to not notice Qi Yun¡¯s reaction and waited for him to answer.

 Chapter 139

    Chapter 139: Qionglin Banquet


    cing his teacup on the table, Qi Yun nodded with an impassive expression. He swallowed down the barrage of words threatening toe out of his mouth and said with feign nonchnce, ¡°I have found some clues, but the answer isn¡¯t clear yet. I¡¯ll keep on looking.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She could tell that Qi Yun was in a dark mood. He was clearly troubled by whatever he found in his investigation. She looked up at the sun and said, ¡°We have discussed what we can. If you have some time, how about we take a walk in the back garden? Your Highness may think that Prince Nan Xun didn¡¯t care much about the manor, but in the garden there are a good variety of rare nts you cannot acquire even if you have the money...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Nan Xun cut Jun Huang off and gave her a look. ¡°Today there are a few workers here to maintain the garden. We can¡¯t really allow guests to enter.¡±


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t heard anything about that, but she knew Nan Xun must have lied for a reason. She kept quiet.


    Qi Yun wasn¡¯t paying attention. He looked up at Nan Xun and put on a stilted smile. ¡°That¡¯s quite alright. I don¡¯t enjoy wandering in the garden much anyway. It¡¯s not a very productive use of my time.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled awkwardly. ¡°That¡¯s a shame. I realize that I should train more as well. I won¡¯t keep Your Highness here.¡±


    Before Qi Yun could say anything, she walked to the courtyard and started practicing the moves again.


    There was a bone deep tiredness in Qi Yun¡¯s gait. He couldn¡¯t stay any longer. ¡°It¡¯s about time,¡± he said, cupping his hands at Nan Xun. ¡°There are matters I have to attend to in the Court of Judicial Review. Please excuse me.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and pointed at Jun Huang. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to tell her you¡¯re leaving?¡±


    Qi Yun followed Nan Xun¡¯s gaze and pulled his lips into a smile. He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve always known that gentleman Feng is an intelligent man with great talent,¡± he said wistfully. ¡°Now I can see that his resolve is also unmatched by others. It¡¯s a good thing that he¡¯s been training hard. I won¡¯t bother him further. Farewell, brother.¡±


    He turned to leave, his shoulder brushing against Nan Xun¡¯s.


    Jun Huang stopped to watch Qi Yun walk away. When she turned back, Nan Xun hade to her side.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jun Huang asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s preupied,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°It¡¯s not going to help him if he stays here. He probably wants to be alone for a while.¡±


    Jun Huang could tell what Nan Xun was implying: she shouldn¡¯t have asked Qi Yun about his investigation on his mother¡¯s death. She opened her mouth for a retort, but Nan Xun knew what she was going to say and beat her to it.


    ¡°Qi Yun must have made more progress than we expected. The cat is out of the bag.¡± His tone was worried and heavy.


    Jun Huang stilled. She thought back to what she and Nan Xun had found out. The truth was too cruel for Qi Yun, so she kept it from him. She only told Qi Yun to look into those who reside in the pce.


    She had thought that the emperor must have gotten rid of anyone who knew about the truth, and yet...


    ¡°Do you mean that there are still witnesses the emperor has not taken care of?¡±


    Nan Xun gave her a nonmittal smile and said, ¡°There might be. Besides, Do you really think that Qi Yun would only look within the pce? If we could find that old maid, he could as well.¡±


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t convinced, but Qi Yun was clearly troubled. No matter what he had found, it rattled him deeply. If he wasn¡¯t going to say anything, however, Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to ask him. She was no longer the princess she had once been.


    Jun Huang sat down and drank some tea. What would happen if Qi Yun knew that the emperor had been behind his mother¡¯s death? She couldn¡¯t imagine it. She knew that Qi Yun had always looked up to the emperor. If he knew the truth, it would destroy him.


    Nan Xun had misinterpreted her silence. He thought that Jun Huang was still mad at him for cutting her off. He decided to talk it out with her. ¡°When we were talking about Prince Duan, I only stopped you because we don¡¯t know enough toe up with a theory yet. It¡¯s nothing personal.¡±


    Jun Huang blinked at him. She didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to apologize. She chuckled. ¡°I didn¡¯t take it as an attack. I know you¡¯re right. What we should do now is to find evidence, not making assumptions.¡±


    Nan Xun let out a sigh of relief. He was d she didn¡¯t take offence. His smile deepened and his heart felt lighter.


    Jun Huang was still worried about Consort Zhen and Prince Duan¡¯s secret meeting, and the fact that Qi Yun had found something that troubled him. Her eyebrows remained closely knitted.


    Nan Xun knew this was how Jun Huang always was. If you stopped her from dwelling on things, she would be unsettled. She never stopped thinking. Someone like her cared deeply about the world. She tackled all injustice and unfairness in the world headon with a calm smile and a straight back. Not everyone could do that.


    Nothing in the world could keep her down. She worried too much. She didn¡¯t have room in her heart for another person.


    Nan Xun sighed. What he wouldn¡¯t give to be Jun Huang¡¯s support! He wanted to keep her safe. He wanted to protect her beautiful smile. He wanted her to not have to feel the suffering in the world.


    He wished that within Jun Huang¡¯s eyes was gentle feeling rather than cold calction. He wanted her to feel safe being vulnerable.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Jun Huang asked. Nan Xun had been staring at her for a while.


    Nan Xun turned to her. His musings had filled his heart with a bitter feeling. That was the kind of woman Jun Huang was. If she was any different, many would have overlooked her. Perhaps he would not have noticed her either.


    Nan Xun shook his head and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m simply wondering when you¡¯ll be good enough to defend yourself.¡±


    In a few days, there would be a national banquet in the imperial city. It was known as the Qionglin Banquet ¨C a celebration for the schrs who stood out in the metropolitan exam. To congratte them for earning a spot on the list of excellent schrs after all the hard work.


    The banquet was always held in summer. It was a state event. It never urred to Jun Huang that she should go, but Nan Xun insisted that she had to attend with him.


    ¡°It¡¯s a state banquet held for the courtiers,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°It¡¯s not a ce for a peasant like me.¡±


    Nan Xun arched an eyebrow at her. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not going?¡± He ended his sentence with a lilt.


    Jun Huang looked at him questioningly. Nan Xun sighed. ¡°Do you still remember Zhang Yuan?¡±


    Jun Huang thought back to the poor schr living at her ce. She didn¡¯t need any further reminder for her to understand what Nan Xun was trying to say. ¡°Right. How did I forget about him?¡±


    After their chance meeting at the temple, Zhang Yuan had fallen hard for Wan¡¯er. Wan¡¯er was a princess, though, while Zhang Yuan was a peasant. They hadn¡¯t had a chance to meet.


    Now, Zhang Yuan had earned top rank in the exam. And Wan¡¯er would be there at the banquet. It was said that the emperor was going to find a good husband for Wan¡¯er then.


    ¡°That¡¯s all the more reason for me to stay back,¡± said Jun Huang.


    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Xun was surprised. He thought that Jun Huang would want to help bring the two together, but instead Jun Huang was even more determined to not go.


    ¡°I have decided to not give Princess Wan¡¯er any false hope. I should try to see her as little as possible. Besides, Zhang Yuan is a talented man who cares deeply. He adores Princess Wan¡¯er. They seemed to connect well thest time they met. They will make a good couple. There¡¯s no need for me to intervene. Might as well let Zhang Yuan prove himself at the banquet. Then maybe Princess Wan¡¯er will fall for him.¡±


    Nan Xun sighed. ¡°As you wish.¡±


    Jun Huang suddenly shot up to her feet, startling Nan Xun. He looked up at her in confusion, wondering what she was going to do.


    ¡°I should go back to my ce. Zhang Yuan is too honest for his own good. If we want him to stand out at the banquet, I should talk to him myself.¡±


    With that, she walked outside. Nan Xun was going to follow, but his housekeeper asked him to go try on his clothes for the banquet. He sighed and let Jun Huang go.


    Back to her ce, Jun Huang ran into Little Girl at the door. Little Girl had gone out to buy some daily necessities. She ran up to Jun Huang and asked, ¡°Why has gentleman Feng returned today?¡±


    ¡°Is Zhang Yuan still in the east wing?¡± Jun Huang asked without stopping her strides.


    Little Girl nodded. ¡°For some reason, gentleman Zhang Yuan has been staying in his room the past couple of days. He¡¯s been eating less as well. I wonder if he¡¯s sick.¡±


    Jun Huang slowed to a halt. ¡°Really?¡±

 Chapter 140

    Chapter 140: Arranged Marriage


    Little Girl nodded. She wondered why Jun Huang reacted so strongly. Jun Huang hummed and told Little to leave her.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t put her worries aside. She went to the east wing.


    Before she entered the room, she heard Zhang Yuan reciting the book he was reading. Jun Huang stayed in the hallway for a moment before leaving with a sigh.


    Zhang Yuan had obviously set his mind to proving himself at the Qionglin Banquet. There was no need for Jun Huang to intervene. One could not fake intelligence forever. The only thing Zhang Yuan could depend on to stand out was his own knowledge.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t have a reason to take this opportunity away from him.


    Zhang Yuan put down the book he was reading. He thought he had heard something. When he walked out of his room, however, there was no one around. He scratched his head. He must have heard it wrong. He returned to his room, picked up the book, and continued reading. He would prove himself to everyone at the banquet... especially to her.


    He could still remember the young woman standing under the cherry tree. Every little change in her expression captivated him. He had been on his own for more than twenty years, and yet he fell so readily for a woman who was of a higher status. His heart skipped a beat every time he thought of her.


    Outside the window flowers and leaves fell from the sky. Inside the room smoke wound its way up from the sandalwood incense to the ceiling. Zhang Yuan recited words of ancient sages with his hands behind his back. A breeze swept in and brought his hair into the air. He was dressed in peasants¡¯ clothes, but there was a graceful air around him that was unique to schrs. It was pleasing to be in his presence.


    The Qionglin Banquet was an important state event. The emperor held the banquet for hundreds of military and schr officials and, more importantly, for the schrs who had earned a spot on the list of excellent schrs. The one who ranked first in this exam was a peasant ¨C Zhang Yuan.


    The emperor was pleased. He raised his cup to Zhang Yuan. ¡°Our top schr is a handsome young man. What do you want to say about your achievement? What words of encouragement do you have for your peers?¡±


    Zhang Yuan parted his robe and knelt down in the main hall. ¡°This gentleman was able toe to this imperial city because of the many nights I spent on studying under candlelight. I was able to realize my ambitions because Your Majesty has ruled Northern Qi with a kind heart and a sure hand.¡±


    Zhang Yuan was on his knees, but his posture was still dignified, which the emperor appreciated. After a short pause, the emperor said, ¡°There are a number of things in life that are worth celebrating. The first is earning a spot in the metropolitan exam; you have already earned the top rank. The second is meeting an old friend in a different city; as someone as kind as you are, you must have a good number of close friends. Thest is getting married to a beautiful woman. A talented man like you must have been married already, have you not?¡±


    Zhang Yuan rubbed his fingers together. A moment passed before he looked up with a faint smile tugging his lips. ¡°This gentleman has not married yet.¡±


    That surprised the emperor. Zhang Yuan was a handsome young man, and he had proven himself to be talented by earning the title of top schr and entering the pce. There must be quite a lot of women who adored him. Why had he not married yet?


    ¡°There is someone I have fallen for,¡± Zhang Yuan added.


    ¡°Ah, the official may tell me who it is you have fallen for. If it¡¯s a good match to you, I will arrange a marriage for you.¡±


    It was clear that Zhang Yuan had earned the emperor¡¯s affection.


    Zhang Yuan looked at Wan¡¯er, who was sitting next to the emperor. Noticing his gaze, Wan¡¯er let out a quietugh and looked away, unwilling to spare Zhang Yuan another nce.


    ¡°This official adores her,¡± said Zhang Yuan. ¡°But I¡¯m afraid she doesn¡¯t reciprocate my feelings.¡±


    The emperor frowned. ¡°That can¡¯t be true. You are the top schr. Why would a woman not ept your affection? Besides, if I arrange the marriage for you, she will not go against my will.¡±


    Zhang Yuan bent down and knocked his head against the floor. ¡°The one this official loves is none other than Princess Wan¡¯er. This official knows I came from a humble background. I intended to keep my feelings for her to myself. But... with her here, it would be cowardly of me to not say anything.¡±


    The emperor nced at his beloved daughter before turning to the young top schr kneeling on the floor. Heughed and turned to Wan¡¯er. ¡°The top schr has given me a challenge, Wan¡¯er. Royal Father has promised to arrange a marriage between him and the woman he loves. I didn¡¯t know the one he loves is you. What about...¡±


    Wan¡¯er looked at Zhang Yuan, then at the guests attending the banquet. The ethereal gentleman who had always upied her mind was nowhere to be seen. Her heart sank. She let out a soundlessugh and said, ¡°The top schr is knowledgeable. There is very few men in the world like him. It is Wan¡¯er¡¯s luck to be the object of his affection. I will let Royal Father make the decision for me.¡±


    ¡°Good, good! Then I hereby announce that Wan¡¯er is to be married to the top schr. Now I can rest easy knowing my beloved daughter has found a good husband.¡± The emperor raised his cup in salute. His appreciation of Zhang Yuan was clear in the tone.


    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± Zhang Yuan kowtowed again. He couldn¡¯t suppress his smile.


    At the end of the banquet, the other guests went up to Zhang Yuan to congratte him for getting the woman of his dream. Zhang Yuan thanked them one by one.


    Nan Xun remained seated at his table, drinking wine with an aloof expression. When he was thinking about leaving, Wan¡¯er came up to him.


    Nan Xun looked at her with his fingers around the wine cup. He didn¡¯t say anything. His raised eyebrow was the only indication that he had noticed her. When Wan¡¯er was close enough for him to see her delicate shoes, he got to his feet and fixed his sleeves. ¡°Congrattion, Wan¡¯er.¡±


    The corners of Wan¡¯er¡¯s mouth twitched. She let out a sigh as she darted her eyes to Zhang Yuan, who was surrounded by a group of men. She looked down to hide her sorrow. ¡°Wan¡¯er can tell that brother Nan is friendly with gentleman Feng. Yesterday, sister-inw told me that brother Nan has gotten injured because of gentleman Feng, and gentleman Feng has been staying in your manor to take care of you. I wonder if brother Nan is feeling better?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Nan Xun said, looking straight into Wan¡¯er¡¯s eyes like he could see through her.


    Unable to stand the pressure, Wan¡¯er admitted, ¡°Wan¡¯er doesn¡¯t love the top schr. There¡¯s one man and one man alone I love, but he doesn¡¯t care for me at all. I ept Royal Father¡¯s offer today only because... Well, if brother Nan cares about Wan¡¯er, please pass down a message to him for me.¡±


    Nan Xun looked around. Good thing that no one had noticed their conversation. He hadn¡¯t expected Wan¡¯er to be this straightforward. ¡°What message?¡±


    ¡°If he is willing, Wan¡¯er will dly throw away everything for him. What I want is merely for him to look at me.¡± Wan¡¯er choked out a sob. She could not forget the graceful figure Feng Baiyu cut ¨C His faint smile when his head was lowered. His bright eyes when he turned around to look at her. Someone like him should never exist in the world. A banished god such as him was someone no one could attain, but everyone couldn¡¯t help coveting.


    Nan Xun was at a loss of what to say in face of Wan¡¯er¡¯s deration of love. It took a moment for him to find the words. ¡°Is it worth it to throw everything away for a man as untouchable as the moon?¡±


    Wan¡¯er curved her lips into a smile. She lifted her chin in remembrance. Moonlight hit the side of her face, her hairpin, her light yellow clothes. The dangling ornament on her hair waved gently. ¡°If it¡¯s him, then nothing is too heavy a price. When he smiles, he looks like he¡¯s been blessed by the gods. How can I question if anything I do is worth it? My only wish is to stay by his side.¡±


    Nan Xun fell silent. His love had never been as intense as hers. It was difficult for him to indulge in tender feelings such as this after his long stay at the border. His rtionship with Jun Huang was ambiguous and vague like a strand of silk. There was a veil between them that neither of them had tried to part.


    Wan¡¯er covered up her rueful look and bowed at Nan Xun. ¡°Wan¡¯er has said more than I should have. I hope brother Nan will not me me for that. It¡¯ste now. Please send the message for me, brother Nan. Wan¡¯er will take my leave now.¡±


    She left with her servants and maids in tow. Nan Xun turned to the side and saw Zhang Yuan staring after Wan¡¯er with a tender look. The hard lines of his face softened under the moonlight.


    Perhaps this was how love was. It appeared to be aplicated web of knots and threads, but everything was as the matchmaking god Yue Lao had intended. The couple connected by his red threads were meant to be together.


    Suddenly, Nan Xun thought of the woman who was handsome in men¡¯s clothes and stunning in women¡¯s clothes. She was someone he could not give up on pursuing.


    When Nan Xun returned to his manor, Jun Huang was watching the moon in the garden. He walked up to her.


    Noticing his approach, Jun Huang looked towards him and asked with a smile, ¡°Does things go as I expected?¡±


    ¡°Yes, your prediction has been urate. Zhang Yuan has gotten what he wanted. Wan¡¯er... she epted the arrangement without hesitation too.¡±


    Nan Xun kept Wan¡¯er¡¯s parting words to himself. He didn¡¯t want to burden Jun Huang further. Wan¡¯er could never be Jun Huang¡¯s wife. Since Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to hurt her, he would y the viin here and stop this hopeless love from growing in Wan¡¯er¡¯s heart.


    Jun Huang hummed. She didn¡¯t expect Wan¡¯er to ept so readily. Zhang Yuan, of course, was a better candidate for husband than she was. Jun Huang could never give Wan¡¯er a future. Wan¡¯er was right to take Zhang Yuan¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Zhang Yuan would make a good husband,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°He¡¯s an honest man who knows how to take care of people. He will not wrong Princess Wan¡¯er.¡±


    She took another sip of tea. Nan Xun frowned and took her teacup from her.


    Before Jun Huang could say anything, one of Jun Huang¡¯s servant came and said that Qi Chen asked her to meet him in the manor tomorrow. She epted and said she would be there.


    ¡°Do you know when Princess Wan¡¯er and Zhang Yuan¡¯s wedding will be?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°It¡¯s likely to be sometime soon. Wan¡¯er is at the age for marriage. She should have been seeking a good husband two years ago, but the emperor let her have another two years.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. The moon was now hidden behind a patch of dark clouds. She got to her feet. ¡°It¡¯ste. I¡¯m retiring back to my room.¡±


    Nan Xun stood up and watched her make her way to her building through the green stone path. Her turquoise robe waved and fluttered as her hair danced in the air. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t look away from her.

 Chapter 141

    Chapter 141: Truth behind the Casual Words


    The next morning, Jun Huang went to Prince Chen Manor. The page boy greeted her at the door, and the housekeeper stopped to wee her as well. It was unusual for a strategist to garner so much respect from the servants.


    ¡°Here for the prince, gentleman Feng?¡± asked the housekeeper.


    Jun Huang nodded with her eyes lowered. ¡°Yes. I hope the housekeeper can tell me where the prince is.¡±


    ¡°The prince is in the garden. Gentleman Feng may go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Much appreciated,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile. She cupped her hands at the housekeeper before making her way to the garden. Her turquoise robe brushed against the green shoots under her feet. Morning dew left dark patches on the fabric.


    Even though Qi Chen was now familiar with how Jun Huang looked, he still couldn¡¯t help but be struck by her elegance every time he saw her.


    ¡°What has Your Highness asked me to be here for?¡± Jun Huang asked with a smile.


    Qi Chen invited Jun Huang to take a seat before saying, ¡°Does Brother Feng know that Royal Father has arranged a marriage between Wan¡¯er and the top schr?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°Princess Wan¡¯er is a goddess among women. It is worth celebrating for her to find a good husband.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded in agreement. ¡°Zhang Yuan is someone with real talent, and he seems like the honest type. I don¡¯t think he will wrong Wan¡¯er. There are two things I asked you here for. First is to discuss with you if we should recruit Zhang Yuan. Second is to ask you if you are willing to take charge of Wan¡¯er¡¯s wedding. There are many preparations to be made. You already have experience in holding a wedding. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Zhang Yuan is going to marry Princess Wan¡¯er. He will fall into ce without us doing anything. As for the wedding, if Your Highness is willing to ce your trust in me, this gentleman is more than willing to take the responsibility.¡± Jun Huang glossed over the issue with Zhang Yuan¡¯s allegiance. As for Wan¡¯er¡¯s wedding, Jun Huang did believe that she should help. She could not reciprocate Wan¡¯er¡¯s feelings, and she had hurt Wan¡¯er because of the circumstances preventing her from telling the truth.


    Jun Huang left after talking to Qi Chen for a few more minutes. She decided to visit Zhang Yuan back at her ce. It made sense that she should congratte Zhang Yuan in person.


    She happened to run into Zhang Yuan at the door. Zhang Yuan knew Jun Huang had been staying in Prince Nan Manor. He was therefore a little surprised by her presence. He ran up to her with a smile he couldn¡¯t hide even if he had wanted to.


    ¡°Congrattion,¡± Jun Huang said in a teasing tone, her lips curved into a faint smile.


    Zhang Yuan blushed. He cleared his throat and said, ¡°Is the gentleman back for something urgent?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and led Zhang Yuan to the garden. Zhang Yuan fell into steps a little behind her, waiting for her to get into business. After the time for a pot of tea to brew, Jun Huang said, ¡°The situation in the court has be clearer now. Since you are going to marry Princess Wan¡¯er, you have to make up your mind about Qi Chen. I¡¯m not sure what your goal is, but...¡±


    ¡°Gentleman Feng is being needlessly formal with me,¡± Zhang Yuan hurriedly said, worried that Jun Huang would misunderstand where his loyaltyy. ¡°This gentleman has never forgotten how gentleman Feng helped me out of my misery. You are my Bo Le. If not for you, I would still be a secret kept in the corner of a dark room. I wouldn¡¯t be able to earn a spot on the list of top schrs, and I wouldn¡¯t have a chance to meet Princess Wan¡¯er, let alone to marry her. I will never forget what you have done for me. The gentleman can be sure of my loyalty.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a relieved sigh. It was fortunate that Zhang Yuan wasn¡¯t someone who blindly sought out power and fortune. She spent some more time talking to Zhang Yuan before bidding him farewell. She had a wedding to prepare for.


    Before she left, she took a piece of blood jade off her waist and handed it to Zhang Yuan with a small smile. ¡°I¡¯ve left my room in a hurry today, and I wasn¡¯t sure what I should give you as a gift. If you are willing, please ept this.¡±


    Zhang Yuan was going to turn her down, but he couldn¡¯t possibly do so after hearing what Jun Huang had said. He took the jade and thanked her before carefully putting the jade away.


    It was a sunny day. Jun Huang reminded him, ¡°Princess Wan¡¯er is a young woman after all. If you have time today, visit her and take her on a walk. She will be appreciate the gesture.¡±


    ¡°Gentleman Feng is right.¡±


    Once Jun Huang had left, Zhang Yuan went to the princess¡¯s manor, which had been vacant until Wan¡¯er moved in after the emperor arranged the marriage. She would stay there until the wedding.


    In order to make Wan¡¯er give up on Jun Huang once and for all, Qi Chen ordered a man to tell Wan¡¯er that her wedding would be arranged by Jun Huang. What little hope left in her heart that Jun Huang might have a change of heart was quickly distinguished. She didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to deal her this final blow.


    Wan¡¯er had thrown away her reservations and put aside her pride as a woman, and yet she wasn¡¯t able to get Jun Huang to stop and look at her properly. She didn¡¯t resent Jun Huang for that, but she was regretful that all her affection had been in vain.


    When Zhang Yuan arrived at the manor, Wan¡¯er was sitting in the hallway looking at the crabapple flowers in the garden, her eyes unfocused. Puzzled, he slowly approached Wan¡¯er. His footsteps jerked her out of her thoughts. She looked up and saw Zhang Yuan.


    Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t expect Wan¡¯er to turn this way so suddenly. His heart skipped a beat and he lost hisposure. His helpless look was endearing.


    Wan¡¯er let out a quiet chuckle as she got to her feet. She bowed slightly in greeting.


    Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t bear to see her bend her back. He hurriedly helped her up. With his eyes on Wan¡¯er, he opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself for fear of offending her.


    ¡°What has gentleman Zhange here for?¡± asked Wan¡¯er, breaking the silence. She looked up to meet his gaze.


    In panic, Zhang Yuan took out a trinket and ced it on the stone table next to him. He fumbled with his fingers as he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what the princess like, but I heard the servant said you seemed troubled. Therefore I bought a little something, hoping to make the princess happy. I will be satisfied with having seen the princess smile.¡±


    Wan¡¯er looked at Zhang Yuan, then at the item on the table. It was a doll with a smiley face. Its body was shaped into a cylinder with a round bottom. When it was pushed, it swung back to its original position rather than falling down. It always reverted back to its upright position.


    As someone who had been staying in the pce, Wan¡¯er had never seen anything like that. It was a novelty for her. She yed with the doll for quite a while before looking up at Zhang Yuan with a grin, ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s called a tilting doll,¡± said Zhang Yuan. ¡°It¡¯s amon toy within peasant households. If the princess likes it, I will go buy some more tomorrow.¡±


    Wan¡¯er felt her heart soften. She had never known the feeling of being cherished. The pain caused by her unrequited love for Jun Huang seemed to lessen by a little. She sighed and pulled her lips into a small smile, nodding without a word.


    Jun Huang had always felt guilty toward Wan¡¯er. She worried that Wan¡¯er would waste too much time on her. Now that Wan¡¯er had found someone worth loving, she was more than happy for her.


    It was getting close to the wedding. There were still a lot of arrangements to be made. Jun Huang was so busy that sometimes she would disappear from the manor for an entire day.


    With the experience holding a wedding for Qi Chen, she was a lot more at ease this time. The senior officials in the pce offered their help as well. Shepleted her tasks all ording to her n.


    Even with so many responsibilities upying her mind, she still thought about her brother whenever she stopped working. Months had passed. She wondered where Jun Hao was. She still hadn¡¯t heard anything about him, which worried her.


    She was suddenly reminded of amon saying: Loneliness grew louder in a joyous crowd. She never realized how true the saying until now. She had been wandering the world like a kite with its string cut. She didn¡¯t know where she would return to after everything.


    When Nan Xun came back to the manor, Jun Huang was sitting in the hallway with a wistful expression. The orange glow of the candlelight somehow made her sorrow look even more profound.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± asked Nan Xun. He walked up to her side. ¡°It¡¯s a good day. If you are free, how abouting with me for a walk?¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. Why would Nan Xun suddenly want to go on a walk at night? She, however, was stressed. A walk might help alleviate the burden on her shoulders. She nodded and walked side by side with Nan Xun.


    At night saw brisk winds sweeping through the city. Nan Xun frowned at how little Jun Huang was wearing. He wanted to return to his manor to fetch Jun Huang a robe, but Jun Huang turned him down. ¡°It¡¯s early summer,¡± she said with a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not going to get any colder. Don¡¯t concern yourself too much with my health. It¡¯s unnecessary.¡±


    Nan Xun fell silent and put aside his worries. They walked along the street, watching the prosperous imperial city. No one would ever describe the ce as deste.


    They made their way to the edge of the moat. Someone had ced antern on the river. The lonesome candle floated along the river, its light wavering. A gentle breeze would have put out the fire.


    Nan Xun came to a halt. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know why he had stopped walking, but she followed suit. Her frosty eyes looked like marbles under the moonlight. Nan Xun could drown himself in her gaze. Only then did Nan Xun fully understand why Wan¡¯er had been consumed by her urge to stay on Jun Huang¡¯s side.


    ¡°If you were to marry someone, who would it be?¡± Nan Xun asked, his tone carefully casual. ¡°What kind of person would she be?¡±


    Jun Huang blinked. This was purely a hypothetical question. The first person shing through her mind was Nan Xun, but she knew it was an impossible dream. She snorted. It was already a miracle that they had be friends. She didn¡¯t dare to hope for more.


    She huffed out a bitterugh. ¡°Someone I can spend my life with. They don¡¯t have to be beautiful. I seek only theirpany. I wish only for them to keep me in their thoughts. And I hope they are someone with a pure heart. I hope they never have to get involved in the troubles we face in this mundane world.¡±

 Chapter 142

    Chapter 142: Spies


    Jun Huang ducked her head to hide the emotions shing through her eyes. A faint smile tugged at her lips. She stared at the pitch ck river and said, ¡°If possible, I want a love that willst for a lifetime. It doesn¡¯t have to be with an important official or someone from a rich family. I hope only to have apanion when I retired to somewhere peaceful. I hope to live freely and stay true to my heart.¡±


    Nan Xun was silent for a moment. He tried for augh, but it sounded bitter. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t want to lead a peaceful life? Yet we are trapped in such chaotic time. We will never be truly at peace.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded without a word, but in her heart there was a storm brewing. There was an answer she would like to get, but she struggled to find the right question.


    With the darkness of the night as her cover, she gave Nan Xun a smile and asked jokingly, ¡°If you were a woman, would you be willing to be my wife?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes crinkled. He responded with a crooked smile, ¡°I don¡¯t have to be a woman. As long as you are willing to take my hand as your husband, I am more than willing to marry you as a man.¡±


    Jun Huang averted her gaze. She knew how Nan Xun felt about her. She could have joked back to Nan Xun, but ¨C


    Jun Huang sighed. With her eyes fixed on the river, she said, ¡°The world is not yet in peace. Our words can¡¯t be anything other than jests.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t dare to continue with this line of conversation. She was nning to provoke a war between Northern Qi and Eastern Wu! If that led to lives being lost and people losing their homes... someone with a strong moralpass like Nan Xun would never forgive her. How could she ever hope for a future with him?


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t read Jun Huang¡¯s thoughts. Her response worried him. Was Jun Huang still possessed with revenge and had no room in her heart for anyone else? A hint of hurt shed through his eyes. He didn¡¯t say anything.


    The change in his expression did not escape Jun Huang¡¯s attention. She suddenly felt at loss. Everything she had done to this point was for her revenge, but how would she feel if Northern Qi as they knew it was destructed in the process? Should she really go through with her n? Northern Qi was Qi Chen¡¯s home. If she destroyed the prosperity Nan Xun had risked his life to protect, what would he think about her?


    Nan Xun could tell Jun Huang was troubled. She always put up walls whenever she started doubting herself. His heart ached for her.


    He tightened his fists and swore to himself that he would help her achieve her goal despite his responsibilities as a general. He would help her even if he would be aughing stock for generations toe.


    Jun Huang suddenly realized how quiet it had been. She turned away from Nan Xun and looked up. The bright moon hung high in the sky, surrounded by a great many stars. The world looked peaceful like this, and time seemed to havee to a halt.


    It took a moment for Jun Huang to recover. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from agonizing over her choices. She took a deep breath and schooled her expression into one of indifference. She put on a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°I need some time on my own today. Please excuse me. I¡¯ll return to my ce for the night.¡± She cupped her hands and walked away.


    She walked with silent steps and navigated through the streets on autopilot. She was familiar enough with the city to not have to think about where she was going. Under the moonlight, everything seemed to be glowing a faint silver light.


    Jun Huang turned into an alley. The moonlight wasn¡¯t bright enough to illuminate the path. She slowed down her pace and kept to the side, her robe brushing against the wall, casting a faint shadow.


    ¡°...Western Que...Northern Qi...¡±


    A man¡¯s voice broke the silence. Jun Huang frowned and followed the sound while holding her breath.


    Her training with Nan Xun had not been in vain. She was able to make her way to the man without making a sound.


    She let her ears guide her to a house. Through the half-open door she could see there were three people inside. Even from afar, Jun Huang could tell that they were well-trained in martial arts.


    She stayed hidden at the corner of the wall, as silent as a ghost. She was undetectable.


    ¡°You both are cowards,¡± said the man who had his back to the door. He was dressed in all ck. ¡°It¡¯s such a simple task. Yet you oveplicate it.¡±


    ¡°Simple?¡± another man scoffed. He had a face that demanded respect. It was obvious that he considered hispanion a fool. ¡°Then how about you do it on your own? Do you really think it¡¯s that easy to do what we need to do in the imperial city of Northern Qi? This is the city where the emperor resides in. If you are found out, our enemies will be alerted.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± said the man standing by the authoritative man. ¡°Do you really think it¡¯s that easy to infiltrate the pce and poison the emperor?¡±


    The man in ck huffed. He didn¡¯t care if they would alert anyone in Northern Qi. ¡°What if they are alerted? Our spies have infiltrated the pce. Once the emperor is poisoned and a civil war is started, we will be able to catch them off guard.¡±


    ¡°We have to think long and hard about what to do,¡± said the authoritative man. ¡°Northern Qi is not like Western Que. Western Que had a traitor amongst their rank. Northern Qi doesn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°How are they any different?¡± The man in ck snorted derisively. ¡°Qi Chen and his brothers have been at one another¡¯s throat for the throne. I¡¯ll say it¡¯s exactly like how Western Que was.¡±


    They continued to argue. Jun Huang clenched her fists, her breathing quickening in fury. Her eyes went icy and her jaw tightened. There was nothing she wanted more than to strangle these Eastern Wu scums right now.


    Her heart ached at the mention of what had happened in Western Que. If not for her traitor of a brother, her beloved country would not have fallen overnight. She had woken up from nightmares of that night many times. She wanted to kill all those despicable men from Eastern Wu in return for the lives that had been lost. She wanted them to experience for themselves what it felt like to lose their country.


    She only realized that her nails had bitten into her palms when she felt the warm blood streaming down her hands. It took a moment for her to break from her thirst for blood. She knew she couldn¡¯t do anything now. She didn¡¯t know the identities of these men, and she didn¡¯t know how well-trained they were.


    ¡°It¡¯s better to be safe,¡± said the authoritative man in a determined voice. His tone allowed no argument. ¡°We are not in a hurry.¡±


    The man in ck was not pleased, but he didn¡¯t dare to argue further. He bit down his words.


    In the silence, he heard a faint rustle. He narrowed his eyes and looked outside.


    Jun Huang had brushed against some fallen leaves. The rustling sound was barely audible, but the men inside the house were trained fighters. They heard it loud and clear.


    From the moving shadows she knew she had been spotted. She held her breath and moved away slowly.


    Cold sweat dropped from the side of her face. It made a sound when it hit the ground. The men quickened their pace and got to the front door.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t have enough time to escape. She gripped her foldable fan. This was the only weapon she had on her.


    The three men showed up before her. The authoritative man appeared to be the oldest, and it was clear from the way the other two deferred to him that he was the leader. Once he saw that Jun Huang was alone and noticed how slim she was, he let out a mockingugh. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you were listening in on our conversation, but it doesn¡¯t matter. Since you have heard us, I¡¯m afraid we cannot let you live.¡±


    The man took a step forward and struck at Jun Huang with his palm. Before the hitnded, Jun Huang pushed her foot against the ground and flew backward by a few meters, escaping his deadly strike. The man didn¡¯t expect a frail-looking man like Jun Huang to be a trained fighter. He put aside his first impression of her and looked at her seriously.


    His cold gaze were frighteningly focused. Jun Huang tensed up. She could see the killing intent in his eyes. It was going to be a difficult fight.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time she faced her foes on her own, but she had been getting used to having Nan Xun on her side. Without him, she suddenly felt off-kilter. She, however, was d that Nan Xun wasn¡¯t here. She had burdened him too many times. She would get out of this mess on her own tonight.


    The leading man didn¡¯t give Jun Huang too much time to think. His drawn sword reflected the cool moonlight. It was blindingly bright. Jun Huang whipped the fan open to shield her eyes.


    The man seized the opportunity to stab at Jun Huang. She used the fan as a shield and parried his attack. She staggered because of the sheer force put into the hit. It took a few steps for her to regain her bnce. Her fan, on the contrary, remained undamaged.


    In theory foldable fans shouldn¡¯t be able to match the power of swords, but Jun Huang¡¯s fan was made of sago palm wood. It was forged after countless failed attempts. There was no other fans like it. Jun Huang was a woman of high taste. She wanted only the finest things. She had gone through great lengths to acquire the fan.


    Jun Hung managed to hold onto her fan despite the strong force the man had put into his attack. The other two men realized that Jun Huang wasn¡¯t the easy prey they had expected her to be. They exchanged a look beforeing at Jun Huang with their weapons drawn.


    The alley was narrow. It was difficult for the two men to navigate through at the same time. They bumped into each other as they made their way to Jun Huang.


    Maybe this location can be used to my advantage, Jun Huang thought.


    The narrow alleyway was a double-edge sword. The trio would be tripping over each other as they chased after her. Jun Huang, on the contrary, was on her own. She could flee at her own pace.


    She had always been agile. After her training with Nan Xun, she was confident that she would be able to escape these three men on her own.

 Chapter 143

    Chapter 143: Just in Time


    With a n in mind, Jun Huang pretended to be losing her strength and staggered backward. The men moved forward and struck at her with killing moves, but the alleyway stopped them from performing at their usual standards.


    Jun Huang seized the opportunity to leaped into the air and made a y at striking at them. The two younger men dodged reflexively. Jun Huang smirked and made a run for it.


    With his years of experience, however, the leading man had seen through her pretense. He propelled himself against one of hispanions¡¯ shoulder and flung himself toward Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang had not expected any of her foes to react so quickly. Without a good alternative, she stepped on the wall and tried to fly past the man.


    As if he could read Jun Huang¡¯s mind, he grabbed Jun Huang by the ankle when she moved past him and, before Jun Huang could react, throw her to the direction of hispanions. Jun Huang knocked into a pile of bamboo sticks when shended. The pile of sticks toppled to the ground, preventing Jun Huang and the three men from moving.


    The leader used his sword to cut down the bamboo sticks obstructing his way. Jun Huang got up on her elbows. She felt as if her organs had been rearranged inside her body. The immense pain made cold sweat break from her forehead, drenching her hair. She coughed and spat out a mouthful of dark blood.


    The man was going to get to her soon. Jun Huang knew that this was her only chance. She looked around and noticed a way out: There was a piece of wood protruding from the building beside her. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was something she could use to help her escape.


    Jun Huang swallowed down her difort and picked up a shorter bamboo stick to use as a crutch. She got to her feet. The leader arched an eyebrow at her and said mockingly, ¡°Got a backbone, haven¡¯t you? I didn¡¯t think you¡¯ll be able to stand up in this state.¡±


    Jun Huang spat out some blood and looked at the man with narrowed eyes. Moonlight covered the man¡¯s face with a veil, obscuring his features, but she could see how pronounced his temples were ¨C it was a clear sign that he was trained in martial arts. Popped up veins crawled along his tanned arms. She wondered how tight his grip around his sword was.


    ¡°I will not fall before you scums do.¡± Jun Huang smiled at him. It was the first time tonight that her eyes shone with the intent to kill.


    The man paused. He didn¡¯t understand the underlying message of Jun Huang¡¯s words. After a brief moment of silence, he let out a guffaw. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you truly cannot be allowed to leave this ce alive.¡±


    He struck at Jun Huang with his sword. Before the de could hit her, Jun Huang attacked the man with the bamboo stick in her hand, which had longer reach than the sword.


    The man had thought that she was merely using the stick as a support. Now he knew the true reason Jun Huang had picked it up.


    He turned sideway to dodge the attack, his attack interrupted. Taking the opportunity, Jun Huang leaped into the air and held onto the piece of protruding wood before the men could react. The two other men who had been watching their leader fight exchanged a look. One of them nodded and jumped toward Jun Huang.


    As soon as the man approached her, Jun Huang swung up and kicked him in his chest. She then threw the bamboo stick at him.


    The man was forced tond in order to dodge the bamboo stick. Jun Huang used the piece of wood as leverage and swung herself to the other side of the road. She knew that she wouldn¡¯t be able to win if she continued fighting. Before the men could catch up to her, she whipped out a few silver needles and threw them at the men.


    The needles were quick, but they weren¡¯t quicker than those men¡¯s reaction. They knocked the needles away with a whip of their wrists. Jun Huang immediately whirled around and fled.


    She ducked into another alleyway, which didn¡¯t lead to a dead end but to a broader street. The men were right at her heels. If she ran onto the street and they spotted her, there was no chance that she would be able to fight her way out. She could not win in a duel with the leader, let alone winning a fight with all three of them.


    Jun Huang made her way to a dark corner outside a house. There were piles and piles of firewood tall enough for her to hide behind as long as she stayed down. She would be able to keep an eye on the outside while she remained unseen.


    Jun Huang had disappeared from the men¡¯s view. They didn¡¯t see where she had gone. The most hot-headed one was going to rush into the alleyway to look for Jun Huang, but he was stopped by the leading man.


    The leader shook his head and looked at theplicated web of narrow paths before them. This wasn¡¯t a good ce for them to fight in.


    He gave his twopanions a pointed look and said in a aloof tone, ¡°The old proverb says that one should not chase after a bandit who has been backed into a corner. This man is quick and clever. If we continue our chase, we may note out on top. We might as well let him live for another day and discuss what we are going to do next.¡±


    The youngest man stomped his feet in annoyance, but he was in no ce to argue with the leading man. He nodded.


    When they turned around, the door to one of the houses opened.


    Their fight had made quite a lot of sound. Many households had woken up and lit theirmps. They knew, however, that themotion must have been caused by a feud between people trained in the martial arts. They didn¡¯t dare to leave the protection of their houses lest they got burned trying to satisfy their curiosity. None of them expected someone to be bold enough to open the door.


    Out came a man approaching his forty. It seemed that he had been woken up from his slumber. Dressed in an outer robe, he walked up to the three men with an annoyed expression. ¡°Who are you? Why are you here ¨C ¡±


    Before he could finish, the youngest man slit the man¡¯s throat with his sword. Blood sttered along the grey wall and formed a pool on the ground.


    The man¡¯s wife was wondering why her husband had not returned. She fixed her clothes before walking outside, just in time to witness her husband¡¯s murder. She widened her eyes in shock and fainted at the door.


    The youngest man was going to kill the woman too, but the leader stopped him with a re. The leader didn¡¯t say anything. And yet his authoritative aura was strong enough for everyone around him to feel it.


    The men threw a nce at the alley Jun Huang was hiding in. They didn¡¯t get closer, but Jun Huang flinched reflexively. The men had murdered two witnesses in cold blood. They would not hesitate to kill her as well.


    She didn¡¯t allow herself to rx, worried that she would put herself in danger again. She couldn¡¯t help feeling guilty for the deaths of the two witnesses. If not for her, they wouldn¡¯t have been killed.


    She hadn¡¯t realized that someone was approaching her from behind until the man was at her side. Panic paralyzed her for a moment. She struck at him with her fan when the man reached out for her, but the man took her fan easily.


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± whispered Nan Xun. His voice was like a calming breeze at her ear. Jun Huang let out the breath she had been holding. She realized then that both her clothes and hair was drenched in sweat.


    Nan Xun looked at the mouth of the alleyway before turning back to Jun Huang. It was the first time he had seen her this afraid. His heart ached. He never wanted to see her like this again.


    It took some time for Jun Huang to tamp down her fear. She took a deep breath. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I just remembered that you hadn¡¯t had your medicinal bath,¡± Nan Xun said. ¡°You would be so sore that you wouldn¡¯t be able to get off your bed.¡±


    His tone was calm, but his heart was filled with fear. He could tell that these three men actually intended to wait for Jun Huang toe out. What would happen if he had note for Jun Huang? He couldn¡¯t help shudder at the thought that he might not see Jun Huang again.


    Jun Huang stayed crouched down behind the firewood pile. Nan Xun frowned. He realized that Jun Huang¡¯s paleplexion wasn¡¯t due to her fear, but her injury. He stepped toward her and asked, ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and propped herself up by the wall, but her legs had gone numb from the prolonged crouching. She stumbled. Nan Xun quickly steadied her with a hand.


    Jun Huang straightened up. The metallic taste of blood rushed up her throat. She spat it out. Nan Xun¡¯s hands trembled. He asked again, ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious,¡± Jun Huang said. She took a deep breath and steadied herself. ¡°Come on.¡±


    Nan Xun was still concerned, but he knew Jun Huang was stubborn. If she said she was fine, there was nothing he could do to stop her from doing what she believed she had to do. The most he could do was to find a good doctor to check on Jun Huangter. He couldn¡¯t bear to lose her.


    Nan Xun helped Jun Huang walk to the other side of the alley.


    They came to a halt at the corner. The three men were waiting for them.

 Chapter 144

    Chapter 144: Medicine


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. They were obviously waiting for her. If Nan Xun had note, she would have to face these men on her own.


    Nan Xun was surprised by what he saw. Under the moonlight he could not make out the men¡¯s faces clearly, but he could tell how well-built they were. He pursed his lips when he thought about how Jun Huang had faced all three of them alone earlier.


    Nan Xun knew the level of training Jun Huang had received. He knew Jun Huang would be able to defend herself if there had been only one of them. Faced with all three? She didn¡¯t stand a chance. She was lucky toe out the other side with only minor injuries. Anyone else wouldn¡¯t even be able to survive.


    The youngest of the three men turned to Jun Huang with a smirk. His eyebrow jumped up when he saw Nan Xun. He didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be able to find a helper while she hid in the alleyway. They had unestimated her.


    Nan Xun knew this was a fight they could not avoid. He must protect Jun Huang from any harm, or what was the point of him being here?


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t notice the grave look on his face. She tightened her grip around her fan, the gears in her head spinning to find a way for her to be a help rather than be a burden.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t intend to let Jun Huang continue this fight. He pulled Jun Huang to the side and gestured at her to sit down. Jun Huang looked up at him questioningly.


    ¡°Stay here and don¡¯t do anything reckless. I don¡¯t know how good these people are. I may not be able to keep an eye on you the whole time. Remember to stay behind me so that I can protect you.¡±


    ¡°I can also ¨C ¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re hurt already,¡± Nan Xun cut her off, looking at Jun Huang with a firm expression. ¡°If you get in the fight and get injured further, there¡¯s no point in me being here, is there?¡±


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and nodded. She knew that Nan Xun had a point. Still, she couldn¡¯t tamp down her urge to help Nan Xun.


    She had to convince herself to stay on the sideline ¨C She was not at her best. If she insisted on getting involved, it might do more harm than good.


    Nan Xun gave her a smile and brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. He could feel a wave of killing intenting his way.


    His eyes went cold. He drew his flexible sword off his waist and whirled around to knock the attacker¡¯s long sword away.


    The youngest man didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to be this strong. He was flung to the side along with his weapon and he hit the wall with a grunt. The other two men came forward when they saw one of their own getting hurt. They put aside their pride and charged at Nan Xun together


    Nan Xun dodged their attacks easily and knocked them off with a kick to each of them.


    The men had underestimated Nan Xun and took the kicks directly. They shared a look. This was different from their fight with Jun Huang. None of them would be able to defeat Nan Xun on their own. They lunged at Nan Xun in unison.


    Nan Xun spared each of them a cold nce before blocking the attacks with his sword. He was able to keep all three of them at bay without staggering.


    The three spies from Eastern Wu were shocked at how good a fighter Nan Xun was. They shifted all their focus to Nan Xun. A mistake could mean the difference between life and death.


    Nan Xun had blocked the three swords on his own, but it required a great level of brute force. Even though he had gotten used to the weight of a red tassel spear while fighting at the border, he wasn¡¯t as packed with muscles as these men were. Gradually, sweat broke out from his forehead and dropped down from his chin.


    Noticing Nan Xun¡¯s strained look, one of the men withdrew his sword and stabbed at Nan Xun from below. Just when the de was going to break Nan Xun¡¯s skin, Nan Xun took a step to the side. The de brushed past him and hit the wall behind Nan Xun. Sparkles red up at the impact.


    Nan Xun jumped up and propelled himself forward against the wall to kick at all three of the spies. The kicks weren¡¯t forceful enough to knock them off their feet, but they were enough to make them lose their bnce. They staggered back.


    They had failed to advance even a step further into the alleyway. Nan Xun was a formidable foe. The leading man told the other two, ¡°He is not a regr soldier. There aren¡¯t a lot of people in Northern Qi who possess such skills and deep reserve of inner energy.¡±


    The leader had figured out who Nan Xun was. He decided that it was wise for them to retreat since they couldn¡¯t even get close to Nan Xun.


    The youngest man thought differently. He clenched his teeth, unwilling to give up so easily.


    He charged at Nan Xun without any regard for hispanions. Nan Xun scoffed. He knew this man was a stubborn one. Nan Xun stabbed at the man before the man could strike at him.


    The man barely dodged the attack. The ck robe he wore fluttered as he whirled around. Before he had the time to react, Nan Xun struck at him again. He was forced to move backward.


    Nan Xun¡¯s sword buried into his shoulder. Just when Nan Xun was going to end the man¡¯s life, he noticed the other two men were advancing on Jun Huang. Jun Huang raised her fan at them. Cold sweat dropped onto the ground and left dark circles beneath her feet.


    Nan Xun kicked the man before him with all his force, sending him flying. The man hit the wall before copsing onto the ground and spitting out a mouthful of dark blood.


    With a hand over her chest, Jun Huang held her fan like a sword to guard herself. She warily watched the two men approaching her. Her breathing was shallow not because she was afraid, but because she was ready to strike back at any moment.


    Nan Xun rushed toward Jun Huang and struck at the two men with a sweeping sh, sending gust of wind towards them and knocking them backward. Both of them coughed out a mouthful of blood.


    The leader could tell he wouldn¡¯t be able to hurt Nan Xun, but he couldn¡¯t ept such embarrassing defeat. He took out a dart and threw it at Jun Huang.


    The dart was finely crafted. It shone brightly under the moonlight. Nan Xun narrowed his eyes. By rotating his wrist in circle at lightning speed, he formed a shield with the sword and knocked the dart away.


    The spies had failed to hurt either Nan Xun or Jun Huang. They knew that if they did not retreat now, they would suffer a worse defeat. They might even end up getting themselves killed.


    After weighing their options, they fled the scene with their egos bruised.


    Jun Huang let out a long breath when the three men disappeared. The bubble of tension in her mind burst and her knees went weak. Nan Xun hurriedly pulled her into his arms. His heart ached when he saw how pale she was.


    ¡°You alright?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and tried her best to put on a smile. ¡°Yes.¡±


    The fact that she continued to put on a front even in this state upset him. He said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to push yourself. When there is no other people around, there¡¯s no need for you to hide your weaknesses.¡±


    Jun Huang tilted her head. She didn¡¯t know why Nan Xun was angry. Her raised eyebrow was her only response.


    She tried to stand upright, but she couldn¡¯t muster enough strength. Shey against Nan Xun for a good while before she felt steady enough to stand on her own. She walked outside with a hand against the wall.


    Nan Xun looked at her without a word. She was too weak to stand upright without support! A wave of guilt hit him. He should have walked Jun Huang back. Then she wouldn¡¯t have gotten hurt again.


    The more Nan Xun thought, the heavier his heart grew. He walked up to Jun Huang and bundled her into his arms. Jun Huang yelped in surprise and squirmed a little on reflex.


    Jun Huang slowly exhaled. Her head was light and her limbs were weak. There was no point in being stubborn. Shey against Nan Xun¡¯s chest and let him carry her.


    They were both good-looking. Jun Huang wasn¡¯t as masculine as most men, but her pale face was both gentle and handsome. Many pedestrians stopped and looked their way. A few young women covered their flushed faces as they stared at Nan Xun and Jun Huang. The subjects of everyone¡¯s attention, however, made their way to Nan Xun¡¯s manor without paying attention their surroundings.


    When they arrived at the manor, the housekeeper and a few servants were preparing dinner. The housekeeper dropped thentern in his hand in shock when he saw Nan Xun and Jun Huang. The candle inside thentern toppled and in an instant the paperntern was consumed by fire.


    When Nan Xun and Jun Huang were outside, they were surrounded by strangers. Jun Huang therefore wasn¡¯t particrly embarrassed. Now that they were inside Nan Xun¡¯s manor surrounded by people they knew, Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help feeling mortified despite her usually calm personality. She curled up and buried her flushed face into Nan Xun¡¯s chest. Nan Xun was riveted by the intimacy.


    The servants couldn¡¯t help but stop and look at them, temporarily putting aside matters they had to attend to. Moonlight gently shrouded the winding hallway with ayer of silver glow. Nan Xun held Jun Huang tight in his arms. He ordered a servant to prepare a medicinal bath before striding towards the side building.


    Once they arrived at the building, the servants had prepared the bath already. Nan Xun carefully put Jun Huang down on the empress chair next to the bath and tested the temperature of the water himself. Good, it isn¡¯t too hot.


    Nan Xun coughed and pointed at the other side of the screen. ¡°Go soak yourself inside the medicinal bath. I¡¯ll be waiting outside the room. If there¡¯s anything you need, just call out for me.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. There was finally some color on her face after a short rest on the chair. She waited until Nan Xun had left the room before she propped herself up. She was dizzy for a brief moment.


    There was no serious injury on her body. She was simply exhausted from the training during the daytime and the rage overtaking her in the evening. She would recover after some time in the medicinal bath.

 Chapter 145

    Chapter 145: New Form


    Jun Huang took off her clothes and stepped into the bath, letting her eyes drift closed. Finally she could have some peace and quiet. She thought back to what had happened earlier.


    If the needles she had thrown had been treated with poison, she would have fared much better than she had. Those men wouldn¡¯t have been able to gain the upperhand.


    She never anticipated how many needles she would need before she came to Northern Qi. The poison needles she had prepared had been used up. It was time for her to make some more.


    The ingredient she needed was prohibited, however, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to acquire them on her own. Again, she would need Nan Xun¡¯s help.


    Jun Huang got out of the bath when the water had cooled down. She dried herself and put on her clothes. When she walked out of the door, Nan Xun was waiting right outside.


    Nan Xun turned around when he heard the door open. He let out a relieved sigh when he saw that Jun Huang was looking better. He smiled at her. ¡°Feel better?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She made sure that no one was around before inviting Nan Xun in. She poured him a cup of tea once he was seated. Nan Xun could tell that something was troubling her before she even opened her mouth. He asked with a frown, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s head snapped up. She only realized then that she had failed to keep her expression in check and thus had let Nan Xun get a glimpse into her mind. She said after a long pause, ¡°I need a favor.¡±


    ¡°What favor? Just tell me. If I can help, I will dly do so.¡±


    Jun Huang had not nned to ask Nan Xun to do anything dangerous for her, but she still felt like a candy had melted in her mouth when she heard Nan Xun¡¯s response. She covered up the glee in her heart and lowered her eyes, her fingers rubbing along the rim of the teacup. ¡°I would like to ask you to acquire some herbs for me.¡±


    ¡°Herbs?¡± Nan Xun asked.


    Jun Huang nodded. She put down her teacup and took a deep breath. ¡°There¡¯s a few important ingredients I need, but they are forbidden for trade in Northern Qi. I can¡¯t buy them myself, or I¡¯ll attract others¡¯ suspicion. You are a general. You often have to acquire medicine for physical injury. I was thinking... if it¡¯s possible, can you perhaps smuggle some in along with the medicine?¡±


    Nan Xun hummed. It wasn¡¯t that difficult a request, but it could have significant repercussions. Jun Huang was a peasant here in Northern Qi. If she was found out, it would be bad for her. He needed a n to make sure that even if the herbs were found, no one would suspect that Jun Huang was involved.


    His silence was a clear sign to Jun Huang that her request wasn¡¯t as simple as she had thought. She put on a forced smile and said, ¡°If it¡¯s too much trouble, I can ask someone else ¨C ¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not too much trouble. Leave it to me. You¡¯ve saved my life before we knew each other. I¡¯m also not entirely meless for your condition now. I will do whatever I have to to get the ingredients. There are arrangements to be made. You may put your trust in me. Give me a list of things you¡¯ll need. Once I¡¯ve acquired everything, I will have them delivered to you.¡±


    In his rush, Nan Xun had put down the teacup with too much force, spilling some tea over his fingers. Jun Huang hurriedly retrieve a handkerchief and handed it to him.


    ¡°Then I will leave the matter in your capable hand,¡± Jun Huang said with her lips curved.


    ¡°No need for you to be this polite.¡± Nan Xun smiled back at her and took a sip of his tea. He teasingly said, ¡°Do you know that all the good tea in this manor has been brought to you by my servants?¡±


    Jun Huang felt her heart soften as she looked at Nan Xun¡¯s handsome face. She had been prepared to exin to Nan Xun why she needed the herbs, but Nan Xun didn¡¯t ask her anything. It was as if he had never even thought about questioning her. Jun Huang felt warmth blooming in her chest. Her smile deepened.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me what I need the herbs for?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun blinked. The question had shed through his mind, but he had never thought about asking it. Sometimes it could be difficult to convey one¡¯s true feelings with words. A simple question could be misunderstood as a show of suspicion. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to misunderstand him. He didn¡¯t want her to think that he was someone who allowed others to keep no secrets. That was why he hadn¡¯t said anything. He didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to open up to him of her own ord.


    Jun Huang chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m using the herbs to make poison needles so that I can better defend myself. I made some before I came to Northern Qi, but not enough. I hadn¡¯t expected the imperial city to be this dangerous. I don¡¯t want to be at someone else¡¯s mercy again.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t fear death, but I refuse to be killed by anyone from Eastern Wu. They ughtered my family. I have not taken my revenge yet. I will not let those viins have the satisfaction of killing me.¡±


    Jun Huang tightened her hands into fists. Her whole body started trembling in fury.


    Nan Xun frowned. He knew about Jun Huang¡¯s story, but this was the first time he saw for himself the hate Jun Huang bore toward Eastern Wu. Worried that her heart would be harmed by her anger, Nan Xun took Jun Huang¡¯s hands in his. Her fingers were so cold it was as if she had just walked out of a cooling chamber.


    Feeling warmth enveloping her hands, Jun Huang jerked awake from her memories. She took a deep breath when she saw the concerned look on Nan Xun¡¯s face. She pulled her hands away and cleared her throat.


    The awkwardness in the air was thick enough to choke her. Jun Huang was suddenly reminded of the form for a medicine she had seen from a book when she was being taught by Ole Cragfiend.


    Nan Xun had showed her kindness without asking anything back. Jun Huang decided to tell him the form. ¡°I know a different way of making medicine for physical injuries. It¡¯s more effective, and it costs less to make. It will be beneficial to your army.¡±


    Nan Xun widened his eyes in surprise, excitement shing through his expression. A better type of medicine could make a huge impact. His soldiers were still using traditional medicine, which was far from effective. It often took people dozens of days to recover from their injury. The cost was unreasonably high as well.


    Nan Xun had tried to make changes many times, but he couldn¡¯t find a better type of medicine. If there was a more effective and cheaper medicine, the resources they had could be used in other areas. The soldiers would be training and fighting in a much better condition.


    His gratitude was clear on his face. He couldn¡¯t find the words to express the current of emotions in his heart. He looked at Jun Huang with tender eyes.


    Jun Huang felt her face flushed. She cleared her throat and stood up, pretending that she was sorting through her possessions.


    ¡°If that¡¯s a sess, it will make a big difference. I thank you on behalf of all the soldiers and the officers. I¡¯ll take care of buying the herbs you need. And I¡¯ll pay for everything.¡±


    Nan Xun followed behind Jun Huang closely. His words came out in a rush because of his excitement.


    Jun Huang turned around. Realizing how close Nan Xun was standing, she took a small step back. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I just happened to think of the form. Besides, the herbs will cost quite a lot. You are careful with spending your money. There¡¯s no need for you to splurge on this. I can afford to pay you.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t let you pay,¡± Nan Xun took a step forward and said seriously. ¡°You don¡¯t know how much this has troubled me. I have to pay for the ingredients for the medicine. Don¡¯t turn me away.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m already thankful that you are willing to help me acquire the herbs. You don¡¯t have to pay for me. I don¡¯t know what else to say to you other than a thank you.¡± She looked right into Nan Xun¡¯s eyes. She wasn¡¯t trying to be polite. She genuinely meant what she said.


    They were both serious about their offers. Nan Xun looked at Jun Huang with soft eyes. The tenderness he showed was arresting.


    ¡°This subordinate has something to report, Your Highness,¡± a man said suddenly as the door creaked open, breaking the silence in the room. Jun Huang startled and tripped. Nan Xun quickly caught her hand and they fell onto the bed. Their added weight made a loud thud on the mattress.


    Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand was worried that something bad had happened. He barged into the room. His jaw dropped when he saw the two of them.


    Jun Huang was on top of Nan Xun. Her hair, which she had not tied up after the bath, ran down her shoulders, giving her a rxed andzy look. She also had not put on a formal wear after her bath.


    Beneath hery Nan Xun, whose cheeks were tinted with red.


    The officer jerked out of his trance and babbled, ¡°I had thought that the rumors were fake, but I was wrong. I hope Your Highness will forgive me. This subordinate is getting out of your hair. I will not bother you further.¡± With that, he fled the room.


    When Jun Huang finally recovered from what had happened, she looked down and saw Nan Xun¡¯s crinkled eyes. She shot up to her feet. In her rush, she stepped on her robe and stumbled back onto the bed.

 Chapter 146

    Chapter 146: Watching the Two Beasts fight


    Nan Xun¡¯s smile dropped. He sat up and asked if Jun Huang was alright.


    ¡°I am, but...¡± Jun Huang trailed off, pointing at the open door with a finger. It took no time for Nan Xun to figure out what her unspoken words were.


    He let out a silentugh and blinked at Jun Huang like a kicked puppy. ¡°He has misunderstood our pure rtionship! After a lifetime of fighting on battlefields, I¡¯ve never felt this insecure... Gentleman Feng should take responsibility.¡±


    Jun Huang was used to Nan Xun¡¯s stoic look and half-smile. She had never seen Nan Xun acted so shamelessly. She snorted, tension draining out her body. She put aside her awkwardness and put what had happened behind her.


    Nan Xun rxed when he saw the carefree look on Jun Huang¡¯s face. He sat up and helped Jun Huang up. He then started massaging her arms.


    Jun Huang had felt much better after soaking in the medicinal bath, but her limbs and eyelids started to grow heavy when Nan Xun massaged her. The soreness in her muscles seemed to spread through her entire body. She leaned against the bed frame and slowly closed her eyes.


    Nan Xun considered her openly. Every inch of her face radiated a bone deep tiredness. Jun Huang had been training hard and making arrangements for Wan¡¯er¡¯s wedding the past few days. Her health was bad enough as it had been, and now she had taken on so many responsibilities... Nan Xun didn¡¯t like to see her push herself. He wanted to give her a life free of concerns. She shouldn¡¯t be running herself to the ground for other people.


    He let go of Jun Huang¡¯s hand when he noticed that Jun Huang had fallen asleep. Hey her on the bed and tucked her in before leaving the room.


    Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand was waiting for him in his study. The man gave him an awkward smile and briefed him on the affairs at the border.


    Nan Xun was tired as well, and it showed. He supported his head with a hand and rubbed at his forehead with the other.


    After a good while, the officer had finally finished his report. He snuck a few nces at Nan Xun. He couldn¡¯t suppress his curiosity. ¡°Are you serious about him, Your Highness?¡±


    Nan Xun opened his eyes and gave his second inmand a puzzled look. The officer didn¡¯t know what else to say. He sighed and left without another word.


    As he walked through the winding hallway, the officer thought back to what he had witnessed. Nan Xun and Jun Huang actually looked like a good match ¨C


    He quickly shook away his thoughts. It was Nan Xun he was thinking about, for heaven¡¯s sake! Nan Xun was a general inmand of the army. He stood above many others. Jun Huang, simrly, was a graceful gentleman known to many as an ethereal figure. How could people like them be into men?


    It must have been a misunderstanding, the officer thought. He shook his head again and quickened his pace.


    The third prince had not met with Ji Bo for a while. Today, he went straight to Ji Bo after returning from the pce. Ji Bo invited him to take a seat and poured him a cup of tea, which pleased the prince.


    ¡°This gentleman can tell that Your Highness is in a good mood,¡± Ji Bo said with feign nonchnce as he handed the cup of tea to the prince. ¡°Has something good happened?¡±


    The smile on the third prince¡¯s face deepened. ¡°The gentleman is observant. A few days ago some of the courtiers started talking to me personally. Today quite a few of them came to me and expressed their interest in an alliance.¡±


    Ji Bo thought for a moment before breaking into a smile. ¡°Congrattion, Your Highness, for winning their support. It won¡¯t take long before Your Highness gains the same level of influence in the imperial court as the crown prince. Then you will be able to easily rece him.¡±


    Ji Bo had as good a silver tongue as Jun Huang. The third prince had been in a good mood already. Ji Bo¡¯s words made him feel even better about himself. His eyes crinkled.


    Ji Bo looked up at the prince, who had clearly forgotten himself, and drank some of the herbal tea. ¡°What does Your Highness n to do next?¡±


    The third prince thought for a moment before pulling his lips into a grin. ¡°The gentleman has proposed a good n earlier. I¡¯ll like to do that.¡±


    Ji Bo had advised him to try to fit in with the other courtiers. He told the prince to undermine Qi Chen¡¯s influence under the table to the best of his ability. The third prince had been hesitant; he hadn¡¯t wanted to go head to head with Qi Chen. Now he was seriously considering Ji Bo¡¯s words.


    ¡°To do great things, one must put aside all trivial considerations. It¡¯s said that to catch a tiger cub, one must venture into a tiger den. Besides, does Your Highness truly think that everyone in the crown prince¡¯s circle is loyal to him? Some only join the crown prince because they can¡¯t afford to get on Qi Chen¡¯s bad side. If Your Highness lets them know that you are a candidate for the throne as well, they will reconsider their options.¡±


    ¡°On the surface, the crown prince seems to be in control of the court. Anyone observant, however, will be able to tell that the crown prince doesn¡¯t have real power. His rtionship with the emperor is troubled. He won¡¯t be able to put too much attention on Your Highness. The officials will weigh the pros and cons and decide to defect to Your Highness.¡±


    Ji Bo had not said anything that another strategist would not be able to say, but the third prince¡¯s honored guests never told the prince their true opinions for fear of angering the prince. They usually showered the prince in only praises.


    Ji Bo looked closely at the third prince. It was a good thing that he had identally uncovered the third prince¡¯s ambition. Otherwise the prince would have be a bigger trouble if he had been allowed to conserve his power.


    ¡°What is the gentleman thinking?¡± the third prince asked, putting down his teacup. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ve made the wrong decision?¡±


    Ji Bo shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s good that Your Highness has decided to take the initiative. We have to treat the people we have won over from the crown prince well. We must show them that Your Highness is as determined to be the emperor as the crown prince, if not more. Only then will they be able to feel confident in their decisions, and they may even bring their friends to our side.¡±


    The third prince nodded in agreement. He drank some tea and said, ¡°However, I¡¯ve been having troubles attracting Royal Father¡¯s attention. If I can¡¯t change that, everything else I do will be in vain. I¡¯ll be making enemies without gaining anything. Under the circumstances, I don¡¯t dare to do anything. I hope the gentleman can enlighten me.¡±


    ¡°If Your Highness is so scared of antagonizing the crown prince, there¡¯s nothing this gentleman can do for you,¡± Ji Bo said with an indifferent expression.


    The third prince thought back to the tricks Ji Bo had show him. He still remember the awe filling his heart that day. He trusted that Ji Bo must have good reasons backing his advice up.


    The third prince put aside his reservations and took a deep breath as if he was preparing himself for a trial. He looked into Ji Bo¡¯s eyes and promised, ¡°I have nothing to fear now. I hope the gentleman can point me to the right direction.¡±


    Ji Bo lowered his eyes, contemting how he could best utilize the third prince. What would make Qi Chen feel threatened?


    He remembered the canal construction the third prince mentioned a few days ago. The emperor had been troubled by the issue. Qi Chen had shown interest in taking on the responsibility, as the potential to profit was great.


    ¡°Will Your Highness be willing to sacrifice some of your interest for the throne?¡± asked Ji Bo.


    ¡°What does the gentleman mean?¡± The third prince sat up with his eyes fixed on Ji Bo, waiting for Ji Bo to continue.


    Ji Bo didn¡¯t immediately respond. ¡°The emperor and many officials are now trying to solve the issues facing the construction of the canal. They do not yet have a set n or a candidate. The crown prince, however, is eager to profit off the construction. He wants nothing more than to rush to the site right now. Let¡¯s ignore the potential profit for the time being. If the matter is well taken care of, the emperor will be pleased. That¡¯s not what we should think about though. Your Highness isn¡¯t going to take on the task yourself.¡±


    The third prince frowned at Ji Bo in confusion. What was he talking about?


    ¡°The emperor has been trying to find a solution to the problems with the construction. If Your Highness fight for the job with the crown prince, the emperor will be displeased. The image Your Highness has tried so hard to build will be destroyed instantly. On the contrary, if Your Highness can help the emperor solve the problem, the emperor will look at you differently.¡±


    ¡°Does the gentleman mean that I should just let second brother have the job?¡± The third prince is unwilling to take that as an answer. Everyone, including him, knew that there was profit to be made from the construction. If he gave up on the opportunity, he would be the butt of the joke.


    Ji Bo scoffed inwardly, but his derision never showed on his face. Instead, he put on a mysterious smile. ¡°Your Highness has misunderstood me. This gentleman means that neither Your Highness nor the crown prince is going to take the responsibility. Once Your Highness helps the emperor find a solution, he will ask Your Highness who you think is the right person to take on the job. Your Highness can then rmend an official who is loyal to you. Then the emperor will believe that you are more selfless and can look at the big picture better than the crown prince.¡±


    The third prince had never been smart. His head was spinning and he didn¡¯t know what Ji Bo¡¯s point was. He wanted to argue, but everything Ji Bo said seemed to make sense. He couldn¡¯t find a good argument.

 Chapter 147

    Chapter 147: Ambition


    Ji Bo knew that the third prince would be hesitant. He didn¡¯t push him to make a decision now. Instead, Ji Bo continued to drink his tea, ncing at the third prince every once in a while.


    The third prince seemed to be deep in thoughts, but he couldn¡¯t look more ridiculous doing so. He wasn¡¯t made to be a leader. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how ambitious he was, he was no match to Jun Huang and Ji Bo.


    After the time for a pot of tea to brew, The third prince said, ¡°The gentleman must have a good reason for what you said, but I¡¯m not sure how I should talk to Royal Father about this. May the gentleman tell me how I can achieve my goal without appearing to be weak?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Ji Bo curved his lips and told the third prince the steps he should take. He was able to convince the third prince.


    The next day, the third prince arrived at the pce early in the morning. He happened to run into Qi Chen outside the emperor¡¯s room. He paused before entering the door. He greeted the emperor respectfully. When he straightened up, Qi Chen was staring at him.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t expect second brother to be here already,¡± the third prince said casually. ¡°This brother thought that I¡¯vee early.¡±


    Qi Chen gave him a cold look and scoffed. ¡°What has third brothere this early for, I wonder.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to propose a solution to Royal Father,¡± said the third prince. He turned to the emperor and told him the solution Ji Bo hade up with.


    With nervousness in his eyes, the third prince snuck nces at the emperor, worried that the emperor would be unhappy.


    The emperor thought that the third prince¡¯s proposal was a good one. As Ji Bo had predicted, the emperor visibly brightened and asked the third prince which official should be sent out to deal with the issue. The third prince gave the name of an official who didn¡¯t hold a high rank, but was an expert in the field. The emperor approved of his suggestion.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t expect an ipetent man like the third prince to be able to propose such intricate n. He called out for his brother when they were on the stairs leading out of the pce. The third prince stopped in his track. On his face was a grin he had not been able to cover ever since he received the emperor¡¯s praises.


    ¡°Third brother has been hiding who you really are,¡± Qi Chen sneered. ¡°All these years, I¡¯ve thought that you are like the koi fish in the pond ¨C of a noble bloodline, but useless. It turns out third brother has an ambition.¡±


    The third prince looked at Qi Chen with a sarcastic smile. ¡°That¡¯s ironicing from second brother. Brother Qi Yin must have thought the same about you.¡±


    Satisfied with the dark look he had put on Qi Chen¡¯s face, the third prince cupped his hands and turned to leave. He had said his piece.


    Qi Chen tightened his jaw and clenched his fists, eyes shooting daggers at the third prince¡¯s back. Rage boiled inside his chest, but he couldn¡¯t let it show. He whipped his sleeves and stomped away.


    Qi Yun had witnessed everything from the hallway. His distant expression betrayed none of his thoughts. He thought back to what Jun Huang had told him: It would be wise of him to stay out of the conflicts and watch the two beasts fight. He would be reaping the benefitster.


    ¡°The emperor can see you now, Your Highness,¡± said the eunuch who had been serving at the emperor¡¯s side. ¡°You may go in.¡±


    To serve the emperor personally, one needed to be able to read the emperor¡¯s mood. The eunuch could tell that even though Qi Yun appeared to be the least favored royal prince, in reality the emperor liked Qi Yun a lot more than his other sons.


    Qi Yun nodded at him. He fixed his robe before entering the room.


    The emperor looked up at Qi Yun and greeted him with a smile. Qi Yun walked up to the emperor and bowed at him in greeting.


    ¡°Royal Father looks refreshed today,¡± Qi Yun said. He reached out and started massaging the emperor¡¯s back with practiced ease. ¡°Did something good happen?¡±


    ¡°Your third brother may not have achieved anything in his life, but he does know a few things about managing a country,¡± said the emperor. He rxed and let Qi Yun sooth out the knots in his muscles. ¡°The issue with the canal has troubled me for a while. Your third brother has surprised me with a solution.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Qi Yun said with his eyes lowered. ¡°Second brother and third brother can both help lessen the burden on Royal Father¡¯s shoulders. This son, on the contrary, has not been able to help Royal Father in any way.¡±


    The emperor sighed and patted the back of his hand. ¡°While they have offered me their assistance, they have also caused me quite a lot of troubles. How can I not know what their real motives are? They are simply seeking their own interest. I can see that you are the only one I don¡¯t need to worry about.¡±


    Without a word, Qi Yun continued to massage the emperor¡¯s back. The emperor closed his eyes. He had been losing sleep and eating less recently over the issue with the canal. With a concrete n to follow, he was suddenly hit with a wave of exhaustion.


    Once the emperor had fallen asleep, Qi Yun stopped his massage. He sighed at the emperor¡¯s tired and old face and retrieve a yellow robe to cover the emperor with. He walked out of the room.


    The eunuch came up to him. Qi Yun gestured at the eunuch to stay quiet.


    ¡°Royal Father has been tiredtely. He¡¯s asleep now. You should give him some peace and quiet. Later, remember to bring him a bowl of lotus seed soup. He said he¡¯s been craving it.¡±


    Qi Yun¡¯s order was detailed. On his face was the expression of a son caring for his father.


    The eunuch sighed. Among the royal princes, Qi Yun was the most easygoing one. He didn¡¯t fight for anything with the other princes, but simply did whatever he had to do. ¡°The emperor is missing Your Highness¡¯s mother. When the consort was still alive, the emperor¡¯s favorite food was the lotus seed soup the consort made. Since her death, the emperor has not had any lotus seed soup. He said that he¡¯s worried he would be reminded of her.¡±


    A dark look shed through Qi Yun¡¯s face. He put on a smile in lieu of a response. After bidding the eunuch farewell, he left for Nan Xun¡¯s manor.


    He happened to run into Jun Huang in the garden. She was talking to a group of servants. Once he got closer, he heard that she was making arrangements for Wan¡¯er¡¯s wedding.


    Jun Huang turned around after finishing talking to the servants and saw Qi Yun standing in the hallway. With a smile, she approached Qi Yun and bowed at him. ¡°Why has Your Highnesse?¡±


    Qi Yun told Jun Huang about the conversation between Qi Chen and the third prince. Jun Huang nodded in acknowledgement with her brows furrowed and took a seat at the stone table in the garden. Qi Yun followed her closely.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t gentleman Feng think that Mister Ji Bo has been helping third brother rise in power? With both second brother and third brother in the court, our chance of winning bes even slimmer.¡± Qi Yun¡¯s tone was worried. He added, ¡°Because of what the gentleman suggested, I have been doing nothing but visiting Royal Father recently, but... is this really enough?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± said Jun Huang.


    ¡°Then why would the gentleman tell me to stay idle?¡± Qi Yun was starting to panic. He had thought that Jun Huang had future ns for him! She wasn¡¯t going to tell him to not get involved in the court from now on, was she?


    Seeing his worried look, Jun Huang let out a quietugh and poured Qi Yun a cup of tea. She took a sip from her own cup. ¡°Your Highness is staying low and making the emperor think that you are different from all the other royal princes. You¡¯re showing the emperor that you are attentive to the emperor not for the throne but for the emperor himself. The rest will fall into ce naturally. Your Highness only has to wait to reap the benefits.¡±


    ¡°Does the gentleman care to exin?¡± Qi Yun looked at Jun Huang with a frown. For a moment, he wondered if Jun Huang had only been humoring him.


    Jun Huang smiled and met his gaze. ¡°Your Highness only has to show the emperor that you care about him and earn his trust. You¡¯ll know what to doter.¡±


    Qi Yun was a little upset with the way Jun Huang talked circles around the real issue, but he knew that he shouldn¡¯t doubt the people he had decided to trust. He nodded.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t miss the sh of frustration in Qi Yun¡¯s eyes. She knew that if she didn¡¯t give him a good exnation, Qi Yun would be upset even though he wouldn¡¯t demand an answer from her. She said after a pause, ¡°This is only the beginning of the feud between Qi Chen and the third prince. We need to let Qi Chen see how big a threat the third prince is to him. Only then will Qi Chen put aside his suspicion for Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°The third prince looks as harmless as a domesticated pet, but that¡¯s only a pretense. He¡¯s ambitious. He will take action soon. It¡¯s better that we wait and let these two rabid dogs bite each other¡¯s throat off. Even better if they end up destroying each other.¡±


    Qi Yun felt as if a fog had lifted in his mind. He nodded in understanding.


    Their conversation was interrupted when a servant came to the garden. He said that Qi Chen had asked for Jun Huang¡¯s presence.


    It was natural for Qi Chen to want to talk to Jun Huang. He had just suffered a defeat against the third prince after all. Jun Huang told the servant that she would leave soon.


    Seeing that Jun Huang was going out, Qi Yun asked, ¡°How does the gentleman n to help second brother fight back?¡±


    Jun Huang tilted her head and quirked her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll propose a way to cut off the third prince¡¯s escape route, of course.¡±


    She walked outside and followed Qi Chen¡¯s people back to the crown prince¡¯s manor.


    Qi Chen was waiting for Jun Huang under a tree. From afar, Jun Huang could feel the dark mood radiating from Qi Chen. She waved her fan as she walked up to him.


    ¡°Gentleman Feng is sure in a good mood,¡± Qi Chen scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m troubled and frustrated, and yet you look as if you don¡¯t have a care in the world.¡±


    ¡°Then does Your Highness have a solution already?¡± Jun Huang retorted.


    Qi Chen fell silent. He knew he had been unnecessarily harsh. He sighed and softened his tone. ¡°Brother Feng must know about what happened in the court already. Originally Royal Father was going to let me take the job. It¡¯s frustrating that third brother intervened.¡±


    Jun Huang closed her fan and looked at Qi Chen inquisitively. ¡°What does Your Highness need me to do?¡±

 Chapter 148

    Chapter 148: A Request for Marriage


    ¡°It was decided that one of third brother¡¯s men would be in charge of the construction. That we cannot change. Still, I¡¯m not willing to let everything go his way...¡±


    ¡°Does Your Highness intends to teach the third prince a lesson?¡± asked Jun Huang. ¡°Your Highness can report to the emperor that the third prince has taken bribe from the official. That¡¯s why he rmended the official to take on the job. You can then tell the emperor that you are willing toplete the construction with money out of your own pocket.¡±


    Qi Chen blinked. For a moment, he didn¡¯t quite understand what Jun Huang was getting at. He frowned as he went through the whole n in his head. It was a low blow, but it would be effective.


    Anger drained out of his body. With a faint smile, he ordered a servant to bring in the dessert that the cook had prepared as an offering to Jun Huang. Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to let Qi Chen get what he wanted. She nced at the delicate dessert and said, ¡°This gentleman has not been feeling well recently. The doctor told me to not eat anything sweet. Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness, but this gentleman will have to turn this away.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Qi Chen muttered. ¡°Your health is more important.¡±


    They shared a few more words before Jun Huang took her leave.


    As soon as she left the manor, she saw one of her men waiting for her in an alleyway. Her heart pounded against her ribcage. She had sent this man to look for Yin Yun and Jun Hao. Had he found something?


    Jun Huang barely kept herself from bursting in excitement. Once she had left the scrutiny of Qi Chen¡¯s people, the man walked up to her and cupped his hands in greeting. ¡°This subordinate has visited many ces. I found clues to the whereabout of the men gentleman Feng is looking for ¨C it seems that they are in Yun Town.¡±


    Jun Huang tightened her fists and took a deep breath. Her breathing became shallow and quiet. ¡°Are you certain that the information is reliable?¡±


    ¡°This subordinate has not seen them with my own eyes, but from my questioning the information seems to be legitimate.¡±


    Jun Huang tried to think about it with a clear head, but she could not form a single coherent thought. Her emotions had gotten the better of her.


    She returned to Nan Xun¡¯s manor like a lost spirit. Seeing her unfocused eyes, Nan Xun approached her and asked, ¡°What happened? Is there a problem you can¡¯t solve?¡±


    Jun Huang had not recovered from the news yet. Her heart soared even higher with Nan Xun here. Inhaling deeply, she tried her best to calm down. ¡°The man I sent out to track down Jun Hao has returned. He and Yin Yun seem to be in Yun Town... Ah, I have to leave for Yun Town at once! I can¡¯t sleep easy until I make sure they are safe!¡±


    Jun Huang shot up to her feet and intended to return to her ce to pack.


    Nan Xun frowned. Jun Huang hadpletely lost her calm. He didn¡¯t have any evidence, but his instinct told him that something was amiss. They had both sent many people to track down her brother to no avail, and now a mere guard came back with concrete lead?


    Either the guard had beenpromised, or someone had deliberately led the guard to Yun Town for some unknown reason.


    Nan Xun grabbed Jun Huang¡¯s arm before she could rush out to prepare for the trip. He held Jun Huang¡¯s gaze. ¡°Calm down. If you run off to Yun Town without a n, you may be falling into someone¡¯s trap. We have to think about this.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart was already in a different ce. She had made up her mind to go to Yun Town. She was barely listening. ¡°Calm down? How can I be calm? I¡¯ve been apart from my only family for too long! I don¡¯t know how they are right now. I¡¯ve never stopped looking for them. Every day I found nothing but dead end. Now that I finally got a clue, I have to go look for them even if it is a trap.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why we have to be careful!¡± Nan Xun said seriously, holding firm to Jun Huang¡¯s arm. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to avenge Western Que? If it¡¯s really a trap, you¡¯ll be losing your chance to achieve your goal.¡±


    Jun Huang finally managed to settle her racing heart. She took a deep breath and turned to Nan Xun. ¡°What will you have me do?¡±


    Nan Xun was quiet for a moment. The logical thing to do would be to question the guard who brought her the news.


    Jun Huang ordered a servant to retrieve the guard for her without any arguments. Nan Xun took the lead in interrogating the guard.


    The guard said that he had followed the breadcrumbs to Yun Town. He heard a local resident say that there were refugees from Western Que in the area. The guard had intended to continue investigating, but Yin Yun was a master in martial art. Every time he felt like he was getting close, he lost the trail. In the end he had no choice but to report back to Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun let the guard leave after questioning him. It was difficult to tell if the information was legitimate.


    He didn¡¯t want to put Jun Huang in danger. He told his own shadowguard to look into the matter, trying to reassure Jun Huang.


    Once she had calmed down, Jun Huang agreed with Nan Xun that everything seemed too good to be true. She threw herself back into the wedding preparation and never mentioned Yun Town again.


    She spared some time to offer advice to Qi Chen on how he could undermine the third prince. It was as if she was ying a chess match against Ji Bo through the two princes. Qi Chen and the third prince were locked in a vicious fight. Neither had the efforts to spare for Qi Yun.


    The mood in the pce, on the contrary, was light and warm. Wan¡¯er was going to get married. She was reluctant to leave the emperor and her mother. Therefore she would visit the emperor whenever she had the time.


    Today, she happened upon a meeting between the emperor and the Grand Chancellor. Wan¡¯er was going to walk away, but the emperor told her to stay.


    A servant brought in some pastries. Wan¡¯er handed one to the emperor out of consideration. The emperor patted her hand with a warm smile. ¡°You have grown up to be a finedy. You¡¯re not going to have as much time for me after your wedding.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Wan¡¯er said in a sweet voice, holding onto the emperor¡¯s elbow like a child. ¡°Even after I¡¯m married, I¡¯ll stille visit Royal Father often. Besides, Wan¡¯er feels like the wedding has been too sudden. I haven¡¯t had the time to prepare myself.¡±


    The emperor touched the tip of her nose lightly and let out a fond sigh. ¡°Our Wan¡¯er always acts like a child. You are a woman already. You have to get married sooner orter.¡±


    ¡°Sister Shangguan Yue is a year older than I am,¡± muttered Wan¡¯er. ¡°I¡¯m getting married, but sister Shangguan Yue is still waiting for the day she gets her courtesy name1.¡±


    The emperor looked up at Sir Shangguan and asked, ¡°Yue¡¯er still doesn¡¯t have a husband?¡±


    Sir Shangguan responded respectfully, ¡°That is true. My daughter has not married yet.¡±


    ¡°Does the official have someone in mind?¡± the emperor asked out of politeness. He didn¡¯t really expect an answer.


    Something shed through Sir Shangguan¡¯s eyes. After a moment of silence, he dropped down to his knees and bowed at the emperor. ¡°My daughter is at the age when women are at their most beautiful. Many have asked for my daughter¡¯s hand. She, however, has too high a standard. There¡¯s someone she is in love with. This official doesn¡¯t know what I should do.¡±


    Surprised, the emperor hurriedly helped Sir Shangguan up and asked, ¡°What do you mean? Who is it that Yue¡¯er is in love with?¡±


    ¡°Yue¡¯er is in love with the prince who bears a different surname ¨C Prince Nan Xun.¡±


    The emperor blinked. He didn¡¯t expect Shangguan Yue to fall for Nan Xun. Nan Xun had always been cold and aloof to other people. Why would anyone love him?


    He thought back to the banquet of a hundred families a few months ago. He had left early. Later he heard that Shangguan Yue performed a graceful dance for Nan Xun and Nan Xun only. He had thought it was merely a rumor. It turned out it was the truth.


    The emperor had not responded. Sir Shangguan was reminded of Nan Xun, who could not be convinced through either force or emotional plea.


    Nheless, Shangguan Yue refused to marry anyone but Nan Xun. His beloved daughter finally ran into something she wanted but could not get. As a father, Sir Shangguan couldn¡¯t give up without doing anything.


    He bowed down until his head touched the floor and said, ¡°Yue¡¯er said she would not marry anyone unless it¡¯s Prince Nan Xun. At first I thought she didn¡¯t mean it, but she did. She wishes every day for the prince to spare her a nce. It made my heart ache.¡±


    ¡°This old official has been serving the court for decades. If Your Majesty remembers what I¡¯ve done for this country, please arrange a marriage for my daughter. That will be my only wish before my eventual death.¡±


    He kowtowed hard against the floor, making a loud thud. The emperor was at a loss of what to say to deny him his wish.


    Seeing the dark look on the emperor¡¯s face, Wan¡¯er could tell that the emperor didn¡¯t want Nan Xun to gain the support of the Shangguan family. She approached Sir Shangguan with a polite smile. ¡°It¡¯s natural for Sir Shangguan to make such request. Parents are always worried about finding their daughters a good spouse. And sister Shangguan does like brother Nan a lot... But Wan¡¯er thinks that it¡¯s better to first ask brother Nan himself about what he feels.¡±


    Wan¡¯er was offering an olive branch to both the emperor and Sir Shangguan, but Sir Shangguan would not take no for an answer. He disregarded Wan¡¯er¡¯s words and looked up at the emperor.


    ¡°Your Majesty, throughout history there are many cases where members of the royal family married children of an official. This official knows what Your Majesty is worried about, but there¡¯s something this official would like to exin.¡±


    The emperor hesitated. He didn¡¯t expect Sir Shangguan to bring up his concerns so openly. He paused and gestured for Sir Shangguan to continue.


    ¡°Prince Nan Xun was given themand of the army by thest emperor,¡± said Sir Shangguan. ¡°Your Majesty can¡¯t recover the power without going against thest emperor¡¯s order. Nan Xun has the potential to overthrow this country at will. Without some check and bnce, he may be the most powerful man in this country.¡±


    The emperor gave him a sideway nce. There was some truth to what Sir Shangguan had said. The Shangguan family, however, was a powerful family in Northern Qi. If they came together with Nan Xun, it might pose an even bigger threat to the emperor.

 Chapter 149

    Chapter 149: Disobedience Phoenix Ascending


    As if he had read the emperor¡¯s mind, Sir Shangguan listed a few more arguments in favor for of a marriage between his daughter and Nan Xun. The emperor was starting to think that it might be a good idea.


    Wan¡¯er had gotten close to Shangguan Yue. She only stayed silent because of the emperor¡¯s dark expression. She rxed when she saw the gloom lifting from the emperor¡¯s face.


    ¡°I will consider your proposal,¡± said the emperor as he rubbed at his forehead. ¡°I¡¯m tired. You¡¯re dismissed.¡±


    Sir Shangguan had been in the court for a long time. He knew how to read people. He gave Wan¡¯er a look before leaving the room.¡±


    The emperor sighed and gestured for Wan¡¯er to take a seat. After a pause, he asked, ¡°Do you think I should agree to this marriage?¡±


    It didn¡¯t take long for Wan¡¯er toe to a conclusion. Shangguan Yue was her friend. What was more, she was unhappy with the scandal about Nan Xun and Jun Huang. She couldn¡¯t allow the man she loved to be insulted in this way. Nan Xun¡¯s marriage would be proof that the scandal was nothing but rumors.


    ¡°Wan¡¯er believes that it¡¯s about time brother Nan gets married. He¡¯s been staying away from the imperial city, and he only returned because there hasn¡¯t been a war for him to fight in. It will do him good to marry a good woman. Besides, sister Shangguan Yue truly loves brother Nan. They will make a good couple.¡±


    The emperor was silent for a moment. He thought back to the arguments Sir Shangguan had given him. They did make sense to him.


    Nan Xun was an adult now. If the emperor didn¡¯t worry about his marriage, people would mock him for dreading Nan Xun to the point that he didn¡¯t allow Nan Xun to have a child.


    The emperor sighed and stood up with Wan¡¯er¡¯s help. He went to his study and ordered a eunuch to fetch him a piece of cloth for royal decree. He took a moment to think before he started writing. After reading the decree through one more time, he handed it to a eunuch and sent him to Prince Nan Manor.


    When the eunuch arrived, Jun Huang and Nan Xun were talking about Wan¡¯er¡¯s wedding. The pageboy in charge of watching the door led the eunuch in. Nan Xun got to his feet with his brows furrowed and waited for the announcement with Jun Huang.


    ¡°With the heaven as the witness, His Majesty the emperor decreed that a marriage should tie Shangguan Yue, daughter of Sir Shangguan, to Prince Nan Xun,¡± the eunuch dered in a high-pitched voice. ¡°Shangguan Yue is a kindhearted mature woman with both beauty and talents, while Prince Nan Xun is at an age for marriage. Shangguan Yue has been waiting for a new surname. She and the prince are meant to be together. His Majesty has granted both their wishes and announced that Shangguan Yue is to be Prince Nan Xun¡¯s wife. The Ministry of Rites will be in charge of the wedding procedure and will pick a good time to hold the wedding.¡±


    Jun Huang stilled. It wasn¡¯t that she had never expected the emperor to arrange a marriage for Nan Xun, but... she hadn¡¯t thought it would be this soon. She was at a loss of how to react.


    Nan Xun was several years into his twenties. The emperor had never brought up the topic of marriage to him before. It caught himpletely off guard that the emperor would give him the order without any warnings.


    Nan Xun shot up to his feet, startling the eunuch. The eunuch thought that Nan Xun was simply too excited. He walked up to Nan Xun with a wide smile. ¡°This old servant is here to congratte Your Highness for getting ¨C ¡±


    Before the eunuch could finish, Nan Xun stormed out of his manor. The eunuch smiled awkwardly.


    Jun Huang stood up without showing a trace of emotions. She patted the dust from her clothes and watched Nan Xun go.


    ¡°Perhaps the prince has been so joyous that he forgot to ept the decree. May the gentleman take it for him?¡± The eunuch gaped a little when he turned to Jun Huang. It wasn¡¯t the first time he visited Nan Xun, but it was the first time he saw Jun Huang here. He snuck a couple more nces at the graceful man.


    Jun Huang put on a smile and took the decree with steady hands. After the eunuch took his leave, she opened the scroll and read the writing on it, her eyes growing colder and colder. On her face was an impassive expression, but in her heart there was a thunderstorm. How she would love to tear this thing to pieces!


    That, however, would be irresponsible. She tossed the scroll toward the stone table and sat down to drink her tea, lowering her eyes to hide her feelings.


    Nan Xun went straight to the pce and rushed to the emperor¡¯s room. A eunuch hurriedly came up to him. He had thought that Nan Xun was here to thank the emperor, but Nan Xun¡¯s dark expression told him otherwise.


    ¡°What can this servant help you with, Your Highness?¡± the eunuch asked with a bright smile.


    Nan Xun was here to convince the emperor, not to point fingers. He calmed himself down and cupped his hands at the eunuch. ¡°I have matters to discuss with the emperor. Is he free to take guests?¡±


    The eunuch looked at the pce, then at Nan Xun. He nodded and said, ¡°Your Highness should take care not to anger the emperor. Communication is vital in solving this problem. Angering the emperor will be counterproductive.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the advice, gonggong,¡± said Nan Xun. He waited for the eunuch to announce his arrival with his hands behind his back. A breeze swept his robe up in the air and cleared the fog shrouding his mind. It looked as if he hadn¡¯t been the one barging into the pce out of panic.


    Not long after, the eunuch came out of the room. He motioned at Nan Xun to enter. Nan Xun nodded at him before walking in.


    He walked through doors after doors before he finally reached the room the emperor read reports in. The emperor looked up at him and told Nan Xun toe in without a formal greeting.


    Nan Xun ignored the emperor¡¯s words and dropped down to the floor, looking into the emperor¡¯s eyes. ¡°Please consider taking the order back, Your Majesty.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s expression darkened. He stared at Nan Xun, trying to see behind his words. Nan Xun didn¡¯t avert his eyes. He looked back fearlessly.


    The emperor would not allow anyone to go against his will. He mmed his fist into the desk and pointed at Nan Xun. ¡°Are you going to disobey me?¡±


    Nan Xun had a pair of eyes as sharp as the ones of an eagle. He leveled the emperor with a terrifyingly cold gaze and said, ¡°If Your Majesty is unwilling to take back the order, this official can only oppose your will.¡±


    Nan Xun could not forget the way Jun Huang¡¯s face hardened when she heard the order. He couldn¡¯t stop himself from confronting the emperor directly. He had never imagined that one day he would do such a reckless thing for someone.


    ¡°Have you forgotten your ce?!¡± The emperor hit the desk again, his eyes filled with fury. For a moment, it seemed as if he was going to draw his sword.


    Nan Xun took a deep breath and tried his best to soften his tone. ¡°This official knows that Your Majesty is the son of heaven, while this official is a mere general with a title that means nothing. Your Majesty has been treating this official with kindness; this official is grateful. But forgive this official for not being to ept a marriage with Shangguan Yue.¡±


    The emperor frowned and stared at Nan Xun. ¡°Are you not going to listen to my order from now on? How do I know you aren¡¯t going to stage a coup next time?¡±


    ¡°This official will never,¡± Nan Xun said, his pupils contracting. He lowered his head without another word.


    The emperor huffed. ¡°I have given you the order. What¡¯s decided is decided. Go back and wait for the wedding day.¡±


    ¡°This official ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Get out!¡± The emperor eximed. He didn¡¯t want to hear Nan Xun say another word.


    No matter how much Nan Xun would like the emperor to take back the order, he knew the emperor had made up his mind and wouldn¡¯t listen to him. Nan Xun walked outside and knelt down before the emperor¡¯s pce. The thought of giving up had never urred to him.


    The eunuch sighed and entered the room. The emperor was still reeling from what had happened. He wasn¡¯t in the mood for reports anymore.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t let anger consume you, Your Majesty,¡± said the eunuch. ¡°Prince Nan is used to living on his own. It may take time for him to adjust. He¡¯lle around.¡±


    The emperor scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t try to speak for him. I know how he is. I have given the order. I can¡¯t possibly take it back, can I? Should I embarrass myself for a general? Besides, he¡¯s in no ce to judge Shangguan Yue.¡±


    The eunuch fell silent. He had wanted to say a few words for Nan Xun, but the emperor was furious. His attempt might only make the emperor even more wary of Nan Xun.


    The eunuch stayed silent. The emperor continued to go through the reports with a calm expression as if nothing had happened at all.


    It started raining not long after. The eunuch looked outside the door and saw Nan Xun kneeling with his back straight. He didn¡¯t look like a man begging for forgiveness.


    The eunuch had been pacing around with a concerned expression. It didn¡¯t take long for the emperor to figure out that Nan Xun was still outside.


    ¡°He¡¯s still there?¡±


    The eunuch went up to the emperor and nodded. ¡°Yes. Prince Nan Xun has been kneeling outside ever since this morning. It¡¯s gettingte now, and the rain is getting heavier. He may get sick...¡±


    The emperor put down the report he was holding and got to his feet. Without missing a beat, the eunuch draped a robe around the emperor¡¯s shoulders and fixed the wrinkled royal robe for the emperor. They walked out of the pce.


    At the edge of the rooftop, the emperor looked at Nan Xun, then at the pouring rain. He still cared about Nan Xun¡¯s health. ¡°Do you admit your mistake, Nan Xun?¡±


    Nan Xun looked up at the emperor with pursed lips. He didn¡¯t immediately respond. ¡°This official doesn¡¯t know what mistake I¡¯ve made. I hope only for Your Majesty to take back the order.¡±

 Chapter 150

    Chapter 150: Desires for Men


    It would be better if Nan Xun had stayed silent. His response rekindled the emperor¡¯s ire. The emperor threw Nan Xun a re and scoffed. ¡°You are unrepentant! Stay on your knees until you understand your mistakes.¡± He turned to the eunuch and, before the eunuch could open his mouth, said, ¡°Back to my pce.¡±


    The eunuch looked at Nan Xun, then at the emperor. He let out a resigned sigh before ordering a few servants to prepare a sedan chair. They left for the emperor¡¯s pce. Nan Xun was left alone in the rain.


    Nan Xun did not intend to change his mind. He didn¡¯t think he had done anything wrong. Every time he thought of the way Jun Huang¡¯s eyes darkened, his heart sank. If he was unable to convince the emperor to take back the order, he and Jun Huang would...


    He stopped himself from going down that train of thoughts. He didn¡¯t dare to even think about how he would react if one day Jun Huang was no longer with him.


    Nan Xun took a deep breath and straightened up, paying no mind to the merciless rain. His clothes werepletely drenched. He could feel rain dripping down his hair.


    Wan¡¯er watched Nan Xun from afar. The maid standing next to her let out a sigh. ¡°I heard that Prince Nan has been kneeling there the whole day. He refuses to ept the marriage. No one knows the reason. Shangguan Yue is one of the most beautiful woman in Northern Qi. Many have tried and failed to win her heart. And yet Prince Nan turned her away.¡±


    ¡°Who knows for whom is he keeping his heart for?¡± Wan¡¯er said with a frown. The dangling ornament on her head waved and chimed gently in the wind. Her emerald green dress was wetted by the rain, but she didn¡¯t seem to care. Her eyes had lost their usual vibrancy. She was showing a maturity that was beyond her age.


    The maid didn¡¯t understand what Wan¡¯er meant. Was Nan Xun in love with someone from a more humble background? Was it why Nan Xun was willing to throw everything away and refused to marry Shangguan Yue?


    Her spection led her to the conclusion that Nan Xun was a man who was loyal to his lover. Someone like him deserved to be happy.


    Wan¡¯er didn¡¯t know what her maid was thinking. She was troubled enough on her own. ¡°Where is Royal Father?¡±


    ¡°Royal Father has returned to his chamber a while ago. Does the princess want to visit him?¡±


    Wan¡¯er paused. She felt like there was a need for her to talk to the emperor. Before she could take more than a couple steps, the maid continued to say, ¡°However, I heard that Sir Shangguan has requested an audience with the emperor. He¡¯s most likely here for Prince Nan Xun as well. It may not be a good time for the princess to visit.¡±


    Wan¡¯er stopped in her track. Sir Shangguan will take care of the matter, she thought. If it¡¯s me doing the talking, Royal Father may start doubting my motivation.


    Wan¡¯er waved a hand and said, ¡°If so, I¡¯m not going to barge in. Let us return to the pce.¡±


    The maid caught up with her and tilted the umbre toward Wan¡¯er¡¯s direction, keeping Wan¡¯er wet at the cost of getting drenched herself.


    ¡°Sir Shangguan requested an audience with you, Your Majesty,¡± the eunuch said. The emperor was resting on the divan. He opened his eyes and motioned at the eunuch to let Sir Shangguan in.


    On his way in, Sir Shangguan idly wondered if the emperor knew about the rumor. He wanted to ask the eunuch, but as the emperor¡¯s confidante, the eunuch would not be honest with him. He would be attracting the emperor¡¯s suspicion for nothing.


    Sir Shangguan bowed at the emperor respectfully. The emperor let out a long sigh. ¡°The official must havee for the marriage between Yue¡¯er and Nan Xun.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± said Sir Shangguan.


    The emperor sighed again and rubbed at his forehead tiredly. ¡°That boy isn¡¯t usually this stubborn. For some reason, he refuses to ept the marriage no matter what I said. I don¡¯t know what he is thinking.¡±


    Sir Shangguan¡¯s eyes darkened. He looked up at the emperor and hesitantly opened his mouth. The emperor frowned and said, ¡°The official may be honest with me.¡±


    ¡°Has the emperor not heard the rumors?¡± asked Sir Shangguan. He immediately lowered his head, worried that he would anger the emperor.


    His words were vague. The emperor didn¡¯t know what he was referring to. The frown between the emperor¡¯s eyebrows deepened. ¡°What rumors? The official can be upfront with me. I¡¯ll like to know what people have been talking about.¡±


    Sir Shangguan¡¯s stomach dropped. He knew what he was going to say would make the emperor mad, but he had to think of his daughter¡¯s happiness. He tightened his jaw and said, ¡°People are saying that... Prince Nan... is into men.¡±


    Sir Shangguan bowed down until his head touched the floor and didn¡¯t dare to look up. His robe was dirtied by the mud brought in from the outside, but he failed to take notice.


    The emperor stilled. He never expected this boy he had seen growing up would be into men.


    Northern Qi was less conservative than the other countries. The emperor knew there were quite a lot of people with the passion of Longyang, but he had never met any in person. Now Sir Shangguan was saying that Nan Xun was one of those people? He didn¡¯t know how to react.


    Sir Shangguan snuck a few nces at the emperor. Seeing the startled look on the emperor¡¯s face, he assumed that the emperor could not tolerate such desires. He silently cheered himself on and continued, ¡°Some even said that Prince Nan had taken a young man back to his manor and kept him at his side. They were always together during daytime, and at night... they slept on the same bed...¡±


    The emperor hit the desk with his palm with a dark look. ¡°Unbelievable!¡±


    Sir Shangguan shuddered. He bowed down further and didn¡¯t dare to say another word. He hoped the emperor would direct Nan Xun back to the right path.


    The emperor had not spoken for a while. Sir Shangguan looked up in confusion while the emperor happened to look down at him. He hurriedly lowered his head again.


    ¡°What does the official think I should do?¡± asked the emperor.


    Sir Shangguan had thought of an argument beforehand, but he didn¡¯t want the emperor to know that he hade prepared. He pretended to give the question some thoughts before saying, ¡°This official believes that Prince Nan Xun has only turned this way because of his long years among the soldiers. Rumor has it that the man Prince Nan Xun... keeps in his manor is pretty. Must have been a feminine man who looks not unlike a woman. That¡¯s why Prince Nan Xun likes him. This shows that Prince Nan Xun still loves women. He only picks a man because he doesn¡¯t know how to deal with women.¡±


    ¡°Prince Nan Xun is no ordinary man. He must know that such desires are not epted by the general public. However he¡¯s blinded by his desires, and the young man is good at seducing him. That¡¯s why the prince has lost his senses. This official believes that once Prince Nan Xun gets married, he will recover and go back to the right path.¡±


    Sir Shangguan¡¯s arguments were solid, but the emperor had his own agenda. The emperor sighed after a moment of silence and said, ¡°I¡¯ll think about it. It¡¯ste now. The official should return to your manor.¡±


    Sir Shangguan looked up at the emperor, but he couldn¡¯t tell what the emperor was thinking. He didn¡¯t dare to jump to conclusions. He got to his feet and walked out.


    The eunuch waited until Sir Shangguan had left to ask, ¡°What does Your Majesty n to do? The prince ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Is it still raining?¡± the emperor asked in lieu of a response.


    The eunuch nodded.


    The emperor waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Tell him to go home. Give me some time to think about it.¡±


    The eunuch hurried outside. Nan Xun was still kneeling in the rain. The eunuch sighed and approached him with an umbre. ¡°Your Highness, the emperor ordered this servant to send Your Highness home.¡±


    Nan Xun looked up at the eunuch and tried his best to steady himself. ¡°Has the emperor taken back his order?¡±


    ¡°His Majesty said to let him think about it. He didn¡¯t ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Then please tell him that I won¡¯t leave unless the order is retracted, gonggong.¡± Nan Xun had spoken slowly, but his tone was determined. His gaze was steely and he wrapped his lips around every word he uttered carefully. It was an ordinary rainy day with sunset in his backdrop, but he looked as if he was on a battlefield with blood under his feet.


    The eunuch let out a long breath. He was a servant. He couldn¡¯t do much in this situation. ¡°You¡¯re too stubborn for your own good, Your Highness.¡±


    He shook his head and walked away.


    The emperor flew into rage when he heard Nan Xun¡¯s response. Nan Xun was truly unrepentant! ¡°If he¡¯s willing to stay on his knees, let him! Tell him toe see me when he understands his mistakes!¡±


    It rained the whole night, and Nan Xun stayed on his knees the whole time. Fortunately he was a trained fighter. Even after a night of torture, he didn¡¯t copse.


    During this time the emperor had calmed down enough to think about the issue properly. He ordered a servant to lead Nan Xun to get changed beforeing to see him.


    Nan Xun respectfully bowed at the emperor when he entered the pce. No one could deny that he had a strong backbone. The emperor walked up to Nan Xun and patted him on the shoulder, telling him to be at ease. ¡°Take a walk with me in the royal garden.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    They entered the garden. It was summertime. All around them were vibrant greenery and flowers. It was truly a sight to behold. The emperor wandered around slowly while Nan Xun trailed after him in silence.


    They took a short break in a pavilion. The emperor ordered the servants to leave before asking, ¡°Tell me, Nan Xun, is the rumor that you are into men true?¡±

 Chapter 151

    Chapter 151: Riot in Yunzhou


    Nan Xun paused. His intimacy with Jun Huang most likely had spawned some gossips. He didn¡¯t take it as an insult. Instead, he saw this as an opportunity.


    Nan Xun nodded and cupped his hands. ¡°This official has always been surrounded by men. I find women to be too frail for my liking. I hope Your Majesty can understand that I prefer men in armors over women covered in cosmetics. Please forgive me for straying from your expectations, Your Majesty.¡±


    Despite hearing the news from Sir Shangguan beforehand, the emperor was still surprised by Nan Xun¡¯s admission. He sighed. ¡°If so, I won¡¯t impose this marriage on you.¡±


    The emperor had his own reasons. It was a good thing for him that Nan Xun would not have any children. That way, Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t think about overthrowing the throne. The emperor let out a silent sigh of relief.


    He couldn¡¯t just let Nan Xun off the hook, though. He had given an order. If he took it back simply because of Nan Xun¡¯s denial, he would lose his authority and others would start to ignore his orders as well. An emperor¡¯s words must not be taken lightly.


    ¡°Nheless, if you do not receive any punishment, there may be a public bacsh,¡± said the emperor. ¡°It just so happens that there has been signs of unrest in Yunzhou. The local residents are greatly troubled. I order you to suppress the riot. What do you say?¡±


    Nan Xun knelt down without hesitation. ¡°This official epts the order.¡±


    He was on his knees before the emperor, but his heart was already with Jun Huang. Jun Huang would be d to have this opportunity.


    The emperor sighed and helped Nan Xun up. They sat in the pavilion. The emperor had always considered Nan Xun a talented and handsome man. The one he fell for must have been an extraordinary man as well.


    The emperor hadn¡¯t intended to ask, but his curiosity got the better of him. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the man living in your manor is handsome. Where is he from? How old is he?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes shed. ¡°People talk. He is but a regr man. He came to Northern Qi two years ago. He¡¯s lost all his family and has been wandering around the world without a ce to call home. This official believes he deserves better. That¡¯s why I provide a roof over his head. The rumors have been exaggerating.¡±


    ¡°Are you willing to give up on a bright future for him?¡± asked the emperor. ¡°Are you willing to give up Shangguan Yue? Everyone in this city knows that she is beautiful enough to topple a country. Have you never felt anything for her?¡±


    ¡°She may be beautiful,¡± said Nan Xun. There was no trace of awkwardness on his face. ¡°With someone upying my heart, however, even the best of the best will not attract my attention. I hope Your Majesty understands.¡±


    The emperor dropped his line of inquiry. Nan Xun had not rested for a day and a night. He waved a hand at Nan Xun. ¡°That¡¯s decided then. Go back and get some sleep. Make preparations for your trip to Yunzhou.¡±


    Nan Xun had wanted to return to the manor for a long time. He got to his feet and cupped his hands at the emperor before rushing away.


    Nan Xun was worried about Jun Huang. He was worried that Jun Huang might stay up waiting for him. She had been training in martial arts, but her poison had not been cured yet. Her health wasn¡¯t how it had been.


    It had rained the whole day yesterday, and it was still raining today. Not as harsh as the summer rainst night, but more of a soft drizzle that was often seen in spring.


    Nan Xun hurriedly made his way to his manor, paying no attention to the ssh of water brought up by his feet. It didn¡¯t take long for him to reach his destination. The servants let out a collective sigh of relief when they saw him.


    ¡°Your Highness has finally returned,¡± the housekeeper said in a concerned tone.


    Nan Xun steadied his breathing. He looked over at the crowd of people waiting for him to return, but he didn¡¯t see the one he most wanted to see.


    The housekeeper could tell who Nan Xun was looking for. He said, ¡°Gentleman Feng has waited a long time for Your Highnessst night. An hour ago he was close to copsing. This old servant talked him into taking a rest. Should this servant wake him up?¡±


    Nan Xun let out a long breath. His heart softened knowing that Jun Huang had waited for him the whole night. His lips quirked up as he waved a hand and said, ¡°No, don¡¯t. His health has not been the best. That¡¯s more important. He must have been tired fromst night. I haven¡¯t slept since yesterday either. I¡¯m going to bed as well.¡±


    It was way past noon when Jun Huang woke up. It took some time for her to blink herself awake. She pursed her lips. She had only intended to take a short break, but then she fell asleep.


    She jumped off the bed and cleaned herself up before leaving her room. The servants in the manor had returned to their usual routine. She slowed down and stopped one of the maids passing by her room. ¡°Has the prince returned?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the prince returned early today,¡± the maid said with a smile. ¡°He heard that the gentleman was still asleep, so he told us to leave you alone. He wanted to let you rest.¡±


    Jun Huang stepped aside and watched the maid walk away. Tension drained out of her body knowing that Nan Xun was alright, but then she was reminded of the emperor¡¯s order- Has Nan Xun returned safely because he has agreed to the marriage?


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t think the emperor would change his mind for Nan Xun, which meant that Nan Xun must have surrendered to the emperor¡¯s will.


    A sharp pain shot through her heart. She didn¡¯t want to think about Nan Xun¡¯s marriage, but the pain lingered despite her attempts to shut the thoughts out.


    Jun Huang dragged her feet to outside Nan Xun¡¯s room. To her surprise, the door was opened. She knocked and walked in when Nan Xun called out for her to enter.


    Nan Xun was packing and polishing his light armor. Jun Huang frowned. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Nan Xun turned around. He was a little surprised to see Jun Huang. Wasn¡¯t she still sleeping?


    A hint of smile dawned on his face. He couldn¡¯t stop his lips from quirking up. ¡°I¡¯m going to Yunzhou.¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes at Nan Xun. It took a moment for her to react. ¡°To Yun Town?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded at her with a smile, his gaze fixed on her.


    ¡°I¡¯m ordered to suppress the riot in Yunzhou,¡± Nan Xun said gently, looking deep into Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. ¡°I wonder if you¡¯re willing toe with me. It¡¯s not going to be an easy journey.¡±


    Realization came to Jun Huang. Nan Xun had agreed to go to Yun Town to look for Jun Hao and Yin Yun with her! Her heart sped up in excitement, but she still had to convince Qi Chen to let her go. That she would have to take care of herself.


    Even in this state, she had not forgotten about the marriage arranged by the emperor. Hesitantly, she asked, ¡°About the emperor ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve talked to the emperor. He won¡¯t force me to get married anymore. In return, I have to go to Yunzhou. Ha, didn¡¯t think two wrongs would make a right.¡± Nan Xun chuckled and smoothed a hand over Jun Huang¡¯s hair. upied by other thoughts, Jun Huang let him do so.


    Once she put some more thoughts to it, she could tell why the emperor had made such a decision. She knew the emperor had always dreaded Nan Xun and considered him a threat.


    The marriage was proposed by Sir Shangguan. The emperor couldn¡¯t just dismiss this senior official who had been serving the country for decades. That was why he agreed to the marriage.


    If Nan Xun and Shangguan Yue had gotten married, the emperor would always be on his guard, worrying about the possibility of getting devoured by the beast he kept at his side. Nan Xun¡¯s denial to the marriage in some way was reassuring to the emperor. He could put all the me on Nan Xun, and the other officials would not say anything. After all, Nan Xun was the guardian of Northern Qi. As long as the courtiers wanted to live a life free of fear, they would keep their opinions to themselves. They might even praise the emperor for making the right decision.


    Nan Xun turned back to Jun Huang once he had finished packing. Jun Huang was in deep thoughts with her head lowered. Nan Xun frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is something the matter?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s head snapped up and she cleared her throat, shaking her head with a faint smile on her face. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just thinking how I should tell Qi Chen about this trip.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. Jun Huang left the manor shortly. She looked at the sunlight shining through the clouds. What should she say to Qi Chen?


    When Jun Huang arrived at the crown prince¡¯s manor, Qi Chen happened to be free to see her. Because of her run-in with the spies from Eastern Wu, Jun Huang didn¡¯t dare to let her guard down. She suggested to have this conversation in the guest room.


    Qi Chen asked the servants to leave. He looked at how thin Jun Huang had be. He couldn¡¯t help looking at Jun Huang in a different light after hearing about the rumors. He cleared his throat and asked, ¡°Is brother Feng still staying with brother Nan? Has he not recovered from his injury yet? Or is something else wrong?¡±


    Qi Chen had not spelled his thoughts out, but Jun Huang could tell what he was wondering. She looked up at Qi Chen. ¡°Prince Nan has recovered, but a few days ago, this gentleman happened to walk in on a couple spies from Eastern Wu plotting against Northern Qi. I tried my best to be discreet, but they were still alerted to my presence. This gentleman has never been the best fighter. If not for Prince Nan¡¯s timely rescue, this gentleman would have been killed. I was injured. Prince Nan was worried that those men would track me down, so he let me stay in his manor to recover.¡±


    Qi Chen hurriedly walked up to Jun Huang and grabbed her hand to check her over for injuries, worried that Jun Huang had not healed fully. Jun Huang awkwardly pulled her hand away.


    Realizing that he had lost hisposure, Qi Chen went back to his seat.


    ¡°It seems that Brother Feng and Brother Nan are getting closer,¡± said Qi Chen. ¡°Please say a few words to brother Nan for me. If he¡¯s willing to join my side, the throne will be right within my reach.¡±


    ¡°This gentleman understands.¡±

 Chapter 152

    Chapter 152: Joining the Troop


    For a moment, neither of them said anything. Jun Huang coughed to break the silence and told Qi Chen what she had heard that night. She added, ¡°This is a serious matter. Please do an in-depth investigation, Your Highness. Don¡¯t let those despicable men get to the emperor.¡±


    A frown had settled between Qi Chen¡¯s eyebrows ever since Jun Huang started describing what happened that night. Qi Chen nodded. ¡°Rest assured, brother Feng, that I will get to the bottom of this. I will not let anyone hurt Royal Father.¡±


    ¡°This gentleman has alerted them, however; there¡¯s no telling if those men will continue to look for me.¡± Jun Huang looked up to take in Qi Chen¡¯s expression. ¡°This gentleman doesn¡¯t think going into hiding is a good solution in the long term. It may be better for me to stay away from the imperial city for some time. I hope Your Highness approve of my n.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°Brother Feng is right. Someone like you are going to attract a lot of attention. Those viinous men aside, even I sometimes fall victim to your charm. If you are caught by those men, there will be terrible consequences.


    Qi Chen¡¯s words were suggestive, but Jun Huang didn¡¯t give them too much thoughts. She pulled her lips into an awkward smile and exchanged a few more words with Qi Chen. Before she took her leave, she turned to Qi Chen and said, ¡°I hope Your Highness would take this issue seriously. Please let this gentleman know if Your Highness has found anything.¡±


    Qi Chen got to his feet to walk her out and nodded. ¡°Take some day to rx, brother Feng. As soon as I find anything, I¡¯ll send a message to you.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s promise made Jun Huang a little less concerned. She turned down Qi Chen¡¯s offer to walk her out and made her way to the door on her own.


    When she reached one of the corners of the hallway, she heard two maids talking on the other side of the wall.


    ¡°Do you remember gentleman Feng?¡± asked a maid with her voice lowered. She was wearing a light-yellow dress. ¡°He used to live in this manor.¡±


    The other maid nodded. ¡°Of course. He is such a gentle and handsome man. His smile, especially, is like a breeze in springtime. It makes me swoon just thinking of it.¡±


    ¡°Do you know that...¡± The maid in yellow dress looked around before leaning into the other maid. ¡°People said that gentleman Feng has be Prince Nan Xun¡¯s male lover. They sleep together and are always seen together.¡±


    The maid gaped and stuttered, ¡°That ¨C that can¡¯t be! Gentleman Feng looks ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Tsk, why can¡¯t it be? Everyone knows that gentleman Feng is pretty. I heard it¡¯s how all men like him look. Gentleman Feng is only the most good-looking one.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s stop here. Don¡¯t bring this up to another person. If someone hears it and tells the prince, we¡¯ll be in trouble.¡±


    The two maids walked away, nudging and pushing at one another.


    Jun Huang walked out of the shadow. She was embarrassed, but it didn¡¯t show on her face. She was used to hiding her feelings. Now some of her questions were answered.


    She stood there for some time before leaving the manor. She went back to her house and quickly packed up. Before she set out, she called in some of her most reliable servants and told them to notify her should something happened on Qi Chen¡¯s side. She then made her way to the city gate to meet up with Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun was leading an army out of the city. They weren¡¯t marching that quickly. Even though they had had a head start, Jun Huang was able to catch up with them shortly.


    Nan Xun let out a sigh of relief when he saw her. He kept looking back on his way out of the city, worried that Jun Huang hadn¡¯t been able to convince Qi Chen. He wouldn¡¯t return to the city for a good while. He didn¡¯t want to be apart from Jun Huang for such a long time.


    Jun Huang was preupied. The rumors about Nan Xun and herself had been long forgotten. She was thrilled to have the opportunity to look for Jun Hao and Yin Yun, but at the same time she was worried that she might not be able to find them.


    It would take at least ten days for them to reach Yunzhou. A few dayster, Jun Huang received a message from Qi Chen. The messenger was the guard who had brought the clue leading Jun Huang to Yun Town in the first ce.


    The guard came to Jun Huang when Jun Huang and the other were making camps. She knew it must have been about Qi Chen. ¡°Is there a message for me?¡±


    The guard nodded and handed her a letter. ¡°The crown prince ordered me to deliver this letter to the gentleman.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and opened the letter. It said, ¡°I¡¯ve ordered my men to investigate. So far, they have not found anything suspicious in the imperial city. As for within the pce, I have discreetly talked to some of the eunuchs serving at Royal Father¡¯s side. I hope nothing will go wrong.¡±


    Jun Huang threw the letter into the campfire after reading it. She contemted the matter with her brows furrowed. ¡°Go back and tell the crown prince that I am well.¡±


    The guard disappeared into the night without a word. Afterwards, Nan Xun showed up and asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    Jun Huang turned back to him and shook her head. ¡°Not much. Before I left, I asked Qi Chen to look into the spies from Eastern Wu, but he hasn¡¯t found anything useful.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. He wondered how those men had erased their tracks. Eastern Wu was obviously nning something big this time. Those three men they saw that night couldn¡¯t be operating alone.


    ¡°Has he really looked everywhere? This is big. If the spies aren¡¯t rooted out before Eastern Wu makes their moves, things may go very wrong.¡±


    Nan Xun just had an argument with the emperor, but still he didn¡¯t want the emperor to get hurt. It was clear from his scowl that he was worried.


    Jun Huang looked up at him. Nan Xun fell silent when he realized that he had been overreacting.


    Light went out in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. Nan Xun didn¡¯t notice in the dark.


    They sat side by side without a word. Jun Huang gave Nan Xun another sideway nce.


    If one day you know that I have poisoned the emperor through another person¡¯s hand for my own goal, will you be as concerned then? You want nothing but to tear those men from Eastern Wu to pieces. When you know about what I¡¯ve done... will you hate me just as much?1


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t dare to ask, and she couldn¡¯t tell Nan Xun the truth. They were friends. She enjoyed the simple bond they shared. She didn¡¯t want them to be enemies one day.


    ¡°What?¡± Nan Xun asked worriedly at Jun Huang¡¯s tensed expression. Had the journey been too taxing for her? ¡°Have we been too in a rush? If so, I can make the order to dy our schedule.¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and put on a smile. The fire illuminated her face with a warm glow. Her eyes were as bright as stars. A single nce was enough for her beauty to leave asting impression in Nan Xun¡¯s mind. He wouldn¡¯t be able to forget how she looked at this moment, and he didn¡¯t want to.


    ¡°I¡¯m not that tired,¡± Jun Huang said with a reassuring smile. ¡°There¡¯s no need to let others suffer because of me. I can take it. If not, I¡¯ll tell you. You don¡¯t have to be worried about me.¡±


    It could get chilly at night, and there was nothing to serve as a cover in this area. Nan Xun was concerned for Jun Huang. He wanted to let her stay in a tent on her own. She was a woman after all. The other soldiers could make do lying together to keep one another warm.


    Jun Huang, however, turned him down. She didn¡¯t want Nan Xun to grant her any privileges during this trip.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t force her to do anything. He arranged for Jun Huang to rest in an area away from the others and took the liberty to take the spot next to her. A couple soldiers were ordered to set up a campfire.


    The constant breezes made the fire waver. Jun Huang stared at the fire, her thoughts indiscernible. At that moment, the usual calcting glint in her eyes seemed to have disappeared, which made her look more like her age. But her expression was still calm and collected.


    It was getting colder. Nan Xun put his robe around Jun Huang¡¯s shoulders. She threw him a nce without a word. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t going to take it back no matter what she said.


    The sky was free of any dark clouds. The stars were bright and the moon hung high above them, covering thend with ayer of silver.


    ¡°Do you miss your home?¡± Nan Xun asked hesitantly. He had been agonizing over this for a while. His tone was careful. He didn¡¯t want to upset Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun and smiled when she saw how nervous Nan Xun was. She sighed. ¡°It¡¯s been some time. My home no longer exists. There¡¯s nothing for me to miss. I worry only about my brother. There is someone protecting him, but I can¡¯t stop worrying after this long without any news.¡±


    Nan Xun kept his eyes on Jun Huang as she spoke. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to humor him. Her moonlit face, however, was more serious than she had been for a while. Nan Xun knew Jun Huang was telling the truth. There wasn¡¯t a day when she hadn¡¯t thought about Jun Hao.


    It was gettingte. Jun Huang hadn¡¯t been sleeping well or eating much. Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to bother her further, or she wouldn¡¯t be able to endure the trip tomorrow. He patted her on the shoulder. ¡°Take it easy. It¡¯s time to sleep.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded andy on the ground with Nan Xun¡¯s robe around her shoulders. She closed her eyes.


    She didn¡¯t feel like sleeping. She had thought that Qi Chen would be able to find something, but he hadn¡¯t. It made her wonder what Eastern Wu was nning.


    She had thought about the possibility that Qi Chen was keeping something from her. Eastern Wu, however, was ambitious. Qi Chen might have made up his mind to fight for the throne, but he wouldn¡¯t sell out his country for fortunes and glory like her brother had with Western Que. She knew what Qi Chen wanted was an unharmed Northern Qi. There was no reason for him to keep any findings from her.


    I know Jun Huang has admitted to giving the emperor medicine that will make him fatigue. I¡¯m not sure if the author has forgotten, or if the medicine has actually been poison. Honestly it¡¯s probably the former if the author¡¯s track record is anything to go by... ?

 Chapter 153

    Chapter 153: Urgency


    How did those Eastern Wu men avoid Qi Chen¡¯s detection?


    Jun Huang twisted and turned on the ground, unable to fall asleep. In the end she gave up on sleeping. She sat up and looked at the sky with unfocused eyes. Her head was filled with unanswered questions.


    She was surrounded by soldiers, who fell asleep as soon as theyy down. Their snores were as loud as thunder strikes. Jun Huang was more awake than ever. With a sigh, she got to her feet and decided to go for a walk.


    She had tried her best to make as little sound as possible, but Nan Xun still heard her. He opened his eyes and watched Jun Huang go. He assumed that Jun Huang had things to take care of, so he didn¡¯t follow her.


    After a while, though, Jun Huang still hadn¡¯t returned. A trace of worry snuck into his heart. He got up to find Jun Huang and ran into her not far from the camp.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Jun Huang asked.


    Nan Xun smiled awkwardly and changed the subject. He didn¡¯t say that he was worried. As they made their way back, Nan Xun looked at Jun Huang¡¯s tired face and felt his heart ache. ¡°Are you unable to fall asleep because the others are too loud?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not it. I was simply having troubles sleeping. After going on a walk, I¡¯m feeling drowsy. Let¡¯s return. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll fall asleep in no time.¡±


    She picked up her pace. Nan Xun didn¡¯t argue.


    It turned out that Jun Huang had underestimated the soldiers¡¯ snores. She was always a light sleeper. With the thunderous noise assaulting her senses, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. She didn¡¯t want Nan Xun to worry about her, however, so she forced herself to shut her eyes and got some rest.


    Jun Huang had gotten very little sleep when the day broke. Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to disturb her. He had noticed Jun Huang¡¯s situationst night. He ordered the others to leave her alone and put off their departure.


    The soldiers didn¡¯t think too much of it. Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand, on the other hand, wondered if this was a good thing. He had run into Nan Xun and Jun Huang ¡°doing it.¡± He couldn¡¯t stop himself from dwelling on their rtionship when Nan Xun had been treating Jun Huang with such care.


    He was but an official, though, and he owed a debt to Nan Xun. He wasn¡¯t going to say anything to Nan Xun, and could only sighed to himself in private.


    It wasn¡¯t that he thought Feng Baiyu wasn¡¯t good enough. Quite the contrary, Feng Baiyu was too good a man; that was why Nan Xun fell for him. Sometimes, he hoped that Feng Baiyu had been a woman. If so, he wouldn¡¯t have a word ofin. In fact, he would be offering his blessings to the two of them.


    When Jun Huang woke up, the sun was at the top of the sky. Nan Xun had set up a simple roof over her head to provide some shade.


    Jun Huang blinked blearily. The position of the sun told her that it was noon already. She felt bad for causing the dy, but Nan Xun didn¡¯t seem to care.


    Nan Xun had noticed Jun Huang¡¯s loss of weight. Her face had lost its usual color. She looked unhealthy. It worried Nan Xun.


    He rode to Jun Huang side. With a frown, he said, ¡°If you can¡¯t keep going, I¡¯ll have someone prepare a coach. You don¡¯t have to push yourself.¡±


    Jun Huang nced at him and shook her head. ¡°You have asked the soldiers to march slower. That I can tell. I¡¯ll be able to keep on. If I get on a coach, there¡¯s no telling when we will reach Yunzhou. Don¡¯t forget that you have your order. You aren¡¯t here to go on a field trip. Neither am I. You know better than others that I¡¯ll like to reach Yun Town as soon as I can.¡±


    Nan Xun fell silent. His eyes were fixed on Jun Huang. He was worried that something would happen to her.


    Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand stepped in. He could see Jun Huang wasting away as well, and he had to do something. It might be that Jun Huang was born with an endearing quality. Or perhaps it was because he had seen how much Nan Xun cared about Jun Huang ¨C He knew that Nan Xun would be unhappy if Jun Huang was unwell.


    ¡°There¡¯s a little town ahead of us, general. We can go get some supply.¡± The officer couldn¡¯t say openly that this was for Jun Huang. He therefore spoke in a roundabout way.


    Nan Xun nced at the officer, his eyes lighting up. He nodded. His mood had taken an upturn.


    The officer saw the change in Nan Xun¡¯s expression. His heart felt lighter as well.


    They soon reached the town. Nan Xun ordered the others to get the supply.


    They were here to suppress a riot. It wasn¡¯t that big a deal. Therefore, Nan Xun hadn¡¯t brought a lot of people with him. Nheless, he didn¡¯t want to scare the local residents. Nan Xun picked a few men to get what they needed before following Jun Huang in.


    Jun Huang knew that Nan Xun had only made this stop because of her. She felt a little guilty, but Nan Xun didn¡¯t give her time to dwell on it. He took her to the biggest ry station in the town and booked two rooms.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t need one for himself, but he worried that Jun Huang would turn his offer down if he didn¡¯t stay in this ry station as well. That was why he booked an extra room.


    Jun Huang was tired. After days of staying in the elements and being troubled by theck of information from Qi Chen, she had not been getting much sleep. She fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.


    While she was asleep, Nan Xun asked a clerk to make him a bowl of congee. He watched the clerk was cook. When it was done, Nan Xun took out a ceramic bottle from his robe.


    Nan Xun had asked a doctor to seek out this medicine for him. He would give it to Jun Huang directly, but he was worried that Jun Huang might be unwilling to take the medicine.


    The poison in her body was still slowly spreading through her system. He had to try his best to slow it down until he found a way to cleanse the poison.


    Nan Xun sighed. He ground the medicine into powder and put it in the congee. He then mixed it with a spoon before trying some. He rxed when he was sure he couldn¡¯t taste the medicine. He brought the bowl of congee back to the room upstairs. Jun Huang happened to wake up.


    ¡°Thought you were still asleep,¡± Nan Xun said as he put the bowl on the table. ¡°Since you¡¯re awake, you should get something in your stomach.¡±


    Jun Huang looked out at the darkening sky and nodded. She took a spoonful of the congee. Nan Xun had not added a lot of the medicine. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to notice and feel like she owed him. He didn¡¯t realize that Jun Huang had taken all kinds of medicine when she was under Ole Cragfiend¡¯s care. She noticed the hint of bitterness right away.


    Jun Huang kept it to herself. She knew that Nan Xun had gone through the troubles for her. She let herself be moved for a brief moment before hardening her heart. She could never get together with Nan Xun. She must not give Nan Xun any false hope.


    Jun Huang ignore the trace of pain inside her heart and turned a blind eye to Nan Xun¡¯s kindness. She focused on eating the bowl of congee.


    That night, Jun Huang was finally able to have a good night sleep. She had not slept on a bed since they set out on this journey. The short rest she had had before dinner was far from enough. As time went by, she became more and more tired. She closed her eyes and fell into a deep slumber.


    They were outside their territory, and Nan Xun had not brought any guards with him. He and Jun Huang were on their own. Worried that dangers might strike, Nan Xun didn¡¯t dare to sleep. He asked a clerk for a chair and kept watch at Jun Huang¡¯s door.


    When Jun Huang woke up the next day, she opened the door and saw Nan Xun dozing off outside her door. Nan Xun was a tall man. He looked a little ridiculous on that little stool with his body bent, but Jun Huang didn¡¯t feel likeughing at all. She felt a pang in her heart where it was most tender. For a moment she could only stare at Nan Xun like a woman possessed.


    As a trained fighter, Nan Xun was vignt even in his sleep. He could feel someone¡¯s gaze on him without opening his eyes, and he knew it must be Jun Huang.


    For reason he wasn¡¯t exactly clear about, he suddenly didn¡¯t want to move. He wanted time to stay frozen at this moment: Jun Huang was watching him from the side thinking that he was asleep. She didn¡¯t want to disturb him, but she wasn¡¯t willing to leave him, either.


    Of course, his hope could nevere true. Not long after, his second inmand came to find them. The officer felt a little awkward seeing them like this. It was different from what he expected, but it was still difficult to wrap his head around the air of intimacy between Jun Huang and Nan Xun.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to go, general,¡± said the officer. His eyes darted between Nan Xun and Jun Huang. He wondered if the two of them had stayed in the same room, and if Nan Xun had been kicked out because he was trying to do something in bed. He was but an officer, however, and there were lines he shouldn¡¯t cross. He shut his mouth and apany the two of them to have breakfast before making their way to outside the town.


    On their way out, Nan Xun asked Jun Huang again. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t need a coach? Are you sure you can ride a horse?¡±


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun, then to the officer. She sighed. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure. Everyone else is riding a horse, aren¡¯t they? There¡¯s no reason that I can¡¯t manage.¡± Jun Huang knew her insistence would make Nan Xun feel bad. She added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll let you know if I can¡¯t keep up.¡±


    Nan Xun let out a long breath. ¡°As you wish.¡±


    They left the town and rejoined the troop. They resumed their journey to Yunzhou.


    The heaven did not smile upon them, however. It suddenly started pouring. In summer, rain came without warning, and it lingered. The rain didn¡¯t seem like it would break any time soon.


    Nan Xun quickly handed the straw rain cape a soldier gave him to Jun Huang and told her to put it on, or she would catch a cold. He didn¡¯t seem to care that his clothes were already drenched.

 Chapter 154

    Chapter 154: The Trip to Yun Town


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t waste time on arguing with Nan Xun. She put on the straw rain cape and got one for him too. She had been worried about Nan Xun¡¯s health ever since she heard from Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand that Nan Xun had knelt in the rain overnight to protest the marriage with Shangguan Yue. Fortunately, Nan Xun was built sturdy and didn¡¯t catch a cold.


    Everyone had put on a cape. Because of the rain obscuring their view, they had slowed down their pace. The horses tread along the muddy path, sshing dirty water at the men riding behind.


    Nan Xun rode on Jun Huang¡¯s left side. Every once in a while he would say a few words to Jun Huang and remind her to watch the road. Because of the deafening rain, he had to shout at the top of his lungs to make sure that Jun Huang heard him.


    The soldiers behind them saw their general shouting something at Jun Huang, but the rain was too loud for his voice to be carried to their ears. Jun Huang, in return, looked at Nan Xun with a faint smile on her face. Every now and then she would turn to look at Nan Xun, but she didn¡¯t say much. She either nodded or shook her as a response.


    They traveled for a good while without any idents. The sound of horse hooves hitting the ground grew louder and louder until it could almost rival the pouring rain. Nan Xun turned to tell Jun Huang to stay behind him. The path was getting more and more difficult to navigate. Before he could say anything, however, the horse Jun Huang was riding suddenly reared its front legs and almost threw Jun Huang off its back.


    Nan Xun startled. Fortunately, Jun Huang had been on her guard even when she was in a conversation. People unfamiliar with horses would have gotten thrown off. She was able to catch the reign and hold onto the horse¡¯s neck, keeping herself on horseback.


    Nevertheless, she was no professional, and she was at a loss of what to do next. She didn¡¯t have the time to ask Nan Xun before the horse ran off. In reflex, she tightened her grip on the reign and lowered her body, trying her best to calm down the scared horse.


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart sank when he saw Jun Huang¡¯s horse running off. He took a deep breath and told his soldiers to stay put before squeezing his horse¡¯s belly with both legs,manding the horse to follow after Jun Huang.


    His horse galloped so quickly he could barely see where he was going. And the pouring rain didn¡¯t help. Nan Xun kept his body low against the horseback and rushed toward the direction Jun Huang had gone with his eyes narrowed.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t beyond mortal¡¯s fear after all. No matter how level-headed she usually was, faced with this situation, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from trembling.


    She was never that good at riding. It was all she could do to keep herself from being thrown off. She knew she was not in the right position, but she couldn¡¯t adjust her posture. The horse seemed determined to get her off its back.


    Jun Huang sucked in a breath. Her entire body went rigid. Her arms were trembling from her dead grip on the reign. She had used so much force that she scraped her palms.


    After about the time for a pot of tea to brew, she was brought to the edge of a forest. Jun Huang stilled. She must stop the horse from running into the woods! Otherwise it would be even more difficult for Nan Xun to find her.


    Jun Huang prepared herself mentally and tightened her jaw before yanking at the reign. Snap! The reign broke. She fell off the horse like a bag of rock.


    Nan Xun widened his eyes. He caught up with Jun Huang just in time to see her fall. He leaped toward her from his horse and caught her in his arms. They fell onto the ground together, rolling in the mud for two rotations until they stopped.


    Jun Huang clenched her teeth to brace for the pain. She looked up at Nan Xun, who was lying on the ground looking as messy as she was. Nan Xun stared at her with worried eyes and asked if she was hurt.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help the fear rushing into her heart when she thought about what could have happened. She shook her head, but was suddenly hit by a shock of pain in her thighs. Her eyebrows drew together.


    Her reaction did not escape Nan Xun¡¯s eyes. He knew Jun Huang must have scraped her thighs trying to stop her horse. And it was likely that she had twisted her ankle when she fell.


    His lips pursed in anger, Nan Xun stood up and looked down at Jun Huang. Jun Huang was getting light-headed from the pain and didn¡¯t notice the change in his expression.


    Nan Xun¡¯s shoulders tensed up further. He took a deep breath and demanded, ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re doing? Why do you have to push yourself so much?¡±


    It took some time for Jun Huang to suppress the pain. Her cold sweat mixed with the rain and streamed down her face. She didn¡¯t look pathetic, but she looked pitiful.


    Seeing Jun Huang¡¯s misty eyes, the fire in Nan Xun¡¯s heart died down as quickly as it appeared. He knew Jun Huang wasn¡¯t showing her vulnerability to him, though, and that the tears filling her eyes were simply a physical reaction to the pain.


    Jun Huang would sooner die than show anyone her weakness. She wouldn¡¯t have let her pain be seen unless it was so serious it was physically impossible for her to hide. Her pain must have been bad this time.


    With a scowl, Nan Xun squatted down to check over Jun Huang¡¯s ankle. He finally let out the breath he had been holding after he made sure that her bone had not been broken. A twisted ankle and pulled muscles in her thighs, yes, but nothing too serious.


    Nan Xun helped her get to her feet. Jun Huang hissed in pain, leaning into Nan Xun¡¯s arms to let him take her weight.


    She was unhealthily thin. Even with her in his arms, Nan Xun barely felt weighed down. His heart ached for her.


    Nan Xun whistled to call for his horse and helped Jun Huang mount before getting on the horseback himself. Jun Huang was in so much pain that her body went numb. Shey bonelessly against Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun felt his heart clench seeing Jun Huang¡¯s pale face. What he wouldn¡¯t do to take the pain from her!


    People often said that they would dly be the subject of torture for their loved ones. That was exactly how Nan Xun felt.


    They returned to the troop. Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand almost jumped seeing the condition they were in. He quickly went up to them.


    The heavy rain had washed away the mud on their clothes, but Nan Xun was worried that Jun Huang would copse. He turned to his second inmand with a frown. ¡°I don¡¯t care how you do it. Get me a coach now. Understand?¡±


    Seeing Jun Huang¡¯s sheet-pale face, the second inmand didn¡¯t dare to waste any time. He rushed off to acquire a coach. Jun Huang was going to argue, but before she could do so, the officer had vanished.


    Jun Huang swallowed down her unspoken words and let out a quietugh. She took a deep breath before pulling away from Nan Xun. She didn¡¯t want the soldiers to misunderstand their rtionship.


    Nan Xun let her go without resisting. He knew what Jun Huang was worried about, and he didn¡¯t want to embarrass her. He was still worried, though, so he kept an arm behind her back to support her.


    The second inmand returned with a coach not long after, panting heavily. He clearly had gone out of his way to get this coach. It didn¡¯t look cheap.


    Seeing Jun Huang and Nan Xun¡¯s odd look, the second inmand exined, ¡°I bought this from a rich family in the area.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t say anything. Nan Xun helped her into the coach and got some clean clothes for her. ¡°You¡¯ll have to get changed in the coach,¡± he said with a pensive expression. ¡°Be careful with your injury. Don¡¯t pull your muscles again, alright?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s caring words brought warmth into her heart. Jun Huang nodded with a smile and got into the coach with the clothes in her arms. Nan Xun stayed outside looking away from the coach.


    When Jun Huang finished getting changed and opened the door, Nan Xun was in the rain, and his clothes werepletely drenched. She frowned. ¡°Maybe you should get changed as well.¡±


    Nan Xun visibly rxed when he saw that Jun Huang had changed into something dry. He shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no telling when the rain will stop in summer. Even if I get changed, my clothes are going to get wet again. I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t get sick that easily. This rain isn¡¯t going to do anything to me.¡± Nan Xun looked up at the grey sky. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should get some rest.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded in resignation and returned to the coach. She shut her eyes.


    When she opened her eyes again, the rain had stopped. The setting sun was peeking behind a dark patch of clouds.


    The road was covered in mud. Jun Huang was having a hard time even in the coach. She wasn¡¯t used to being carried around like this. The constant shaking made her dizzy.


    Hearing her movement, Nan Xun got off his horse and got into the coach. His heart clenched when he saw Jun Huang¡¯s pale face. He quickly pull Jun Huang into his arms to steady her.


    Jun Huang finally felt better when the coach stopped. Feeling her stomach convulse, she pushed Nan Xun away and stumbled out of the coach. She threw up squatting at the side of the road.


    Her stomach was empty since she hadn¡¯t had anything for lunch. She was throwing up bile and it felt as if her galldder was going toe out of her mouth as well.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be this ill. He patted Jun Huang on the back and took a cup of water from his second inmand. Once Jun Huang had stopped vomiting, he handed her the cup.


    Jun Huang took a gulp to swallow down her difort. She inhaled deeply and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Nan Xun was unsettled by theck of color in Jun Huang¡¯s cheeks. Jun Huang, on the other hand, felt guilty for causing a dy. I¡¯m going to get sick again if I stay in the coach, she thought. I might as well go back to riding a horse. My ankle has stopped hurting anyway.

 Chapter 155

    Chapter 155: Sharing a Room


    Jun Huang looked up at Nan Xun and said seriously, ¡°How about I go back to riding a horse? The coach moves too slowly. It¡¯ll take us ages to get to Yunzhou.¡±


    Nan Xun pulled a long face and said without hesitation, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m slowing you down.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to slow us down further if you get into an ident again.¡± Nan Xun would not be coerced or persuaded. He refused to let Jun Huang get hurt again. He took a deep breath and turned to his second inmand. ¡°Watch my horse for me. I¡¯ll stay in the coach with him.¡±


    The second inmand wasn¡¯t going to argue. He nodded and watched Nan Xun help Jun Huang back into the coach.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Jun Huang¡¯s stomach acted up again, but there was nothing for her to throw up. She retched. Her condition made her feel even more dizzy.


    Nan Xun frowned. He knew Jun Huang must not ride in this state. He took Jun Huang¡¯s hand and rubbed at the part between her thumb and index finger, hoping to make her feel better.


    Jun Huang leaned against the coach with her eyes closed. After a while, she said, ¡°I¡¯m not as weak as you think I am. It¡¯s better to let me ride a horse than to put me under this torture.¡±


    ¡°Staying in the coach may make you dizzy, but it¡¯s not going to harm you,¡± Nan Xun said in a monotone. ¡°If you ride a horse and it gets scared again, I can¡¯t ensure your safety.¡±


    This stubborn man! Jun Huang opened her eyes to look at Nan Xun. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to protect me. It¡¯ll take ages for us to reach Yunzhou like this. When am I going to see my brother? I¡¯m not ¨C ¡±


    Stubborn woman! Nan Xun was getting frustrated. ¡°Why can¡¯t you put yourself first for once? If you really want to find your brother, you shouldn¡¯t overtax your body! Don¡¯t you know how bad your health is getting? I didn¡¯t want to meddle, but you really are too obstinate for your own good!¡±


    Jun Huang nodded after a moment of silence. Nan Xun let out a quiet sigh. ¡°We¡¯re going straight to Yun Town.¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes and looked at Nan Xun without blinking.


    The riot was in Yunzhou, which was not far from Yun Town. They had taken fifteen days to travel the distance that should take only ten days, which made Jun Huang feel guilty. She had been dragging the troop down. Nan Xun, though, didn¡¯t me her at all.


    They were near the intersection of the paths to Yunzhou and the path to Yun Town. Jun Huang originally nned to go to Yun Town on her own, while Nan Xun and his soldiers made their way to Yunzhou. She would rejoin them after finding Jun Hao and Yin Yun.


    Nan Xun insisted on going to Yun Town with Jun Huang though. He was worried that she would run into danger.


    Because of his concern for Jun Huang¡¯s health, Nan Xun had slowed down the troop further. It took them half a day to travel ten miles.


    Nan Xun knew he must not cause further dy to the troop. The riot of Yunzhou had to be taken care of. If they did not reach Yunzhou in time, things might go awry.


    Jun Huang thought Nan Xun was going to urge the troop to hurry, but instead, Nan Xun went straight to his second inmand.


    The second inmand was surprised. Nan Xun had been... canoodling with Jun Huang the past couple of days. He was pleasantly surprised that Nan Xun asked for him.


    ¡°In this state, we will not reach Yunzhou in time, and the emperor will be unhappy,¡± Nan Xun said without ceremony. ¡°However, I have to go to Yun Town with gentleman Feng and won¡¯t be able to reach Yunzhou until a few dayster. Take the men to Yunzhou with you. Do everything you can to suppress the unrest. Understand?¡±


    The second inmand widened his eyes. It took some time for him to find his voice. ¡°What is the general going to Yun Town for?¡±


    Nan Xun looked toward Jun Huang reflexively. She was standing next to the coach. The silk robe she wore was of premium quality, which entuated her beauty. He felt his heart swell.


    ¡°There is some business I have to take care of,¡± Nan Xun said. He had reverted back to his usual stoic self. ¡°You don¡¯t have to know the reason. Just go to Yunzhou as soon as you can.¡±


    The second inmand nodded. He would not say no to Nan Xun¡¯s order. After a pause, he said, ¡°This officer will lead the army to Yunzhou shortly. Please be careful, general. I¡¯ll leave some reliable guards with you.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to bring guards with him, but he wasn¡¯t sure if they would run into troubles. It was safer to have a few men with him. That way, he would be able to focus on protecting Jun Huang when dangers struck. He therefore didn¡¯t argue with his second inmand.


    The second inmand left with most of the soldiers, leaving four men for Nan Xun. Jun Huang¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. She didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to follow her to Yun Town.


    With the arrangement made, a heavyweight finally lifted from Nan Xun¡¯s shoulders. He didn¡¯t have to worry about causing too much of a dy now. He was able to even appreciate the scenery.


    Jun Huang wanted to hurry, but she didn¡¯t have a choice. She sighed and decided to not start an argument with Nan Xun again. She knew it wouldn¡¯t do her any good to be hasty.


    After two days, they finally reached the gate of Yun Town. Yun Town sat far away from the imperial city. The pale grey wall was marked with spots and the color was uneven. At the open gate were a few soldiers checking over the passing crowds. The gate led to a wide street. Conversations and vendors¡¯ cries could be heard from a distance. It looked like a peaceful ce.


    Jun Huang had been stuck in the coach for days. The walls were starting to close in on her. Nan Xun had intended to stay in the coach as they entered the town, but Jun Huang refused. Nan Xun could only follow Jun Huang out of the coach. He led his men to the gate.


    Yun Town had seen its fair share of knight-errants. The guards didn¡¯t even blink when they saw that Nan Xun and his men were armed. After a simple questioning process, they were let inside.


    Jun Huang smiled a little. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be able to enter with all your weapons.¡±


    Nan Xun nced at a knight-errant passing by them and nodded. ¡°It seems like there¡¯s an event in Yun Town.¡±


    Jun Huang stopped to look at Nan Xun with inquisitive eyes. Nan Xun pointed at a tea stand on the side of the road. Almost every customer was dressed in peasants¡¯ clothes and armed with swords. Jun Huang blinked in surprise.


    ¡°There must be a lot of new facesing to this great event of the martial arts world,¡± said a burly man.


    The man he was talking to have a more feminine face, and he was thin. He waved his fan and narrowed his eyes. After a while, he finally opened his mouth. ¡°There are some new faces, but who knows if there will be anyone noteworthy this year?¡±


    Jun Huang dragged Nan Xun away when the man turned to them. Was there a connection between Yin Yun and Jun Hao¡¯s presence and the martial arts event? She fell in deep thoughts with her brows furrowed. Perhaps it was only a coincidence.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t think too much of it, but he ordered the guards to keep their guard up to be on the safe side. There were a lot of peopleing and going in Yun Town recently. The possibility of running into dangers was therefore higher than ever. He had to make sure that Jun Huang was safe.


    They arrived at the biggest inn in the town. One of the clerks had a pair of keen eyes. He noticed their unusual presence and expensive clothing. He hurried to them with a wide smile. This was a great opportunity to make good money!


    Nan Xun reflexively pulled Jun Huang behind him, who threw him a brief nce. She was amused by his reaction, but she didn¡¯t let it show.


    ¡°Are the esteemed guests going to have a meal or book some rooms?¡± The clerk asked in an earnest tone.


    ¡°We¡¯re staying. Prepare a few quality rooms for us.¡± Nan Xun gestured for one of his men to pay the clerk.


    The clerk¡¯s eyes lit up. He snuck a nce at Jun Huang, who was behind Nan Xun, and asked, ¡°How many rooms do the gentlemen need? You must know that there are a lot more people in Yun Town these days. We only have three rooms left. If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll go get these three rooms ready.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned and turned to Jun Huang. Before he could say anything, Jun Huang piped up, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, we will have the rooms. Thank you.¡±


    The clerk walked away after making a sound of assent. Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang with surprise. Jun Huang shrugged and said to the guards, ¡°Yun Town is full of people these days. All of us will have to share the room with one other person. Is it alright for you?¡±


    The guards nodded. They went upstairs to scout the ce first. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t suppress his smile hearing Jun Huang¡¯s words. He followed Jun Huang up the stairs without a word.


    This was the most luxurious inn in Yun Town. If even this inn was left with only three suites, the other inns must have been fully booked. The inn did live up to its reputation, though. The suite was spacious enough to house more than ten people. It was far from ufortable for two people to share the space. Besides, there was an extra side room attached to the main room, and there was a divan in addition to therge bed.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun entered their suite. It was a good ce. The window panes were etched with intricate patterns. The scent of sandalwood was rxing and refreshing.


    Nan Xun could tell that Jun Huang was in a good mood. He avoided bringing Jun Hao up. It was gettingte after all. It wasn¡¯t a good time to search for them. Jun Huang knew as well. She nned to start looking for Yin Yun and Jun Hao after a good night sleep.


    They couldn¡¯t go search for Yin Yun and Jun Hao as a group. She decided to sketch out their appearances and had the men split up to ask around tomorrow.

 Chapter 156

    Chapter 156: Taking a Leap of Faith


    Nan Xun was a man of integrity. He knew where to draw the line. He went to one of the guards¡¯ rooms to take a bath. When he came back, Jun Huang was drawing under the candlelight.


    Jun Huang noticed his approach before he got close. She turned around. Nan Xun felt awkward all of a sudden. He scratched at his nose and coughed before walking to Jun Huang¡¯s side. He looked down at the portraits on the sheets of rice paper.


    ¡°Are they Yin Yun and Jun Hao?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang nodded and let out a sigh as sheid down her ink brush. ¡°I hope we can find them without idents.¡±


    The bone deep tiredness she radiated made Nan Xun¡¯s heart clench. He paused and, with feign nonchnce, said, ¡°Get some rest. I¡¯ll stay outside for the night.¡±


    With that, he walked out of the door, leaving Jun Huang staring after him.


    Nan Xun¡¯s consideration made warmth bloom in her heart. A hint of smile snuck onto her face without her noticing. She contemted the drawings in her hands for a good while.


    She was exhausted. It didn¡¯t take long for her to fall asleep. When she woke up, the sun was rising from the horizon. The peaceful Yun Town slowly came out of its slumber. Jun Huang cleaned herself up and opened the window. At dawn saw Yun Town covered in a thinyer of fog.


    The climate here wasfortable, and this was the most serene area in Northern Qi. Raised on thisnd, the locals weren¡¯t as strongly-built as those in other parts of Northern Qi. Instead, they were more simr to the gentle people of Jiangnan.


    The day had only just broken. Jun Huang took a deep breath. She could almost taste the dew in the morning air. She opened the door when she was fully awake.


    As that day in the ry station, Nan Xun had been keeping watch at the door throughout the night for her safety. He only fell asleep lying against the chair early in the morning.


    The other customers were still asleep. Only the clerks were up and working. Jun Huang had thought that Nan Xun would rest on the divan. She didn¡¯t expect him to stay at the door again.


    It took a moment for her to shake away the tender feelings filling her heart. She walked up to Nan Xun and tapped him on the shoulder.


    People trained in martial arts kept their guard up even in sleep. Nan Xun had woken up before Jun Huang reached him. He opened his eyes when Jun Huang touched his shoulder and blinked at her beautiful face.


    ¡°Why did you sleep outside again?¡± asked Jun Huang. She didn¡¯t notice the concern in her tone.


    Nan Xun shook his throbbing head and straightened his back. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. This way, you won¡¯t feel uneasy because of my presence. Besides, the divan is... small. I can¡¯t really fit on it. Might as well stay outside and use the opportunity to observe other people.¡±


    His tone was casual, but Jun Huang knew it was deliberate. Nan Xun simply didn¡¯t want her to worry. She looked at the divan Nan Xun spoke of. She had not had a good lookst night, but now she realized that it was small. Nan Xun was a tall man. It would be ufortable for him to sleep on it.


    When Nan Xun was trying toe up with something to assure Jun Huang, the four guards they brought with them walked out of their rooms. They stood on the side and respectfully awaited their orders. It wasn¡¯t a good time for such conversation.


    Nan Xun cleared his throat and told the guards to go get something to eat first. He returned to his room to clean himself up before following Jun Huang downstairs.


    When they arrived yesterday, it waste, and the main hall was empty. Now, in the morning, people started trickling in to have breakfast. Most hade to Yun Town to attend the martial artspetition. All of them looked like formidable foes.


    Nan Xun kept an eye on them. As someone who had fought on battlefields, he knew better than many that a healthy dose of suspicion was crucial to survival. His guards kept their guard up as well.


    Jun Huang was the only one who didn¡¯t react. She couldn¡¯t care less about thepetition. Her sole focus was on finding Jun Hao and Yin Yun. It had been too long since shest heard of them. She couldn¡¯t help getting both excited and nervous over the possibility of seeing them again. She was afraid that this might turn out to be another disappointment.


    Once she had finished eating, she put down her chopsticks and drank her tea without a word.


    After breakfast, they went to the room Jun Huang shared with Nan Xun. Jun Huang handed the guards the portraits she had drawnst night and said, ¡°Thank you for the help.¡±


    ¡°The gentleman is too kind,¡± said one of the guards. ¡°These subordinates are simply fulfilling our duties.¡±


    They left the room, leaving Jun Huang and Nan Xun on their own.


    Nan Xun sighed at Jun Huang. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. We¡¯ll find them.¡±


    Contrary to his words, Nan Xun actually suspected that Yin Yun and Jun Hao might not be in Yun Town at all. He, however, couldn¡¯t possibly rain on Jun Huang¡¯s parade. He had to take this leap of faith with her.


    Nan Xun took Jun Huang¡¯s cool fingers in his hands. She looked up at him and put on a small smile. ¡°I n to go look for them myself as well,¡± she said casually after taking a deep breath. ¡°I can¡¯t stay here and do nothing while your men do the leg work.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± said Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang nodded and pulled her hands away with her lips curved. She quickly made some preparations before leaving the inn with Nan Xun and started searching.


    Yun Town wasn¡¯t a big city, but it wasn¡¯t small either. It was difficult to track down an individual. Jun Huang didn¡¯t intend to give up. Nan Xun knew how determined she was to find her brother, so he kept quiet. He didn¡¯t want to make her unhappy.


    Jun Huang showed her drawings to the local people, but they all shook their heads and said they had never seen these two men. Even if they had, they wouldn¡¯t remember with all the visitorsing to Yun Town recently.


    After going through two streets, Jun Huang slowed down her pace. Nan Xun could tell that she was getting tired. He took the drawings from her and said, ¡°Take some rest and wait here for me. I¡¯ll keep asking around for you.¡±


    ¡°Remember to protect yourself,¡± Nan Xun said. He usually talked to Jun Huang with a hint of smile, but now his expression waspletely serious. His eyebrows were knitted together in his worry that Jun Huang would turn away his help. ¡°There are a lot of people from the martial arts worlding to this town. They can all be dangerous. You should stay away from them. I¡¯m going to that area and will return shortly.¡±


    Jun Huang knew she had made enough troubles for Nan Xun. Her health was not how it had been. She nodded after a moment of silence and took a seat at a tea stand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here and take a rest.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He kept looking back as he walked away. In the blink of an eye, he had disappeared into the crowd.


    Why can¡¯t we find Yin Yun and Jun Hao, Jun Huang wondered.


    Neither of them were ordinary men, and they were both good looking. They should have left an impression on people. It didn¡¯t make sense that she couldn¡¯t find anything.


    Jun Huang stared at her cup of tea. And then realization struck her suddenly.


    Yin Yun was a master of disguise! How could she have forgotten that? Maybe Yin Yun and Jun Hao were in Yun Town, but they had disguised themselves to avoid detection. That was why she couldn¡¯t find them.


    The more she thought, the more convinced she was of her spection. She downed her tea and paid the bill before rushing to the direction Nan Xun had left in.


    She walked so quickly it seemed as if there was wind beneath her feet. She had to find Nan Xun and told him about her realization.


    In the shadow casted by a short wall stood two men. One was an adult. There was an air of nobility to him. The sword he held in his hand was made of darksteel, which seemed to radiated coldness. The other was a young boy. His features bore a strong resemnce to Jun Huang¡¯s. His eyes were clear and free of any impurities.


    Yin Yun pursed his lips and looked outside. A trace of apprehension crept into his heart. He had a feeling that something bad was going to happen.


    ¡°Why are we hiding here, Yin Yun?¡± asked Jun Hao, holding onto Yin Yun¡¯s sleeve. His voice was nervous and his breathing quiet. He was worried that he would attract their enemies even by breathing a little louder.


    ¡°Perhaps. I didn¡¯t expect them to be this resourceful.¡± Yin Yun frowned deeply, but his tone was calm. He had a hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to fight men from Eastern Wu at any moment.


    Jun Hao knew how to read people. His eyebrows drew together slightly. Even though he was on the run, and Western Que was no more, there was a presence to him that one could not ignore. His every movement reminded one of Jun Huang¡¯s grace.


    He tightened his grip on Yin Yun¡¯s sleeve and said in a deliberately calm voice, ¡°So what? We¡¯re not afraid of them. You¡¯re injured, Yin Yun. You can¡¯t get into a fight with them again. We should focus on finding big sister.¡±


    Jun Hao was a child after all. His line of thoughts was often unpredictable. He simply spoke his mind. He didn¡¯t care if Yin Yun could grasp his meaning.


    Yin Yun knew him, though. He knew that Jun Hao missed Jun Huang dearly. They had spent a lot of time trying to find Jun Huang, but they couldn¡¯t find anything. That didn¡¯t make sense.


    Someone like Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t just disappear, and yet it seemed like she had. No one knew where she was. Not even the men from Eastern Wu.


    Yin Yun had suspected the worst ¨C maybe Jun Huang had been caught by people from Eastern Wu. He even snuck into Eastern Wu to investigate. What he found assure him that Jun Huang wasn¡¯t being held there, but he had been exposed and injured as a result. Now they were looking for Jun Huang with Eastern Wu¡¯s men on their tail.

 Chapter 157

    Chapter 157: Awkwardness


    Yin Yun had brought Jun Hao to Northern Qi to hide from their enemies. He knew Eastern Wu had been trying to build a diplomatic rtionship with Northern Qi recently. They wouldn¡¯t have sent out an army into Northern Qi to look for them.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for Your Highness to worry about me,¡± said Yin Yun. ¡°I¡¯m about recovered.¡± He reflexively touched his shoulder as he spoke. There was a wound there left when he infiltrated Eastern Wu. Fortunately it wasn¡¯t serious.


    Jun Hao put on a serious face that was beyond his age and said, ¡°Even so, you shouldn¡¯t risk your life again and again! If we find big sister and she knows about what you¡¯ve done, she will be mad at you.¡±


    Yin Yun sighed at the mention of Jun Huang. That girl may look naive, but she was a resilient one. He nodded. ¡°The princess entrusted Your Highness to me. I¡¯ve promised her that I would keep you safe even at the risk of my life.¡±


    Jun Hao frowned, but he didn¡¯t say anything. During the months spent with Yin Yun at his side, he had gotten to know Yin Yun. He knew there was no use in trying to argue with him.


    Yin Yun¡¯s eyes widened suddenly. Jun Hao followed his gaze and saw two men asking around with their portraits in their hands. It was obvious that these two men were trained in martial arts.


    ¡°Have you seen these two people, mister?¡± asked one of the men.


    The old man stopped to look at the portraits. He frowned in contemtion before nodding. ¡°I think so, but I don¡¯t remember where.¡±


    ¡°Is it in Yun Town?¡±


    ¡°Probably.¡± The old man nodded and walked away.


    The man pulled hispanion to the side to talk to him. A few momentster he felt someone¡¯s gaze on him. He looked up. Yin Yun was more well-trained than most martial arts experts. He quickly pulled Jun Hao to the side.


    ¡°What?¡± the other man asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± said the man. He turned back and resumed their conversation.


    They had lowered their voices, but Yin Yun was still able to catch a few words. He frowned when he heard them mention ¡°Wangye1.¡± His gut reaction was that these men were working for one of Eastern Wu¡¯s princes. And they were trained fighters. If Yin Yun had been on his own, he wouldn¡¯t see these men as a threat. As it was, he wasn¡¯t going to put Jun Hao at risk by staying.


    Yin Yun only rxed when the two men had left. Jun Hao looked up at him in question. Yin Yun lowered his head and gestured at Jun Hao to stay quiet. He waited a few beats before leading Jun Hao back to the inn they were staying in.


    Yin Yun shut the door behind him. Before Jun Hao could figure out what was happening, Yin Yun took out the face masks he had made some time ago and put one on Jun Hao¡¯s face without a word of exnation.


    Jun Hao didn¡¯t protest. He was used to Yin Yun acting this way. He closed his eyes and let Yin Yun smoothed out the edge of the mask. Once it was properly applied, he said, ¡°Are those men really from Eastern Wu?¡±


    Yin Yun had put on a mask himself. Now both their looks were covered. He nodded. ¡°Very likely. I cannot think of anyone else in Northern Qi who would put so much effort in searching for us.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s big sister,¡± said Jun Hao. His head was filled with thoughts about Jun Huang.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably not,¡± said Yin Yun. ¡°I heard them mentioned a wangye. While Princess Jun Huang does know the fourth prince of Northern Qi, the prince has not gained a title yet. It¡¯s more likely to be someone from Eastern Wu.¡±


    Jun Hao saw his points. He didn¡¯t want to waste time arguing with Yin Yun.


    He walked to the mirror to look at his face mask. A sigh escaped his lips. How long were they going to keep on running? When, if ever, were they going to find Jun Huang?


    Yin Yun knew what he was thinking about. Jun Hao was too young to be faced with the destruction of his country and family. He was forced to be a fugitive with only a guard at his side. It must have been hard for him to wrap his head around. Yin Yun was worried that Jun Hao had been keeping his pain to himself. He didn¡¯t want Jun Hao to suppress himself to the point of developing an illness.


    ¡°Believe me, Your Highness, when I say that we will find the princess,¡± Yin Yun said with his eyes on Jun Hao.


    Jun Hao smiled. He had grown up in the royal family. Even though he had not had a lot of experience, he wasn¡¯t going to be defeated by these hardships. ¡°Where are we going next?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll get out of the town first,¡± said Yin Yun. He quickly packed up their limited number of possessions and checked out. He led Jun Hao out of the inn.


    It took some time for Jun Huang to find Nan Xun. Nan Xun stopped in his track when he saw hering his way. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Jun Huang steadied her breathing before saying, ¡°I just remembered that Yin Yun is a master of disguise. Do you think they have changed their appearances?¡±


    Nan Xun frowned without answering. It was an possibility. Without a word, he went back to question the pedestrians with the portraits in his hand. Jun Huang sighed and started asking around as well.


    There was too big a crowd here. They couldn¡¯t possibly asked everyone. They picked only those who looked like they were from the area.


    Two people walked by Jun Huang. She turned toward them without thinking and saw two unfamiliar faces.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nan Xun asked when he noticed Jun Huang¡¯s mood taking a downturn.


    Jun Huang sighed and let out a quietugh. ¡°My brother is about that boy¡¯s age.¡±


    Nan Xun followed Jun Huang¡¯s gaze, but he didn¡¯t see the boy Jun Huang was talking about. There were too many people on the street. Anyone would have disappeared in the crowd in an instant. If he had seen the man and the boy, he would have noticed that the man was no regr peasant.


    What had happened happened, however. ¡°What could have been¡± was never meant to be.


    They asked around in the area. Their good looks attracted many young women¡¯s eyes. Soon, they found themselves surrounded.


    ¡°Where are the gentleman from?¡± a beautiful woman dressed in red asked bashfully, looking at Nan Xun with tender eyes.


    Nan Xun followed the sound and saw the woman. He blinked in surprise before backing away with a frown. He didn¡¯t like the smell of cosmetics.


    He bumped into Jun Huang, who turned to him, then to the women asking where Nan Xun was from. She raised a meaningful eyebrow at him. Nan Xun awkwardly opened his mouth to exin, but he couldn¡¯t find the words.


    They wanted to make their way out of the crowd, but these women were different from the reserved women they usually ran into. They were unable to escape.


    Nan Xun was worried that Jun Huang would get lost in the crowd. He kept Jun Huang close to his side and shielded her with an arm, preventing everyone from even touching the tail of her shirt.


    Contrary to Nan Xun¡¯s nervousness, Jun Huang seemed to be above their current chaos. It was as if she wasn¡¯t trapped in a sea of women. Her aloof expression made one¡¯s gaze linger.


    These women heard there were two good looking neers in the town, and the rumor had been proven true. At first, they were attracted more to the strong and stoic Nan Xun, but they were deterred by his cold attitude. Now their hearts raced for the graceful Jun Huang. What they wouldn¡¯t give to get to know her!


    ¡°Excuse us,¡± Nan Xun said with a frown. He put an arm around Jun Huang¡¯s shoulders and led her out of the crowd.


    Jun Huang threw a nce at him and let out a chuckle, making many of the women blush. They shoved their handkerchiefs into Jun Huang¡¯s arms, some of which were decorated with patterns of mandarin ducks, and others with a pair of one-winged birds. Both were symbols of love.


    The guards had finally found Jun Huang and Nan Xun. They tensed up when they saw the crowd and drew their swords to try to get to them, sending the women into a screaming match. They scattered like a hoard of beasts.


    Nan Xun was finally able to rx. With a dark expression, he took the handkerchiefs from Jun Huang¡¯s arms and silently handed them to the guards.


    Confused, the guards looked at Nan Xun, then at Jun Huang. Jun Huang barely kept herself fromughing out loud. Her lips twitched a little. She took a deep breath and shook her head. ¡°Did you find anything?¡±


    One of the guards nodded and put on a serious expression. ¡°These two people are both good looking. Even though they have tried to avoid people¡¯s attention, they still left an impression on those who have seen them. There was an old man who said he¡¯d seen them two days ago. It is, however, difficult to track them down. It¡¯s been two days. They may have left Yun Town already.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. She knew that it was unlikely for Yin Yun and Jun Hao to still be in Yun Town, but she wasn¡¯t going to give up as long as there was some hope.


    Nan Xun could figure out what Jun Huang was thinking by reading her expression. He knew Jun Huang was worried about dragging him down. He sighed. His chest felt tight with the weight of his concerns. Even after all this time, Jun Huang was still keeping a polite distance from him. He had been so very clear with his feelings for her, but she refused to acknowledge it.


    ¡°No matter what, we should stay a few more days in Yun Town,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°It¡¯ste. You must be tired after a day of searching. Let¡¯s return to the inn.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun. He looked away, unwilling to ept her gratitude. An indiscernible feeling rippled through her heart. They made their way back to the inn in silence.

 Chapter 158

    Chapter 158: Sharing a Bed


    It was starting to get dark. During dinner, one of Nan Xun¡¯s shadow guards showed up. After speaking to the shadow guard, Nan Xun got to his feet and led the shadow guard to his room.


    Jun Huang recognized the shadow guard as one who had gone to Yunzhou with the troop. He must havee to talk about the riot in Yunzhou with Nan Xun. Jun Huang left them to it and went to the main hall to enjoy the music performance. Night fell before she realized it.


    After discussing the issue of Yunzhou¡¯s riot with the shadow guard, Nan Xun noticed that Jun Huang had not returned. He dismissed the shadow guard with a frown and went downstairs. Jun Huang was listening to the performance with her eyes closed, supporting her head with a hand.


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart melted and his lips quirked up. He took a seat next to Jun Huang. The moment he sat down, Jun Huang opened her eyes. Wariness shed through her eyes and quickly disappeared when she saw that it was Nan Xun. Nan Xun did not miss her reaction.


    ¡°Is the riot difficult to suppress?¡± Jun Huang asked after taking a deep breath.


    ¡°That¡¯s not it,¡± Nan Xun said with a smile. ¡°There are issues my second inmand aren¡¯t sure how to deal with, so he sent the shadow guard toe ask for my opinions. It¡¯s taken care of, and the guard has left. You don¡¯t have to sit there and listen to these songs.¡±


    Jun Huang cleared her throat and whipped her wrinkled broad sleeves loose. Night had fallen without her noticing. Glowingmps scattered around the city like an ocean of stars.


    Jun Huang returned to the room and contemted where Yin Yun and Jun Hao could be. Now she truly had no lead. She cursed herself for taking so long toe. Her eyebrows drew closely together.


    Nan Xun had gone off to ask a clerk to prepare some hot water. When he returned, Jun Huang was deep in thoughts with her eyebrows furrowed. He let out a silent sigh. He had nned to talk to Jun Huang about Yin Yun and Jun Hao, but he didn¡¯t have the heart to do so now.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry yourself sick,¡± said Nan Xun. He poured Jun Huang a cup of tea.


    Jun Huang looked up at him. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were calm and dark. Strangely, Jun Huang feltforted by his steady gaze. She let go of her concerns and said in a light tone, ¡°I just want to know if they are alright. I didn¡¯t expect to actually find them. I¡¯m a little worried is all. The men from Eastern Wu will not stop chasing after them. What if ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re worried,¡± Nan Xun said seriously. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. I¡¯ll have my people keep an eye on Eastern Wu. No news is the best news now. You have to take care of yourself. Your body cannot take the abuse.¡± There was a slight frown on his face as he spoke. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to copse.


    Jun Huang told herself to rx. Nan Xun had a point. She nodded and smiled a little.


    Nan Xun let out a relieved sigh when he saw that Jun Huang had stopped dwelling on their failure to find her family. He patted her on the shoulder and said, ¡°I¡¯ve told a clerk to prepare some hot water. Take a bath and get some rest. We¡¯ll continue searching tomorrow morning.¡±


    He was about to leave when Jun Huang caught the tail of his shirt. ¡°Nan Xun.¡±


    Nan Xun stopped to look back at Jun Huang, his gazending on her delicate wrist. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Jun Huang cleared her throat. She didn¡¯t immediately respond. ¡°You should stay with me tonight.¡±


    Her face flushed as she spoke. This was mortifying.


    Nan Xun blinked in surprise. Had he heard it wrong? He couldn¡¯t stop his heart from pounding in excitement. Has she finally understood my feelings for her?


    Jun Huang quickly schooled her expression into one of indifference and said with a polite smile, ¡°People are going to get suspicious if you keep staying the night outside. Besides, you¡¯ve been helping me track down my brother. I should be paying you back. It¡¯s wrong for me to deprive you of a good night sleep. Moreover, I¡¯m a man in other people¡¯s eyes. There¡¯s no harm in us staying in the same room.¡±


    Her arguments were logical and without ws, killing the excitement in Nan Xun¡¯s heart in its infancy. For a moment, Nan Xun didn¡¯t know how he should react.


    ¡°If so, I¡¯ll sleep on the divan so you won¡¯t be bothered,¡± Nan Xun said after a pause. He walked to the door, but stopped in his track when he realized the divan had disappeared. Now what?


    Jun Huang followed after Nan Xun when she noticed that Nan Xun had fallen silent. She frowned when she saw the problem.


    The clerk happened to be bringing hot water to their room. He knocked on the door and said respectfully, ¡°Gentlemen, here¡¯s the hot water. Should this servant carry it inside for you?¡±


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang exchanged a look. Jun Huang opened the door and let the clerk in before asking, ¡°Where¡¯s the divan that has been here before?¡±


    The clerk filled the wooden tub behind the screen with hot water and turned to her. He pped the back of his head and said, ¡°Ah, forgive me for forgetting to inform the gentlemen. Too many customers havee to this inn. We cannot let those visitors stay outside. Therefore, the innkeeper told these servants to take the divans from every room and let thoseters sleep on it. This servant was going to tell the gentlemen in the morning, but you weren¡¯t around. This servant has taken the liberty to take the divan. If the gentlemen are unhappy, this servant can get it back for you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Jun Huang said before Nan Xun could open his mouth. ¡°We¡¯re just wondering.¡±


    The bath had been prepared. The clerk showered them with a few more praises before leaving the room.


    Nan Xun rubbed at his nose awkwardly. ¡°You should take the bath first,¡± he said, ncing at the steaming water. ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch outside.¡± He left the room and shut the door behind him.


    Jun Huang felt exhaustion overtaking her. The past two days had been tiring. She took off her dusty robe and untied her hair band before stepping into the wooden tub. Under the wavering candlelight, her skin looked as fair and soft as cream. The heat added a hint of red on her cheeks.


    Her long hair stered over her back and her delicate corbones. Her beauty as a woman had never been more pronounced. If Nan Xun had been in the room, he would marvel at the existence of such beauty in the world. She was the perfect embodiment of wonder and grace.


    Even though he was outside the room, Nan Xun was able to hear the swishing sound of the water. His heart pounded hard against his ribcage. He took a deep long breath to suppress his desires. ¡°What will you do if you find them?¡± he asked through the wooden door. ¡°Are you going to leave Northern Qi?¡±


    He was talking for the sake of having something to do, and he regretted his words the moment they were out of his mouth. What was said could not be unsaid. He held his breath and waited for Jun Huang to respond.


    After a moment of silence, Jun Huang said quietly, ¡°Probably.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what to say. His first reaction was to persuade Jun Huang to stay in Northern Qi, but he didn¡¯t have the right to do so, did he? Besides, it was merely a rhetorical question. They had not found Jun Hao yet. Continuing with this conversation would only upset Jun Huang.


    He thought back to the first time they met. A chuckled fell out of his mouth. Jun Huang asked with a frown, ¡°What are youughing about?¡±


    ¡°Our chance meeting,¡± Nan Xun said honestly.


    Jun Huang leaned against the tub and closed her eyes, thinking back to her time with Nan Xun. Time did fly. Many things had happened since then.


    Nan Xun continued to talk about that day. He was so very different from his stoic self when they first met. His attitude had softened after he realized his feelings. He wanted to gift all his love and care to Jun Huang. And even that wouldn¡¯t be enough for him.


    ¡°Shangguan Yue is famous for her talent in Northern Qi,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°She is proper and well-mannered. Have you ever regretted turning down the marriage?¡±


    ¡°Never,¡± Nan Xun said without thinking. In his haste he had spoken a little too loudly, attracting the attention of passersby, but he didn¡¯t care. ¡°She may be highly-regarded in Northern Qi,¡± he said after a bemused pause, his voice softening. ¡°But who doesn¡¯t know about Princess Jun Huang of the old Western Que? Who can be a match to her? This gentleman is hardheaded. My appreciation is reserved for her alone.¡±


    Augh escaped his mouth. He was a general through and through. His answer was not an attempt to be romantic. He had simply spoken his mind. He didn¡¯t care what effects his words would have.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond. Her pale fingers found their way to her chest, feeling her heart pounding harder and harder. She blushed a deep red. She knew she must not let Nan Xun see her reactions. She didn¡¯t have a choice. Silently, she waited for her emotions to fade.


    Neither of them talked. Jun Huang stayed in the bath for a little longer until her skin started to get red. She stepped out of the bath and used a towel to wipe herself dry. She put on some clothes and brushed her hair with her fingers before opening the door for Nan Xun.


    The door creaked open. Nan Xun turned around and saw the hint of red that had not faded from Jun Huang¡¯s cheeks. Her long hair ran down her shoulders. The white robe with dark patterns she wore entuated her grace well. She looked handsome and gentle. It was difficult to look away from her. Nan Xun could spend his lifetime watching her.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Jun Huang said quietly and turned around. Her hair danced in the breeze as she sat down at the desk. She picked up a book and started reading.

 Chapter 159

    Chapter 159: The Heart grew fonder


    Nan Xun brought clean clothes to one of the rooms the guards were staying in. The guards remained silent when Nan Xun walked in, like they were used to Nan Xuning to their room. Once Nan Xun was out of sight, they started whispering among themselves.


    ¡°Why does the prince alwayse to our room to take a bath?¡± one of the guards asked curiously. ¡°Don¡¯t they have a tub to bathe in in their room?¡±


    The other guard hummed. ¡°Maybe gentleman Feng is taking a bath, and the prince simply doesn¡¯t want to waste time.¡±


    They stopped talking, having decided that they had found the answer to this mystery. It wasn¡¯t in their ce to discuss their master¡¯s personal affairs anyway.


    Nan Xun returned to the room he shared with Jun Huang after taking a bath. He looked at therge bed, then at Jun Huang. His breathing quickened a little as he sat down on the bed looking at Jun Huang, who was reading a book by the candle. After a moment, he said, ¡°It¡¯ste. You should rest.¡±


    Jun Huang looked toward him. She put down the book and walked to the window to look outside. The only light source was the crescent moon. After a day of walking in the city, Jun Huang was tired. She didn¡¯t hesitate for long before closing the window and nodding.


    Nan Xun slept on the inside of the bed. To prevent them from getting into each other¡¯s personal space, they had put up a fortress of nket at the middle. Jun Huang put out the candle andy down on the bed. She shut her eyes and tried to put herself to sleep.


    The moon shone through the window despite it being closed. The window paper was too thin and translucent to keep the light out. The entire room was covered in ayer of silver frost.


    Nan Xun could hear Jun Huang¡¯s quiet breathing at his ear. Usually he could fall asleep as soon as his head hit the bed. Now, however, he was wide awake.


    He didn¡¯t want to cross a line and risk offending Jun Huang, but he couldn¡¯t help staring at her, curious what she looked like when she was asleep.


    Moonlight kissed her fair face. Her eyshes fluttered slightly in the air. Her delicate features were even more captivating than usual. Nan Xun could not tear his eyes away. Neither could he stop his heart from racing in frenzy. It felt as if his heart was going to jump out of his mouth.


    Nan Xun stole nces at Jun Huang. She opened her eyes suddenly and, with her gaze fixed on the bed canopy, asked, ¡°Are you asleep?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart skipped a beat and his breath hitched. ¡°I¡¯m awake,¡± he said. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You can¡¯t sleep?¡±


    A ¡°Yeah¡± was all Jun Huang said. Nan Xun knew why Jun Huang was unable to sleep, but he didn¡¯t know what he should say.


    Jun Huang could feel Nan Xun¡¯s intense gaze on her even when her eyes were shut. She couldn¡¯t take it. There was nothing binding her and Nan Xun together at the moment. She didn¡¯t want to deal with the temptation.


    ¡°How is it going in Yunzhou?¡± Jun Huang asked after a moment of silence.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious,¡± Nan Xun said quietly. ¡°The drought has caused the people to be dissatisfied. On top of that there are bandits running rampage in the area. That¡¯s why there¡¯s a riot. My second inmand has ordered the shadow guard to brief me on the situation there. It¡¯s the same old story: being away from the imperial city made the local officialscent. They are corrupt and have no regard for human lives.¡±


    Nan Xun knew Jun Huang didn¡¯t like corruption, but there would always be people like those officials. While running a country as big as Northern Qi, it was inevitable for some crimes and atrocities to fall through the cracks. Not everyone was pure-hearted. Too many were willing to sacrifice other people¡¯s lives for their personal gain. Addressing the root cause would take time.


    Jun Huang knew how difficult it was, of course. In the dark she turned her head sideway toward Nan Xun, which caught Nan Xun off guard. His gaze met hers. A barrage of emotions rippled through his heart.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t notice the change in Nan Xun¡¯s expression. She thought for a moment before saying, ¡°The emperor has decreed that an in-depth investigation on the local officials is to be conducted. Why hasn¡¯t the corruption in Yunzhou been rooted out?¡±


    ¡°Northern Qi is a big country,¡± Nan Xun said. ¡°If every corrupt official is eliminated, the foundation of the country will be at risk. On the surface, it seems as if the emperor has let the Court of Judicial Review take the reign, but he is the one who has the final say. As long as the officials haven¡¯t been too tant in their wrongdoings, the emperor would turn a blind eye to their deeds.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. She didn¡¯t think it was as simple as that. ¡°Who was the one who put those officials in charge of Yunzhou?¡±


    Nan Xun searched through his memory, but couldn¡¯t find an answer. He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ve been at the border and seldom returned to the imperial city. Besides, the emperor isn¡¯t going to tell me anything important. I also rarely talk to the courtiers. I do know, however, that a lot of the local officials were rmended by the royal princes.¡±


    ¡°Do you think it is Qi Chen or the third prince that rmended the officials at Yunzhou?¡±


    Surprised, Nan Xun rolled to his side to face Jun Huang fully. ¡°You suspect that it is the third prince?¡±


    Jun Huang pursed her lips without a word, but her expression was a clear enough answer. Nan Xun gave the situation some thoughts. This could turn out to be either a serious problem, or a small nuisance, but they must not overlook the issue. How, though, did Jun Huange to this conclusion?


    Noticing Nan Xun¡¯s confusion, Jun Huang chuckled. In a deliberately casual tone, she said, ¡°It¡¯s clear from the emperor¡¯s order to you that he has always been wary of you. He only agreed to the marriage Sir Shangguan proposed because Sir Shangguan is a senior official. He knows better than anyone that if you gain Sir Shangguan¡¯s support, he will not be able to control you, but he has to ept to maintain his face. In his heart he must have been hoping for something to happen to disrupt the marriage, but before that happened, you turned down the marriage without hesitation.¡±


    ¡°The emperor is the son of heaven. Even though he didn¡¯t want you to marry Shangguan Yue himself, your blunt refusal still felt like an insult to him. Him letting you kneel outside the pce for the whole day was merely for him to vent his anger.¡±


    ¡°The riot in Yunzhou seems to happen at the right time coincidentally, but in truth the emperor has always wanted to eliminate the growing corruption in this area. He was hesitating over who to send. Your disobedience presented an opportunity to him. Now there¡¯s a good reason for you to not marry Shangguan Yue, and he has someone to send to suppress the unrest.¡±


    Jun Huang exined her arguments clearly and eloquently. She was in her element as a strategist. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help being drawn to her. How many women could look at the big picture the way Jun Huang do? How many are open-minded enough to understand both the world and human hearts?


    Nan Xun went through Jun Huang¡¯s words in his head. He still had some question. He tilted his head and asked, ¡°How do you know Yunzhou¡¯s officials answer to the third prince?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s only my spection,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°Think about it. Even if the emperor doesn¡¯t like Qi Chen, Qi Chen is still the crown prince. Besides, Qi Chen has solved a number of difficult problems for the emperor since he got the title. Qi Chen is the crown prince the emperor appointed. He isn¡¯t going to let others find faults in his actions. The logical thing to do is to protect Qi Chen¡¯s reputation. Now the emperor is the one who instigated the conflict. Clearly he is trying to win over people¡¯s heart for Qi Chen. The third prince has nowe to his own. The emperor simply doesn¡¯t want his sons to be at each other¡¯s throat again.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s exnation made sense to Nan Xun. After a pause, he continued to ask, ¡°Then why did the emperor send me to Yunzhou?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t immediately respond. She tightened the nket around her and curled up her body. It was still chilly at night. Her fingers had gone cold. She answered when she had warmed up a little, ¡°The emperor is trying to suppress the third prince¡¯s influence. He has to pick an outsider. He can¡¯t let Qi Chen or Qi Yun take care of the unrest. They are both of his blood. If you are able to take care of this issue, you get only a small boost in your fame. It¡¯s useless. The third prince won¡¯t dare to put the me on the emperor; he will me you and see you as an enemy. That¡¯s what the emperor wants.¡±


    She felt like she had said too much. She added, ¡°Of course, these are all theories. Who knows what the truth is? One day the answers wille to us.¡±


    Jun Huang slowly closed her eyes. After the conversation, the smothering awkwardness had melted from the air. When Nan Xun had finished digesting Jun Huang¡¯s words, she was already asleep. Her breathing was so faint it might as well be silent. Her quietness created the illusion of serenity.


    Nan Xun stared at Jun Huang¡¯s face. His heart pounded hard in the darkness. He could not tamp down the feelings threatening to burst out of his chest.


    When Nan Xun woke up the next day, Jun Huang was still asleep. It was foggy outside, and the sun wasn¡¯t visible. He gingerly sat up and looked at Jun Huang.


    He had spent a lot of time looking at herst night, but it had been dark. His imagination had to fill in the nks. Now the day had broken, and she was still asleep. The air was still and time passed slowly. He knew Jun Huang had been exhausted. She probably wouldn¡¯t wake until a whileter.


    In the dim light Jun Huang looked like something out of a dream. Nan Xun¡¯s gaze was fixed on her, and his fondness for her were overflowing from his eyes. If Jun Huang woke up, she would be surprised by his genuine love for her. A lot of time the story did go like this: the falling flower was in love of the river, and the river did reciprocate the flower¡¯s feeling; the river simply didn¡¯t know that his love was not one-sided.


    Covered in the soft light of dawn, Jun Huang looked at peace. Her hair spread over the pillow. Without the usual cold glint in her eyes, she looked soft and gentle. It made Nan Xun¡¯s heart flutter. Now he knew from the bottom of his heart that it wasn¡¯t her wisdom or intellect he was in love with. He was in love with her. It was as simple as that.

 Chapter 160

    Chapter 160: Apology


    Nan Xun knew that many people were attracted to Jun Huang¡¯s grace. He was no different. But he knew Jun Huang¡¯s true identity. He knew what tragedies undey her calm attitude. He felt a deep sympathy for her.


    He was overwhelmed with fondness seeing Jun Huang with her guard down. Many times he had wanted to reach out to touch Jun Huang¡¯s cheeks, but he stopped himself. This wasn¡¯t the time for him to cross that line. He must not do anything that would make Jun Huang wary of him.


    A series of light knocks came from the door. Nan Xun got off the bed without alerting Jun Huang. With his training, he was able to leap over her even though he had taken the inner side of the bed.


    He didn¡¯t want to wake her up. Jun Huang had been pushing herself these few days. He wanted to ensure that she got enough sleep.


    He strode to the door and opened it. One of the guards was standing outside.


    ¡°Should we continue our search today, Your Highness?¡± asked the guard.


    Nan Xun turned to the still sleeping Jun Huang reflexively and nodded. ¡°Yes. Keep looking.¡±


    Before the guard could go downstairs, Nan Xun stopped him and told him to ask a clerk to prepare a bowl of congee for Jun Huang. The guard epted the order and walked away.


    Nan Xun closed the door. He washed his face and got changed before approaching the bed and tucking Jun Huang in. He gently pushed the door open and left the room.


    When Jun Huang woke up, the sun had risen near the top of the sky. No one else was in the room. There was no lingering warmth on the other side of the bed. Shey there staring at the ceiling until her head cleared. Her sleep had not been a peaceful one. All her concerns had prevented her from resting properly. Her temples had been throbbing since she woke up.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and sat up. After making herself presentable, she opened the door and walked out. A clerk had been waiting outside for her. He hurriedly led her downstairs to the seat Nan Xun had arranged for her. He then brought a bowl of congee to the table.


    Jun Huang looked owishly at the bowl. She knew that Nan Xun could be caring, but she didn¡¯t expect a general like him to be considerate enough to make sure that she ate something before going out.


    She thought back to the night they stayed at the little town a few days ago. Nan Xun had ground the medicine into powder before putting it into her dinner so that Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t turn his help away. Her heart softened and her chest was filled with warmth.


    ¡°Enjoy, gentleman,¡± said the clerk, jerking Jun Huang¡¯s attention back to the present. Jun Huang nodded and gave him a polite smile. The clerk hurried away with his face flushed.


    Realizing that she had lost control of her emotions again, Jun Huang let out a bitterugh. She was a woman with no future. She could not give Nan Xun the happiness he deserved. She must keep her heart in check.


    Nan Xun and the guards still had not returned after Jun Huang finished her breakfast. She couldn¡¯t bear to wait any longer. She went outside with the portraits of Jun Hao and Yin Yun in hand.


    Yun Town was not a small ce. Even with the four guards Nan Xun took with him, locating someone was as difficult as looking for a needle in an ocean.


    At noon, Jun Huang still had not found anything concrete. She was unwilling to take a rest. With her jaw tightened, she went through street after street, determined to find Jun Hao and Yin Yun. She didn¡¯t know that they had left Yun Town when Yin Yun realized that someone was looking for them.


    They had not seen Jun Huang. They therefore didn¡¯t know who it was that was looking for them, and Yin Yun¡¯s first guess was Eastern Wu. To ensure Jun Hao¡¯s safety, Yin Yun took him out of town without trying to investigate.


    When most of the sun had disappeared under the horizon, Jun Huang stopped what she was doing and looked into the distance ¨C it was as if someone had spilled blood all over the sky. The overwhelming sorrow in her heart did not show on her face. A sh of gentle light flicked through her eyes. The breeze brought her hair into the air. Many pedestrians found themselves drawn to her.


    There were many men in the world that could be considered good-looking, but Jun Huang was the only one who could topple a city.


    She closed her eyes. The emotions oveing her had made her dizzy. She took a deep breath to tamp down her frustration.


    She let out a sigh when the dizziness passed and decided to continue her search. If she couldn¡¯t find her brother ¨C


    A woman in pink dress appeared out of nowhere when Jun Huang turned around. Before Jun Huang could even get a good look at her face, the woman knocked into her. Jun Huang staggered and fell to the ground. The woman took a few steps back to steady herself.


    ¡°Who are you? Are you blind?¡± the woman yelled at Jun Huang with a finger pointed at her. She scoffed when her eyesnded on Jun Huang. ¡°A man? Oh you lecherous scum! Damn you for taking advantage of me!¡±


    Jun Huang swallowed down the metallic taste in her throat and looked up at the woman with her brows furrowed. She politely said, ¡°This gentleman is no lecherous man. You were in a rush, and I didn¡¯t know you woulde up from that direction suddenly. If I have offended you in anyway, I hope you can forgive me.¡±


    Jun Huang got to her feet and brushed away the dust on her clothes. Her palms had been scraped when she fell. The wounds stung a little. She didn¡¯t pay attention to it. She was worried that the woman might have been hurt as well.


    She wanted to check on the woman, but the woman wasn¡¯t going to let Jun Huang get close. In her eyes, Jun Huang was a hateful man who went around groping women.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know if she wanted to cry orugh. This girl was a terrible judge of character! Jun Huang med herself for scaring the woman. She didn¡¯t intend to get into an argument with her. ¡°Since you are not hurt, this gentleman will take my leave,¡± she said with her hands cupped. People were starting to gather around them to see what themotion was about. Jun Huang turned and walked away.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t leave! You dare to run away after knocking into me? Do you have no respect for thew?¡± The woman had set her mind to teaching Jun Huang a lesson. She wasn¡¯t going to let her leave. She grabbed Jun Huang¡¯s hand and, after some struggle, pushed Jun Huang down with controlled force.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect the push. She fell and couldn¡¯t get up due to the overwhelming dizziness. She only knew now that the woman was also trained in martial arts. Her eyes shed. She didn¡¯t want to get involved with anyone in that world, let alone such a snobbish and unreasonable woman.


    ¡°Whoa, where did this girle from?¡± eximed one of the bystanders. ¡°So vtile! You aren¡¯t going to find a husband like this!¡±


    The woman¡¯s expression darkened. Her small face flushed a deep red.


    She put all the me on Jun Huang and shouted, ¡°You are a man, but you¡¯re so weak! They think I¡¯m the one who is bullying you. Who knows that you are actually an obscene barbarian underneath that pretty face?¡±


    Jun Huang let out a sigh. She was starting to get a headache with all the shouting. She sat on the ground and gave up on leaving. The woman scoffed again seeing Jun Huang¡¯s reaction. ¡°What? You¡¯re going to pressure me into making amends to you? Have you forgotten you¡¯re a man?¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Jun Huang looked up at her and said slowly. A hint of resignation settled on her face. ¡°This gentleman has knocked into you identally. I¡¯m sorry and I¡¯ve said I¡¯m sorry. Why must you keep me here?¡±


    People gathered around to watch the young girl argue with the handsome gentleman. A show like this didn¡¯t happen every day.


    In their eyes, the woman in fighting garments was clearly trained in martial arts, while Jun Huang looked like a schr above the mundane world. Jun Huang¡¯s skin was fair and her features were delicate. Although her robe was tainted by dust, she didn¡¯t look pitiful. Her gracefulness shone through even in this state. It was clear that the woman was picking on Jun Huang. Or perhaps she was trying to leave an impression on Jun Huang because Jun Huang was handsome.


    That was their spections. Jun Huang thought differently. Originally, she assumed that the woman was sent by someone to give her trouble, and she was worried that Eastern Wu might have been involved. Now, though, she could see the woman was merely a spoiled girl.


    Jun Huang let out a silent sigh of relief, but her legs were numb and she couldn¡¯t get up. She stayed on the ground patiently.


    Nan Xun and the four guards had spent the whole day asking around to no avail. On their way back to the inn, they saw a crowd and heard people arguing. Normally, Nan Xun would have stayed away instead of trying to find out what was happening. This time, though, his instinct told him to stop. He looked toward the crowd.


    The guards stopped as well and asked with a frown, ¡°What is it, Your Highness?¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head after a pause. Before he stepped into the inn, he heard a frosty voice that was uniquely Jun Huang through the crowd¡¯s chattering.


    ¡°Why do you insist on pestering me?¡± Jun Huang asked impatiently.


    Nan Xun rushed toward the crowd. The four guards exchanged a look before chasing after him.


    Before Nan Xun got close enough to see Jun Huang, he heard the onlookersmenting on the situation. ¡°From my observation, this girl must have set her eyes on that pretty boy,¡± an old man said confidently, smoothing a hand over his long beard. ¡°That¡¯s why she refuses to let him go.¡±


    The others nodded in agreement. Nan Xun frowned. He knew Jun Huang would not fall for the girl, but he was worried that the girl would fall for Jun Huang. Wan¡¯er alone had put a big enough emotional burden on Jun Huang. With another insistent admirer, Jun Huang would have to spend time and energy on dealing with the troubles, and that would further worsen her health.

 Chapter 161

    Chapter 161: Martial Arts Tournament


    Nan Xun wade through the crowd. Jun Huang was sitting on the ground with a proper smile on her face, but Nan Xun had known Jun Huang long enough to read some of her tells. His eyes fell on her tightened hand. She must have hurt her palm.


    Jun Huang kept trying to exin to the woman that this was all a misunderstanding, but the woman was unwilling to listen. She was mad for reasons she couldn¡¯t put into words. She just wanted to vent her anger.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t going to let the woman continue bullying Jun Huang. Ignoring the odd looks from the onlookers, he approached Jun Huang and gently helped her up. An undefinable emotion shed through Jun Huang¡¯s eyes when she saw him.


    Their foreheads were almost touching as Nan Xun bent down to support her. With his help, Jun Huang got to her feet. Her knees were hurting a little, but the pain was manageable. Her joints just needed some time to get used to her weight.


    Nan Xun noticed her frown. A pang of hurt hit him where he was most tender.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ve just been sitting on the ground for too long. I¡¯ll be fine after stretching my legs.¡±


    Nan Xun looked deeply into her eyes, worried that she might be humoring him. Her gaze was steady, though. He rxed and turned to the woman.


    The woman dressed in pink could not stop staring at Nan Xun. She wanted him to shift his attention to her, even for a brief moment.


    Her breath hitched when Nan Xun turned to her. She blinked, at a loss of what to say. It was all she could do to gape at him. Her palms were starting to sweat.


    ¡°Our apology,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°My friend has not meant to knock into you. I hope you won¡¯t me him. This gentleman apologizes to you on his behalf.¡± He made a gesture in greeting the way people in the martial arts world would. Warriors cared not about rules and proper etiquette.


    Nan Xun turned back to Jun Huang and took her hand to check for wounds, sparing no nce for the woman. His eyebrows furrowed in sympathy. His lowered head kept the emotions in his eyes hidden.


    Jun Huang awkwardly tried to pull her hand away, but Nan Xun tightened his grip and didn¡¯t let her. She gave up and let Nan Xun hold onto her arm.


    ¡°I... It¡¯s nothing,¡± said the woman. ¡°I was in a bad mood and happened to knock into your friend. You don¡¯t have to apologize. I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn¡¯t haveshed out at your friend without a good reason.¡±


    The woman blushed and looked up at Nan Xun shyly. Her heart was beating so fast it was as if it would escape her chest.


    Nan Xun threw her a nce and humored her with a few polite words. The woman had only gotten a look at his profile, but it was enough to captivate her. She felt the urge to dere her affection to the world, but she was worried that Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t like woman who was too outspoken. She tried her best to reign herself in.


    ¡°It takes an argument to get to know someone, doesn¡¯t it? I hope the gentleman wouldn¡¯t me me. I¡¯m not usually this unreasonable. Would the gentleman mind... for us to get to know each other?¡±


    The woman¡¯s cheeks were beet red. She looked at Nan Xun from the corner of her eyes.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyebrows jumped up. She turned to look at Nan Xun from the woman¡¯s blindspot.


    Nan Xun had noticed Jun Huang¡¯s gaze. The woman was still babbling. He awkwardly coughed to interrupt the woman¡¯s prolonged introduction. After a pause, he said, ¡°In the martial arts world we don¡¯t dwell on such trivial matters. Everything¡¯s good as long as you don¡¯t feel offended by my friend.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s deep voice made the woman¡¯s heart skip a beat, which he was oblivious to. He turned back to Jun Huang with a frown. She looked tired, and her palm needed taking care of. He bid the woman farewell and led Jun Huang back to the inn.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re going to just leave?¡± The woman wasn¡¯t going to let them go. She hadn¡¯t even found out Nan Xun¡¯s name!


    Nan Xun threw her a nce before saying, ¡°My friend¡¯s hurt. I have to take care of his wound. I hope you can understand.¡±


    Without another word, he took Jun Huang back to the inn. He ordered a clerk to bring him some medicine before returning to their room. He then went out to fetch some hot water.


    Jun Huang considered the scrapes covering her palm and murmured to herself, ¡°Weird. It didn¡¯t hurt before, but now it felt like I¡¯ve been burnt...¡±


    Nan Xun chuckled at Jun Huang¡¯sint when he walked in with a basin of hot water. Now this was a rare thing to walk in on. Most of the time Jun Huang kept up a aloof front and didn¡¯t show anyone her emotions.


    Jun Huang looked up when she felt his gaze. Their eyes met. She quickly looked away and coughed awkwardly.


    Nan Xun put the basin on the table and retrieved a towel. After soaking it in hot water, he told Jun Huang to give him her hand. Jun Huang unclenched her fist to let Nan Xun clean her wounds.


    Nan Xun was careful, but the bleeding had not stopped and the wounds hurt when they came in contact with the hot water. Jun Huang swallowed down her cry of pain, her face going pale.


    Not long after, the clerk brought them the medicine. He couldn¡¯t help sneaking nces at them as he was leaving the room.


    Nan Xun was kneeling close to Jun Huang, carefully cleaning the cuts on her palm. Worried that Jun Huang might be in serious pain, he blew at her skin tofort her. Jun Huang looked at him with her eyes lowered. There was no expression on her face, but under the warm glow of the setting sun, there was an air of intimacy around them.


    The clerk fled, shaking his unreasonable thoughts from his head. He almost bumped into a woman in pink dress at the top of the stairs. The woman cursed and pushed past him.


    The clerk was dumbfounded, but in his mind, the customers were always right. He rushed downstairs. It was close to dinner time. The hall was already bustling with people.


    After using the towel aspress to warm Jun Huang¡¯s palm up, Nan Xun applied medicine on her wounds. When he brought the basin out of the door to get rid of the water, he saw the woman in pink sneaking nces at the door. She turned away with a blush when she saw him. She opened her mouth to speak, but stopped herself before anything came out of her mouth.


    Nan Xun handed the wooden basin to one of the guards before turning to the woman. She hade all the way to this inn, and it was about the time to get dinner. Since Jun Huang had knocked into her earlier, it was the proper thing to do to buy her a meal.


    Nan Xun looked up at her and said, ¡°My friend has put you in a difficult situation. If you don¡¯t mind, this gentleman would like to treat you to dinner.¡±


    The woman¡¯s eyes lit up like she couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. She took a deep breath and batted her eyes at him. ¡°Is the gentleman serious?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± said Nan Xun, his lips curved into a charming smile. The woman¡¯s heart did a flip and her cheeks went red.


    She pursed her lips and threw a nce at Nan Xun. ¡°I ept the offer.¡±


    Nan Xun found it amusing that the vtile woman had quieted down suddenly, but he stopped himself frommenting on it. He turned to his guard. ¡°Go downstairs with thisdy and order something she likes. Gentleman Feng and I will join you shortly.¡±


    The guard nodded and motioned at the woman to go ahead. The woman was going to say something, but Nan Xun had turned away already. He entered the room and knelt down before Jun Huang, asking her if she was still in pain. The tenderness he showed to Jun Huang made jealousy flood into the woman¡¯s heart. She tightened her grip, oblivious to the way her nails buried into her flesh.


    Jun Huang had heard their conversation. She was a little surprised. She didn¡¯t think Nan Xun was someone who would invite other people to dinner.


    Nan Xun smiled knowingly and said, ¡°That girl seems to have been in Yun Town for a while. Perhaps she has seen your brother before. We might as well ask.¡±


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t expected this to be Nan Xun¡¯s reason. It moved her. She worried her lip between her teeth and nodded. ¡°Thank you, Nan Xun.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. It¡¯s what I should do.¡± Nan Xun¡¯s thought process was simple. He wanted to find Jun Hao and Yin Yun as soon as possible. Then perhaps Jun Huang would be happier. Recently, Jun Huang¡¯s smile had be too rare a sight.


    She had put in so much effort in helping Qi Yun gain the throne, and she had given herself the task of dealing with the corruption in Northern Qi. What others could only achieve in ten years, she had achieved in a few months. And yet, she was unhappy.


    There was nothing he wanted more than for her to be happy.


    Once the medicine on Jun Huang¡¯s palm had dried, Nan Xun and Jun Huang went to the main hall together. The dishes had been brought to the table. Before Nan Xun showed up, the woman had not been paying attention. Her head snapped up when the guard called out for Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang¡¯s white robe was dirty, so she changed into a blue robe. She looked as graceful as she did before. Nan Xun had not had a change of clothes. The hard lines of his cheekbones gave others a sense of security. His handsome face demanded attention.

 Chapter 162

    Chapter 162: Turning down the Invitation


    The woman stood up gingerly. She didn¡¯t even dare to breathe heavily. She didn¡¯t want Nan Xun to think of her as someone who didn¡¯t know her manners.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t one to judge people for formalities, though. He smiled slightly in response and asked her to sit.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know your name yet,¡± said Jun Huang after sitting down, her eyes shifting to the woman. ¡°Can you tell us?¡±


    The woman took an instant dislike to Jun Huang for reason unbeknownst to herself. Jun Huang was Nan Xun¡¯s friend though. It would be rude of her to not answer her question. The woman turned to Nan Xun and said, ¡°You may call me Rong¡¯er. What about you gentlemen?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Nan Xun,¡± said Nan Xun. He gestured at Jun Huang and added, ¡°This is Feng Baiyu,¡± as if it was the most natural thing for him to introduce Jun Huang as well.


    ¡°Why is Rong¡¯er here?¡± Nan Xun asked as an afterthought. He just realized that it was a little odd for Rong¡¯er to be right at their door.


    Rong¡¯er let out a silent breath. Even fate had helped bring them together. ¡°I came for the martial arts tournament with my master and my seniors. We¡¯ve been here for a few days. We happened to be staying on the third floor in this inn as well.¡±


    ¡°What a coincidence,¡± marveled Nan Xun.


    Rong¡¯er nodded with her face flushed. She kept sneaking nces at Nan Xun.


    Despite being a master of martial arts, Nan Xun was oblivious to her meaningful gaze. He had eyes only for Jun Huang. He didn¡¯t even know why Rong¡¯er was blushing. He assumed she must have fallen for Jun Huang too. The bystander¡¯sment earlier did make some sense to him.


    Compared to Nan Xun¡¯s stoic attitude, Jun Huang was a lot more gentle. Unlike other women, though, Rong¡¯er was partial to men like Nan Xun. She wasn¡¯t interested in the softer type.


    It was clear as day to Jun Huang that Rong¡¯er¡¯s target was Nan Xun. She threw Rong¡¯er a nce behind her teacup before shifting her focus to Nan Xun. She couldn¡¯t deny that she was pleased by Nan Xun¡¯s indifference to Rong¡¯er¡¯s attention.


    It took a moment for Nan Xun to notice the odd atmosphere at the table. He looked up and saw Jun Huang drinking tea like it was water. He took the cup away from her with a frown. ¡°You¡¯re injured. Too much tea is going to cause your wound to fester.¡±


    ¡°The dishes are a little salty,¡± said Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang had meant it as a casual remark, but Nan Xun took it seriously and tasted each of the dishes before pushing the less seasoned ones toward Jun Huang. He quietly told her what would be better for her health.


    Rong¡¯er was left high and dry like a stranger. She clenched her hands into fists. She despised Jun Huang for being such a phony. She had never seen any man acted like Jun Huang in her lifetime. What a poor excuse of a man!


    ¡°You must be brothers, are you not?¡± Rong¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but said.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Rong¡¯er struggled to find the words. ¡°You just seem close is all. I didn¡¯t mean anything by it.¡±


    Nan Xun threw Jun Huang a nce, and Jun Huang turned to meet him halfway. They exchanged a small smile.


    ¡°We¡¯re not brothers,¡± Nan Xun said, shaking his head. ¡°We¡¯re good friends.¡±


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s expression darkened. Could friends really be this close?


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang kept up a quiet conversation as if they had forgotten about her. Rong¡¯er waspelled to remind them of her existence. ¡°What did youe here for? Are you here to participate in the tournament?¡±


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang shared a look. Nan Xun took out the drawings of Yin Yun and Jun Hao and asked, ¡°Have you seen them?¡±


    Rong¡¯er leaned in to get a good look and shook her head. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t. The past couple of days I¡¯ve been staying with my master. Didn¡¯t get a chance to walk around the town. You¡¯re here to find these two?¡±


    Nan Xun put the drawings away and nodded. ¡°We are. They are important to us. It¡¯s a heavy weight on our hearts. It will be a relief to locate them.¡±


    He quirked his lips a little. Rong¡¯er¡¯s heart clenched. The hand around her teacup started trembling a little.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll find them in the end.¡± Rong¡¯er didn¡¯t know what else to say. She could only offer some titudes.


    Nan Xun nodded and continued eating. None of them talked for the rest of the dinner. Nan Xun still fetched Jun Huang food every once in a while. Their close rtionship made jealousy burn in Rong¡¯er¡¯s heart.


    Afterwards, Nan Xun and Jun Huang bid Rong¡¯er farewell before going upstairs.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t have to ask to know why Jun Huang had been quieter than usual. He took a step toward her and patted her on the shoulder. ¡°We didn¡¯t find anything today, either. Have you decided what to do next?¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him and didn¡¯t immediately respond. ¡°They probably have left town already. It¡¯s going to be a waste of time to continue our search. We might as well leave for Yunzhou tomorrow. That¡¯s the mission the emperor assigned you. Without you there, your second inmand may not be able to keep the unrest in check.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Nan Xun said in a confident voice. ¡°That man may seem bull-headed, but he ispetent. I only sent him because I trusted him to take care of the riot for me.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her head. When she looked up again, she had turned back into her usual calm self.


    Someone knocked on the door. Nan Xun and Jun Huang shared a look. Nan Xun got to his feet and fixed his sleeves before getting the door.


    Outside stood Rong¡¯er. Nan Xun didn¡¯t expect her toe to their room so soon. He said after a brief pause, ¡°Is something the matter?¡±


    Even after spending some time with Nan Xun, Rong¡¯er still couldn¡¯t help her pounding heart when she saw him. She stared at him without a word.


    Nan Xun called out for her again. She jerked out of her trance and said with a blush, ¡°The gentleman probably has not seen the town at night. Themps are now lit. If you don¡¯t mind, I can take you on a tour to enjoy the view.¡±


    She looked at him with hopeful eyes. Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang. She had been pushing herself during this trip. Her health had never been good, and there were a lot on her shoulders. She might copse again if nothing was done.


    ¡°Alright, please wait for a moment.¡± Nan Xun walked back into the room and came up to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang had heard their conversation. Without missing a beat, she stood up and followed Nan Xun out of the door.


    Jun Huang had been sitting behind the screen. Rong¡¯er didn¡¯t know Jun Huang was in the room as well. She was surprised to see Jun Huang and Nan Xuning out of the room together. The way Nan Xun treated Jun Huang was so gentle; it was in stark contrast with his usual demeanor. Rong¡¯er couldn¡¯t pinpoint what this odd feeling in her heart was.


    Noticing her gaze, Nan Xun exined, ¡°When we got to the inn, there was no other room left. We could only stay together.¡±


    Rong¡¯er let out a sigh of relief and put on a wide and carefree smile. She walked on Nan Xun¡¯s side, looking up at his handsome face from time to time. He made her heart flutter.


    Yun Town wasn¡¯t as beautiful as the imperial city at night, but it was one of the biggest business hubs in Northern Qi. Merchants came from all over the country to trade here. Unlike the imperial city, there was no curfew in Yun Town. Merchants and customers alike walked the street at night, filling the ce with a great energy.


    Decorations andmps had been put up for the martial arts tournament. It looked as if the Chinese New Year hade. At the distance stood a brightly lit tavern. From handsome young men to knight-errants over thirty ¨C everyone was allowed entrance.


    ¡°What do you n to do next?¡± Rong¡¯er asked. She had been agonizing over this.


    ¡°Leaving,¡± said Nan Xun. He hade to the conclusion that Rong¡¯er wasn¡¯t their enemies after the short time they had known her, so he didn¡¯t keep their n from her.


    Disappointment shed through Rong¡¯er¡¯s eyes. She was blessed to have met this man today. She couldn¡¯t let him slip away from her.


    She thought for a moment. When she looked up, Jun Huang was staring at antern.


    Nan Xun asked her if she wanted to buy it. Jun Huang shook her head and said that something was meant to be appreciated, not owned.


    An idea came to Rong¡¯er. She put on a smile to hide her jealousy and came up to Jun Huang. ¡°Is gentleman Feng interested in the tournament? Even though the gentleman has seemed preupied earlier, I could tell that you are trained in martial arts. Maybe you should participate as well.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to her in surprise. ¡°Is everyone allowed to participate?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rong¡¯er said seriously. ¡°As long as you are capable, you¡¯re given the opportunity to earn your fame. Besides, the tournament is held by martial artists as well. There aren¡¯t set rules. It¡¯s going to be a unique experience. Why don¡¯t you stay in town a little longer?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to get involved. She knew she wasn¡¯t the best fighter, and the tournament wasn¡¯t for the untrained. She hesitated, however, when she heard Rong¡¯er mentioned fame.


    Nan Xun noticed the change in Jun Huang¡¯s attitude. He harshly cut in, ¡°We¡¯re not going to participate. Our family members are still out there. We n to look around in other ces.¡±

 Chapter 163

    Chapter 163: Pros and Cons


    ¡°It¡¯ll only be a few days,¡± Rong¡¯er insisted. How she hoped she could make the decision for Jun Huang! ¡°Besides, if you win the tournament, wouldn¡¯t it be easier for you to find your family?¡±


    Her words were nothing but excuses. She could tell the level of training Jun Huang had received from their meeting earlier. She was simply trying to find a reason for them to stay. She wouldn¡¯t convince Nan Xun to participate, though. She knew who the participants were. She wasn¡¯t willing to put Nan Xun in danger.


    She didn¡¯t expect her reasoning to be effective, but it seemed like Jun Huang was considering her suggestion. Rong¡¯er pushed further and said Jun Huang would win a lot of respect if she was able to rank top three. Having her new name known was all Jun Huang wanted, though.


    It took one nce for Nan Xun to tell what Jun Huang was thinking. His expression darkened, which confused Rong¡¯er.


    Have I said something wrong, she wondered. He looks like he wants to break something.


    Rong¡¯er fell silent. After a moment, she added with feign nonchnce, ¡°It¡¯ll be good if you can participate. The tournament is a great event that is held only once every year. Heroes and brave warriors came from all around the country to participate. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience.¡±


    Before Jun Huang could ept her offer, Nan Xun pulled at Jun Huang¡¯s sleeve and gave her a sharp look. Jun Huang turned to him with questioning eyes. She swallowed down her answer, the gears in her head turning.


    ¡°It¡¯ste,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°It¡¯s been a long day. If Rong¡¯er intends to stay outside for a little longer, this gentleman is afraid we¡¯ll have to excuse ourselves. Farewell.¡± He dragged Jun Huang away without waiting for Rong¡¯er to answer.


    Neither of them talked on their way back to the inn. Nan Xun had kept up a stoic face. Jun Huang wondered why he was angry. Deep inside her heart she might have an inkling of the reason, but she didn¡¯t let herself follow that train of thought.


    She was rarely rational when it came to Jun Hao and Yin Yun. When they returned to their room, Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun with a puzzled expression. Nan Xun¡¯s anger red up seeing her indifference, but he kept his temper in check and refrained fromshing out at her.


    Silence stretched. Finally, Nan Xun put aside his ire and said, ¡°You must not participate in the tournament.¡±


    ¡°Why not? Do you think I won¡¯t be able to beat those novices?¡± Jun Huang felt a little frustrated by Nan Xun¡¯sck of confidence in her ability. She was trained by Nan Xun! She could put up a fight against those people.


    Nan Xun sighed and said tiredly, ¡°You know full well what I meant. You don¡¯t have to throw your temper like that. Why must you put yourself in danger?¡±


    Jun Huang looked down at the floor. ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± she said, looking up at Nan Xun with distant eyes. ¡°I will not let any opportunity to find my brother slip by. Rong¡¯er is right. If I can gain fame through the tournament, they will know where I am. They wille look for me, and this won¡¯t be a one-sided search.¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re worried,¡± Jun Huang said, carefully pronouncing every word. Her meaningful gaze made it difficult to not be swayed by her. ¡°But I know what I¡¯m doing. I¡¯m not going to push myself.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t immediately respond. He wasn¡¯t swayed at all by Jun Huang. He was a general. When he was stationed at the border, many of his enemies had tried to buy his cooperation with beautiful women. Those women were seductive, and they knew how to manipte men¡¯s feelings. Nan Xun, though, never strayed from his goal.


    Even though he didn¡¯t want to make Jun Huang unhappy, he knew this wasn¡¯t something Jun Huang should be stubborn about.


    Nan Xun took a deep breath and said, ¡°If you insist, I should be the one to participate for you.¡±


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t,¡± Jun Huang said without hesitation, her eyes fixed on Nan Xun, unblinking.


    ¡°Why not?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang was quiet for a moment. ¡°You are a famous Northern Qi general. You¡¯ve been fighting at the border. Everyone in this country knows who you are. If you fight this battle for me, and the news reach the emperor¡¯s ears, how are you going to exin yourself? Have you forgotten that members of the court must not get involved in the martial arts world? Besides, I want to attend because Yin Yun would know it is me if he hears the name Feng Baiyu, but you...They don¡¯t know you¡¯re with me. You¡¯re going to attract only troubles.¡±


    Nan Xun stared at her. Jun Huang was right, and her head was clear. There was no w to her logic.


    Jun Huang had her reasons. Feng Baiyu meant Phoenix when the characters werebined1, and it was the alias she had used before whenever she snuck out of the pce. Others might not know it was her, but Yin Yun would. He would recognize her immediately. That was why she wanted to participate in the tournament.


    Nan Xun still thought Jun Huang was too stubborn for her own good. She was putting herself at risk!


    ¡°Do you know what¡¯s going to happen? Have you thought about the possibility that they may not be able to find you?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do,¡± Jun Huang said. ¡°Yin Yun is careful. Even if I¡¯ve left the breadcrumbs, he won¡¯t take action immediately. He isn¡¯t going to risk Jun Hao¡¯s life unless he¡¯s absolutely sure it is me.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyebrows knitted together. ¡°Then why do you insist on doing this?¡±


    ¡°Because Yin Yun will know that I¡¯m alive, and that¡¯s enough for me,¡± Jun Huang said after a pause. ¡°They must be worried not being able to find me.¡±


    Nan Xun fell quiet. He finally understood what Jun Huang was thinking. He shouldn¡¯t have assumed what Jun Huang¡¯s intentions were. Jun Huang always had a n. She never did anything without considering her options.


    Nan Xun still thought it was too dangerous, but he knew Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to be easily swayed. He needed some good arguments to convince Jun Huang not to participate in the tournament.


    He had some idea. It was going to be painful, and he didn¡¯t want to use that against Jun Huang, but he had to. Otherwise Jun Huang would get into the tournament without a care about her own safety. He wouldn¡¯t be able to protect her then.


    ¡°Have you forgotten about your condition?¡± asked Nan Xun. A trace of hurt snuck into his tone. He was reminding both Jun Huang and himself that Jun Huang was stilled gued by potent poison. Her days were numbered.


    Jun Huang was caught off guard by Nan Xun¡¯s question. She had been so busy trying to find Jun Hao that she forgot about her health. Every day, she ran herself until she was exhausted, and she didn¡¯t so much fall asleep than lose conscious when shey down on the bed. Now that she was reminded of her condition, her chest ached a little.


    ¡°Your body is not at its best condition, and a fight is the worst thing you can do to your body. Do you know what¡¯s the most painful feeling in the world? It¡¯s to lose something you¡¯ve just recovered. Are you willing to subject your brother to the pain? Do you want him and Yin Yun to find you but then lose you to the poison... to witness your death? He¡¯s young. How is he going to take it? Have you thought about that?¡±


    Nan Xun forced himself to finish his exnation. Many times, he had wanted to stop, but he knew he must be brutally honest for Jun Huang to see his points. The rest he would worry aboutter.


    Jun Huang stared at Nan Xun dumbly. A thunderstorm had happened in her head. Her aching heart threatened to break down and force blood out of her mouth.


    She tightened her jaw, her face pale. In panic, Nan Xun rushed to her side and knelt down, looking up at her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you,¡± he said quietly. ¡°We both know what¡¯s going to happen. Something is inevitable. I know you¡¯re worried, but there are things we must think through. Don¡¯t let yourself regret it.¡±


    Jun Huang knew the pros and cons of her decision. It took a moment for her to recover from her emotions. She pulled her lips into a faint smile and looked into the distance with unfocused eyes. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± she said, letting out a tired sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve been too stubborn. I¡¯ve forgotten that things are different from when I was in Western Que. If I continue like this, I won¡¯t be able to stay with him for long even if I find him.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that. There will be a way out. I promise that I will do all I can to cleanse the poison in your body.¡± Nan Xun had spoken slowly, but his determination was clear in his tone. His words were like a warm nket wrapping around her heart, chasing away the coldness in her body.


    Seeing her lost expression, Nan Xun knew she was thinking herself into a dead end again. He took Jun Huang¡¯s cold hands and said gently, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry too much. I¡¯ll have my people look for your brother. They will find something. You have to keep yourself safe. That¡¯s the biggestfort you can give to them. Even when you haven¡¯t heard from them, you believe that they are still alive. They are the same. They must believe you¡¯re alive as well. That¡¯s good. That¡¯s better than having them find you and worry about your life after finding out that you¡¯ve been poisoned. This hope will keep them strong.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and took a deep breath. ¡°I understand now,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not going to argue with you anymore.¡±


    Nan Xun felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. Finally he had persuaded Jun Huang. Thinking back to Rong¡¯er¡¯s words, however, she must have expected Jun Huang to be at the tournament. He said, ¡°We should tell Rong¡¯er and thank her for her offer.¡±

 Chapter 164

    Chapter 164: Unreasonable


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Jun Huang said with a nod. She got to her feet and fixed her sleeves. They made their way to Rong¡¯er¡¯s room. It didn¡¯t take long for Rong¡¯er to get the door.


    Rong¡¯er didn¡¯t notice Jun Huang at first because her eyes snapped to Nan Xun immediately. From Jun Huang and Nan Xun¡¯s expression, it didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out what they were here for.


    ¡°Rong¡¯er has invited us out of kindness,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°We didn¡¯t want to turn you down. However, I¡¯ve been sick and couldn¡¯t take the strain suchpetition would cause. For that I apologize.¡±


    Nan Xun interpreted Rong¡¯er¡¯s silence as her being upset. Rong¡¯er struck him as someone who was eager to help. She had not done anything to offend them. Apologetically, Nan Xun said, ¡°Truly sorry for not taking your offer. How about this. The tournament ising soon. Gentleman Feng and I can stay and watch you fight before leaving. We look forward to youing out on top.¡±


    If it had been Jun Huang who said those words, Rong¡¯er would have argued. As it was, she didn¡¯t have a word ofeback. She was still disappointed, but before she could say anything, Nan Xun had dragged Jun Huang away, turning his back to her.


    The inn was structured like a siheyuan ¨C a courtyard surrounded by buildings on all four sides. The ground floor was the big dining hall. The upper floors were shaped like hollowed circles with rooms lining the hallway. Jun Huang and Nan Xun¡¯s room was right across from Rong¡¯er¡¯s. They needed to walk half a circle to return to their room.


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s eyes bore into Jun Huang¡¯s back. Noticing the heated gaze, Jun Huang turned around and their eyes met. She blinked in confusion when she saw the anger in Rong¡¯er¡¯s eyes.


    Nan Xun felt a little jealous that Jun Huang kept turning around. He took Jun Huang¡¯s hand and quickened his pace.


    Rong¡¯er stared at them until they entered their room and shut the door. Bloody scrapes were left on her palms. Her eyes went dark as hatred grew in her heart. That Feng Baiyu must have been parading Nan Xun around to spite me, she thought. What a shameless man! How dare he keep Nan Xun to himself?


    Realization dawned on her. Feng Baiyu must have been one of those sick men who desired other men! Nan Xun must have seen Feng Baiyu only as a friend, oblivious to his sordid thoughts!


    Rong¡¯er had made up her mind. She would fight Feng Baiyu in the tournament and taught him a lesson. Then she would tell Feng Baiyu to get the hell away from Nan Xun.


    An ugly smile pulled at her lips. She inhaled deeply to suppress her anger and jealousy. Once she was back to her room, she started nning how she should manipte Feng Baiyu into epting the challenge.


    She knew Nan Xun must not know about this. She didn¡¯t want him to see how petty she could be. Even though she wanted to expose Feng Baiyu for the pretentious man he was in front of Nan Xun, she wasn¡¯t willing to damage her image in Nan Xun¡¯s heart.


    Tomorrow, she would make her move.


    Early in the morning, Nan Xun took the guards to the street to continue their search. He didn¡¯t want to miss Jun Hao because of his inaction. Seeing how tired Jun Huang had been the past two days, Nan Xun told her to stay in the inn.


    Jun Huang was having breakfast on her own in the main hall when Rong¡¯er showed up. She raised an eyebrow at Rong¡¯er. She could feel the hostility radiating from this woman, but she still greeted her politely.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking, Feng Baiyu!¡± Rong¡¯er dered without preamble.


    What am I thinking? Jun Huang put down her bowl and chopsticks before letting out a quietugh. ¡°What do you mean? Are you still upset that I knocked into you yesterday?¡±


    ¡°Ha! ying dumb isn¡¯t going to work!¡± Rong¡¯er spat. ¡°Gentleman Nan Xun isn¡¯t here. Why are you still putting up a front? Do you think I haven¡¯t figured you out yet?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyebrows jumped up. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Has this gentleman unknowingly offended you again?¡±


    Rong¡¯er wanted nothing but to tear Jun Huang into pieces, but she knew she must control herself. If she had announced to the whole room that Jun Huang was into men, Nan Xun would be mocked along with Jun Huang. That would be uneptable.


    She took a deep breath to tamp down her anger. Leaning close to Jun Huang, she whispered in a voice that only Jun Huang could hear, ¡°You are into men and yet you shamelessly follow Nan Xun around. Don¡¯t you see how foul you are? Do you know how he will see you if I tell him you desire him?¡±


    Now Jun Huang finally realized why Rong¡¯er came to bother her so early in the morning. She supported her chin with a hand and looked at Rong¡¯er with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable.¡±


    Disgusted by her response, Rong¡¯er backed away like Jun Huang was something repulsive.


    ¡°If you have any courage, Feng Baiyu, you would participate in the tournament and fight me. Don¡¯t use those foul tricks.¡± Rong¡¯er hadn¡¯t been loud, but the other diners were quietly eating and the main hall was almost silent. Everyone heard her. They started whispering among themselves.


    Jun Huang got to her feet so that their eyes lined up. She crossed her arms and looked at her coldly. Slowly, enunciating every word, she said, ¡°What if I refuse? What can you do?¡±


    Rong¡¯er flew into rage. This shameless coward! With her self-control out of the window, she eximed, ¡°If you don¡¯t have the confidence to fight me, how can you stay at gentleman Nan Xun¡¯s side?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s expression darkened. Had her angere from being taunted by Rong¡¯er¡¯s? Or had ite from her feelings for Nan Xun? Jun Huang wasn¡¯t sure. She let out a sharpugh and looked Rong¡¯er in the eyes until Rong¡¯er started to doubt herself. Rong¡¯er, however, refused to back down. She took a deep breath and stared back.


    ¡°If so, this gentleman will ept your challenge,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile. ¡°I hope for a good fight.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s polite response had won her the approval of the onlookers. Rong¡¯er, on the other hand, was criticized for her insistent attitude.


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s face turned red in anger when she heard people¡¯sments. She ground her teeth together and bit out, ¡°I will defeat you at the tournament! Remember what you¡¯ve said!¡±


    With that, Rong¡¯er stormed away.


    Jun Huang knew she herself was in the right. After Rong¡¯er had left, she sat down and started enjoying the pot of tea she had ordered. One cup after another, she stopped until the pot was empty. She looked into the distance. It was difficult to tell what she was thinking.


    Nan Xun returned to the inn not long after. Jun Huang felt a little guilty seeing his tired face. She hurriedly poured him a cup of water.


    Nan Xun took a gulp. Now he felt better. He looked up at Jun Huang and said in a low voice, ¡°We didn¡¯t find anything today, either. Because of the tournament, there are even more people in the town today. You should stay in unless there¡¯s something important to take care of. It¡¯s too dangerous. Do you hear me?¡±


    Jun Huang was preupied with her own thoughts, her fingers rubbing along the rim of the teacup. Nan Xun looked up because of herck of response. There was a deep frown on her forehead. She was clearly troubled by something.


    ¡°Are you still thinking about the tournament?¡± Nan Xun asked worriedly. Jun Huang¡¯s health had been deteriorating. He wanted to help her, but she always turned him away. There wasn¡¯t much he could do.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told Rong¡¯er that I would fight in the tournament,¡± Jun Huang said. The thought of hiding this from Nan Xun never crossed her mind.


    Nan Xun stared at Jun Huang with disbelief in his eyes. His first reaction was that Jun Huang was joking. He had convinced her to not get involved only yesterday, and now she changed her mind? He didn¡¯t know what was going on. Had she forgotten about her condition so quickly? What was she thinking?


    Because of Jun Huang¡¯s argument with Rong¡¯er, many people in the main hall had been keeping an eye on Jun Huang. One of the clerks noticed the tension at their table. After some hesitation, he walked up to them.


    ¡°The honored guest may have misunderstood. Your friend didn¡¯t want to get into the tournament, but then this girl kept trying to pester him into participating...¡±


    The clerk told Nan Xun everything he had witnessed and added some dramatic flourishes of his own. Some parts of the earlier conversation he had not heard clearly. He assumed that Rong¡¯er must have coerced Jun Huang into epting her challenge somehow.


    Nan Xun stared at Jun Huang, trying to look for signs that Jun Huang was lying, but Jun Huang had nothing to hide.


    She drank some tea before muttering, ¡°She was persistent. I didn¡¯t want to participate, but she wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer. I got tired of arguing with her, so I said yes.¡±


    Nan Xun knew Jun Huang valued her peace of mind. He could picture how forceful Rong¡¯er must have been. He cursed at himself for not being at Jun Huang¡¯s side to deter Rong¡¯er.


    He didn¡¯t know that Rong¡¯er had fallen hard for him. Women were more sensitive to matters of the heart. Nan Xun was a general. He rarely paid attention to other people¡¯s feelings, let alone those of someone he didn¡¯t care about.


    He resented Rong¡¯er for pushing Jun Huang into danger. What an insolent girl! His chest felt tight in his anger, but he wasn¡¯t going to let Jun Huang take the me. He fumed with his hand tight around his cup.


    When Jun Huang saw that Nan Xun had calmed down, she said, ¡°The tournament ising in a few days. I haven¡¯t trained at all since leaving the imperial city. I must have gotten rusty. I don¡¯t want to make a fool of myself. Let¡¯s spar?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve turned her down yesterday,¡± Nan Xun said after a moment of silence. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to herter. I can¡¯t in good conscience let you go to that ridiculous tournament.¡±

 Chapter 165

    Chapter 165: Stubborn


    ¡°What if I insisted on participating?¡± Jun Huang asked, tilting her head to meet his gaze. There was no trace of doubt in her eyes.


    Nan Xun¡¯s tone hardened in response to her stubborn reaction. ¡°Do you know what kind of tournament this is? It¡¯s where masters of martial arts fight to earn their glory. Even if we put aside your limited training, your health condition alone is going to put you in great danger. You¡¯re going to get hurt without gaining the benefit of spreading your name.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to make Nan Xun worried, but she had made up her mind. She had to fight Rong¡¯er fair and square. ¡°I¡¯ve given her my word. I can¡¯t just take it back. If you¡¯re not willing to train me, then so be it.¡±


    She got to her feet and walked past Nan Xun to go upstairs.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t stand being subject to her cold gaze. He took a deep breath and caught Jun Huang¡¯s wrist. Reluctantly, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll train you.¡±


    They made their way to the backyard of the inn and notified a clerk what they were going to do. The clerk dly took the silver Nan Xun awarded him and left them alone.


    From the first floor, Rong¡¯er watched the two of them train with swords. She ground her teeth together and tightened her fists, barely suppressing her anger. She would not let Jun Huang off the hook easily! Now she only had to wait for the tournament toe.


    Jun Huang had made some progress after a day of training, but the worried look never dropped from Nan Xun¡¯s face. At night, Jun Huang had retired to bed early out of exhaustion. Nan Xun left the room after some consideration and knocked on Rong¡¯er¡¯s door.


    Rong¡¯er was d to see Nan Xun, but she could tell that Nan Xun was here to demand answers from her. She opened her mouth, at a loss of what to say.


    ¡°I thought you were a brave heroine who could rival any men, and I nned to watch you fight on stage to show everyone what you you could do. However, it turns out you are simply a spoiled girl. Now I feel no desire to even look at you.¡±


    Nan Xun had been fuming the whole day, but he couldn¡¯t vent his anger on Jun Huang. Now all his ire was aimed at Rong¡¯er. He considered Rong¡¯er to be an unreasonable and unpleasant woman.


    Rong¡¯er took a deep breath and retorted, ¡°What is the gentleman saying? Feng Baiyu is a man. If even I, a woman, can participate in the tournament, why can¡¯t he? Besides, he agreed to participate himself. Has he said something that made you think I deserve such reprimand?¡±


    Her tone was dignified, but under her sleeves, her fists were tight and her nails had buried into her palms.


    Nan Xun frowned. He didn¡¯t expect Rong¡¯er to be this blind to her own wrongdoings. He stormed away with a whip of his sleeves. Rong¡¯er let out a sigh of relief.


    For the next few days, Rong¡¯er had not seen Nan Xun and Jun Huang even once. Her sect had been busy in preparation for the uing tournament as well. She worriedly waited for the tournament toe.


    On the day of the tournament, many more people had gathered in Yun Town. The sound of gongs and drums announced the asion before the sun even rose above the horizon. Nan Xun had woken up early. With a faint smile, he let out a resigned sigh as he looked at the still sleeping Jun Huang. He truly did not know how to deny her anything.


    He silently got off the bed and turned to look at her face. They had trained a little longer yesterday. Thus, her sleep had been particrly unrestfulst night. Her face was an unhealthy color.


    Silence stretched. Nan Xun walked out of the room and asked the clerks to prepare a bowl of congee. As he had done before, he added the medicine into the bowl and brought it back to their room.


    When Jun Huang woke up, Nan Xun was entering the room a bowl of congee in his hand. She felt warmth welled up in her chest, but she didn¡¯t let it show. She still believed that she must not give Nan Xun any false hope. She was never meant to be his.


    Jun Huang snorted silently. She kept her distance from Nan Xun because of her condition, and yet she could not tolerate hearing others criticize Nan Xun. Otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have fallen into Rong¡¯er¡¯s trap and gotten herself into this mess. Fortunately, Nan Xun didn¡¯t know exactly what had happened that morning.


    Nan Xun put the bowl on the table and came up to Jun Huang¡¯s side. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked worriedly. ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡±


    Jun Huang shook away her unnecessary thoughts and let out a long breath. She got to her feet, massaging her throbbing temple.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go to the tournament if you are unwell,¡± Nan Xun said with his eyebrows furrowed.


    Jun Huang waved a hand dismissively and got herself presentable before taking a seat at the table. She tucked into the congee. Nan Xun knew that there was nothing he could say to change her mind. He silently waited for Jun Huang to finish eating.


    Afterwards, they made their way to the location where the tournament was held.


    The day had just broken. The stage was surrounded by a sizable crowd. Masters of martial arts were going to test their ability against one anotherter; the regr peasants therefore kept a safe distance from the stage even though they were curious. They didn¡¯t want to get hurt by the participants in the heat of the moment.


    Those staying in the inner circle were mostly trained fighters. Of course, there were a few stray regr peasants at the front as well. They had let their curiosity put them in danger.


    To the front of the stage was for the audience to watch the fight from. To the left was for esteemed figures in the martial arts world who was going to preside over the tournament. Right across from them were the participants. There was a good number of them.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun had spotted Rong¡¯er from the distance when they arrived at the West Street, which was where the tournament was held. Today, Rong¡¯er was dressed in a pink fighting garment. She looked different. On her waist she wore the emblem of her sect. She stood with her senior brothers and sisters. With them asparisons, she stood out due to her good looks.


    Rong¡¯er had been looking around, worried that Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t show up. She rxed when she saw Jun Huang and Nan Xuning this way, smiling and chatting together.


    One of her senior sisters followed her gaze and saw the graceful and handsome Jun Huang. She didn¡¯t know what kind of men Rong¡¯er liked. She assumed that Rong¡¯er had a preference for the gentle type, and that Rong¡¯er had set her eyes on Jun Huang. ¡°Oh, has little sister fallen for a pretty face?¡± she teased. ¡°That¡¯s understandable. He is very good-looking.¡±


    Rong¡¯er didn¡¯t immediately react. As soon as she figured out who her senior sister was talking about, her face distorted as if she had swallowed a fly. ¡°Why would I like a weakling like that man?¡± she bit out. ¡°I like the handsome and brave one.¡±


    Her senior sister looked again and turned her gaze to Nan Xun. Nan Xun was dressed in a ck robe, which entuated the sculpted contour of his face. He posed a demanding presence. In his sharp eyes, there was a trace of tenderness, but she could tell that the tenderness was reserved for the beautiful man in turquoise robe. It couldn¡¯t be ¨C


    She turned to Rong¡¯er reflexively. For a fleeting moment, Rong¡¯er seemed like a beast eager to tear its teeth into its prey, but the moment passed in the blink of an eye. Rong¡¯er¡¯s expression became so calm it was as if she was a different person.


    Jun Huang had spotted Rong¡¯er as well. She curved her lips into a faint smile. Rong¡¯er tightened her hands into fists, her eyes shooting daggers at Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun turned to Rong¡¯er as well, but he looked away as soon as he saw that it was Rong¡¯er. He wasn¡¯t going to waste any of his time on her.


    Nan Xun¡¯s ignorance convinced Rong¡¯er that Jun Huang must have been talking behind her back. That was why Nan Xun was so cold to her.


    ¡°Remember my words,¡± Nan Xun said before Jun Huang took to the stage. ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself if you are feeling unwell. Come back to me.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know.¡± Jun huang nodded with a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve said that many times on our way here. I remember. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Nan Xun was still worried despite her reassurance, but there was no time for him to repeat his words again. The fight had begun. It was Jun Huang¡¯s turn.


    She boldly walked onto the stage with her head held high. The audience was shocked to see Jun Huang. What a beautiful man!


    Jun Huang stood at the center of the stage with a sword in her hand, paying no attention to the way wind messed up her hair.


    Her opponent was a thin boy. He stretched his arms when he took the stage and lifted his chin at Jun Huang. ¡°This is apetition for real men,¡± he said mockingly. ¡°People like you should stay at home being pampered and spoiled. You¡¯re only going to make a fool of yourself. No one will go easy on your just because you have a pretty face.¡±


    The boy burst intoughter. The crowd followed suit and startedughing as well.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t get angry like the boy expected. Her expression remained calm as she waited for themotion to die down. She looked up at the boy and smiled. ¡°Everyone can talk the talk, but dogs that bark often don¡¯t bite. I wonder if the gentleman knows how to bite?¡±


    Her voice was soft, but it reached everyone in the audience. After a moment of shock, they broke into a thunderous ovation. The boy¡¯s face flushed a deep red. He drew his sword and charged at Jun Huang without thinking.


    With a scoff, Jun Huang blocked his attack with her sword. After exchanging a few strikes with the boy, she realized that the boy was a novice and shouldn¡¯t be in a formal fight like this. She didn¡¯t want to drag this on, but she didn¡¯t want to hurt the boy, either. With a twirl of her fingers, the tip of her sword came to touch the boy¡¯s throat without breaking the skin.


    Clink! The boy dropped his sword in fear.


    ¡°Spare ¨C spare me!¡± the boy stammered out, his knees going weak and his face pale. He was frightened that Jun Huang would take his life. It would take only a little push.

 Chapter 166

    Chapter 166: Losing Consciousness


    Jun Huang knew the rules of a friendly match. She withdrew her sword and took a step back. ¡°Good fight,¡± she said with her hands cupped.


    The boy scrambled away, too stunned to say anything in return. The crowd erupted into cheers when they finally recovered from their shock. Jun Huang stood on the stage with her back straight, unaffected by her surroundings.


    Jun Huang¡¯s second opponent was an expert fighter ¨C a strongly built man armed with a scimitar and intimidating biceps. His presence alone created an almost physical force.


    Jun Huang leveled him with a cold gaze and tightened her grip on her sword. She could tell that this man was not going to be easy to deal with, but she couldn¡¯t back down.


    They exchanged greetings. Jun Huang made the first move and stabbed the man with her sword. The man narrowed his eyes and parried the attack with his scimitar.


    The man¡¯s muscles were not for show. His strike was powerful enough to knock Jun Huang¡¯s sword away. She staggered back, her arm going numb.


    When she was about the strike again, blood rushed from her lungs to her throat. She used her sword like a crutch to keep herself upright. Her hearing went muddy all of a sudden.


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes had been fixed on Jun Huang, taking in every little move of hers. He immediately noticed the cold sweat streaming down her forehead.


    Before Nan Xun could jump on stage, Jun Huang took a deep breath and opened her eyes to stare at the man. Her gaze was so cold that even he, a tall and burly fighter, froze in apprehension.


    Jun Huang lunged at the man with her sword raised. The man only recovered when Jun Huang was right before him. He struck at Jun Huang with his palm. Jun Huang did a flip andnded behind him. Even though the man had a quick reflex, Jun Huang¡¯s sword was able to cut into his arm.


    The man paid no mind to his injury. He spat and charged at Jun Huang with his scimitar.


    Ah, Jun Huang thought. That hit must have angered him. She kept her guard up and stepped back with her sword before her. When she reached the edge of the stage, she propelled herself up with her sword and stepped on the guardrail tounch herself to the man.


    After the time for an incense stick to burn, there still wasn¡¯t a winner between them.


    Jun Huang struggled to keep up with the man¡¯s attacks. Nan Xun was barely breathing. He wanted to make sure that he would be able to rescue Jun Huang when the man made a move that would seriously hurt Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang¡¯s stance faltered and her face went pale. Nan Xun took a few steps forward. His heart clenched in panic.


    Jun Huang put a hand over her chest. The poison sure picked a good time to act up! She finally lost her calm. The man took the opportunity to strike at her with his palm.


    Some of the audience cried out in shock as dust flew into the air, obscuring their view. When they could see clearly what was happening again, they saw Jun Huang blocking the man¡¯s palm with her own. Her face was as pale as a sheet. That they had not seening.


    Nan Xun¡¯s expression darkened. He knew Jun Huang was barely keeping herself up. What he wouldn¡¯t give to take that attack for her!


    The hit was not intended to kill, but it was still a strong one. In that split second, Jun Huang could only countered it with a strike of her palm, taking the man¡¯s force headon. It felt as if someone had made a mess of her organs. She could taste blood in her mouth. This wasn¡¯t good. She had to make it quick.


    Before the man could react, Jun Huang kicked the man in his knees. It might not be an honorable move, but it was effective. The man backed off in reflex.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to drag this fight on. She advanced on the man, forcing him to stepped back. She then punched him in the nose, causing blood to gush out of his nostrils. When the man was about to strike back, she hit him with her left palm and threw the man over her shoulder. The many on the ground, unable to get up.


    Jun Huang had won this match. As soon as the referee announced her victory, she spat out a mouthful of blood.


    The audience was startled. Nan Xun immediately jumped onto the stage and caught Jun Huang to stop her from falling.


    Color had drainedpletely from Jun Huang¡¯s face. Even her lips were white. Her hand trembled around the hilt of her sword. It dropped to the ground with a clink.


    Nan Xun took her off the stage. The onlookers shared a puzzled look. The referee stepped up and asked the audience to remain calm. He agreed to let Jun Huang take a rest.


    Nan Xun was going to take Jun Huang away, but she refused to let him. She had one foot inside the tournament. There was nothing for her to fear. She would regret it if she gave up now.


    ¡°Go on, keep pushing yourself,¡± Nan Xun said angrily. ¡°You never know to put your safety first.¡± With a scowl, he led Jun Huang to a chair and put a pill in Jun Huang¡¯s mouth. Only then did the poison in Jun Hunag¡¯s system quiet down.


    Jun Huang closed her eyes, her breaths shallow. She started to calm the erratic energy in her body. Nan Xun stood by her side, blocking others¡¯ curious looks without bothering Jun Huang.


    The medicine took some time to circte through her body. Jun Huang spat out some tainted blood. She felt better now. Her face was less pale.


    She was far from fully-recovered, however. After all the poison had acted up only a moment ago, and she had taken a hit directly. She tightened her jaw and forced her pain down. Even Nan Xun didn¡¯t know exactly how serious she had been hurt.


    The referee called out for her to take the stage. Nan Xun was going to stop her, but Jun Huang insisted. She refused to let her weaknesses show.


    Nan Xun sighed in resignation. He asked his guard to get some water for Jun Huang. She took a gulp and got to her feet.


    Sharp pain shot through her chest as soon as she stood up. Jun Huang took a deep breath to steady herself. Seeing Nan Xun¡¯s concerned look, she forced herself to give him a smile before walking toward the stage.


    This time, her opponent was a woman in Taoist clothing. The dress danced in the wind like a puff of smoke. Jun Huang looked at the woman with calm eyes and bowed slightly in greeting. Her sword shone brightly in her hand. She did not raise it.


    The Taoist woman used a horsetail whisk as her weapon. She scoffed, a cold glint shing through her eyes. With a careless apology, she lunged at Jun Huang. Jun Huang narrowed her eyes and shed at the woman with her sword, but the de was caught by the whisk.


    Jun Huang pursed her lips, trying to recover her weapon to no avail. She kicked at the woman, but the woman had anticipated her move. She sidestepped before Jun Huang¡¯s kick couldnd on her and struck at Jun Huang with her palm.


    The strike was powerful. Jun Huang could feel the killing intent even from a distance. She had no choice but to abandon her sword and stepped away.


    The woman came at Jun Huang with insistent attacks. Jun Huang was able to counter the first few hits, but gradually her steps started to falter and her vision blurred.


    The woman seemed to have decided to stop toying with Jun Huang. With a knock of the woman¡¯s whisk, Jun Huang was flung into the railing. She threw up a mouthful of blood.


    The audience looked on in shock. Nan Xun was downright panicking. He leaped onto the stage and kicked the woman away before she could make another killing move. He stood before Jun Huang, looking down at the woman with chilly gaze. ¡°The duel is meant to be a friendly fight. Why did you so cruelly try to kill your opponent?¡±


    The woman was unable to say anything after getting kicked by Nan Xun. She looked at Rong¡¯er reflexively, which made Rong¡¯er¡¯s heart seized up in panic. When Rong¡¯er looked toward the stage, however, Nan Xun had already knelt down to pull Jun Huang into his arms. He didn¡¯t even care to look at her.


    Possessed by anger, Rong¡¯er let out a cruelugh and ran up to the stage, disregarding the odd looks the audience cast. She looked at Jun Huang, who was lying against Nan Xun¡¯s chest, and mocked, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the gentleman to be this weak. I thought you were better than others! But this is all you¡¯ve got! Why didn¡¯t you ept defeat earlier? That would spare you the pain.¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Nan Xun growled. Rong¡¯er crossed the line again and again. He had never known any woman this repulsive. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re trying to achieve by insulting my friend, and I don¡¯t care. You? You may dress well, but underneath your skin is an ugly beast. May our paths never cross again in the future!¡±


    Rong¡¯er was stunned silent. In her sect she was the most cherished disciple. And yet the man she liked was so harsh to her. Her eyes were brimming with tears, but it only made Nan Xun even more resentful.


    Jun Huang lost conscious suddenly. Nan Xun froze. He only let out the breath he had been holding after taking Jun Huang¡¯s pulse. Without sparing Rong¡¯er another nce, Nan Xun gathered Jun Huang into his arms and walked away, leaving Rong¡¯er staring after them with her teeth clenched.


    A venomous glint shed through her eyes. It was all she could do to stop herself from losing it in public. She went back to her master and said that she wanted to fight Jun Huang in the next match. She would like to see how Nan Xun would react once she defeated Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun had never been this scared. He carried Jun Huang back to the inn in a rush. The clerk was shocked to see the state Jun Huang was in. This young man was still his graceful self in the morning, he thought. What has happened to put blood on his robe? The contrast between the blood and the turquoise fabric was horrifying, and yet it added a grotesque beauty to Jun Huang¡¯s pale face.


    In this state, she was so terribly beautiful.


    ¡°What ¨C what happened?¡± the clerk quickly recovered and shouted after Nan Xun. ¡°Should I get a doctor?¡±


    Nan Xun paused and nced at Jun Huang before turning around. ¡°Please, and be quick!¡±


    The clerk rushed outside the inn. Not long after, the doctor was led in. Under Nan Xun¡¯s intense scrutiny, the doctor nervously took Jun Huang¡¯s pulse. He let out a relieved sigh and said, ¡°This wo ¨C gentleman is injured in his back, but fortunately his bones and tendons weren¡¯t damaged. What caused him to lose conscious was the poison in his body. It ran through his body at a quicker pace because of his exertion. Otherwise he isn¡¯t that badly hurt. However... he doesn¡¯t have a lot of time left. Let him rest. He¡¯ll wake up in a day or two.¡±


    Afterwards, the doctor took his medicine kit and followed the guards out.

 Chapter 167

    Chapter 167: Mockery


    Tension drained out of Nan Xun¡¯s body when he heard the doctor¡¯s response. It pained him to see Jun Huang lying on the bed with her face pale. He smoothed a finger gently over her furrowed brows and caress her bony cheek, lovingly watching over her.


    ¡°You have to recover, Jun Huang,¡± Nan Xun muttered, holding onto her fingers. Due to her illness, Jun Huang¡¯s fingers were always cold, and her delicate wrists looked brittle.


    Jun Huangy on the bed like she had fallen into a deep slumber that she might not wake up from. Nan Xun had panicked when Jun Huang copsed, but he was able to regain control over his emotions. He had stared death in the eyes many times after all.


    He sat by Jun Huang¡¯s bed, holding her hand in his. He told the guards he didn¡¯t feel like eating when they asked.


    At night, Jun Huang still had not shown any signs of waking up, which worried Nan Xun. He checked her pulse a few times and only rxed when he felt her strong heartbeats. After midnight, he fell asleep sitting by the bed,ying on his arms.


    Day broke. Jun Huang¡¯s eyes fluttered open. She was going to stretch her numb arms, but her hands was held hostage, preventing her from moving. She looked down and saw Nan Xun sleeping with her wrists in a loose grip.


    A soft smile tugged at her lips, unbidden. Then Nan Xun¡¯s fingers twitched and he jerked awake. His heart soared in delight seeing that Jun Huang had regained consciousness. He hurriedly poured her a cup of water.


    He handed Jun Huang the cup and asked, ¡°Do you feel better now?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and sat up with Nan Xun¡¯s help. She had recovered, but there was still a heavy weight on her chest, preventing her from breathing properly. Although she had regained her usualposure, she still looked a little ill.


    Jun Huang drank the water and looked outside. ¡°How long have I been sleeping?¡±


    ¡°The whole day,¡± said Nan Xun as he took the empty cup from Jun Huang and ced it on the table.


    A silent pause. Jun Huang was trying to find the right words. ¡°Yesterday ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Now you remind me,¡± Nan Xun scolded. ¡°You never take care of yourself! Do you know how much danger you were in yesterday? I told you again and again not to push yourself, but you? You never listened! None of the things I said mattered to you! Just what are you trying to prove?!¡±


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯t intended to say anything about what happened yesterday, but Jun Huang brought it up as soon as she woke up. He couldn¡¯t help the words falling out of his mouth.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to react so strongly. She looked up at him with cool eyes and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to dwell on it. I¡¯m alright.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re alright now, but that¡¯s because you got lucky! If things went even a little differently, you wouldn¡¯t have been here, alive and well! Remember your goals, Jun Huang. If you insist on being careless with yourself, this prince doesn¡¯t think there¡¯s a need for us to work together anymore. Then the gentleman better find another ally.¡±


    Nan Xun had never been this harsh with her. He turned away from her with his arms behind his back and, for the first time since they¡¯d known each other, talked to her as a prince. His words were polite but distant, and his expression was severe.


    He¡¯s getting tired of me, Jun Huang thought. Her breath hitched and she tried to get up. Yesterday¡¯s injury, though, had drained her of any energy. She kept falling back to the bed, which Nan Xun was oblivious to since he had turned away.


    A thud. Nan Xun whirled around and saw half of Jun Huang¡¯s body falling off the bed. She had scraped her palms again. He couldn¡¯t possibly keep his distance anymore. He quickly knelt down to help Jun Huang up.


    With an aching heart, Nan Xun put her back on the bed and snapped, ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re made of steel? Why must you risk yourself again and again? Are you willing to die for something that you aren¡¯t even sure is going to happen?¡®


    Jun Huangy against Nan Xun¡¯s chest and looked up at him as he rattled out her sins. She pulled her lips into a smile and took a deep breath. ¡°I know, I know. I didn¡¯t attend the tournament only because of Rong¡¯er¡¯s taunt. I ¨C had a dream a few days ago. A nightmare. I cannot be the only one looking for my brother at the moment. Eastern Wu must be right at his heels as well. They would use him as a hostage. With their ambition, I cannot imagine how they will treat Jun Hao if he falls into their hands.¡±


    ¡°And I was worried that they would venture into Eastern Wu thinking I¡¯ve been caught. They would get hurt. I ¨C how can I let them risk themselves?¡± Jun Huang looked up at Nan Xun. This was her being as open as she had ever been.


    Nan Xun knew that she had a point. Jun Huang had been risking everything to track her brother and Yin Yun down. They must have been doing everything they could to look for Jun Huang as well. If they couldn¡¯t find her in Northern Qi, it was very likely for them to go to Eastern Wu.


    Nan Xun had never met Jun Hao and Yin Yun. He didn¡¯t feel a connection to them. However, he knew that Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t be able to rest easy until she found them. If Jun Hao and Yin Yun had been caught by Eastern Wu, they would use them to force Jun Huang to surrender herself. Jun Huang would never let anyone hurt Jun Hao. She would willingly turn herself in.


    He was even more worried that Eastern Wu might im to have Jun Hao to lure Jun Huang in. Without knowing where Jun Hao and Yin Yun were, Jun Huang would risk herself to find out if the information was legitimate.


    Jun Hao was Jun Huang¡¯s weakness. She would kill herself trying to find him. In her condition, she really shouldn¡¯t be pushing herself to this point.


    Nan Xun patted her head and sighed. ¡°Leave this to me, hm? I will find your brother and return him to you in one piece. You only have to wait.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded, her heart fluttering. ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°But you have to recover first,¡± Nan Xun said. ¡°Don¡¯t be so reckless again. I¡¯m here. You can trust me. After all... we are allies.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded again. She knew Nan Xun only said so because he didn¡¯t want to pressure her.


    They sat on the bed silently. Nan Xun took a handkerchief and dabbed it in water to clean the scrapes on Jun Huang¡¯s hand. Those scrapes were shallow. The sting was nothingpared to the pain brought by the poison. Seeing how careful Nan Xun was being, a smile bloomed on Jun Huang¡¯s face without her realizing.


    Nan Xun felt a little shy when he looked up and saw Jun Huang¡¯s smile. He let go of Jun Huang and got to his feet. What was he going to do again?


    Jun Huang covered up her smile and looked up at him. Nan Xun would have looked away, but he suddenly didn¡¯t feel like avoiding her gaze. He met her eyes.


    Someone knocked on the door, breaking the moment. Nan Xun frowned and opened it.


    The clerk was right outside. He smiled when he saw that Jun Huang had woken up. ¡°Do the gentlemen prefer to have your breakfast in the room, or in the dining hall?¡±


    Before Nan Xun could tell the clerk to bring the food to the room, Jun Huang said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat downstairs. I¡¯m alright now.¡±


    Nan Xun could tell that she didn¡¯t want to stay in the room. She did look better now. He nodded and went downstairs with Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang settled down and tried the bowl of congee ced on the table. She didn¡¯t taste the medicine this time. With a frown, she turned to Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯t realized that Jun Huang knew about the medicine. Puzzled by her reaction, he put down his chopsticks and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t like the food?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Jun Huang quickly came up with an excuse. ¡°I just thought that the congee could be cooked for a little longer.¡±


    She didn¡¯t meant anything by it, but Nan Xun took it seriously and tried some as well. He frowned. It did taste a little undercooked. He was going to call out for the clerk, but Jun Huang stopped him.


    Rong¡¯er walked down the stairs. Her eyes lit up when she saw Nan Xun and went cold when theynded on Jun Huang. She walked up to them with a bright smile. ¡°What a coincidence! We run into each other even at breakfast!¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t look up at Rong¡¯er. To hell with the proper etiquette. Nan Xun, on the other hand, shot Rong¡¯er a frosty re. Anyone sane would have trembled and fell silent under his gaze.


    Rong¡¯er, however, was both recklessly bold and unusually blind to the situation she was in. She lost her sense of reality as soon as Nan Xun turned to her. She looked at him with her face flushed.


    Their silence filled the room with tension. Rong¡¯er waved a clerk over and said, ¡°We all know one another. Bring my breakfast to this table too.¡±


    Before the clerk could say anything, Nan Xun cut in, ¡°That may be inappropriate. Aren¡¯t you a little too good for us? Why force yourself to stay with us regr people? There are a lot of empty seats in this room. We don¡¯t need anotherpanion. Please look for another spot.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s voice rang through the entire dining hall. Rong¡¯er flushed red in mortification. She didn¡¯t know what to do. Without thinking, she turned to Jun Huang, who gave her a brief nce before going back to her undercooked congee.


    Rong¡¯er tightened her jaw. She quickly put on a fake smile and took a deep breath. ¡°Why must you treat me like this? Rong¡¯er remember the gentleman showing me hospitality only a few days ago, and yet you treat me so harshly today. What have I done to offend the gentleman?¡±

 Chapter 168

    Chapter 168: Angst


    Rong¡¯er spoke in an anguished tone with her eyes brimming with tears, which won her the pity of the onlookers. The diners were mostly men trained in martial arts, who were protective of women. They took her side without knowing what the situation was.


    ¡°If there¡¯s no room at the table for thedy,¡± said a tall man who seemed well-trained, ¡°You cane sit at my side.¡± His voice was hoarse. The floor seemed to vibrate along with his voice.


    Jun Huang looked up at the man, then at Rong¡¯er. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t Rong¡¯er take the offer?¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Can it be that you can¡¯t stomach eating at that man¡¯s side?¡±


    It was against Jun Huang¡¯s nature to be catty, but Rong¡¯er had shown her no respect. She was pleased that Nan Xun had turned Rong¡¯er down without hesitation. Jun Huang was unwilling to let Rong¡¯er share their table either.


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s face paled and she threw Jun Huang a re. As a member of a prestigious sect, she did know something about keeping up a front. She sucked in a breath through clenched teeth and stared at Nan Xun. ¡°Is the gentleman truly going to push me away?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°This gentleman has never been close to you. What do you mean by pushing you away?¡±


    Nan Xun might be quiet and stoic normally, but it didn¡¯t mean that he was incapable of shooting someone down. asionally he was even able to render others speechless.


    The clerk standing behind Rong¡¯er couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. In the noisy dining hall, hisugh should have been drowned out by the background noises, but Rong¡¯er heard him. She shot a re at the clerk. The clerk awkwardly smiled at her. ¡°Where is thedy going to sit?¡±


    Rong¡¯er turned to Nan Xun. His avoidance was a clear indication that he didn¡¯t want to share the meal with her. No matter how upset Rong¡¯er was, there was nothing else she could say. She pointed at a table next to her.


    The dishes were served. Rong¡¯er sat down and found her eyes drawn to Nan Xun again. Nan Xun was oblivious to her gaze. He turned to Jun Huang and exchanged a smile with her as they chatted. Their closeness filled Rong¡¯er¡¯s heart with jealousy.


    Jun Huang ate quietly. A grain of rice found its way to the corner of her mouth. Nan Xun muttered something to Jun Huang and wiped it away with a handkerchief. Jun Huang blushed.


    Her delicate features looked even more captivating with her cheeks red.


    Nan Xun stared dumbly at her with a smile, his eyes as tender as a gentle stream. Jun Huang looked away shyly.


    Rong¡¯er witnessed everything. She had been showered with affection and praises throughout her life. How could she take seeing the man she loved acting so intimate with another man? The emotions in Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were painful for her to see. She couldn¡¯t help thinking back to how cold Nan Xun had been when he saw her.


    Rong¡¯er couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She shot to her feet, knocking into the table and causing the congee to spill from the ceramic bowl. Her chopsticks fell to the floor. People in the dining hall turned to her, wondering what had happened.


    ¡°The gentleman sure doesn¡¯t seem like a man,¡± Rong¡¯er said, her finger pointing at Jun Huang. It didn¡¯t take a genius to see who she was talking about.


    Jun Huang looked at Rong¡¯er. What was this woman on again? ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°A few days ago, we knocked into each other on the street. I, a woman, was able to stay on my feet, while you, a man, fell to the ground. Many people could serve as my witness.¡± Rong¡¯er had forgotten what manners even meant. The only thought in her mind was how she could insult Jun Huang for upying Nan Xun. Her words were harsh and difficult to take. ¡°And at the tournament you were hurt by a woman! How can a man be so weak? Can it be that you¡¯re afflicted with diseases one must not mention in politepany?¡±


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable again. If this gentleman is suffering from such...diseases, why would I tell you I¡¯m sick?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a shameless and pretentious man! Useless! Why must you drag people around you down?!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve crossed a line.¡± Nan Xun¡¯s head snapped up. He leveled Rong¡¯er with a terrifyingly cold gaze that belonged to a predator.


    Startled, Rong¡¯er staggered back, her eyes bing misty. She was on the brink of crying, but she didn¡¯t let the tears fall. She would not let Jun Huang think she had won. She would not let Jun Huang get what she wanted.


    She put aside her feelings and stared Jun Huang down. Her chest was filled with anger when she saw how unaffected Jun Huang was. Throwing caution out of the window, she said to Nan Xun, ¡°Don¡¯t you see that this man desires you? He¡¯s into men! He¡¯s disgusting! Don¡¯t you see that?! You may not know what he is thinking, but Rong¡¯er does. Someone like him should be banished to hell and forbidden from reincarnating! He is dispicable and he has been pretending to be weak to draw your attention! Are you really going to risk your reputation for him?¡±


    Jun Huang got to her feet and walked away. Nan Xun was going to give chase, but Rong¡¯er blocked him.


    He stared her down. Rong¡¯er grabbed his arm with bloodshot eyes.


    ¡°The gentleman should show kindness to those who deserve it. Someone like him can only be your burden. You¡¯re looking for your family, and yet he keeps getting sick. Even if he hasn¡¯t been faking it, the dy he¡¯s caused you is significant. When are you going to find your family at this rate?¡± Rong¡¯er was trying to put all the me on Jun Huang, but on the surface she pretended to be arguing with Nan Xun for his own good.


    ¡°I¡¯ve refrained from getting into a fight with you because you¡¯re a woman, but you should know not to stir up troubles again and again,¡± Nan Xun snapped. To hell with chivalry. He needed to go find Jun Huang as soon as possible. ¡°Don¡¯t try me. I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡±


    Rong¡¯er knew Nan Xun was smitten with Jun Huang, but she didn¡¯t know to what degree. Ignoring the odd looks others had been giving her, she yelled, ¡°Has the gentleman truly lost your sanity for that man?!¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s gaze was like a physical force, causing Rong¡¯er to take a few steps back in fright. Without a word, Nan Xun pushed past her and went upstairs.


    Rong¡¯er looked at him dumbly. Her tears fell like a pearl ne that had been cut.


    She clenched her teeth and tightened her fists. She wasn¡¯t going to let that poor excuse of a man win! She would break Feng Baiyu at the tournament tomorrow!


    Nan Xun rushed to their room. He was worried that Jun Huang had been hurt by Rong¡¯er¡¯s words. When he got to the door, a clerk wasing this way with a jug of wine. Nan Xun frowned.


    The clerk smiled awkwardly when he saw Nan Xun staring at the jug. ¡°Gentleman Feng was in a bad mood. He insisted for me to bring him some wine. This servant knew that he shouldn¡¯t be drinking alcohol, but he didn¡¯t listen. This servant had no choice but to fetch the wine. Perhaps the gentleman should try to convince gentleman Feng?¡±


    Nan Xun knew that a proud woman like Jun Huang could not bear to be considered useless. He took the jug from the clerk and said, ¡°I¡¯ll bring this in. You can go.¡±


    The clerk sighed in relief and hurried away. He didn¡¯t want to be there when Nan Xun and Jun Huang got into an argument.


    Nan Xun entered the room. Jun Huang looked into the distance with unfocused eyes. She looked as if she was trapped in her own nightmares, unable to escape.


    Nan Xun knew Jun Huang was prone to overthinking an issue. She was used to analyzing every word out of people¡¯s mouth. Even a careless remark could cause her to agonize for a long time, trying to figure out what the subtext was.


    Many things had happened these couple of days. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t stop herself from thinking. She might be a good strategist, but her insistent brain would never let her body rest. She would always be ill and weak.


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s words served as a reminder to Jun Huang. Even Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help falling into a slump. She had no one else to me for not being able to find Jun Hao.


    Nan Xun let out a silent sigh. He walked to the table and poured each of them a cup of wine. ¡°If you¡¯re feeling down,¡± he said gently, ¡°You can have a cup.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to him with questioning eyes. She blinked away the bleariness and took a cup. Nan Xun stopped her before she could finish it in one go.


    She tilted her head in question. Nan Xun sighed again. ¡°It¡¯s bad for your health to drink so quickly.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond. She sat down across from Nan Xun and put the cup back onto the table, her expression troubled. After a moment of silence, Nan Xun said, ¡°What are you thinking about? Why don¡¯t you tell me? I may be able to share your burden.¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head with a tired smile. With a hand supporting her head, her eyes settled on Nan Xun. A hint of red induced by the alcohol spread through her face. ¡°I know there¡¯s some truth to Rong¡¯er¡¯s words,¡± she muttered. ¡°Even if we put aside what has happened before and consider only this trip to Yun Town, we could have reached the town two days earlier if I hadn¡¯t gotten hurt. Then maybe we would have found Jun Hao instead of missing him.¡±


    Her eyes shone with tears and her nose wrinkled. It looked like she was going to cry. Nan Xun¡¯s heart clenched. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms andfort her. He knew, however, that he shouldn¡¯t.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Nan Xun said with difficulty. ¡°Even if you hadn¡¯t gotten hurt, we might not have found them. None of this is your fault.¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°If not for me, Western Que would not have been destroyed. Royal Father and Mother would not have died. My brother would not have disappeared. In the end, it¡¯s all because of me.¡±


    Tears dropped from her eyes as she blinked. Nan Xun could almost feel the heat burning in his chest. A stab of sorrow spread through his heart.

 Chapter 169

    Chapter 169: A heated Fight


    Nan Xun realized that this was an opportunity for him to resolve the deep-rooted concerns in Jun Huang¡¯s heart. He knew Jun Huang could not get pass the destruction of Western Que. Nan Xun had wanted to help her ovee her past, but he didn¡¯t want to upset Jun Huang by bring it up. Now that the topic was on the table, Nan Xun didn¡¯t have to hesitate anymore.


    He knelt down before Jun Huang and took her hand. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Nan Xun said seriously. ¡°Eastern Wu is ambitious. They would have invaded Western Que no matter what. You were only a convenient target for them to band together after. It also wasn¡¯t your fault that the imperial city fell. You are but one person. How could you possibly stand against an entire army? You¡¯re not a god. You can¡¯t be med.¡±


    ¡°They had exploited human nature to provoke the conflict,¡± Nan Xun said gently. His only goal was tofort Jun Huang. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Besides, haven¡¯t we figured out that Jun Hao and Yin Yun are still safe and sound? We will find them. You should focus on recovering for those who put their trust in you. Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡±


    Jun Huang calmed down gradually. She lowered her head and nodded. ¡°I understand, but... It¡¯s my fault that they were able to catch Western Que off guard. If the world can unite into one peaceful country, there will be no killings.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you should take care of yourself,¡± Nan Xun pushed, tightening his grip on Jun Huang¡¯s arm to remind her of his existence. ¡°Recover and see the world be a peaceful one with your own eyes. Stop dwelling on your past.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t say anything Jun Huang hadn¡¯t known. She was often more clear-headed than others. There was just this one mental block in her mind. Something that had been keeping her going. Without it, she wouldn¡¯t be able to stay strong.


    Jun Huang knew she was getting weaker and weaker. What pushed her forward were the few people she cared about, and her desire to get revenge.


    Jun Hao had been the sole purpose of her life, but Nan Xun¡¯s existence toppled the walls she put around herself. She adored him. That she couldn¡¯t deny. And she knew Nan Xun returned her feelings. Under the circumstances, however, there was a limit to what she could give him.


    Jun Huang was used to relying on herself. She didn¡¯t want to give Nan Xun hope and then took it away when she took herst breath. She didn¡¯t want him to despair when she died. She didn¡¯t want to subject the man she loved to such pain.


    She shook herself awake and pulled her hand out of Nan Xun¡¯s grip. Her action seemed casual, but Nan Xun felt the loss keenly. Still, he was d to see Jun Huang regain control of her mind. He let out a relieved sigh. Fortunately his words were good for something.


    Jun Huang pushed aside her messy feelings and put on a smile. ¡°I¡¯m alright. I feel a little warm because of the alcohol. I want to stretch my legs and train a little. I¡¯ve decided to pick myself up. I still have people to fight tomorrow.¡±


    Nan Xun paused before taking Jun Huang¡¯s pulse. He wasn¡¯t a doctor, but with his training, he knew at least how to tell a strong pulse from a weak one. He thought for a moment before nodding.


    ¡°If you want to go, I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Nan Xun said gently. Perhaps this would be a good distraction to prevent Jun Huang from dwelling on her past.


    Jun Huang nodded. They went downstairs together.


    The second day saw Jun Huang¡¯s fourth match. The referee called out for her and Rong¡¯er to take the stage. Jun Huang would be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t surprised. She knew Rong¡¯er would not give up until they had this fight. She kept her expression in check.


    Rong¡¯er scoffed. It pleased her that she could finally give Jun Huang what she deserved. Rong¡¯er held onto her long whip and looked at Jun Huang with her head held high. She would show Nan Xun how different she was. She believed that Jun Huang was no match for her.


    ¡°Gentleman Feng¡¯s ill look made me want to weep,¡± Rong¡¯er sneered.


    Unexpectedly, Jun Huang didn¡¯t react at all. Not even a twitch of her eyebrows. She looked at Wan¡¯er with an aloof expression. The long sword in her hand shone brightly under the sun.


    Jun Huang charged at Rong¡¯er with her sword, catching Rong¡¯er off guard. She didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to attack without any warnings. She barely dodged the attack with a twist of her body. Some of the audience membersughed at her.


    Rong¡¯er tensed up. Jun Huang must have done that on purpose! She raised her whip and struck at Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang stepped aside when the whip was about to hit her. It was simply a reflex to conserve stamina, but Rong¡¯er saw it as another insult to her. She lunged at Jun Huang and kicked at her. Jun Huang could feel the force Rong¡¯er had put behind her kick. With narrowed eyes, Jun Huang met the kick with her own. They both staggered back after the impact.


    Rong¡¯er adjusted her breathing and stared at Jun Huang with narrowed eyes. With a scoff, she said in a voice only the two of them could hear, ¡°This fight is between the two of us, Feng Baiyu, but you should know that I will not let a disgusting man like you have gentleman Nan Xun.¡±


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t stand listening to this woman say another word. ¡°This fight means nothing.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not for you to say. It¡¯s sickening that you chase after gentleman Nan Xun with no regard to morals. No one would ept such feelings.¡±


    Rong¡¯er struck at Jun Huang with her palm. Jun Huang darted to the side with a frown. Nothing good coulde out of this woman¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t force your own beliefs on other people,¡± Jun Huang said coldly. ¡°You keep saying that you have Nan Xun¡¯s best interest at heart, but do you know how Nan Xun sees you?¡±


    Embarrassment made Rong¡¯er even more angry. She whipped at Jun Huang with all her force.


    Jun Huang leaped backward. The attack left a deep cut on the floor where she had been standing. Rong¡¯er had not pulled back at all.


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s attacks rained on Jun Huang. Every strike was meant to kill. She hadpletely forgotten that the tournament was meant to be a tform for friendly sparring. In the heat of the moment, it seemed as if her only choice was to kill Jun Huang to sate this hatred in her heart.


    Without giving Jun Huang a chance to rest, Rong¡¯er struck at her again with her whip. Jun Huang had exhausted herself trying to dodge Rong¡¯er¡¯s insistent attacks. She knew she couldn¡¯t jump anymore. Before the whip couldnd on her, Jun Huang dropped down and rolled to Rong¡¯er¡¯s side.


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s was adept atbat at long distance. Jun Huang had seen through her and took the fight to close quarter. Rong¡¯er was unable to stop her whip in time. Itnded on the face of one of the audience members, leaving a long gash on his face. Screams rang through the stage. Many were pointing using fingers at Rong¡¯er.


    Rong¡¯er red at Jun Huang. ¡°You did it on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Rong¡¯er had put all the me on Jun Huang like the spoiled child she was. Jun Huang raised an eyebrow. This woman was truly blind to her own faults.


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s seniors had gone to check on the man who was hurt. Rong¡¯er struck at Jun Huang again. Jun Huang didn¡¯t dodge. Instead, she blocked it with her sword. Sparks red up in the air as the de shed with the whip. The audience fell silent, transfixed.


    Knocking the whip away, Jun Huang charged at Rong¡¯er with her sword. Fear shed through Rong¡¯er¡¯s eyes. She drew her sword and the des shed with a loud clink. Rong¡¯er couldn¡¯t say that Jun Huang was weak anymore. Her entire arm had gone numb from the impact. She held onto her sword with both hands, worried that she would lose herst line of defense.


    Jun Huang had thought that as a member of a prestigious sect, Rong¡¯er wouldn¡¯t use any foul tricks. She therefore didn¡¯t guard against a sneak attack. Rong¡¯er, however, was possessed by hatred. She could see Nan Xun¡¯s concerned eyes following Jun Huang around. She couldn¡¯t take it. With a flick of her wrist, her whip hit Jun Huang from behind her, leaving a long gash along her arm. Jun Huang dropped her sword in pain.


    Rong¡¯er pulled her lips into a cruel grin. She struck at the unarmed Jun Huang, who dodged away with a hand covering her wound. Cold sweat streamed down Jun Huang¡¯s cheeks. Pain had drained all the color form her face. The next moment, the whip coiled around her ankle like a snake. With a pull, Rong¡¯er yanked Jun Huang off her feet. Jun Huang rolled on the stage and struggled to her feet.


    Rong¡¯er did not intend to let Jun Huang live, but Jun Huang had not yielded, either. The fight had kept the audience on the edge of their seats. None of them stepped in. They wanted to see the fight to the end.


    With great difficulty, Jun Huang seized the short window between Rong¡¯er¡¯s strikes to grab her sword. She took a deep breath to circte her energy through her body. With a roll, she reached Rong¡¯er¡¯s side and hit Rong¡¯er in the arm with a knifehand strike. The stabbing pain caused Rong¡¯er to drop her whip. Jun Huang pushed forward and trapped Rong¡¯er in the corner of the stage.


    ¡°Forgive me,¡± Jun Huang said coldly as she hit Rong¡¯er with her palm. Rong¡¯er stepped away, but the next strike came before she could put some distance between her and Jun Huang. She didn¡¯t expect Jun Hang to be able to recover her stance so quickly. Without much time to react, Rong¡¯er met Jun Huang¡¯s attacks with bare hands.


    Nan Xun was the one who trained Jun Huang in hand-to-handbat. She wasn¡¯t as good as Nan Xun, but she was good enough. As a diligent student, she had gotten close to mastering the moves Nan Xun had taught her. Rong¡¯er, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t good at fighting without a weapon. The long whip was the one thing she was proficient in. She backed away again and again from Jun Huang¡¯s advances.


    Gradually, Jun Huang gained the upper hand. Her strikes were quick and precise, but unlike Rong¡¯er, she had no intention to kill Rong¡¯er, which earned her the respect of many of the audience members. They praised her for not lowering herself to Rong¡¯er¡¯s level. This was how an honorable fighter should act.

 Chapter 170

    Chapter 170: Retort


    Even though Jun Huang was the one the audience was praising, Nan Xun was pleased as if he had been on the receiving end of the praises as well. A smile found its way to his face and stayed there.


    Rong¡¯er scowled. She was from a prestigious sect! She couldn¡¯t possibly be inferior to this weakling!


    She tightened her jaw and red at the elegant man who was a few feet away from her. Hatred filled her heart with fire. She threw a punch at Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang could tell that Rong¡¯er had lost her calm. Her punch had lost its usual velocity and force. Jun Huang dodged it easily and pushed at Rong¡¯er from behind.


    Jun Huang had not used her inner force with that push. Therefore Rong¡¯er only stumbled before steadying herself. The audience erupted intoughter. Rong¡¯er¡¯s face flushed in anger as she advanced on Jun Huang with insistent attacks.


    Rong¡¯er was able to push Jun Huang back not because she had tapped into her potential due to provocation, but because Jun Huang was hit with a sudden pain in her chest. She had to endure it while fighting Rong¡¯er. Her face became more and more pale.


    This close, Rong¡¯er could see that Jun Huang was losing her strength. With a scoff, she backed Jun Huang into a corner and struck at her chest, very much the opposite of how an honorable fighter would act.


    Nan Xun had taught Jun Huang what to do when backed into a corner. She crossed her arms before her chest and pushed Rong¡¯er away. She took two quick steps and kicked Rong¡¯er in the stomach, sending her flying in the air. The sudden movement caused a clot of blood to form in Jun Huang¡¯s lungs. She spat it out, leaving a crimson stain on the stage.


    Jun Huang looked up at the sky. The sun was blindingly bright. She had been struggling to stay upright. After her bout of attacks against Rong¡¯er, she had exhausted her well of strength. Her knees went weak and she copsed.


    Nan Xun rushed up the stage and caught her before she could hit the floor. The fabric of their clothes fluttered in the wind as their hair tangled together. With a twist of his foot, Nan Xun steadied himself with Jun Huang in his arms.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath to alleviate the heaviness in her chest. She stayed in Nan Xun¡¯s embrace for a moment before opening her eyes. She attempted a smile and opened her mouth to say that she was alright, but no sound came out.


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart clenched. He couldn¡¯t take it if something happened to Jun Huang. He held onto her, his knuckles going white. His eyes were filled with worry. He was terrified that Jun Huang would lose consciousness again and not wake up this time.


    It took a while for Jun Huang to find her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she said weakly. ¡°The clot of blood had been forming in my chest for a while. It¡¯s good for me to get it out.¡±


    Nan Xun was reminded of what the doctor had told him. He too said that blood had been umting in Jun Huang¡¯s lungs. She would feel better once she got it out of her system. It would warrant more concerns if she couldn¡¯t get the blood out. Nan Xun had been too worried and too focused on taking care of Jun Huang that he forgot about that.


    Jun Huang knew medicine herself. Nan Xun let out a relieved sigh, but he couldn¡¯t stop himself from thinking about what could have happened. Reflexively, his arms tightened around Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t see the panic on Nan Xun¡¯s face, but Rong¡¯er did. She had been kicked off the stage by Jun Huang. If her seniors had not caught her, she would have been seriously hurt.


    She had witnessed Nan Xun pulling Jun Huang into his arms and saw his fear. She wanted nothing more than to take Jun Huang¡¯s ce. She was even more convinced that Jun Huang was a maniptive liar. Nan Xun had been deceived by her innocent appearance.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you promised me to stay safe?¡± Nan Xun whispered into Jun Huang¡¯s ear in a pained tone. ¡°How can I trust you to take care of yourself? Were you even listening to what I said?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t have an answer for him. She never expected Nan Xun to speak to her in such a tired voice. Her heartbeats grew erratic.


    Her silence prompted Nan Xun to continue, ¡°Can you give up this fight? I¡¯ll send my men to track your brother down. You don¡¯t have to risk your life for fame that may or may not help you.¡±


    He was pleading.


    The man whose name alone could deter an army, the prince who stood above many others ¨C he was begging her to not risk her safety. He promised to take care of everything. He only asked for her to stay safe.


    How could she not be moved? How could she deny him?


    Jun Huang nodded without hesitation and said, ¡°I understand. I will forfeit the match.¡±


    Nan Xun swallowed down his unspoken words. He hadn¡¯t expected Jun Huang to agree with him so readily. He let go of Jun Huang with surprise in his eyes. Jun Huang looked back at him with a small smile. It was as gentle as a breeze in spring.


    She¡¯s truly one of a kind, Nan Xun thought.


    Jun Huang pulled away from Nan Xun while he had yet to recover from his daze and struggled to get up. She walked up to the referee and said facing Rong¡¯er, ¡°I forfeit this fight. Rong¡¯er is the winner.¡±


    The audience was shocked. Even Rong¡¯er couldn¡¯t believe what was happening. Why would Jun Huang admit defeat? She was so close to winning! Why would she serve victory on a silver tter to her? It didn¡¯t make sense.


    The crowd started pping in earnest. Someone eximed, ¡°It¡¯s kind of Feng Baiyu to let this woman win!¡± Simrments could be heard from the audience. They didn¡¯t pull back from showering Jun Huang with praises. Some women even threw their handkerchiefs at the stage, forming a vibrant rain of colorful silk. They considered Jun Huang to be husband material. Their hearts had been won by this gentleman.


    As if waking up from a dream, Rong¡¯er scoffed and walked up to Jun Huang, pushing her seniors away. ¡°What are you trying to do, Feng Baiyu?¡± she shouted. ¡°Why did you let me have this victory I have not won myself?¡±


    Jun Huang turned to her. ¡°Isn¡¯t a victory against me what you wanted? This gentleman has dered you the winner. You should be happy. Why can¡¯t you just let go?¡±


    Rong¡¯er spat. ¡°Don¡¯t think I haven¡¯t figured out your true intentions. You use your weakness as a weapon! Do you really think that you¡¯re superior to others?! I¡¯ve never known anyone like you, who is nothing but a burden to other people. You¡¯re a useless piece of waste that deserve to be despised and shunned!¡±


    Rong¡¯er had lost control because of her anger. She spouted off any insults that came to her mind. The onlookers gaped at her in shock, confused by the situation.


    Nan Xun could feel the coldness radiating from Jun Huang, and her face was visibly going pale. He narrowed his eyes and stepped in between them, forcing Rong¡¯er to back away.


    ¡°From what I can see, you are the one who deserve to be shunned,¡± Nan Xun retorted. He had refrained from saying anything because Rong¡¯er was a woman, but he refused to let Rong¡¯er hurt Jun Huang again and again. ¡°This gentleman has let you get away with such actions many times, and yet you keep crossing the line. Tell me, what the hell are you trying to do?¡±


    Rong¡¯er didn¡¯t expect such harsh words toe out of Nan Xun¡¯s mouth. She stared at him with wide eyes before turning to re at Jun Huang. ¡°I wonder what seductive tricks you¡¯ve used on gentleman Nan Xun to make him lose his sense of right and wrong. Do you really think you¡¯re better than others? You¡¯re a leech! Without gentleman Nan Xun¡¯s protection, you¡¯re nothing!¡±


    She screamed at the top of her lungs. She didn¡¯t care about anything anymore. Her zing eyes fixed on Jun Huang as she panted. She wanted Jun Huang to react, to show even a trace of hurt. And yet Jun Huang simply looked at her with a calm expression.


    Rong¡¯er couldn¡¯t stand the silence. ¡°Answer me!¡±


    Jun Huang threw a nce at Nan Xun before stepping forward from behind Nan Xun. ¡°What do you want me to say?¡± she said quietly, looking at Rong¡¯er with her eyes lowered. ¡°You¡¯ve won. What else do you want?¡±


    ¡°You did it on purpose, didn¡¯t you? You want me to be mocked by everyone for this victory I didn¡¯t win myself. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    Her anger burned even hotter. Jun Huang deserved to be punished! Possessed by her ire, she took a few steps back and grabbed her senior sister¡¯s whip before striking at Jun Huang. The intent to kill shone brightly in her eyes.


    The attack was quick and brutal. Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t be able to dodge it. When her body was able to react, the whip was only inches away from her. She closed her eyes reflexively, bracing for the pain, but it didn¡¯te.


    She opened her eyes and saw that Nan Xun had caught the whip with bare hand, his expression cold. A long gash was left on his palm. Blood dripped down to the floor like rain.


    Rong¡¯er had never wanted to hurt Nan Xun. She cried out and dropped the whip. Nan Xun threw the whip at the floor with great force, ring at Rong¡¯er with fury in his eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re hurt!¡± Jun Huang hurriedly took Nan Xun¡¯s hand and checked his injury.


    Nan Xun opened his hand to let Jun Huang look at his palm. He knew it was only a flesh wound.


    The bleeding cut looked horrifying. Rong¡¯er covered her mouth and burst into tears. Jun Huang felt the pain like it was her own, but she didn¡¯t let it show. She took out a bottle of medicine and carefully apply the powder over his wound. She then bandaged his hand with a handkerchief.


    It took a moment for Rong¡¯er to calm down. She sniffed. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it! I wasn¡¯t trying to hit you! It¡¯s him! If not for him, you wouldn¡¯t have gotten hurt!¡±

 Chapter 171

    Chapter 171: Seeking Attention


    ¡°Enough,¡± Nan Xun snapped, cutting Rong¡¯er off mid-sentence. His cold gazended heavily on Rong¡¯er. ¡°You¡¯re only making me hate you more. Do you know how much I despise you now? If you have even a little shame left in you, you¡¯ll disappear from my view. I truly cannot stand looking at you for another second.¡±


    Rong¡¯er was rendered speechless. She had always fancied herself a beautiful woman. It was the first time a man insulted her like this. She stared at Nan Xun, who had already turned away from her. He was proving his point through his actions.


    Rong¡¯er was a woman after all. She couldn¡¯t stand staying here after being insulted by Nan Xun. She felt her eyes sting as tears streamed down her cheeks. Even in this state, she refused to let Jun Huang off the hook. She hurled insults at Jun Huang as she stormed away.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to pay any attention to Rong¡¯er, but her words had hit Jun Huang where she was most tender. She froze.


    Rong¡¯er didn¡¯t notice Jun Huang¡¯s reaction. She ran away crying with her seniors shielding her from the outside world.


    Nan Xun knew the pain Jun Huang kept to herself. Her face had gone as pale as sheet. He took Jun Huang¡¯s hand in his. ¡°Don¡¯t pay any attention to other people¡¯s words. You should not be weighed down by them. Don¡¯t let those with ulterior motives hurt you. Don¡¯t let them win.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him. His eyes were more serious than ever. She nodded after a pause and smiled. ¡°I know.¡±


    Her smile dropped off as quickly as it appeared. In its ce was a deep frown. Nan Xun pursed his lips. It was Rong¡¯er¡¯s fault. It was already rare enough for Jun Huang to be happy. Rong¡¯er¡¯s insults had put a damper on Jun Huang¡¯s mood.


    The audience turned their attention back to the stage. Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to stay here anymore. She looked up at the blue sky before walking away with a sigh. She wanted to return to the inn.


    After some deliberation, Nan Xun caught Jun Huang¡¯s hand when she turned away. Jun Huang frowned at their entwined hands. Her heart was pounding hard, but she kept her expression in check. She looked at Nan Xun, waiting for him to exin.


    Nan Xun was worried that he had crossed a line. He let go of Jun Huang¡¯s hand with an awkward smile. After a moment of silence, he said, ¡°You¡¯re in a bad mood. Staying in the inn may only make you feel worse. We haven¡¯t had a chance to look around in Yun Town since our arrival. The weather is nice today. How about we go out for a walk? We can find peace in this bustling city.¡±


    Jun Huang hummed. It was as Nan Xun said. They had tread through every part of the town looking for Jun Hao and Yin Yun. Never had they stopped to look at the scenery. Yun Town never left an impression on them. They should remedy that. It would be a good outlet for her foul mood.


    She nodded with a faint smile. Her face regained some of its usual color.


    Nan Xun let out a sigh of relief. He feared that Jun Huang would be trapped by her pain and decided to shut everything and everyone out like a celestial being.


    He knew that there was no celestials in the world. Those who were known to be outside the mortal realm were simply put on the pedestal by others. If there was going to be a celestial being in the world, however, it would be Jun Huang ¨C with her fine features and distant smile, she possessed such a surreal grace.


    She was dressed in men¡¯s clothes, but her aura was captivating. How could anyone not be infatuated with her?


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t understand why Rong¡¯er kept taunting Jun Huang. He came to the conclusion that she was jealous of Jun Huang¡¯s grace.


    Jun Huang took a few steps before realizing that Nan Xun had stopped walking. She frowned. What was with him? She turned around to look at him and asked, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go.¡± Nan Xun jogged up to her with a quietugh. He suddenly wanted to hold Jun Huang¡¯s hand, but he didn¡¯t know if Jun Huang would allow that. He tilted his head toward Jun Huang and smiled.


    ¡°If there¡¯s anything you set your eyes on today,¡± Nan Xun said slowly, earnestly. ¡°Tell me. Even if I have to pay a thousand gold, I will do so willingly to get a smile from you.¡±


    If those words had been uttered by anyone else, Jun Huang would consider them to be shameless men who didn¡¯t know what boundaries were. From Nan Xun, however, she didn¡¯t feel being taken advantage of. Her earlobes burned hot.


    Silence stretched. Jun Huang jokingly asked, ¡°How many times has Your Highness said that to a woman?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes were as clear as crystal. Hidden inside was her vision for an ideal world ¨C there would be no killings. Only peace and harmony. She wanted to make this chaotic world a prosperous country where everyone could lead a happy life.


    ¡°Only once,¡± Nan Xun said. His honesty was clear in his eyes. Jun Huang had meant the question as a joke. Nan Xun¡¯s serious response caused her to forget what she was going to say.


    Awkwardness filled the space between them. Jun Huang was caught off guard by Nan Xun¡¯s response. She looked away bashfully and coughed.


    Nan Xun had never seen Jun Huang like this. It delighted him. He let out a chuckle and didn¡¯t say another word.


    The vendors¡¯ cries filled the street with a great energy. The items these stands sold weren¡¯t necessarily expensive, but they were finely crafted. The stilted air between Jun Huang and Nan Xun melted gradually. They browsed over the items chatting and exchanging smiles.


    Rong¡¯er had caught up with them like the stubborn pest she was. She never intended to stay in the dark. She walked up to Nan Xun without even trying to hide herself. Nan Xun frowned when he saw her. A trace of annoyance showed on his face.


    Jun Huang had noticed Rong¡¯er as well. She shrugged in resignation when Rong¡¯er cast a taunting nce at her and looked away.


    The clothes Jun Huang wore had covered up her femininity and added a touch of handsome charm. With the grace she was born with, she had won many young women¡¯s hearts along the way. Jun Huang tensed up. She had an odd feeling she could not put into words.


    She knelt down to check out the intricatenterns. She could feel someone¡¯s hostile gaze boring into her back. She turned around and saw Rong¡¯er staring at her, keeping as close to Nan Xun as she could as a deration of her territory.


    Jun Huang wanted tough. Rong¡¯er looked ridiculous this way. Rong¡¯er clenched her fists when she noticed Jun Huang¡¯s amused look. If Nan Xun hadn¡¯t been here, she would have beat Jun Huang up to satisfy her hatred.


    Upset by Nan Xun¡¯s cold attitude, Rong¡¯er pitifully defended herself, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to do that, gentleman Nan Xun. It¡¯s just that... in the tournament we fought with real weapons. I failed to control myself and identally hurt gentleman Feng. I hope you¡¯ll forgive me.¡±


    Nan Xun threw her a freezing nce and said coldly, ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡±


    Rong¡¯er fell silent. How could Nan Xun be this dense? Or perhaps his tenderness was reserved for Jun Huang alone... Oh how she wanted to ground Jun Huang¡¯s bones into ashes! Without Jun Huang, Nan Xun would surely fall for her.


    Rong¡¯er had been spoiled. She didn¡¯t know that love could not be forced. She didn¡¯t know that the truest kind of love meant feeling genuine happiness when you saw the other smiled. It meant wanting to take the pain from the other when they were hurt.


    ¡°But ¨C but I did everything for you!¡± Rong¡¯er batted her eyes at Nan Xun. Her delicate face was shrouded in pain.


    Anyone else would have show pity when a beautiful woman cried, but Nan Xun wasn¡¯t just anyone. He was a general who had been staying at the border surrounded by sand. He had killed people without blinking. Now, he offered all the tenderness he could muster to Jun Huang. Stoic men like him didn¡¯t have a big heart. He had reserved the space for one and only one. It had to be Jun Huang.


    ¡°This gentleman cannot ept your feelings,¡± Nan Xun said, enunciating every word. ¡°Your feelings are nothing but a burden to me. If you truly have my best interest in mind, please stay away from me. Thank you.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s tone was polite, but his words were harsh. Rong¡¯er staggered back, her eyes brimming with tears.


    Jun Huang got to her feet. The sudden movement made her dizzy momentarily. Nan Xun quickly steadied her with a hand.


    It took a moment for Jun Huang to recover. When she opened her eyes, she was faced with Rong¡¯er¡¯s venomous re.


    Jun Huang had no clue why Rong¡¯er decided to chase after them. Hadn¡¯t Nan Xun been clear enough when they were at the tournament? She didn¡¯t know that Rong¡¯er had been trying to get Nan Xun¡¯s attention and wanted to change how Nan Xun saw her. Rong¡¯er, however, didn¡¯t know how to hide her feelings and only made things worse.


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t realized that Rong¡¯er was such an unpleasant person when they first met. She even thought that Rong¡¯er¡¯s stubbornness was endearing. She couldn¡¯t have been more wrong. A spoiled woman like Rong¡¯er wouldn¡¯t know how to love a person.


    ¡°Gentleman Feng truly has no backbone!¡± Rong¡¯er said through clenched teeth. Her expression twisted with hatred.


    Jun Huang paused before pulling away from Nan Xun. She straightened her back and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m certainly not as headstrong as you.¡±


    She turned around. Nan Xun grabbed her hand before she could walk away. Jun Huang looked at him with a frown. What was he trying to do?


    Nan Xun pointed at thentern Jun Huang had been looking at earlier and asked, ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    Before Jun Huang could respond, Nan Xun went ahead and told one of the guards to pay the owner of the stand. He pointed at the ssmp Jun Huang had been interested in. The owner gave it to Nan Xun without missing a beat.


    Nan Xun took themp and handed it to Jun Huang. Her frown grew deeper in response.

 Chapter 172

    Chapter 172: Departure n


    ¡°I was just checking,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve bought it already. Take it.¡± Nan Xun pushed the ssmp into Jun Huang¡¯s arms. Jun Huang debated over if she should ept the gift. Neither of them were willing to back down easily.


    Rong¡¯er was sick of being ignored. She reached out for themp and said with a smile, ¡°If gentleman Feng doesn¡¯t want it, I¡¯ll take it. I like it quite a lot.¡±


    She even blushed when she spoke.


    Nan Xun retorted with a frown, ¡°A honorable person should noty a hand on someone else¡¯s possessions. You are from a prestigious sect. You should know that.¡±


    Resigned, Jun Huang took themp, ignoring Rong¡¯er¡¯s murderous re. ¡°This is enough,¡± Jun Huang muttered. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your money.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I was joking when I said I would pay a fortune to make you smile?¡± Nan Xun said with a grin. ¡°I wasn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°A gentleman should refrain from running his mouth,¡± Jun Huang said with a faint smile before walking away. Nan Xun was pleased to see Jun Huang¡¯s mood take a upturn. He caught up with her until they were side by side. He couldn¡¯t care less about if Rong¡¯er was still following them.


    Rong¡¯er tightened her fists. This Feng Baiyu was better at drawing men¡¯s attention than most women! She had underestimated him. Still, she would not lose to a man.


    Once she had decided on a n, Rong¡¯er jogged up to Nan Xun and tried to engage him in a conversation. She wanted Nan Xun¡¯s attention. Every word out of her mouth was a discrete insult to Jun Huang. She was effectively calling Jun Huang a scourge.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t care. For her, Rong¡¯er was but a passerby in her life. She didn¡¯t care how Rong¡¯er saw her. She even forgot about Rong¡¯er¡¯s existence after a while.


    It was said that few women could resist the temptation of shopping. Even someone as aloof as Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help being drawn to the great variety of items. Every time something caught her fancy, Nan Xun would tell the guards to pay for it. It was embarrassing.


    She had tried to tell Nan Xun to give it a break, but Nan Xun had made up his mind. He was dead set on making Jun Huang happy. Jun Huang sighed and let him be.


    They made their way along the street slowly. Jun Huang¡¯s gaze settled on a stand at a distance. Nan Xun followed her gaze and saw that the owner was selling jade. He was reminded of Jun Huang¡¯s preference for jade. He dragged Jun Huang to the stand and started checking the wares.


    Jun Huang had to admit that she was interested. It couldn¡¯t hurt to have a look. She loved and knew about jade. She could easily tell how pure the color of the jade was, and how much it was worth. She wasn¡¯t those noblemen who imed to love jade, but in reality sought after only the luxurious types.


    Jun Huang looked down at the jade pieces. Sunlight shone on her turquoise robe. She looked as if she was glowing. Her dark hair ran down her shoulders like waterfall. Her loose strands of hair made her look ethereal.


    Nan Xun stared lovingly at her, his eyes filled with unfiltered affection.


    Rong¡¯er ground her teeth together. She knew Nan Xun had grown to hate her. It wouldn¡¯t do her any good to offend him again. She stood on the side looking at the items. She was far from an expert in jade. In fact, she knew nothing about it.


    In her sect, she spent all day training in martial arts. She didn¡¯t have time to appreciate flowers and clothes and jade like regr women. The most exciting thing she had ever done was getting caught while vaulting over a wall and climbing up a tree with her senior brother. The memory brought up an overwhelming sense of mncholy.


    Jun Huang was drawn to a piece of blood jade of fine quality. The jade was crimson red. Patterns of white could be seen over the stone, but the red was so pure the white could be ignored. Appreciation shed through Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. She was surprised that a little stand like this would sell something of such high quality.


    Jun Huang¡¯s fingers were long and pale. With the piece of blood jade in her hand, her skin appeared to be even more fair than the jade. She aimed the piece of jade at the sun and looked it over. The jade was translucent but smooth to the touch. It was a valuable piece.


    Nan Xun could tell that Jun Huang liked the jade. The way her eyes lit up captivated Nan Xun. He wished he could upy even a part of her attention. A smile tugged at his lips.


    ¡°Shopkeeper, how much for this piece of blood jade?¡± Jun Huang asked. She didn¡¯t notice Nan Xun¡¯s smile.


    ¡°The gentleman has keen eyes,¡± the owner said with his eyes narrowed. There was a cunning edge to his smile that belonged to a businessman. ¡°This is the only one of its kind in Northern Qi. You will not find another one elsewhere. If the gentleman wants it, you can have it by paying three taels of gold.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned at the jade and shook her head with a snort. She returned the blood jade to its original ce and said, ¡°The shopkeeper said yourself that this gentleman has keen eyes. Then why did you give me an unreasonable price? No matter how pure the color of the jade is, it¡¯s no match to the green jade found in the imperial city. This gentleman has been looking for a jade like this, but three taels of gold? That¡¯s too much.¡±


    Jun Huang spoke in a slow and deliberate fashion, adding a hint of disapproval to her polite words. The owner was rendered speechless, mortified. He struggled toe up with a response.


    Finally, the owner broke the silence by giving Jun Huang another price. ¡°The gentleman is a real expert. I can offer you a lower price ¨C one tael of gold. That¡¯s the lowest I can go. You can buy it for the object of your adoration and make her happy.¡±


    Before Jun Huang could say anything, Rong¡¯er bent down and picked up the piece of blood jade. She pretended to look if over before saying with a pout, ¡°I think this jade is worth the three taels of gold.¡± She turned to the owner and lifted her chin. ¡°Since he didn¡¯t want it, how about I pay three taels of gold for this jade?¡±


    The owner hesitated. He knew who the real expert here was. He looked at Jun Huang with a troubled expression.


    Jun Huang quickly lost her interest. The jade was a fine one, but this argument had tainted it. If Rong¡¯er wanted it, she could have it. As soon as Jun Huang opened her mouth, though, Nan Xun cut in.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay five taels of gold for it,¡± said Nan Xun. He could see Rong¡¯er¡¯s pale face and her tight grip on the jade, but he didn¡¯t care.


    Jun Huang frowned. What was Nan Xun thinking? She knew the right price should be one tael of gold, and yet Nan Xun offered to buy the jade at an even higher price. He truly did not know the struggle of peasants. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what to say.


    She sighed in resignation. ¡°Why did you do that? It¡¯s not worth it. It¡¯s only a piece of jade. Rong¡¯er can have it if she likes it. I¡¯m not that attached to it.¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard what the owner said?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang looked at him in question.


    Nan Xun beamed. ¡°Fine jade is meant to be gifted to the right person. Centuries ago King You of Zhou fooled his nobles by lighting the warning beacons in order to make his beloved smile, why can¡¯t I spend a fortune to make you smile?¡±


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s face went pale when she heard Nan Xun¡¯s words. Jun Huang blinked dumbly at him before looking away, trying and failing to hide her reaction.


    Nan Xun, on the other hand, didn¡¯t seem even a little embarrassed. He took the blood jade from Rong¡¯er and turned it over in his hand. The more he looked at it, the more he liked it. Once the guards had paid for it, Nan Xun handed the jade to Jun Huang.


    ¡°I bought it and I¡¯m not returning it,¡± Nan Xun said with a smile. ¡°If you don¡¯t take it, this piece of jade is going to fall in the hand of a crude man who knows nothing about jade ¨C me. Won¡¯t that be a pity?¡±


    He knew how he could convince Jun Huang to take his gift. Any forceful approach would have been met with resistance from her, but she could be persuaded. A few more words, and Jun Hung would take the gift.


    As he expected, Jun Huang was swayed. She knew that Nan Xun knew something about jade, and he was partial to white jade because of his matter-of-fact personality. Due to his years of experience staying at the border, Nan Xun didn¡¯t usually have a lot of essories on him. Even when he wore a jade pendant, it was usually one made of white jade.


    ¡°If so, I¡¯ll ept your kind offering.¡± Jun Huang took the jade with her eyes lowered. She could feel the coolness of the jade in her hand.


    Rong¡¯er tightened her jaw at her. The owner was confused by the situation. Hadn¡¯t Nan Xun said that he was going to give the jade to the right person? Why would Jun Huang be the receiver of the jade?


    Nan Xun whispered into Jun Huang¡¯s ears as she considered the jade in her hand. They looked at ease being this intimate. Rong¡¯er couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Fiery jealousy burned through her heart. She walked up to jun Huang and, before Jun Huang could react, tried to p her.


    Fortunately, Nan Xun caught Rong¡¯er¡¯s hand in time. His viselike grip prevented Rong¡¯er from getting away. Nan Xun flung her backward. Rong¡¯er stumbled and fell on the ground, grimacing in pain.

 Chapter 173

    Chapter 173: House of Heavenly Fiends


    Nan Xun huffed. He didn¡¯t care how pitiful Rong¡¯er looked right now. The resentment he bore for Rong¡¯er could not be stronger. He led Jun Huang away.


    Everything had happened so suddenly. Before Jun Huang quite realized what had happened, Rong¡¯er fell to the ground. Nan Xun took Jun Huang¡¯s wrist once she had put away the jade. Before they could get away, a group of people showed up. From their clothes it was obvious that they were Rong¡¯er¡¯s senior brothers and sisters.


    ¡°Are the gentlemen going to just leave after hurting someone?¡± one of Rong¡¯er¡¯s senior sisters said after helping Rong¡¯er up. She stared at Nan Xun and Jun Huang with cold eyes.


    Nan Xun and Jun Hang exchanged a look. The guards tensed up and got ready to jump in. The somewhat narrow street suddenly felt a lot more crowded. Both sides were gearing up for the impending conflict. The owners of the street stands fled without even stopping to gather their wares.


    Nan Xun scoffed at the woman in red dress. ¡°You¡¯re blindly taking your sister¡¯s side, or you wouldn¡¯t have thought that I was in the wrong. Besides, what Rong¡¯er has done over the past few days is inexcusable. If you truly want the best for her, you will teach her how to behave and rid her of her malicious thoughts.¡±


    ¡°You ¨C how dare you?¡± Rong¡¯er¡¯s sister had believed that she had the moral high ground, but Nan Xun managed to render her speechless with a few words. She ground her teeth together and red at Nan Xun and Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang¡¯s gaze swept over these disciples of prestigious sect with a smile and said, ¡°We all know what had actually happened. Why must you provoke this conflict? We¡¯re leaving this town soon. There¡¯s no need for us to make enemies.¡± Her tone was soft, but she was loud enough for everyone to hear her.


    ¡°Ha! You certainly talk big. If not for you, however, Rong¡¯er wouldn¡¯t have done those things.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a silent scoff. She didn¡¯t expect these people to twist the facts like this. She turned to Nan Xun, who pursed his lips in annoyance.


    ¡°You are the ones who made her the hateful and ill-mannered woman she is today,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°We¡¯re leaving now. What are you going to do?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t have the patience to argue with these people. His expression darkened and his eyes turned cold.


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s seniors shared a look. They knew this was a fight that had to happen. There was no fear in their hearts. No matter how good Nan Xun was, he couldn¡¯t fight more than a dozen people with only four helpers at his side, could he?


    Someone made the first move. In an instant the two sides were engaged in a chaotic fight. Nan Xun told the guards to keep Jun Huang safe even though Jun Huang had said she could help.


    He knew Jun Huang shouldn¡¯t be tapping into her inner energy in this state, or the poison in her body might act up again. He would not risk Jun Huang¡¯s life for anything. Besides, these people were no threat to him. It wouldn¡¯t take long for him to deal with them.


    Rong¡¯er was watching the fight from behind her senior sister. One by one, her seniors were defeated. This was the first time Rong¡¯er had ever seen Nan Xun fight. She never knew anyone could gain such a mystery in martial arts. He was moving so quickly that all she could see was a blur.


    While Rong¡¯er was pleased that the man she loved was a master fighter, she was worried about her seniors. Her eyes went red in concerns. She pointed at Jun Huang and shouted, ¡°Are you a man or not, Feng Baiyu?! You always hide behind other people and never deal with your own problems. You shameless and disgusting man!¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Nan Xun leveled her with a sharp and threatening re. His eyes were as cold as ice. Rong¡¯er shuddered and backed away, pressing a hand over her chest. It looked as if he was going to strangle her to dead.


    Soon, all of Rong¡¯er¡¯s seniors had been defeated by Nan Xun. Theyy on the ground grimacing in pain. Some held onto their stomachs while others held onto their arms. It was quite a scene.


    Nan Xun stood tall among them with Jun Huang behind him, graceful and dignified. He cast those people a cold nce and let out a huff. Now he wasn¡¯t in a hurry to leave.


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s face paled in fear and her eyes were filled with tears. Her careless words had caused her seniors¡¯ pain. She felt her heart ache.


    The oldest of the group got to his feet and wiped away Rong¡¯er¡¯s tears before helping hispanions up. They supported each other¡¯s weight and red at Nan Xun.


    ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this!¡± the man said. ¡°You better remember that.¡± He led his fellow disciples away, limping. Rong¡¯er snuck a nce at Nan Xun before walking away. The tears in her eyes created the illusion that she was forced to part with him.


    Jun Huang snorted before turning away. Nan Xun turned to her with a frown. His scowl melted when he saw Jun Huang¡¯s carefree expression. A smile tugged at his lips, unbidden. He smiled simply because the woman he loved was smiling.


    ¡°Come on, you must be tired,¡± Nan Xun said gently as he walked up to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang turned to him with her beautiful eyes fixed on him. Nan Xun twisted his lips nervously under her scrutiny.


    ¡°Your Highness is unexpectedly popr,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°One after another, women are falling for you left and right. It is clear that Rong¡¯er has fallen hard for you.¡±


    Her teasing words were uttered with a smile. Nan Xun realized what she was saying and broke into a wide grin. ¡°What does she have to do with me?¡± he said. ¡°I will surrender myself to one and only one.¡±


    He had not specified who he was talking about, but his eyes were glued to Jun Huang. She blushed and looked away with a cough.


    ¡°It is said that Your Highness has fought many battles in many ces,¡± Jun Huang muttered. ¡°But they don¡¯t know that Your Highness can spout off such shameless lines. This gentleman admires Your Highness for switching between your two personalities so easily.¡±


    She walked away. Nan Xun sighed as he stared at her back. He swallowed down his unspoken words before they were given a voice. It is known that this gentleman does not offer my affection freely, he wanted to say. My love is reserved for you.


    He wanted tough. After years of fighting, his name had reached every part of the country. Everyone knew who he was. No one, including he himself, could predict that he would fall for this aloof woman.


    They returned to the inn. Nan Xun was worried that they would run into Rong¡¯er again. After what had happened today, he didn¡¯t know what Rong¡¯er would do if they met. He went to Jun Huang to n for their departure.


    They were both in a dark mood because of what had happened. Jun Huang sat at the desk once she entered their room and looked down at the floor.


    ¡°We¡¯ve stayed in this town for a while,¡± Nan Xun said seriously, pulling a chair over to sit beside Jun Huang. ¡°You¡¯re health is getting worse. We should return to the imperial city. We can find better doctors there.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned and gazed at Nan Xun with unfocused eyes. After a while, she shook her head. ¡°What if they are in Yun Town? If I leave now, I may be losing my chance to find them. Then I¡¯ll have no clue where they are.¡±


    Nan Xun sighed. He had expected this reaction from her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone stay here to keep searching. There¡¯s a tournament going on now. Many people areing and going in this town. It¡¯s difficult for us to find your brother ourselves. We can go to the House of Heavenly Fiends and request for their help.¡±


    Jun Huang had heard of the House of Heavenly Fiends. It was a mysterious organization with a long history. Very well-known among the martial artsmunity. The House of Heavenly Fiends would take any requests and could offer help to anyone.


    She had thought about asking the House of Heavenly Fiends for help, but she didn¡¯t know how to contact them. How was she going to track down a secret society like that?


    Nan Xun realized what the problem was as soon as he looked at Jun Huang. Jun Huang had been staying in the pce until Western Que was destroyed. Even if she knew about the House of Heavenly Fiends, she most likely didn¡¯t know its true nature and how one could contact them.


    ¡°We should check out of this inn first,¡± Nan Xun said. ¡°We should see if there are other ces we can stay in. Then I¡¯ll take you somewhere.¡± Nan Xun got to his feet and started packing.


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°Why?¡± she asked. ¡°This inn isfortable. The clerk told me that another room has be avable, and he could reserve it for us. If your feel troubled...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not it,¡± Nan Xun cut her off and said casually. ¡°We picked this inn because it was clean, but it turns out that anyone can enter the inn. This is not a safe ce for us to stay in. Besides, if we run into that certain someone again, it¡¯s going to be awkward. We might as well move out and prevent the troubles from happening.¡±

 Chapter 174

    Chapter 174: Dangers lie await


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyebrows jumped up. So this was why Nan Xun suddenly wanted to move out. He was right to worry. After their fall out with Rong¡¯er, who knew what she would do next? Besides, Rong¡¯er¡¯s seniors had dered Jun Huang and Nan Xun their enemies. Even though Jun Huang and Nan Xun weren¡¯t scared of Rong¡¯er¡¯s seniors, it was better to stay low when they were away from their home territory.


    ¡°True,¡± Jun Huang said. ¡°It won¡¯t do us any good to get dragged into another conflict. Besides, we don¡¯t know if there are Qi Chen¡¯s informants in Yun Town. It¡¯ll be a nuisance to exin to Qi Chen if someone talk behind our back.¡±


    It was best that they moved out as soon as they could. She started to pack as well.


    Nan Xun had made the orders to the guards when they first returned to the inn. When he and Jun Huang left the room after finishing packing, the four guards were waiting right outside with a nk expression on their faces. They looked like mannequins without a human soul. Only when they saw Nan Xun and Jun Huang did they became more animated.


    Nan Xun handed their bags to the guards before Jun Huang could get a good look at them. He led her to another inn. It was unassuming from the outside, butfortable and elegant on the inside.


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart softened when she saw the inn. Everything about this ce was in line with her preferences. Her eyes lit up in delight.


    Pleased by her reaction, Nan Xun pushed aside his jealousy and booked a few premium rooms.


    The tournament was halfway to its end. Many had left the town already. The inn had a good number of rooms avable. Nan Xun, however, said that they should stay in the same room because there might be people from Eastern Wu in Yun Town. Jun Huang nodded in agreement.


    She wasn¡¯t afraid. She just wanted to stick close to Nan Xun. As soon as she agreed to the arrangement, she started doubting if she had crossed a line. However, she didn¡¯t know how to bring up the topic again, so she let it be.


    Once they settled down, Jun Huang sat at the table and took out the piece of blood jade Nan Xun had bought her. Her expression was calm as she considered the jade.


    Nan Xun put the ssmp over the bed. When he turned around, he saw the setting sun shining on Jun Huang¡¯s face, covering her features with a faint golden glow. An indescribable feeling crept into his heart.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go,¡± said Nan Xun. He cleared his throat and brushed away the dust that wasn¡¯t really on his clothes.


    Jun Huang turned to him in question before nodding. She put away the piece of jade and fixed her sleeves before following Nan Xun out.


    Nan Xun had ordered his shadow guards to look for the base of the House of Heavenly Fiends. He took Jun Huang straight to a tea house that looked just like any other tea houses. Inside were a few customers.


    ¡°Are the two gentlemen here for some tea?¡± A clerk dressed in silk clothes came up to them. Jun Huang frowned at him. Even though the fabric was dark and the clothes could parade as ones of a peasant, Jun Huang could tell that something was off. She had been a princess. This was how she dressed when she snuck out of the pce. This wasn¡¯t an ordinary tea house.


    ¡°We havee from afar,¡± Nan Xun said slowly. ¡°Only bamboo leaf tea couldfort our tired body.¡±


    The clerk gave them a once-over before motioning at them to follow him. He led them to a room deep inside the tea house before walking away.


    Nan Xun¡¯s words did make sense in the context, but Jun Huang knew how Nan Xun was. He wasn¡¯t someone who would say such pretentious words. The only exnation was that the phrase was a secret code for the House of Heavenly Fiends.


    Soon, a man in his thirties walked up to them. He seemed to be the owner of the tea house. He looked at Nan Xun and cupped his hands. ¡°It¡¯s an honor for this peasant to meet the prince who bears a different surname.¡±


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun shared a look. Realization dawned on them. The House of Heavenly Fiends was the biggest organization in the martial arts world. Of course they would be able to identify Nan Xun. When the man turned his gaze to Jun Huang, Nan Xun¡¯s fists tightened, his breath hitched. Jun Huang¡¯s identity must be kept a secret, he thought to himself.


    The man did not recognize Jun Huang. She now lived under a different name. And the name Feng Baiyu was known only within the imperial city. She wasn¡¯t famous enough for the House of Heavenly Fiends to take notice.


    After exchanging some pleasantries, the man looked at Nan Xun and asked, ¡°What is Your Highness here for? Is there anything you need the House of Heavenly Fiends to do for you?¡±


    ¡°The gentleman is right. I have a favor to ask for.¡± Nan Xun threw Jun Huang a nce before continuing, ¡°My friend would like your help in locating his family.¡±


    The man turned to Jun Huang. She had been quiet with her head ducked. He looked up at Nan Xun and admitted, ¡°We have our rules. We can help locate his family, but there are many tasks for us to tackle every day. Less important business usually won¡¯t be our top priorities...¡±


    ¡°No, I must find them as soon as possible,¡± Jun Huang said without thinking. She realized her mistake when she noticed Nan Xun and the man¡¯s gaze. She cleared her throat and cupped her hands. ¡°I hope the gentleman will be willing to help.¡±


    ¡°Fate has brought you here. How about this. I¡¯ll take you to another ce. If you can pass the trial, we will do everything we can to track your family down quickly.¡±


    The man turned away to leave. Nan Xun and Jun Huang exchanged a nce before catching up with the man.


    The man led them to the backyard of the tea house. Parked in the backyard was a regr coach. They got inside. The clerk, who had been weing customers at the front door, showed up and sat on the box seat to be their driver.


    Jun Huang had been keeping her guard up. Her instinct told her that things weren¡¯t as simple as they seemed. She could tell that dangersy await them.


    The coach came to a halt. Nan Xun parted the curtain and looked outside. They had left Yun Town and was parked in the middle of nowhere. rms went off in his head. His sharp gaze swept over the tea house owner and the clerk, worried that they might make a move on them.


    He shielded Jun Huang with an arm. Their nervousness did not faze the tea house owner at all. He kept his eyes shut, paying no attention to Nan Xun¡¯s hostile stare.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± said the clerk. Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun. The tea house owner got off the coach and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for Your Highness and the gentleman to be so worried. We are not going to force you to do anything. There are rules in the House of Heavenly Fiends that we must follow.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Jun Huang said calmly. It would take more to make her lose herposure. She touched Nan Xun¡¯s hand reassuringly before getting off the coach. Nan Xun followed after her closely.


    Jun Huang surveyed their surroundings. They were on a hill with no signs of living creatures around them. Not even any traces left by birds. It was as if the hill was isted from the outside world by imprable walls.


    ¡°This is where you start,¡± said the tea house owner. ¡°If you have made up your mind, go in that direction. Once you pass our challenges, we will send people to look for your family.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun. It was clear that he didn¡¯t know about the rules set by the House of Heavenly Fiends.


    Nan Xun hesitated. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to risk herself. He couldn¡¯t be sure how dangerous the challenges would be. He knew better than anyone how bad her health had been.


    ¡°Please give us some time to discuss it,¡± Nan Xun said after a pause.


    The tea house owner nodded and took the clerk to the side, giving them room to talk it out. The polite smile dropped from Nan Xun¡¯s face as soon as they were left alone. He wasn¡¯t as calm as he appeared to be.


    Before Nan Xun could say anything, Jun Huang said, ¡°No matter what lies await us, I have to give it a try. I don¡¯t want to regret not taking this opportunity in the future.¡±


    Nan Xun let out a sigh and nodded, his brows furrowed in concerns. ¡°If so, I¡¯m going with you. If things go wrong, get behind me. Neither of us know what¡¯s going to happen. I don¡¯t want you to get hurt. Do you understand me?¡±


    Jun Huang told him to rx with her lips curved. They went up to the tea house owner together and told him their decision. The owner was surprised that it hadn¡¯t taken longer for them to give him an answer, but he didn¡¯tment on it. He nodded and took them to a cave.


    All they could see were stairs leading into the seemingly endless darkness. Torches lined the walls on both sides, and the fire wavered in the wind. Any moment from now the fire could be put off.


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang exchanged a look,municating in anguage only the two of them knew. He took her hand and led her down the stairs.


    Once they had disappeared into the shadow, the tea house owner whispered something into the clerk¡¯s ear before leaving. The clerk got on the coach and drove it away. It was as if no one had never been here.

 Chapter 175

    Chapter 175: Trial


    Click! Something was triggered. Nan Xun reflexively pulled Jun Huang behind him and turned around. The stone door they had gone through mmed shut on its own. The torches crackled and the fire flickered. A strange wind swept through the narrow tunnel, but there was no exit to be seen.


    Nan Xun narrowed his sharp eyes and looked over at the writings on the wall. He turned to Jun Huang. She was already going through the text.


    ¡°This is probably the history of the House of Heavenly Fiends,¡± Jun Huang said when she felt his gaze.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Nan Xun said seriously. ¡°Something is not as it seems here.¡±


    He felt around the wall, but didn¡¯t notice any triggers or traps. He let out a relieved sigh.


    He must keep his guard up, however. The tension in his body caused sweat to stream down his cheeks. The tea house owner had called this a trial, which meant that they were not safe. Oftentimes dangers lurked in the shadow. It would take someonepetent to notice them beforehand and avoid getting hurt.


    Jun Huang looked through the writings and the paintings on the wall, but she couldn¡¯t find anything useful. Thenguage used here belonged to a different dynasty. She recognized only some of the characters and failed to identify a logical throughline.


    The torches cast dim light on the side of her face. Her calm eyes were like a bottomless pond, keeping her emotions hidden. Nan Xun, though, could tell that she was confused.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t understand it, we might as well go forward,¡± Nan Xun said after waiting for Jun Huang for a while. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll find something useful.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded absentmindedly, looking away from the wall. They moved forward. The tunnel opened up into a wider space. They were faced with the entrance to a hidden building.


    The building looked perfectly normal, but the normality itself was what made Jun Huang wary. She had a feeling that someone was watching them from the dark. Her heart pounded against her ribcage and her breathing quickened. She whirled around and stared at a single point in the distance.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nan Xun asked. He followed her gaze but didn¡¯t notice anything out of ce.


    Jun Huang shook her head and let out a deep breath. ¡°Nothing,¡± she said with a smile, rubbing at her forehead. ¡°I¡¯m probably being overly sensitive.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded, keeping his hand on the hilt of his sword as he escorted Jun Huang into the building. Inside was a winding wooden staircase. There was barely any source of light, making it difficult to see where the stairs led to.


    The wooden stairs squeaked under their feet. Many parts of the stairs had been damaged over the years. Some of the steps were missing altogether. Nan Xun kept an arm around Jun Huang, worried that she would get hurt.


    The sound of gears turning came from within the wall. Mechanisms such as this had disappeared since a hundred years ago. No one used gears to set up traps anymore. Nan Xun only recognized the sound because of a westerner he ran into when he was at the border. The westerner had in his possession a ssmp powered by gears. He was curious and asked to check themp himself. He remembered the sound to this day.


    His eyes went cold. The westerner had told him that a trap door could be constructed through the use of gears as pulleys. No one would be able to escape once the door was shut.


    Jun Huang had noticed the change in Nan Xun¡¯s expression, but her footnded on an elevated pane before she could ask what was wrong. A click, and the trap was triggered.


    Despite herck of knowledge in mechanisms such as this, Jun Huang was able to figure out what was happening quickly. Before she could react, however, Nan Xun had pulled her into his arms.


    Three arrows shot out of the holes on the wall and came at Jun Huang. Nan Xun had been quick enough to prevent her from getting hurt, but his hand was scraped by the arrows. His torn sleeve revealed a bleeding wound along his palm.


    Jun Huang startled and took Nan Xun¡¯s wrist. ¡°You ¨C are you alright?¡±


    Her voice trembled in fear. Nan Xun, on the other hand, didn¡¯t pay that much attention to his injury. He nodded and gently petted Jun Huang¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m the chief general of Northern Qi. I won¡¯t be intimidated by a little injury like this, or my soldiers are going tough at me.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s tone was casual. It was as if he truly didn¡¯t care. Jun Huang, however, knew that he must be in more pain than he let on. The arrows were old and were covered in rust. She knew without looking that the rust must have been scraped off when the arrow cut through Nan Xun¡¯s flesh.


    The arrows were dulled by time, but that only made it more painful for Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang med herself for getting Nan Xun hurt. Nan Xun could tell what she was thinking. While he was exasperated by her tendency to take responsibility for everything, he was also pleased by Jun Huang¡¯s concerns for him.


    ¡°Come on, I don¡¯t want to stay here forever,¡± Nan Xun said.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Jun Huang made her way up with a hand supporting Nan Xun. She was being as careful as she could be, but the triggered trap could not be untriggered.


    A few arrows shot out of the wall again. She kept a hand on Nan Xun¡¯s back as she wielded Nan Xun¡¯s sword with the other to block the arrows. The sound of arrows shing with de rang through the silent building. Sparks illuminated the ce like fireworks.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t a professional, and the arrows seemed to have a life of their own. They slipped through the cracks of her defense and came at her.


    Nan Xun shot out a hand to catch the arrows. He was good enough to not get hurt in the process. However, the wound on his palm split. He sucked in a breath and quickly hid his hand. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to worry too much.


    Jun Huang had heard him nheless. She turned around and saw his pale face. There was blood dripping down his fingers, hitting the floor and exploding into crimson flowers.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes hardened. Something had to be done. Nan Xun was hurt because of her. She must keep him safe, or she would never forgive herself. What was more, she would exhaust herself if she didn¡¯t find a way to disarm the trap, which would lead to their defeat. She would not give up so easily. Jun Hao was waiting for her.


    The determination in her eyes made one of men spying on them smiled in approval. He was even more impressed when he saw what Jun Huang did next.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath to push down her fear. She looked wise and perfectly in control. Nan Xun rxed when he saw her expression. It was good that Jun Huang had not lost her calm because of the unforeseen incidents.


    Nan Xun stayed at her side as her gaze swept through the hiddenpartments on the wall. She pulled her lips into an intimidating smile.


    One of the men frowned when he saw her face. He stroke a hand over his white beard and nodded.


    ¡°What do you think of these two?¡± The old man asked. The owner of the tea house was jerked out of his trance. He turned to the old man with a respectful expression.


    ¡°They are good candidates,¡± he said after a pause. ¡°The House of Heavenly Fiends had not seen anyone like them for a long time.¡±


    The old man nodded, his eyes following Jun Huang. ¡°Yes, we need some fresh blood,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°With new talent joining, we will be taking a backseat.¡±


    Jun Huang had figured out the connections between thepartments in the wall. With a decisive cut, the traps were disarmed. The arrows would not beunched from the wall anymore. The old man¡¯s clouded eyes lit up.


    Jun Huang let out a long breath. Cold sweat dropped to the floor. The sound rang through the narrow pathway. She almost copsed when her knees went weak. Fortunately Nan Xun had been keeping an eye on her. He noticed her condition and caught her. He was going to massage her temples for her, but something warmnded on his hand.


    ¡°We ¨C we¡¯re okay,¡± Jun Huang said with trembling voice. They had been so close to death. She barely had enough strength to speak those words.


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He wiped away her tears gently. Jun Huang might be cunning and intelligent, but she was still a princess. What they had been through was a heavy burden on her. This was a normal reaction.


    Jun Huang was able to calm herself more quickly than Nan Xun expected. She pulled away from Nan Xun¡¯s hand and took a deep breath as she looked forward. ¡°The exit should be right ahead,¡± she said with a forced smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Nan Xun was going to say something, but Jun Huang didn¡¯t give him the opportunity. She broke into long strides. Nan Xun shut his mouth and followed her.


    As Jun Huang predicted, the exit wasn¡¯t far away. They came to a wall ¨C it may seem like a dead end, but that was precisely why this was the way out.


    ¡°The door of death can be the door of life, and the door of life can sometime lead to death,¡± Jun Huang whispered under her breath, smoothing a hand over the writings on the wall. Her fingers settled on the word ¡°life.¡± After a moment of hesitation, she pushed. The word sunk into the wall.

 Chapter 176

    Chapter 176: Underground Pce


    Slowly, the stone door opened. Inside a white-haired old man was drinking tea at a stone table. Next to him stood the owner of the tea house who had brought them here.


    The owner ducked his head and smiled at Jun Huang and Nan Xun in greeting. Jun Huang gave the room a once-over without a word.


    This room was more brightly lit than the tunnel. Nan Xun had been worried that Jun Huang was hurt. With the brighter light condition, he could see her pale face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked quietly, his eyebrows knitted together. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and walked up to the old man, who put down his tea cup and invited them to have a seat. He gave the teahouse owner a pointed look. The owner nodded and walked away, leaving the three of them alone.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know who the gentleman is, but you must be someone important in the House of Heavenly Fiends. We have now passed your test. I hope the gentleman will honor your promise and help me find my family.¡±


    The old man looked at Jun Huang, then at Nan Xun. ¡°Do you know the history of the House of Heavenly Fiends?¡±


    Jun Huang frowned and shared a look with Nan Xun. ¡°What does that have to do with my request?¡±


    ¡°The House of Heavenly Fiends got its name from the thirty-six Heavenly Spirits and seventy-two Earthly Fiends1, and is divided into two divisions ordingly. Each division is led by a chief director. The two chief directors must trust each other unconditionally, and both have to be intelligent as well aspetent in fighting. Only those who passed the trial of the hidden building are qualified to inherit the House of Heavenly Fiends.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying?¡± Jun Huang was even more confused. Why would the old man tell them this?


    A veil lifted up from her mind. She widened her eyes at the old man. ¡°You can possibly mean ¨C ¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the old man said slowly. His tone was dull and deliberate, but it inspired trust in the listeners. ¡°You¡¯ve passed the first trial and earned my approval. If you are willing to take over the House of Heavenly Fiends, you¡¯ll need to go through another trial to get the Token of Heavenly Fiends. Then you will be the new leaders of this organization.¡±


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang couldn¡¯t believe their ears. There was no such thing as a free lunch. They were both practical people. They never imagined that one day, they would be given the opportunity to be the leaders of such powerful organization.


    Jun Huang had reverted back to her usual calm self. She stared at the old man with eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything. Anyone with an ulterior motive would not be able to stand her scrutiny. The old man, however, didn¡¯t faze at all. The white robe he wore gave him an air of nobility.


    Jun Huang smiled. ¡°The gentleman must know that there are many more talented people in the world. We can¡¯t be the only ones who can escape the hidden building. And yet you have picked us. May this gentleman ask why and what for?¡±


    The old man poured himself a cup of tea and shook his cup gently with his eyes on Jun Huang. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest with you,¡± he said slowly. ¡°Ji Bo was the one who rmended you. Otherwise I wouldn¡¯t havee to watch you take on the trial. I was thinking that there must be something different about you two for him to give you a rmendation. It turns out that I was right.¡±


    Jun Huang shared a look with Nan Xun. They had notified Ji Bo of their trip to Yun Town. He must have correctly predicted that they were going to ask the House of Heavenly Fiends for help. He had sent someone to talk to the man in charge beforehand.


    ¡°Of course, if you¡¯re not willing to, I won¡¯t force you,¡± the old man said. ¡°Ji Bo has put in a lot of good words for you. It would be a shame if the House of Heavenly Fiends couldn¡¯t acquire your talent. Still, personal choices are personal. You two have the final say.¡±


    With that, he went back to savoring his tea, paying no attention to Jun Huang and Nan Xun.


    There was a current of emotions in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. Nan Xun knew that she was worried. She wanted to try, but she didn¡¯t want her impending death to impact the House of Heavenly Fiends if she got the position.


    Nan Xun also knew that Jun Huang was capable enough for the job. She was a rare talent of the generation ¨C born in a chaotic time, but cared deeply about the world. She was as ambitious as any men.


    Nan Xun hesitated. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang¡¯s talent to go unnoticed. He didn¡¯t want her to forever be a strategist hidden away from the public.


    ¡°Perhaps we should give it a try,¡± Nan Xun said while Jun Huang was agonizing over the issue.


    Her head snapped up. Nan Xun gave her a smile and said seriously, ¡°Mister Ji Bo must have a reason for rmending us. Why don¡¯t we try? Besides, I believe that you are capable of taking on the responsibility.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, isn¡¯t a united world what you seek after? Do you remember talking to Mister Ji Bo about a prosperous country? Isn¡¯t that your dream? Now that the opportunity presents itself, if you don¡¯t seize it, you¡¯re going to regret it in the future. The House of Heavenly Fiends can be your strongest support.¡±


    Nan Xun had been through a lot in his life. He was able to present the facts clearly in order to convince Jun Huang.


    As he expected, his words had helped Jun Huang make up her mind. She nodded. ¡°Sorry for dragging you with me.¡±


    ¡°What silly words,¡± Nan Xun said with a calming smile and took Jun Huang¡¯s fingers in his hand. ¡°You and I are past the point of concerns such as that.¡±


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and turned to the old man. ¡°We will go through the trial.¡±


    The old man seemed to have anticipated the response. He got to his feet and smoothed over his wrinkled robe, knocking into the table carelessly and causing the teacup to fall. The tea spilled all over the table, but the old man didn¡¯t care at all. Neither did Jun Huang and Nan Xun.


    ¡°Thene with me,¡± the old man said. He led them through a long path. Nan Xun didn¡¯t let go of Jun Huang¡¯s hand along the way. It kept him grounded, somehow. It made him more assured that Jun Huang was safe and sound.


    Jun Huang was not nervous at all. Her expression was calm and her mind was quiet. She didn¡¯t look like she was stepping into a battle for her life. Instead, she was here to prove her ability and won other people¡¯s respect.


    They soon reached an entrance to a ce that looked like an underground pce. It was more intricately designed than the hidden building they had gone through. This must have been where the real challenge was.


    Nan Xun was a little nervous. He wasn¡¯t scared for himself. He had stared death in the eyes many times on battlefields. No, he was scared for Jun Huang.


    Unlike in battles, where tens of thousands of soldiers were his to protect, now he only had to protect one person ¨C the person he loved. And yet his heart beat as fast as when he was faced with an army. His palm started to sweat.


    ¡°Once inside, you will run into great danger to prove your worth,¡± said the old man. His voice echoed in the tunnel. His aloof tone sent a chill down their spines. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯d like to take on the trial? There¡¯s no way back once you enter.¡±


    Jun Huang nced at Nan Xun, who met her eyes. They nodded and walked down the stairs. Soon, they stepped into the stone door.


    The door slowly closed. The old man disappeared from their view. Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun, her breathing slowed to a halt. Nan Xun looked around at theyout of the man hall.


    This was an underground pce. Inside, there was nothing, and yet it seemed like a world of its own. The door they had gone through was now shut. They would have to find another way out. That wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    Nan Xun walked across the room and looked at the writings on the wall. He felt around the stone surface, his sharp eyes taking everything in.


    Jun Huang stood at the same spot as she surveyed the room. She looked at the words illuminated by the light, then at the ceiling. There was a drawing of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper. She looked to her left. Attached to the wall were many crystal marbles. Everything seemed random and without order, but Jun Huang knew that these things must be connected.


    ¡°What is the rtionship between the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper and the other stars?¡± Jun Huang whispered to herself, raking through her brain with her brows furrowed. ¡°The seven stars are part of the big picture. They serve as a signpost for those who are lost. The seven stars pointed at the north...¡±


    Nan Xun nced at Jun Huang beforeing up to her side with a smile. She looked up at him in question. He pointed to the right. There was nothing, which was why it was suspicious.


    ¡°Do you mean that¡¯s our way out?¡± Jun Huang asked.


    Nan Xun nodded and walked in that direction. Jun Huang followed after him. He felt around the wall and said, ¡°There are seven stars in the north, but not in the south. There is a northern sea, but not a southern one. The south is our answer.¡±2


    Jun Huang nodded. Nan Xun seemed to have found something. His expression rxed. The next moment, he pushed into the wall and something lit up. Jun Huang took a step closer and realized that it was a luminous pearl. In many ancient texts, it was said that the southern sea was where the luminous pearl was produced.

 Chapter 177

    Chapter 177: Monster in the Water


    Nan Xun quickly found every one of the luminous pearls on the south wall, but nothing happened. While he was still puzzling over what to do next, Jun Huang had figured out what the solution was.


    With a smile, she looked at the luminous pearls on the wall. One of them stood out to her. Earlier, she had noticed that the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper was missing one star. The answer came to her readily.


    She took off the one luminous pearl from the wall and put it on the ground at the center of the underground pce. The pearl¡¯s glow grew intense, illuminating the whole pce. A blinding light exploded from the ground. Jun Huang and Nan Xun both shut their eyes on reflex. Worried that something might happen to Jun Huang while he couldn¡¯t see, Nan Xun quickly got to her side to pull her close and knelt down.


    Slowly, the light died off. Seven rays of light came down from the seven stars on the ceiling and were reflected back by the floor. The luminous pearls blurred into a nket of light. It was an awe-inspiring scene.


    A thud. The wall in the south slowly rose up. Jun Huang and Nan Xun exchanged a nod before going through the door. Inside was a bottomless freezing pond. They could feel the cold radiating from the water.


    A good number of wooden poles protruded from the pond. At the center of the pond was a pavilion. It seemed like they would have to make their way to the other side by jumping between the wooden poles.


    Jun Huang was about to go ahead when Nan Xun stopped her. She believed that with her training she would be able to safely get to the other side. They had spent half an hour on trying to get the door open. Who knew how much time they would need for theter stages? She had to make it quick and not waste any time.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked, turning to Nan Xun.


    Without a word, Nan Xun pointed at the water. Jun Huang looked over at the pond with a frown. She hadn¡¯t noticed it before, but she could now see a red creature swishing around underwater. Bubbles came up to the surface as it leisurely moved around. Its legs were lined with suckers attaching itself to the bottom of the pond. The undercurrents in the water were an additional threat. If one fell into the water, he would either be eaten by the beast, or be shredded into pieces by the currents.


    Startled by the beast underwater, Jun Huang took a step back reflexively. Nan Xun put an arm around her shoulder and looked calmly at the pond, then at the wooden poles. ¡°We can¡¯t go through the pond directly. Those poles are merely a red herring. If we take that route, we will die immediately.¡±


    Jun Huang tilted her head to face Nan Xun. ¡°Then what should we do?¡±


    ¡°Let me think.¡± Nan Xun lowered his eyes in contemtion. Suddenly, ripples spread through the originally calm pond. Nan Xun pulled Jun Huang backward, but the door they had entered through was shut. There was no way back. They had to go forward.


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang held their breath and kept their eyes on the pond. Nan Xun put a hand around the hilt of his sword, waiting for the creature to surface.


    The red beast came out of the water. Its eight tentacles swung in the air, each of which had three suckers. If a prey was caught by the suckers, it wouldn¡¯t be able to escape.


    The monster¡¯s two eyes were sunk deep inside its gigantic head. Its tongue slithered out of its mouth every once in a while as it stared at Jun Huang and Nan Xun like they were some delicacies.


    ¡°What ¨C what the hell is this?¡± Jun Huang had never seen anything like the beast. Her words slurred and her heart threatened to jump out of her chest.


    Nan Xun had never seen such a creature either. His breath hitched. He shook his head and said, ¡°It must havee out because it smelled my blood. We can no longer escape its attention. We have no choice but to fight it headon.¡±


    Jun Huang looked down at Nan Xun¡¯s hand. His wound had split again. Blood was trickling down his fingers. She took his hand in panic.


    Nan Xun smiled a little and let Jun Huang patch him up. He kept his eyes on the beast, wary of any sudden attacks.


    The beast climbed onto thendpletely when Jun Huang had finished bandaging Nan Xun. Angered by the lost of the smell of blood, it struck at them with a tentacle. Nan Xun tackled Jun Huang to the side. Sparks spluttered in the air when the tentacle hit the floor.


    Jun Huang froze. Before she could recover, Nan Xun had drawn his sword to counter the tentacle. He had assumed that the tentacle would be soft, but it was as sturdy as his de, or even more so.


    He didn¡¯t dare to back down. Jun Huang was right behind him. He would not let this beast hurt her. Tapping into his reserved strength, he fought this giant monster that dwarfed him by many times. He had to fight as hard as he could manage, or he would be killed.


    Nan Xun was getting tired. He didn¡¯t expect this monster to be this strong. Jun Huang had been observing the monster, trying to find its weakness. Before she could seed, however, one of the tentacles slithered toward her.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t quick enough to stop it. He was grappling with two tentacles himself. He didn¡¯t have the efforts to spare.


    The tentacle wrapped around Jun Huang¡¯s waist and was going to throw her into the pond. Panic caused Nan Xun¡¯s movement to grow erratic. One of the tentacles hit him in the back. He grimaced as he was flung into a wall. Pain shot through his body. He couldn¡¯t even straighten his back.


    He couldn¡¯t stay down. Jun Huang was still in the monster¡¯s grip. He had to do something. He forced himself to get to his feet, using his sword as a crutch. His head cleared a little after a deep breath. He spat out a mouthful of blood and lunged at the monster¡¯s head.


    He had neglected the monster¡¯s head earlier. The head was many creatures¡¯ weakness. Since this one¡¯s body was imprable, its head must have been the weakest point. Without hesitation, Nan Xun leaped toward the creature and, before it could react, drove his sword into its head.


    He pulled out his sword forcefully. Green liquid shot out of the cut. The smell was foul.


    The tentacle around Jun Huang loosened because of the attack. She fell onto the ground.


    The creature whined in fear before sinking back into the pond. Nan Xun got to Jun Huang¡¯s side and helped her up.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang put on a smile. She felt lightheaded. It took a moment for her to recover as shey against the wall. She looked over at the pond and asked, ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve left a deep cut on it. It wouldn¡¯t dare to make a move on us anytime soon. Beasts like this quiet down after a beating.¡± Nan Xun led Jun Huang to the edge of the pond. As Nan Xun had said, the monster moved away when it felt their presence, afraid that it would get attacked again.


    Jun Huang found it amusing, but she didn¡¯tugh. She stared at the wooden poles, then at Nan Xun. ¡°Are you in a good enough condition to cross the pond?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine. This isn¡¯t a difficult task for me. You, though, must be careful with every step. Okay?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. Nan Xun, however, was still worried. He told Jun Huang to go first. He would be right after her in case something happened.


    Without a word, Jun Huang stepped onto the first wooden pole. The second pole wasn¡¯t close enough for her to reach directly. She would have to jump, which would require her to use the light body technique. Fortunately, she had trained in that aspect as well, so it wasn¡¯t too difficult for her.


    Nan Xun, on the other hand, had almost exhausted himself. When they reached the pavilion at the center of the pond, he dropped down to the ground in a moment of weakness. Jun Huang hurriedly went up to support him. He waved a hand and said he was alright. He sat on the floor with his legs crossed and slowly closed his eyes.


    While Nan Xun was circting his inner energy, Jun Huang looked over at the other side of the pond. There was no path for them to walk on. Under the water there were a few wooden poles, but they were destroyed by the monster earlier.


    Jun Huang stilled. No matter how calm and collected she usually was, she was still a regr person. She couldn¡¯t help being afraid in this situation. Her face went pale. Her hair and back were drenched in sweat.


    In no time, Nan Xun had calmed the erratic energy inside his body. He took a deep breath and got to his feet. He too noticed that there was nothing for them to step on. He frowned.


    ¡°Is this the door of death?¡± Jun Huang said after a pause.


    Nan Xun fell silent. He stared at the pond, then at the monster underwater. After some hesitation, he said, ¡°No, that¡¯s not true. It¡¯s said that life can lead to death, and death can be the hope for life. The creature isn¡¯t here to stop us. It¡¯s... our way out.¡±


    His eyes lit up. Jun Huang frowned at him.


    She stared at the slowly moving creature. This didn¡¯t seem like a safe n. ¡°Are you sure? This thing is dangerous and wild. How can it be our solution?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll tame it,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°And it could carry us to the other side.¡±

 Chapter 178

    Chapter 178: Moment of Life and Death


    ¡°Are you out of your mind?!¡± Jun Huang eximed. She couldn¡¯t believe what Nan Xun had just suggested. What was he thinking? She didn¡¯t think of herself as someone timid, but she only took chances when she knew she could win. What Nan Xun was going to do, though, had never been done before. She didn¡¯t think it was possible.


    Jun Huang realized that she might have been too harsh. They were on the same boat. Nan Xun wanted to leave this ce as much as she did.


    ¡°This is not like taming a wild horse at the border, Nan Xun,¡± Jun Huang said in a softer tone. ¡°You may be able to tame a horse, but taming this monster? That¡¯s a different story. Do you get what I mean?¡±


    Nan Xun tilted his head and gave Jun Huang a confident smile. He got to his feet and brushed away the dust on his clothes before making his way to the edge of the pavillion. His sharp eyes fixed on the monster underwater as if he was going to skin it alive.


    He untied the handkerchief covering his palm to reveal his wound. After preparing himself mentally, he cut his palm with his sword. Blood burst out from the cut and dripped into the water. The monster roared into life once it smelled the blood. It came to the bottom of the pavilion, sending ripples after ripples over the water.


    As it surfaced, Nan Xun pointed his sword at it. It whimpered and stared at Nan Xun with itsrge eyes. Suddenly, it seemed more pitiful than menacing.


    Jun Huang was shocked. She didn¡¯t expect this hideous monster to be able toprehend human intentions. Her fear for it diminished greatly.


    ¡°If you carry us to the other side, I will give you my blood,¡± Nan Xun said. ¡°Otherwise I¡¯ll stab you again.¡±


    Nan Xun made a y of stabbing at the monster. As he expected, the monster was a sentient creature. It could understand his words. Nan Xun¡¯s attack earlier had left an impression on it that Nan Xun was stronger than it was. It came up to the surface of the water without struggling.


    ¡°Come.¡± Nan Xun took Jun Huang¡¯s arm before she could recover from her shock and jumped onto the monster¡¯s head. Unlike what Jun Huang expected, the monster¡¯s head was soft and they sunk into the flesh as soon as theynded.


    The monster obediently carried Jun Huang and Nan Xun to the other side of theke ¨C probably due to the intimidating presence that was inherent to Nan Xun. It looked at Nan Xun with itsntern-like eyes, waiting for him to award it with some blood.


    Nan Xun honor his promise and sliced his palm again. Blood streamed down his hand and dropped onto the monster¡¯s body. He stopped the bleeding when he deemed it a good enough award and led Jun Huang through the door.


    Once they had left the room, two men walked out of the shadow. One of them was the old man from earlier. He had a chicken in his hand. He threw it into the monster¡¯s mouth. The monster disappeared as quickly as it had surfaced.


    ¡°Do you think they will be able to pass the trial?¡± the old man asked worriedly.


    The other man was Ji Bo, who should have been in the imperial city. His eyes were dark in bemusement. He had always been difficult to read. If the old man had not been his friend for years, he wouldn¡¯t have noticed the undercurrent of emotions in Ji Bo¡¯s eyes. It worried him.


    After a moment of silence, Ji Bo answered with a question, ¡°Don¡¯t you think they¡¯ve done well?¡±


    The old man paused to think back to Jun Huang and Nan Xun¡¯s performance. A look of appreciation appeared on his face. ¡°They¡¯ve done well, but it¡¯s only the first challenge. Many more challenges await them. Who knows if they will be able toe out intact?¡±


    Ji Bo nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said before adding, ¡°But I have a strong feeling that they will not let us down.¡±


    ¡°I hope so. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Ji Bo nodded and returned to their vantage point to watch Nan Xun¡¯s and Jun Huang¡¯s every move while drinking tea.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun came to the third door after going through a short tunnel. They shared a look and walked inside. At the center of the room was an iron cage. It was big enough for a person to fit in.


    Again, there was no apparent way out.


    Nan Xun frowned. What did this mean? He turned to Jun Huang, who shook her head. Thest challenge had taught them to be wary. They decided to take a rest before doing anything.


    Seeing the wounds on Nan Xun¡¯s palm, Jun Huang was reminded of the medicine she had brought with her. She didn¡¯t expect it to be of use.


    The oilmps on the wall were dim. She had to get close to see clearly. Carefully, she applied the powder on the cut with her head lowered.


    Nan Xun could see Jun Huang¡¯s concentrated look when he looked down. His heart melted. The pain he had endured seemed insignificant byparison.


    Strands of Jun Huang¡¯s hair fell into his palm, tickling his skin. He brushed her hair back and settled it behind her shoulders. Jun Huang threw him a nce before tearing the bottom of her robe to use as bandages.


    Once she had patched him up, she let out a long breath and sat in the corner of the room bonelessly. She was close to her breaking point. She was not used to being under such high pressure for such a long time.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Just get behind me if dangers strike. I will protect you even at the cost of my life.¡±


    Nan Xun caught Jun Huang¡¯s fingers, trying tofort her, but she responded with a distant nce and pulled her hand away.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I have to talk to you about,¡± Jun Huang said. She was angry with Nan Xun¡¯s careless disregard of his own safety. ¡°Please protect yourself before you protect me. I don¡¯t want you to risk your life for me. Do you understand?¡±


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t argue with that. Even though Jun Huang¡¯s tone was harsh, he could hear the underlying concerns in her voice. His lips quirked up. He wanted nothing more than holding Jun Huang tight in his arms. Only then would he be able to rest easy.


    After sitting on the floor for a while, Nan Xun got to his feet and helped Jun Huang up. They nodded at each other before walking further into the room to find out what was waiting for them.


    A beast roared. Nan Xun tensed up. This can¡¯t be good.


    His worry was proven right. Four starved tigers were released into the room. Jun Huang and Nan Xun were the only preys here. In the tigers¡¯ eyes, they were their lunch. The tigers bared their teeth menacingly.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun stood back to back, trusting the other to watch their back. It was a show of faith. Nan Xun, though, was worried that Jun Huang would get hurt. ¡°See the cage there?¡± he said. ¡°Get inside quickly when you see an opening. Don¡¯te out no matter what happens. Do you hear me?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Jun Huang said without hesitation.


    Cold sweat broke out of Nan Xun¡¯s forehead. He worriedly shouted, ¡°This is not the time for you to be stubborn!¡±


    Jun Huang let out a quietugh. ¡°Before we came in we have agreed to face every challenge together. And now you are trying to be a martyr. Am I the one who¡¯s being stubborn? You are the one who¡¯s looking down on me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a master in fighting, but I¡¯ll pull my own weight. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°You know I didn¡¯t mean that!¡± Nan Xun said in a rush. He didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to react this way.


    Before they coulde to an agreement, one of the tigers lunged at them. They split up to dodge the tiger¡¯s attack.


    Silence filled the room. They put all their attention on the tigers, lest they be the tigers¡¯ food in a moment of carelessness.


    Nan Xun realized that Jun Huang would not run away. There was nothing he could say to change her mind. He only told her to be careful. If she truly could not fight against the tigers, she should take refuge. Jun Huang nodded in agreement and got ready to face the tigers with Nan Xun.


    No human beings could be fearless, but these tigers knew no fear. All they could see now was their food. They wanted nothing but to tear into Jun Huang¡¯s and Nan Xun¡¯s throats and swallowed them.


    Nan Xun quickly threw his sword to Jun Huang when the four tigers attacks in unison. Jun Huang caught the sword and dodged one of the tigers¡¯ lunge. She drew the sword and held it horizontally before her. Recing her sickly look was an unusual calmness. She leveled the tigers with a frosty stare. She was prepared to kill if the tiger made a move.


    She dodged to the tiger¡¯s back when it came at her again. She cut into its back with her sword. Unfortunately, the tiger had a thick skin, and she wasn¡¯t forceful enough. The cut only served to anger the tiger.


    The tiger growled at her as it attacked. Jun Huang backed away. She couldn¡¯t find an opening. Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she held the sword with both hands and kept her eyes on the tiger. She took a step back everytime the tiger took a step forward until her back hit the wall.


    The tiger tackled Jun Huang. She tried to block it with her sword. With a simple swing of its w, however, a deep cut appeared on Jun Huang¡¯s arm. She dropped the sword in pain.


    Clink! Nan Xun heard the sound while he was struggling to fight three tigers. His heart seized up. He turned around just in time to see the tiger lunging at Jun Huang.

 Chapter 179

    Chapter 179: The Deadly Room


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t have time to move away from the tiger¡¯s open mouth. Her face had gone pale in fear. Nan Xun flew to her side and kicked the tiger away before steadying Jun Huang¡¯s shaky form.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and did her best to push her fear aside. She wanted to tell Nan Xun to not worry, but she was trembling too much to speak properly. The pain in her arm was so strong it threatened to make her faint, but she knew that she must stay strong.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to push yourself,¡± Nan Xun said worriedly. ¡°You should hide in the cage while I deal with these animals.¡±


    Jun Huang threw him a cold nce and said, ¡°Have you forgotten what the gentleman said? The heads of heavenly spirits and earthly fiends must trust each otherpletely. If I abandon you now, how can I shoulder the responsibility?¡±


    Nan Xun paused. ¡°Do you mean...¡± he said with a frown. ¡°Do you mean that the only reason you refuse to back down is to gain his approval?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Jun Huang said as she picked up her sword. She knew what Nan Xun was trying to get at. Her tone was so decisive it allowed no room for questions.


    Nan Xun¡¯s expression darkened. He knew this was not the time for such discussion. He nodded and said, ¡°If so, protect yourself well. If you die now, you¡¯re not going to be the leader of this damn organization.¡±


    He lunged at two of the tigers closest to him and fought with abandon. It made Jun Huang fear for his life.


    She swallowed down her unspoken words and let out a sigh. There was a long gash from her shoulder to her arm. A light touch was enough to make her gasp in pain and cause cold sweat to break out from her face.


    One of the tigers roared and came at Jun Huang. The tiger Nan Xun had kicked away was trying to get up as well. Jun Huang readied herself. She knew she had to make it quick. If they dragged this fight on for too long, they would both run out of stamina. Then they would be doomed.


    She shed at the tiger when it lunged at her, cutting off one of its forelegs. The tiger, however, hadnded right before her. It bit at Jun Huang¡¯s foot without a pause. Jun Huang backed away hurriedly before going at the tiger again. This time, she aimed for its head.


    The de buried into the tiger¡¯s eye, sending it into a frenzy. It shook its head frantically, causing Jun Huang to drop her sword. The tiger ran around blindly with the sword in its head. The blooding out from its eye trickle right into its mouth, dyeing its teeth a crimson red. It stumbled and limped with its three legs, sttering blood everywhere and filling the room with an unpleasant smell.


    Its lost limb was picked up by the other tiger. Soon, it was chewed to the point that only the bones were left. It was a horrifying sight.


    The injured tiger ran rampant in the room, forcing Nan Xun and Jun Huang to make way for it. They were back to standing back to back. Nan Xun tilted his head and nced at Jun Huang with a small smile of approval. The next second, one of the uninjured tigers lunged at them. Nan Xun pushed Jun Huang away and went against the tiger.


    The injured tiger copsed once it had exhausted itself. It was close to bleeding out. Another tiger crawled toward Jun Huang. It didn¡¯t immediately approached her. Instead, it circled her slowly, its eyes glowing green. Jun Huang kept a wary eye on it, prepared for it to pounce.


    Her caution was not unwarranted. Suddenly the tiger leaped toward her. If she hadn¡¯t reacted quickly, she would have been tackled to the floor.


    Nan Xun jumped onto one of the tigers¡¯ back and held onto its ears, refusing to let go no matter how hard the tiger bucked. With his teeth clenched and his face pale, he dug his fingers into the tiger¡¯s flesh. The cut on his palm broke again. His blood dropped onto the tiger¡¯s fur. The smell caused the tiger¡¯s eyes to turn red in its thirst for blood.


    It flung itself toward the wall. Nan Xun cursed in his mind. He had no choice but to let go. He was thrown off its back andnded on the floor.


    His vision went ck. Before he could get up, a sharp pain shot through his elbow. When his vision cleared, the tiger wasing for his neck. His hands shot out to grab the tiger¡¯s teeth, stopping the tiger from getting to him.


    The tiger¡¯s teeth were unusually sharp. Catching them with bare hands was thest resort. The teeth sunk deep into Nan Xun¡¯s palms. Blood gushed out of the long cuts. He was losing his strength and could barely hold on, but he had to. No matter how quick his breathing was and how pale his face had be, he continued to fight for his survival.


    Saliva dripped from the tiger¡¯s mouth to Nan Xun¡¯s face. The slimy liquid smelled so foul he almost threw up. His determination was the only thing keeping him going.


    When Jun Huang turned around, Nan Xun was pinned to the ground by a tiger. In panic, she ran up to the tiger and tried to kick it away the way Nan Xun had done, but she couldn¡¯t. Her kicknded on the tiger¡¯s hip. All it did was causing the tiger to shift its attention to her.


    Once the tiger had changed its target, Nan Xun got to his feet, coughing. His clothes had been torn in his struggle, but he paid it no mind. He took a deep breath and ran up to Jun Huang. Before the tiger could bite into her, he grabbed the tiger¡¯s neck and dropped down to the ground, keeping his grip tight. The tiger tried its best to struggle. Nan Xun ground his teeth together and held on. He would not let the tiger go even if he died.


    Jun Huang had to make sure that the other two tigers didn¡¯t attack Nan Xun. She rolled to the side of the dead tiger and pulled her sword out of its eye. She stabbed at its stomach twice in fury before facing the two tigers circling her.


    She was scared. She had to keep her breathing deliberately slow to hide her fear. She took the initiative and lunged at one of the tigers. The tiger fought back with its paw, which she managed to block with her de. Blood sttered on the floor beneath them. It backed away with a whimper.


    Jun Huang stabbed at the other tiger without hesitation. This one was obviously more intelligent than the other. It wed at Jun Huang¡¯s arm, causing her to drop her sword in pain. It then came at Jun Huang with deliberate attacks, toying with her.


    The tiger Nan Xun was fighting was getting weaker and weaker. Nan Xun kept an arm around the tiger¡¯s neck while he felt around the floor with the other. He found a piece of stone near the corner of the room. Taking a deep breath, Nan Xun grabbed the stone and hit the tiger in the head. Blood sttered on Nan Xun¡¯s handsome face. He looked like a demigod from hell with warm blood dripping down his chin.


    He had not held back with his attack. The tiger¡¯s skull was bashed in. Slowly, the tiger stopped struggling. It copsed with its tongue out as it took itsst breath. Only then did Nan Xun let go of the tiger. He pushed it off his body and got to his feet. His fingers were trembling.


    He had hurt his fingers when he was hitting the tiger with the stone. Blood trickled out from his scraped fingertips. The needling pain made him grimace.


    He didn¡¯t allow himself to rest. He searched around the room and quickly found another stone. Without hesitation, he ran toward Jun Huang and threw the stone at the head of the tiger that had been chasing her.


    The attack was quick and precise. The tiger¡¯s eyes rolled back into its skull like it was going to faint. Nan Xun told Jun Huang to be careful before advancing on the tiger and hitting its head with bare hands.


    He knocked the tiger to the floor with an upper hook. Before it could react, he mounted the tiger¡¯s back and punched it hard in the head. His fist shed with the tiger¡¯s skull and crack! Bones were broken. It could be the tiger¡¯s or his or both.


    Blood came out of the tiger¡¯s mouth. It spat out a tooth as wide as Nan Xun¡¯s thumb, which looked sturdy and sharp. The tiger would be able to kill someone instantly by biting into his throat.


    It took twenty some more punches for the tiger to die. Nan Xun could barely lift his arms. He couldn¡¯t even tighten his fists. His hands trembled uselessly.


    He jumped off the tiger¡¯s back and kicked at it in retaliation. Then he turned to Jun Huang. She had picked up her sword and was attacking thest tiger. All over its body were bleeding wounds that had been cut open. Jun Huang, though, was not in a better state. Both her arm and her back were injured. The bleeding wounds made Nan Xun¡¯s heart clench.


    ¡°Watch out!¡± Nan Xun shouted as the tiger suddenly lunged at Jun Huang with open mouth. He tried to get to her as quickly as possible.


    Jun Huang hurriedly raise her sword to block the tiger¡¯s bite, but the de got stuck in its mouth. She could only hold onto the de with bare hands to stop the tiger¡¯s bite. Still, the tiger was powerful. Even though its mouth was bleeding from the cut, it still bit at Jun Huang relentlessly, trying to eat her alive.

 Chapter 180

    Chapter 180: Trust


    Nan Xun jumped onto the tiger¡¯s back from behind. While the tiger was distracted, Jun Huang yanked her sword out of the tiger¡¯s mouth without hesitation, cutting off the tiger¡¯s tongue at the same time. Blood gushed out of the tiger¡¯s mouth.


    Neither Jun Huang nor Nan Xun spared a nce for the grotesque mess they had made. Nan Xun stered his body along the tiger¡¯s back and held onto its neck as Jun Huang stabbed at the tiger¡¯s stomach.


    Right before Jun Huang¡¯s sword could hit the tiger, Nan Xun was thrown off the tiger¡¯s back. A pained huff escaped his mouth.


    His heart clenched when he saw the tiger¡¯s furious eyes. Before it could stomp on his face, Nan Xun rolled to the side and scrambled to his feet. Jun Huang threw him his sword. He caught it and drove it into the tiger¡¯s stomach.


    In, and out. Crimson blood sttered out of the cut. The air was filled with a sickening metallic smell. Jun Huang started retching while supporting herself against the wall.


    Nan Xun let out a deep breath after the tiger had copsed. His vision went dark for a moment. He inhaled deeply and struggled to Jun Huang¡¯s side with a hand on the wall. He patted her on the back.


    ¡°I... I¡¯m fine,¡± Jun Huang said with a trembling voice. She waved a hand at Nan Xun, trying to assure him, but she couldn¡¯t stop her legs from shaking. She fell to the ground. Nan Xun wanted to help her up, but he felt light-headed as soon as he bent down. He copsed as well.


    Theyy on the ground and exchanged a smile. Tension drain out of their bodies. The adrenaline rush left them exhausted. They couldn¡¯t even utter a single word. The pain was now dull, but the exhaustion had ovee them.


    It took a while for Jun Huang to recover. She propped herself up and got to her feet. A search around the room yielded no results. She didn¡¯t find another exit. Her focus shifted to the cage at the center of the room.


    An idea came to her mind. She walked into the iron cage and felt around. There was a trigger on the cage.


    She wasn¡¯t going to just push it. After a bemused pause, she walked out of the cage and pushed the trigger. Click! A small trapdoor revealed itself at the bottom of the cage. She let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°There¡¯s a door here, Nan Xun,¡± Jun Huang said, turning to Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun got to his feet and brushed away the dust on his clothes. He walked up to her. Jun Huang took a step back to let Nan Xun look at the door. Her gaze settled on Nan Xun¡¯s injured fingers. Her heart ached thinking of how Nan Xun had fought the tiger with bare hands. The thoughts alone made her wince in sympathy.


    Nan Xun turned to her. Realizing that she was staring at his wounds, he casually hid his hands under his sleeves and said, ¡°I¡¯ll have a look first.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She didn¡¯t want to argue with him over this again. Nan Xun told her to be careful before jumping down the small trapdoor.


    The room underneath was again empty. The walls were not made of stone, but of iron. There were skeletons left on the floor. It was horrifying to be faced with the hollow eyes of the skulls.


    ¡°What¡¯s down there?¡± Jun Huang asked. ¡°There¡¯s no exit in the room up here. The room below should be our way out.¡±


    Nan Xun agreed with Jun Huang. ¡°Jump. I¡¯ll catch you.¡±


    Jun Huang entered the cage and looked down. The floor was about two meters away from her. She took a deep breath and leaned forward.


    She jumped. Nan Xun caught her in his arms.


    Jun Huang slowly opened her eyes when she stopped falling. Her gaze met Nan Xun¡¯s. She coughed and pulled away from him.


    She was faced with the skeletons as soon as she turned around. Startled, she backed away. Nan Xun put a hand on her shoulder and said reassuringly, ¡°Rx. We¡¯ll look around for an exit.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Jun Huang said with a nod.


    The door above them was suddenly mmed shut. Jun Huang and Nan Xun shared a look. Realization dawned on them. Nan Xun leaped into the air, trying to push the door open, but the door was sealed. Hended on the ground and shook his head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s as simple as trying to find a switch,¡± Jun Huang said. She quickly calmed herself down. ¡°There must be a catch.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He didn¡¯t have a clue what the right thing to do now was.


    After a while, the air in the sealed room started to feel thin. Jun Huang leaned against the wall, trying to stay calm. Even so, it started to be difficult for her to breath. It was not merely a psychological reaction, no. The room was custom made to keep outside air froming in. It waspletely sealed off.


    Nan Xun was a lot more well trained, but he was exhausted from the fight earlier. The air was getting thinner and thinner. Jun Huang¡¯s face had be pale. He moved to Jun Huang¡¯s side and caught her cold fingers in his hand.


    Jun Huang stared at the skeletons on the ground. She could tell that these people were murdered. The cuts on the bones were the proof. She was suddenly struck by realization.


    This was a test on their trust toward one another. Deprived of oxygen, people will do anything they can to survive. Only one person could leave this room. To survive, one of them would have to kill the other.


    Of course, this was Jun Huang¡¯s spection. She couldn¡¯t be sure only by observing the skeletons. Some of the skeletons had broken necks. They might have killed themselves.


    Nan Xun hade to the same conclusion. This was the most difficult of all the challenges. The first two were nothing inparison. He knew that this room was set up to test if they truly trust one another.


    They had both figured out what the challenge was, but neither of them knew what conditions they would have to fulfill to be considered qualified. They remained silent to conserve their strength.


    Jun Huang breathed slowly, lying against the wall with her eyes closed.


    Nan Xun had been injured, but he had years of training behind him. His breathing was slow and deliberate. He had not yet reached his limit.


    He took Jun Huang¡¯s hand and felt her pulse. It was getting weaker and weaker. He froze and turned to her. Her face was so pale it was as if she was going to vanish in the next second. He panicked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fall asleep!¡± Nan Xun patted Jun Huang¡¯s cheek. ¡°Look at me.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes fluttered open. Her gaze was dull and distant. Her lips had lost all colors.


    Nan Xun held his breath and helped Jun Huang to the ground. He sat down cross-legged behind her and pushed his inner energy into Jun Huang¡¯s body. He stopped after the moment for a pot of tea to brew. Jun Huang fell into his embrace bonelessly, but her face had be less pale.


    As the air grew thinner, Nan Xun¡¯sposure started to break. He forced himself to calm down. After a moment of silence, he took out a dagger and handed it to Jun Huang. ¡°This can¡¯t go on,¡± he said calmly. ¡°We¡¯re both going to die in this state. One of us has to live. Perhaps they will let you out once you kill me. Take care of yourself once you¡¯re out.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him with eyes filled with cold fury. It was the first time Nan Xun saw Jun Huang like this. A shudder ran down his spine.


    Jun Huang knocked the dagger off his hand and scoffed. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? You want me to live with the weight of your death on my conscience? By your logic, you should be the one to live. The poison in my body means that I don¡¯t have a lot of days left. You are a prince of Northern Qi. Your country needs a hero like you. You are the one that cannot be reced.¡±


    She took a deep breath and continued, ¡°Listen, if you really think one of us must be killed to let the other live, kill me. I won¡¯tin. I ask only for you to find my brother and... and protect him.¡±


    Her breathing became shallow and erratic. Theck of oxygen made her dizzy. Her vision started to blur.


    Nan Xun fell silent. He had anticipated Jun Huang¡¯s reaction. This was how she was. She would not live at the cost of other people¡¯s lives.


    He let out a resigned chuckle. At times like this, he would rather Jun Huang be more selfish. He didn¡¯t want her to treat everyone with such genuine heart.


    It was an exhausting way to live.


    ¡°We live together, or we die together,¡± Jun Huang said in a steely voice. ¡°No argument.¡±


    Nan Xun looked down at her and nodded. He held onto her hands and closed his eyes. His breathing grew shallow, and his temples started to throb.


    After the time for an incense stick to burn, they both went intoa. They had not let go of each other. Jun Huangy against Nan Xun¡¯s chest with his arms around her shoulders. Both their faces were as pale as sheet.


    Click! On the wall a door suddenly opened. Out came two men ¨C it was Ji Bo and the old man in charge of the House of Heavenly Fiends. They exchanged a look before approaching Nan Xun and Jun Huang. After separating them, the old man helped Nan Xun up while Ji Bo picked Jun Huang up and carried her out.


    When Jun Huang regained consciousness, a sharp pain shot through her chest. For a moment, she wondered if she was alive or dead. If she was dead, how could she feel pain? The room, however, had run out of air; how could shee out alive?

 Chapter 181

    Chapter 181: Lasting Fear


    Jun Huang slowly opened her eyes. Whether she was alive or dead, she had to see for herself. What came into her view was the silky drape of the canopy bed. She propped her tired body up. The room looked simr to one of the inn. She blinked in confusion.


    After what she had been through, her entire body was aching. Her chest hurt even when she breathed a little heavier. She bent down to press against her stomach. Her face went pale in pain. Her already slim form seemed even more fragile. It was heartbreaking to see her in this state.


    When the pain had faded, she slowly got off the bed. She lost her bnce as soon as her foot touched the ground.


    Ji Bo happened to be bringing her her medicine. He quickly ced the bowl on the table and rushed toward her. He almost didn¡¯t catch her before she fell.


    Jun Huang gasped and choked on the tainted air she had inhaled. She broke into a coughing fit. Her body curled together as she coughed until her eyes were brimming with tears. She looked up at Ji Bo and clutched the tail of his robe. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from trembling.


    Ji Bo patted her on the back to help her control her breathing. Once she started breathing normally again, he helped Jun Huang back to the bed with a sigh. He then picked up the ceramic bowl he had ced on the wooden table and returned to the bedside. The medicine was still steaming hot.


    ¡°Drink this,¡± Ji Bo said before Jun Huang could say anything. ¡°You can¡¯t copse now. I know you have a lot of questions. Finish this bowl of medicine, and I¡¯ll tell you what you want to know.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded reluctantly and took the bowl from Ji Bo. She quickly finished the bitter medicine. Her eyebrows remained closely knitted even after she put the bowl down.


    Ji Bo grabbed a chair and sat by the bed. ¡°I know what you want to ask,¡± he said slowly. ¡°You want to know what¡¯s the meaning of thest test, and if you and Nan Xun have passed. You also want to know where Nan Xun is now. Don¡¯t fret. I will tell you everything.¡±


    ¡°Thest stage of the trial is a test on the mind. Sacrificing yourself isn¡¯t the right way to go. Neither is killing yourpanion. We want to know if the two participants are of the same mind. You¡¯ve seen yourself that many before you have killed theirpanions in order to survive. In the end they also died in the room.¡±


    ¡°Then how should one pass the test?¡± Jun Huang asked with a frown. ¡°Is there no correct answer?¡±


    Ji Bo let out a brightugh. ¡°Of course there is. If there were no answer, you wouldn¡¯t be here.¡±


    Jun Huang looked at Ji Bo without a word. Ji Bo put on a serious expression and said, ¡°This is a test on the human heart. Naturally there is an answer. The key is for the two participants to be united fearless against dangers. You either live together, or you die together. Failing the test means death.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s pupils contracted. Her heart was seized by her fear as she thought back to what had happened. If she had given up on Nan Xun, the consequence would be unbearable. Cold sweat streamed down her face. She was truly shaken this time. Persistence alone would not have been enough for them to pass the trial.


    They started with solving a puzzle. Then they were in a fight for their survival. Finally it was their hearts that were tested. One wrong step could mean the difference between life and death. If Nan Xun hadn¡¯t been the one going through the trial with her, she didn¡¯t know what would happen.


    Nan Xun had been protecting her without a word ofint. He told her to get behind him if she got scared. Her heart skipped a beat when she remembered his words. She knew Nan Xun had now upied a significant part in her heart.


    ¡°You two were able to pass the trial because your hearts are aligned and your will is strong,¡± Ji Bo said after a moment of silence, breaking Jun Huang¡¯s trance. ¡°I¡¯m curious, however, whether you truly had no doubt even in that situation.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him and smiled. ¡°As you¡¯ve said, our hearts would point us to the door of life. It is human nature to be greedy, to fear death. I¡¯ll be lying if I say I wasn¡¯t scared at all. But... I know if I survive at the cost of his life, it¡¯d be a fate worse than death. Death isn¡¯t always the most painful. Sometimes, it¡¯s worse to be the one who survives.¡±


    Ji Bo frowned at Jun Huang and sighed. They fell silent.


    ¡°Nan Xun and I have been to hell and back together,¡± Jun Huang said carefully. ¡°We both know what the other feels, but circumstances prevent us from being together. Now, though, I can¡¯t lie to myself and say I¡¯ve never had any feelings for him. I even fear that death wille to either of us before I can confess to him.¡±


    Nan Xun had heard what she said outside the room. Every word she uttered imprinted itself into his heart.


    He actually regained consciousness before Jun Huang did. He was at a loss of how he should treat Jun Huang, so he let Ji Bo take care of her and stayed outside.


    His heart fluttered at her admission of her feelings for him. Exhaustion lifted from his facepletely. He held his breath and wrung his hands together.


    Ji Bo threw a nce at the door reflexively, then turned to Jun Huang. ¡°This gentleman is no expert in matters of the heart, but you have to be cautious. It¡¯s difficult for you two to be together. Even if you are willing to ovee that challenge, there are still many issues to consider.¡±


    ¡°What does the gentleman mean?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re now living as a man. If you are willing to assume your old identity for Nan Xun, what will happen next? The world will know about your existence. What you¡¯ve done before will be in vain. I know you¡¯re not someone who will give up your goals for love.¡±


    ¡°What if you get together with him as a man? Don¡¯t forget that Nan Xun is a prince despite his different surname. He¡¯s someone even the emperor dreads. If he gets together with a man, how do you think the emperor and the people will react? Mockery will be the least of his problems.¡±


    ¡°You may say that it¡¯s not a big deal for two men to be a couple in Northern Qi, but he is a prince, while you are a strategist. You are both blessed by the gods. Neither of you have the privilege to indulge in desires. Other men may be able to fall in love without attracting bacsh. They may even receive blessings. You, though, are different.¡±


    Ji Bo had spoken his mind. Jun Huang didn¡¯t have aeback for him.


    She sat on the bed quietly. In the end she let out a tiredugh. Her eyes were lowered and her expression was filled with sorrow. It was the first time Ji Bo saw her like this. He didn¡¯t know how he should reassure her.


    Silence filled the room. Outside the door Nan Xun tightened his hands into fists. He could feel his heart in his throat. He was worried that what Jun Huang said next would be thest thing he wanted to hear.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Jun Huang said quietly, breaking the silence. ¡°I¡¯ve failed to see the forest because I¡¯m standing among the trees. How can I fail to consider such simple things? Ha, what a joke I am. I thought I would be able to stay calm and live with a level head, but in the end, I¡¯m the one who is trapped in my illusion. If the gentleman had not pointed out my mistakes, I would still be harboring impractical dreams.¡±


    ¡°That ¨C That¡¯s not what I wanted to tell you ¨C ¡± Ji Bo tried to exin.


    Jun Huang waved a hand to stop him and closed her eyes. ¡°Love is the very worst human sin. I fancy myself a level-headed person, and yet I started to daydream after staring death in the eyes. How foolish I¡¯ve been. I hope the gentleman won¡¯tugh at me.¡±


    Ji Bo stared at Jun Huang. The light in her eyes had vanishedpletely, leaving only her usual calmness. It saddened him to see her like this. ¡°It¡¯s human nature,¡± Ji Bo said quietly. ¡°I simply wanted you to think twice before you make a decision. I wasn¡¯t trying to change your mind.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up and gave him a polite smile. ¡°This gentleman does not me you. I should be thankful, in fact. You¡¯ve woken me up from my delusions. That I¡¯m grateful for.¡±


    ¡°Why are you standing here, boy?¡± The old man¡¯s voice suddenly came from outside the room. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go in? I have things to tell you two. Is she awake yet?¡±


    Nan Xun turned to the old man and touched his nose awkwardly. ¡°I just got here,¡± he said with a cough. ¡°I heard noises from the room. She¡¯s probably awake.¡±


    The old man nodded and pushed the door open. Nan Xun took a deep breath. It¡¯s okay, he told himself. There¡¯s still time. I still have a chance. It¡¯s no small feat for her to admit her feelings. Be patient.


    The heavy weight on his heart melted away. Nan Xun took another deep breath and entered the room. He parted the silk and saw Jun Huang lying on the bed.


    Jun Huang turned to him when she heard his footsteps. His hand was wrapped in bandages, and he had changed into some clean clothes. He stood there looking at her. His presence had never felt more real to her than it did now.


    ¡°Here you are,¡± Jun Huang said. Her tone was as calm as ever. It was as if nothing had changed at all.

 Chapter 182

    Chapter 182: Insistent Pest


    ¡°Here I am.¡± Nan Xun took a deep breath and walked up to her, pretending to be oblivious to her conversation with Ji Bo. He reached out for her forehead to take her temperature. She wasn¡¯t running a fever. He pulled away and let out a relieved sigh.


    The old man cleared his throat. Nan Xun exchanged a look with Jun Huang before turning to the old man. ¡°The door of life is the door of death,¡± Nan Xun said in a dignified tone. ¡°We¡¯ve found the door of life and survive the trial. Before we entered, however, the gentleman said that we must find the token of Heavenly Fiends in order to pass the trial. Where is this token?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to talk to you about,¡± the old man said. He got to his feet and walked outside. Nan Xun came up to Jun Huang to help her up and draped a robe over her shoulders. The three of them followed the old man out.


    Jun Huang only realized then that this wasn¡¯t the inn she and Nan Xun had moved into even though it looked very simr. This seemed like the small building they had gone through. When she mentioned it to Nan Xun, the old man piped up, ¡°You¡¯re right. This is the building you¡¯ve gone through. It¡¯s also the headquarters of the House of Heavenly Fiends. Normally we only enable the traps when we¡¯re defending against outside enemies. The traps are disabled now, so you don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Jun Huang nodded. The walls were scarred by des. Under the dim light, the room looked terrifying.


    After about the time for a pot of tea to brew, they reached the outside of a sealed room. The room was cast with ck iron. It was freezing to the touch. Jun Huang flinched before her fingers came in contact with the wall, and yet it took a moment for her hand to warm back up.


    The old man pulled a lever and thud! A small door opened up to the room. The old man took the lead, and the three of them followed him in.


    ¡°The token is hidden inside this room,¡± the old man exined. ¡°However, it only appears when there is no sign of life within the room. That¡¯s why you didn¡¯t see it.¡±


    He knocked on the wall and revealed a small hiddenpartment. He pulled out a token made of ck iron.


    Jun Huang took the token. It was all ck with the symbol of the House of Heavenly Fiends on it. She could make out the word ¡°Heavenly Fiends,¡± but it was faint. Crawling along the edge of the token were thorny vines. Coldness started to seep into her body in the short amount of time she held the token in her hand.


    Nan Xun took the token from her. ¡°ck iron such as this radiates cold air. You haven¡¯t fully recovered yet. You shouldn¡¯t hold this for too long. It¡¯s bad for your health.¡±


    Nan Xun handed the token back to the old man. ¡°It seems that this token has always been stored here. It¡¯s not meant for us, is it?¡±


    The old man nodded. He used the token to open another hiddenpartment. Inside were two other tokens with ¡°Heavenly Spirits¡± and ¡°Earthly Fiends¡± written on it respectively. These two tokens were smaller in size, and they were made of different materials. The token of Heavenly Spirits was all white with the pattern of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper etched into it. The token of Earthly Fiends, on the other hand, was all ck. On it was the star of Northern Sea Nan Xun and Jun Huang saw in the first stage of the trial.


    The old man handed the token of Heavenly Spirits to Jun Huang and the token of Earthly Fiends to Nan Xun. He then returned the token of Heavenly Fiends to its original ce. The hiddenpartment disappeared without a trace. Nan Xun felt around the wall and couldn¡¯t find any triggers.


    ¡°I have something to tell them, Ji Bo,¡± the old man said as he lead Jun Huang and Nan Xun to the stone room. ¡°Wait outside for us, please.¡±


    Ji Bo knew that the old man was going to tell them the secrets of the House of Heavenly Fiends. As an outsider, he shouldn¡¯t be present. He nodded and watched the three of them leave.


    Once inside, Jun Huang saw piles and piles of books around the room. Jun Huang was going to pick up one before she stopped herself.


    ¡°You can read the books,¡± the old man said. ¡°These are all yours from now on.¡±


    Jun Huang threw a nce at Nan Xun before picking up a book. Her eyebrows drew closer as she read. Written in the book was important information about the House of Heavenly Fiends, including its origin. It was difficult for her to sort through at first nce, however. Jun Huang put down the book after browsing a few pages.


    ¡°You have to understand all these,¡± said the old man. ¡°I¡¯m not saying that you have to be adept at everything your positions entail immediately, but you¡¯re going to be in charge of the organization. You¡¯ll have to y the part. I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t have to tell you how to do your job.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She and Nan Xun sat down cross-legged across from the old man. The old man started telling them confidential information that only the leaders of the organization could know.


    After the time for an incense stick to burn, the old man stopped and drank some water. ¡°Do you understand everything?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°I have a question,¡± she asked after some hesitation. ¡°Why did you suddenly need new leaders? From the book I just read, it says that the leaders are reced every hundred years.¡±


    ¡°The leader of the Earthly Fiends suddenly passed away,¡± the old man said. ¡°Both the Heavenly Spirits and the Earthly Fiends need a leader. There would be a power imbnce if one of them is missing, and the House of Heavenly Fiends will fall into chaos. That¡¯s why we were so eager to find recement.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded in understanding and cupped her hands. ¡°If so, I¡¯ll leave the matter of locating my brother to you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± said the old man. ¡°I¡¯ve sent out some men to look for him while you two were unconscious. I¡¯m sure we will hear something soon.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a sigh of relief. When they were going to leave the room, Jun Huang grimaced and spat out a mouthful of blood, dyeing the floor red. Nan Xun hurriedly put an arm around her to support her. Her face was pale as she doubled over with a hand on the wall.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± the old man asked. He shut his eyes and took her pulse.


    Jun Huang had regained herposure after spitting out the blood. She took a deep breath and said, ¡°The gentleman doesn¡¯t have to do this. This is an illness I can not be cured of.¡±


    The old man didn¡¯t let go of her until he had made his diagnosis. ¡°Some of your blood has gone in the wrong direction because of the two kinds of poison in your body. It¡¯s not untreatable. There must be a way to cleanse the poison. Don¡¯t jump to conclusions before things are set in stone.¡±


    ¡°Do you mean it?¡± Jun Huang looked up in surprise and asked in an urgent tone.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a hundred percent sure, but you are now the leader of Heavenly Spirits. It¡¯s the House of Heavenly Fiend¡¯s mission to look for a cure for you. We will do all we can to save you.¡±


    The old man didn¡¯t give her a guarantee, but it reassured her all the same. She nodded while her eyebrows remained furrowed.


    After the time they had spent together, Nan Xun could tell what Jun Huang was thinking about. He took her hands and said, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. Since there¡¯s a way for you to be cured, you should take care of yourself. You don¡¯t want your brother to see you in this state, do you?¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him and met his determined gaze. She nodded. ¡°Alright. I will try to improve my health.¡±


    Tension drained out of Nan Xun¡¯s body. He was worried that Jun Huang would be possessed by her desires to find Jun Hao. He bid the old man farewell and helped Jun Huang out of the room.


    Ji Bo ran up to them and asked worriedly, ¡°What happened? Weren¡¯t you alright before you entered? Why do you seem so weak now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Jun Huang said, waving a hand at him. ¡°It¡¯s an old problem now. I¡¯ll be fine after a short rest. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Ji Bo was reminded of the poison in her body. It was best for her not to overtax herself. He cursed at himself for forgetting that.


    Fear crept into his heart btedly. It was fortunate that she had not been hit by the poison during the trial. If she got sick when they were fighting the tigers, she might have died.


    ¡°By the way,¡± Jun Huang looked up at Ji Bo and asked, ¡°Why is the gentleman here?¡±


    Ji Bo didn¡¯t keep anything from her. ¡°After you left the imperial city, I got wind that the House of Heavenly Fiends were in Yun Town. I left the city as well. The road was difficult to traverse, so I didn¡¯t try to catch up with you.¡±


    Jun Huang made a sound of understanding. They walked out of the basement and returned to the spot they hade from. Ji Bo and the old man were old friends. They had more to talk about. Therefore Jun Huang and Nan Xun took their leave first. The tea house owner and the clerk were waiting for them outside.


    ¡°I was ordered to wait for you here,¡± the tea house owner said. ¡°It¡¯ste now, and the gentlemen are not familiar with the area. Let us take you back to Yun Town.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Nan Xun epted the offer. It was dark now. Traveling at night was difficult enough in itself. Now that Jun Huang was injured, he didn¡¯t want any idents to happen. He helped her get into the coach.


    On the way back, Jun Huang kept her eyes shut and didn¡¯t say a word. Nan Xun knew she was awake. She was simply resting because she wasn¡¯t feeling well.


    The clip-clop of the horse¡¯s hoofs came from outside the coach. The path they traveled on was a smooth one. They soon reached the inn they were staying in.


    The coach came to a stop. Jun Huang opened her eyes and let Nan Xun help her out. They bid farewell to the tea house owner. When they turned around, they were surprised to find Rong¡¯er waiting for them.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally back!¡± Worried that Jun Huang and Nan Xun would ignore her, Rong¡¯er continued without a pause, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you two for a while. I was thinking abouting backter, but I didn¡¯t want to miss you again.¡±

 Chapter 183

    Chapter 183: Temptation


    Nan Xun took a step back and leveled Rong¡¯er with a cold stare. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Rong¡¯er stilled. She didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to hold a grudge against her still. She twisted her lips and sucked in a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ve been wrong. I admit my mistakes. I want to buy you two dinner as apology. I hope you won¡¯t turn me down.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Nan Xun snapped. He didn¡¯t care about what she said at all. ¡°Please go away.¡±


    ¡°Why must the gentleman treat me this way?¡± Rong¡¯er said, tilting her head up to look at Nan Xun with red eyes. She tugged at Nan Xun¡¯s sleeve pitifully, very much unlike her usual snobbish self. ¡°Rong¡¯er has realized my mistakes. Is the gentleman not willing to show me any mercy?¡±


    It was dinner time. Many guests wereing into the inn. Jun Huang noticed that they had attracted a lot of attention. It wasn¡¯t a good idea for them to keep arguing with Rong¡¯er here. She reached out to Nan Xun, trying to calm him down. Before she could touch him, however, Nan Xun flung Rong¡¯er¡¯s hand away and knocked into Jun Huang identally.


    Jun Huang had not fully recovered yet. She staggered and fell out of the door.


    In panic, Nan Xun rushed toward her and helped Jun Huang up. He had let his anger get the better of him. ¡°Are you hurt? I ¨C I didn¡¯t mean it.¡±


    Jun Huang gave him a small smile and shook her head. She stood up with Nan Xun¡¯s help.


    Rong¡¯er scoffed inwardly, but she didn¡¯t let it show. She knew how much Nan Xun cared about Jun Huang. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, gentleman Feng. I came to you to apologize. I hope you¡¯ll let me make amends to you. I¡¯ve arranged our dinner as my apology.¡±


    Jun Huang hummed. Rong¡¯er was a woman after all. She had gone through the troubles to reach out for them. Jun Huang would like to resolve this conflict between them once and for all. She nodded. ¡°Then we¡¯ll ept your apology.¡±


    ¡°Great. Come with me.¡± Rong¡¯er nced at Nan Xun reflexively. Nan Xun lowered his head and turned to Jun Huang, who gave him a pointed look. He reluctantly nodded. The three of them made their way to the booth Rong¡¯er had reserved.


    Rong¡¯er told the servers to bring them their food. Soon, the table was covered by a great variety of dishes. Jun Huang, however, didn¡¯t feel like eating at all. She had just been through a difficult fight. She could still smell the blood.


    Nan Xun, simrly, had lost his appetite. He took a few bites before putting down his chopsticks.


    Rong¡¯er turned to Jun Huang, than to Nan Xun. She was puzzled, but she didn¡¯t dwell on it. She put on a smile and poured Nan Xun a cup of wine. Neither Jun Huang nor Nan Xun noticed that she had tampered with it.


    ¡°Is the food not to your taste? Then have some wine.¡± Rong¡¯er handed Nan Xun the cup earnestly. She rxed when Nan Xun took the cup and poured another cup of wine for Jun Huang.


    She wasn¡¯t going to do anything to Jun Huang¡¯s cup. She wanted nothing more than to throw Jun Huang out.


    Nan Xun was used to having a drink after a battle to forget about the cruelty he had witnessed. He had been through a bloody fight today. He would like to drink to push away the dark thoughts guing him. Without thinking, he downed the cup of wine in one go.


    Jun Huang, on the other hand, smelled the wine to make sure there was nothing wrong about it before taking a sip.


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s smile grew deeper seeing that Nan Xun had drunk the wine. She knew it wasn¡¯t time yet, though. She suppressed her excitement and had a drink herself.


    After three cups of wine, Jun Huang was starting to get light-headed. Her wine had not been tampered with, but she was somewhat of a lightweight. She got to her feet and did her best to steady herself. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to our room.¡±


    ¡°Do you need me to go back with you?¡± Nan Xun got to his feet. Jun Huang seemed a little drunk.


    Before Rong¡¯er could say anything to stop him, Jun Huang waved a hand and said, ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten much, have you? You should get more food in you. There¡¯s no need for you to follow me. I¡¯m not drunk yet. I can find my way back.¡±


    With that, she turned and walked away.


    Nan Xun felt a sense of loss as he watched Jun Huang go. Rong¡¯er¡¯s eyes lit up in delight. Her smile grew seductive as she poured Nan Xun another cup of wine. ¡°Come on, have another cup.¡±


    Nan Xun was reminded of Jun Huang¡¯s conversation with Ji Bo. He was frustrated that Jun Huang knew about his feelings, but refused to let their rtionship change. Normally he was a disciplined drinker, but now he was drinking with abandon. He wanted to dull his emotions with alcohol.


    Before he could get drunk, a ball of heat rose from his heart and burned through his body. His face was tinted with red and the coldness in his eyes gave way to scorching heat.


    Rong¡¯er had been keeping an eye on Nan Xun. She could tell that the aphrodisiac was working. She pulled her lips into a smile and sauntered toward Nan Xun with a leer.


    She put her hand on Nan Xun shoulder and rubbed at his muscles suggestively. Anyone else would have yielded to the temptation. Nan Xun, however, wasn¡¯t just anyone. He seized Rong¡¯er¡¯s wrist before she could reach into his clothes and tried his best to keep his head clear.


    ¡°You¡¯re hurting me, gentleman Nan.¡± Rong¡¯er flinched as if she was in pain, but she didn¡¯t try to pull away at all. Instead, she used her other hand to caress Nan Xun¡¯s hand.


    Nan Xun took a deep breath and shot up to his feet, pushing Rong¡¯er down to the table. Rong¡¯er¡¯s heart fluttered. She assumed that Nan Xun had surrendered to his desires. She blushed and bit her bottom lip meekly.


    What she imagined would happen had not happened, however. Nan Xun pushed her away and bit out, ¡°You should learn what shame is,¡± before storming away.


    Rong¡¯er¡¯s pupils contracted. Before Nan Xun could leave the booth, she tackled him from behind and held onto him. Nan Xun froze. She thought that Nan Xun must have been hit with arousal. She clung to him like a snake. As long as she could have Nan Xun, she was willing to abandon her shame and her dignity. She would abandon everything.


    Nan Xun scoffed and pried Rong¡¯er¡¯s hands off his waist. He pinched Rong¡¯er¡¯s chin tightly and threatened with his eyes narrowed, ¡°Get away from me, or I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡±


    There was an urgency to his tone. Rong¡¯er could tell that he was losing control. She couldn¡¯t possibly let this opportunity slip. Throwing all her reservation out of the window, she tried to hold onto Nan Xun again.


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes darkened. Without hesitation, he kicked Rong¡¯er away. She fell onto the table with a pained huff, unable to get up.


    Scoffing, Nan Xun stumbled out of the room, rubbing at his eyebrows.


    Rong¡¯er couldn¡¯t do anything but to watch him go. She punched the floor hard, causing her hand to bleed. It was clear how angry she was.


    Nan Xun tried his best to maintain hisposure, but his legs were getting weak. The aphrodisiac was potent. He got to Jun Huang¡¯s room on autopilot and put a hand on the door. He didn¡¯t immediately opened it.


    Maybe this would be an opportunity to get to know what Jun Huang was thinking. Nan Xun had his pride. He couldn¡¯t ept the fact that Jun Huang would just throw away her feelings like that. Ji Bo and Jun Huang¡¯s conversation rang in his head. It refused to leave him alone. Anger and frustration turned his eyes red. He pushed open the door.


    Jun Huang had been feeling a little dizzy. After a short rest, she felt much better. The creak of the door told her that Nan Xun had returned. She propped herself up, about to talk to him, but before she could sit up properly, Nan Xun tackled her. His body was a solid weight on her.


    Jun Huang startled, her face going pale. She tried to push Nan Xun off herself, worried that something had happened to him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t... don¡¯t move. I was hit by aphrodisiac.¡± Nan Xun took Jun Huang¡¯s hand in his and stared down at her.


    He was able to turn Rong¡¯er away no matter what she had tried. Now, however, even though Jun Huang had not done anything, his self-control was already slipping. He lowered his head and tried to kiss her. Jun Huang turned away. His lipsnded on her cheek.


    ¡°Jun Huang,¡± Nan Xun murmured, lifting her chin with his fingers and tilting her head back to face him. He wasn¡¯t forceful; he didn¡¯t want to hurt her. He lowered his head again and kissed the corner of her mouth, biting her lip gently.


    Jun Huang widened her eyes at Nan Xun. With his eyes shut, Nan Xun looked so attractive with that tender smile of his. Her heart fluttered and soared for him.


    She had made up her mind to let go of her desires for Nan Xun. She didn¡¯t expect him to seduce her like this. Her heart skipped a few beats as she stared dumbly at Nan Xun.


    That was what Nan Xun saw when he opened his eyes ¨C Jun Huang staring at him, unblinking. He let out a low chuckle and brushed his hand over her eyes. ¡°Close your eyes.¡±


    Jun Huang closed her eyes obediently, her long eyshes bushing against his palm. He couldn¡¯t take this fire burning through his body anymore. He yanked out the nket between them. Their bodies fit together like puzzle pieces. Jun Huang could feel his arousal, his hot breaths hitting her face. Nervousness seized her heart. Her cheeks became as red as an apple.

 Chapter 184

    Chapter 184: Intentional


    ¡°Hm... let me go, Nan Xun.¡± Jun Huang tried to push Nan Xun off her, but she wasn¡¯t strong enough to move a man like him. Nan Xun took both her wrists and pinned them above her head.


    ¡°I won¡¯t hurt you,¡± Nan Xun whispered as he kissed Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. Her eyshes fluttered and she started to tremble. Nan Xun, though, was ovee by the desires burning through him. He made quick work of his topwear and reached out for Jun Huang¡¯s robe.


    His fingers found their way to her waistband. With a tug, her robe fell loose. Nan Xun nted a feather-light kiss on Jun Huang¡¯s cheek. His fingers snuck into her robe. His heart started to race.


    As if woken up from a dream, Jun Huang used all her force to push Nan Xun away. He was caught off guard and fell on the bed. Jun Huang stumbled off the bed and pulled her robe tight around herself. Her hair ran messily down her shoulders, and her robe was rumpled. It aroused one¡¯s desires to take and make her his.


    Nan Xun felt the urge to pull her back to bed without thinking about the consequences, but Jun Huang¡¯s pale face made him pause. He looked at her without a word.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath to calm herself and tried her best to sound natural. ¡°Wake up, Nan Xun. Do you know what you¡¯re doing?¡±


    ¡°I ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Enough, I don¡¯t want to hear a word from you. I¡¯ll sleep outside tonight.¡± She quickly put on her boots and fixed her robe before fleeing the room. Nan Xun was left on his own.


    Seeing Jun Huang running away like she couldn¡¯t bear to stay a moment longer, Nan Xun tightened his jaw and punched the bed, his eyes filled with frustration. He sat on the bed, trying and failing to control his breathing.


    Someone knocked on the door. He had thought it was Jun Huang, but it was the clerk.


    The clerk brought in a bucket of cold water and shuddered when he saw the intimidating scowl on Nan Xun¡¯s face. For a moment he couldn¡¯t say anything. ¡°A ¨C a gentleman told me that ¨C that the guest in this room needs some cold water. He told me ¨C told me to bring it here.¡±


    Nan Xun took a deep breath to suppress his anger and nodded. ¡°Put it down and leave.¡±


    The clerk nodded frantically and put the bucket of cold water behind the screen. He then fled the room. He was scared by the coldness radiating from Nan Xun, but he couldn¡¯t stop himself from wondering why anyone would want to take a cold bath in this weather. He hunched his shoulders as he imagined what it would feel like.


    Nan Xun stayed unmoving for a while before getting to his feet. He took off all his clothes and let out a bitterugh when he saw the state he was in. He walked behind the screen and poured the bucket of cold water over his head, grinding his teeth together to brace for the sharp chill. He let out a long breath as freezing water streamed down his body.


    Another wave of heat rose up from his body. His expression turned darker.


    He must have consumed more aphrodisiac than he had thought. A whole bucket of water wasn¡¯t enough to quell his desires. He looked for Jun Huang¡¯s needle pouch and took a silver needle out. He pricked his wrist without hesitation and continued along his arms. Pearls of blood trickled down his hand. When he stopped, his arm was covered in puncture wounds. Finally he was able to clear his system of any aphrodisiac by letting out his blood. He put the needle away and put on a robe.


    It was close to midnight. Nan Xun was exhausted. He made his way to the bed and fell asleep immediately.


    Jun Huang was staying in the main hall downstairs. She frowned when the clerk rushed into the main hall like he had seen a ghost. She walked up to him and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is mypanion alright?¡±


    The clerk swallowed and said timidly, ¡°The honored guest upstairs looked as if he could spit out fire. I was wondering why you would tell me to bring cold water to him. Now I know. He does need to cool down a little.¡±


    The clerk hurried away. Jun Huang let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately the aphrodisiac didn¡¯t seem to be too harmful.


    She had escaped the room without hesitation. She believed that Nan Xun would be able to fight off the effects on his own. Her face paled when she thought back to what had happened, but she forced herself to remain calm.


    She stayed the night lying on a bench in the main hall. When Nan Xun woke up the next morning, there was no one else in the room. With a frown, he sat up and stared at the wall for a moment before getting off the bed. He looked around and didn¡¯t see Jun Huang. He was worried that something had happened to her. When he rushed out of the door, one of his guards was waiting right outside.


    ¡°Have you seen gentleman Feng?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    The guard looked downstairs. Following his gaze, Nan Xun saw Jun Huang having breakfast in the main hall with an aloof expression. It was as if she had forgotten about everything.


    Nan Xun¡¯s expression darkened. After a pause, he asked, ¡°When did she go downstairs?¡±


    ¡°Gentleman Feng has been staying downstairs sincest night,¡± the guard said. ¡°We thought something has happened. When we asked, though, he said that nothing was wrong.¡±


    Nan Xun huffed, narrowing his eyes at Jun Huang. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you book another room for her?¡± he demanded. ¡°You just let her stay in the main hall like that?¡±


    The guard dropped down to the floor. ¡°Please forgive this subordinate, Your Highness.¡±


    Jun Huang had heard their conversation. She looked up and saw the guard kneeling before a scowling Nan Xun. She frowned and looked away. Nan Xun¡¯s mood grew darker seeing her reaction. He mmed the door shut after returning to the room.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t pay him any attention. After breakfast, she got to her feet and whipped her sleeves loose. She happened to see Nan Xun walking out of the room. Their eyes met at a distance. Jun Huang could see that Nan Xun was troubled. His second inmand must have sent a message.


    Jun Huang jogged up to him and asked, ¡°Has something happened in Yunzhou?¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head. ¡°No. The unrest there has been resolved. My men have reached the outskirt of Yun Town. They stay outside to avoid causing a panic. My second inmand sent a letter through pigeon asking me if we should depart now.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a relieved sigh and nodded. ¡°We should. We¡¯ve stayed here for too long. Since the riot in Yunzhou has been suppressed, the emperor will know about it in no time. If we stay for too long, he¡¯s going to get suspicious. Besides, the House of Heavenly Fiends has agreed to help find my brother. We don¡¯t have to stay here. Let us depart. We shouldn¡¯t let so many people wait for us. And with the martial arts tournament too many troubles could arise if the wrong people saw us. It¡¯s better to go now.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Nan Xun agreed easily. He hade to the same conclusion as Jun Huang. He told the guard standing at their door to notify the other three guards and walked back into the room.


    Jun Huang realized that one of her needles was missing when she checked her needle pouch. Before she could ask, she noticed the red water in the bucket. The missing needley next to it with traces of blood on the floor. She threw a nce at Nan Xun and saw the bandages around his arm. Realization dawned on her. She stayed silent and put away the needle.


    This time, when Jun Huang said she was going to ride a horse out of town to join the troop, Nan Xun didn¡¯t argue. He got her a horse of meeker temperament before they set off.


    They spotted the second inmand and the troop about twenty miles away from Yun Town. Nan Xun had not gone to Yunzhou himself. Instead, he relied on letters from his second inmand to deal with the unrest. When a difficulty arose, his second inmand would send a shadowguard to find Nan Xun. As a result, Nan Xun didn¡¯t have a full grasp on the situation in Yunzhou.


    He went up to talk to his second inmand immediately. He had not said a word to Jun Huang along the way.


    The soldiers noticed that something was off, but they couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was. Only the four guards following Nan Xun to Yun Town knew that something had happened between Nan Xun and Jun Huang, which had caused Nan Xun¡¯s dark mood. It was Nan Xun¡¯s personal affair, however. Mere guards like them were in no ce to intervene. They kept the information to themselves.


    The soldiers had spent most of their life fighting on battlefields. They were far from observant when it came to things like this. They quickly put the awkwardness out of their mind.


    They traveled to the imperial city as quickly as they could. Upon their arrival, they found out that the city had been far from peaceful recently.


    Jun Huang frowned listening to one of her men¡¯s briefing. Nan Xun followed her back to her manor instead of going back to his ce or going to the pce.


    ¡°While the gentleman is away, the feud between the crown prince and the third prince has surfaced,¡± the page boy Jun Huang had nted at Qi Chen¡¯s side said. ¡°The prawns can¡¯t avoid getting into the fight when their masters wage wars against one another. Without the gentleman reigning the crown prince in, he has rooted out many officials who were on the third prince¡¯s side. They imed to be innocent, but they couldn¡¯t run away from the investigation.¡±


    ¡°...Are any of them innocent?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    ¡°The crown prince and the third prince have been attacking one another with no regard to their brotherly bond,¡± said the page boy. ¡°Those they arrested have not been released, and none of them deserve to be released. They are all corrupt in some way.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. The page boy got nervous and asked her what was wrong. She pursed her lips without a word.


    ¡°Nothing is wrong,¡± Jun Huang said after a pause. ¡°It¡¯s just that it hasn¡¯t been long since thest investigation. Having so many officials arrested again so soon would have some serious repercussions. The foundation of the country may be damaged.¡±

 Chapter 185

    Chapter 185: Circumstances


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s as simple as it appears to be,¡± Nan Xun interjected suddenly. Jun Huang turned to him in question.


    Nan Xun sorted his thoughts out before saying, ¡°I think the emperor may have been involved this time. Qi Chen and the third prince alone would not be able to cause such a big impact. Without the emperor¡¯s interference, those officials would not have been caught so easily.¡±


    Jun Huang made a sound of assent. ¡°You mean the emperor is key to the sess of the investigation.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Nan Xun said. ¡°Think about it. The emperor has been trying to root out the corrupt officials in the court. He has a clearer picture of the situation than many others. Cleaning house now may not be a bad idea for him. He can take this opportunity to identify those who have not done anything even though they receive stipend from the state. He may also be trying to find recements for those positions to further his own goal.¡±


    Jun Huang tensed up. She didn¡¯t expect something like this to happen. After spending some more time talking to Nan Xun about the situation in Northern Qi, she couldn¡¯t bear to wait any longer. She shot to her feet. Nan Xun turned to her with a calm expression.


    ¡°Thest investigation is a done deal. We didn¡¯t know there were people from Eastern Wu hidden in the pce at the time. Now Qi Chen has foolishly disregarded everything for his own personal gain. If nothing is done, the foundation of the country will be damaged. I must go to the crown prince¡¯s manor at once and stop him.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to leave. Nan Xun called out for her when she reached the door.


    She turned around and waited for him to speak.


    ¡°What is done is done. It¡¯s not going to be easy for you to turn things around. We might as well cross the bridge when wee to it.¡±


    Nan Xun was worried about Jun Huang¡¯s health. He didn¡¯t want her to exhaust herself by getting involved in the feud between the two princes.


    After a pause, Jun Huang looked up at the grey sky outside and put on a smile. ¡°We don¡¯t know how difficult it¡¯s going to be. As a strategist I should be doing my best. Even if I won¡¯t be able to help Northern Qi unite the world, I¡¯ll still devote myself to this goal without regret.¡±


    She walked away without any hesitation.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help the ruefulugh escaping his mouth. He sighed at Jun Huang¡¯s retreating form before leaving for the pce.


    ¡°Your Highness, gentleman Feng has returned,¡± said the housekeeper. When he walked into the study, Qi Chen was ying with his pet bird. ¡°He¡¯s waiting right outside.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s head jerked up in surprise. He didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to return so quickly. He straightened up and put the birdcage aside. ¡°Quick! Tell brother Feng toe in!¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± The housekeeper walked out of the study. Not long after, Jun Huang entered the room. She cupped her hands at Qi Chen with an aloof expression.


    It had been a while since thest time Qi Chen saw Jun Huang. Her calmposure still surprised him even after all this time. He weed her with a smile and reached out to help her up.


    ¡°Brother Feng has been away for about a month, and yet your grace is still unparalleled,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°I felt the hole you left while you were away.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness is too kind,¡± Jun Huang said calmly. Her perfect mask never broke.


    Qi Chen invited Jun Huang to take a seat. He considered her expression and cleared his throat. ¡°During the time brother Feng is away... have you gotten what you wanted?¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at Qi Chen in confusion. It took a moment for her to realize what he was referring to. The rumor about her and Nan Xun had be ubiquitous. Qi Chen must know that Nan Xun had been staying in Yun Town with her as well.


    She pulled her lips into an awkward smile and waved a hand in denial, but her denial seemed more like a confirmation to Qi Chen. Heughed openly and patted her on the shoulder. ¡°Brother Feng doesn¡¯t have to be coy with me. I won¡¯t mock you no matter what. Love cannot be predicted nor exined. I¡¯m surprised, though, that brother Nan is brother Feng¡¯s type.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t think she would be able to convince Qi Chen otherwise, so she shut her mouth and let out a quietugh, her expression rxed and her eyes downcast.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t spend too much time on Jun Huang¡¯s personal affairs. He had felt Jun Huang¡¯s absence keenly. Now that she was back, he must take the opportunity to ask for her opinions. There were many things he would like to discuss with her.


    ¡°Brother Feng must havee for an important reason,¡± Qi Chen said. ¡°I happen to have things to discuss with brother Feng as well.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case,¡± Jun Huang said after a pause, ¡°May Your Highness tell me what you want to talk about first?¡±


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t try to argue. ¡°During your absence, the conflict between me and third brother has exacerbated. I¡¯ve always prided myself for having gentleman Feng on my side. These days, though, I¡¯vee to realize that there is someone of great wisdom assisting third brother as well.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡± Jun Huang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm. Her emotions did now show in her tone.


    Qi Chen thought for a moment. ¡°I know how he was before. It doesn¡¯t make sense for him to suddenly be so impressive even if he had been conserving his strength. Besides, his actions are not ones of an ordinary man. Without you here, I¡¯ve suffered a great many defeats. I hope brother Feng will help mee up with a good n to fight back.¡±


    ¡°What if this gentleman asks Your Highness to back off?¡±


    Qi Chen could not control his temper. Had Jun Huang not heard what he just said? ¡°How can I possibly back off at such critical juncture? Am I going to just ignore the loss I¡¯ve suffered? Am I going to just let him win?¡±


    Jun Huang was unfazed by his demanding tone. She leveled Qi Chen with a cold stare. ¡°Your Highness may have suffered some loss, but it¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing. Does Your Highness know how many people have been rooted out because of your conflict with the third prince? Is the current situation not clear enough for you? Your Highness is the crown prince. The third prince should be the one to be worried. Why must Your Highness dwell on unnecessary concerns? There¡¯s a reason for this gentleman to ask Your Highness to back off. Namely, the men from Eastern Wu that remain hidden in Northern Qi. They may be hiding right at the emperor¡¯s side. If the investigation damages the foundation of the country, what does Your Highness stand to gain even if you fulfill your dream and be the emperor?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but she had presented Qi Chen the cold hard truths, forcing him to look at the big picture. Qi Chen was already half convinced. He stared at Jun Huang, trying to determine the truthfulness of her words.


    Cold sweat broke out of his forehead once he came to see the implications of his actions. His breathing became so faint it was barely there. ¡°Brother Feng is right. I¡¯ve let third brother anger me to the point of losing my sight. This infighting between us cannot go on.¡±


    ¡°What does brother Feng propose we do next?¡±


    Jun Huang went over the different ways Northern Qi¡¯s fate can go before answering, ¡°We have to be patient. The emperor may have turned a blind eye to the fight between Your Highness and the third prince, but it¡¯s possible he¡¯s trying to see which of you is going to realize your mistakes first. We should first find those men from Eastern Wu. The rest we¡¯ll deal withter.¡±


    ¡°Are we going to just let third brother off the hook? Brother Feng may not know what he¡¯s dely. He cannot be forgiven. I may have used the opportunity to take out some of his men in the court, but he in turns has taken my right hand men away from me.¡±


    The more Qi Chen spoke, the angrier he got. He could not forgive his brother.


    Jun Huang twisted her lips with her eyes fixed on Qi Chen. ¡°What does Your Highness n to do? Are you going to send Northern Qi into chaos for petty revenge? What if Eastern Wu attacks Northern Qi suddenly? Will Northern Qi be able to send out an army? Will Northern Qi be able to provide its soldiers with food and supplies? Has Your Highness thought about all these?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s tone was calm. One had to listen carefully to hear the underlying emotions in her words. That was exactly what made Qi Chen freeze. The questions Jun Huang raised were not new to him, but he had been blinded by his rage.


    He fell silent. What had he been doing? How could he forget about his goal due to his pursuit of instant gratification?


    Jun Huang knew that he had taken her advice to mind. She let out a deep breath andmiserated, ¡°This gentleman knows how Your Highness feels, but the circumstances do not allow us to be reckless. After Northern Qi has sessfully deterred Eastern Wu, Your Highness can do whatever you want. This gentleman will also help Your Highness get back at the third prince. You will have your revenge.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s tone was earnest. The trace of frustration in Qi Chen¡¯s heart disappeared. He nodded. ¡°Brother Feng is right. I¡¯ve been too stubborn. If I¡¯ve said anything inappropriate, I hope brother Feng can forgive me.¡±


    They grew quiet. During Jun Huang¡¯s absence, Qi Chen had umted a long list of affairs he would like to consult with Jun Huang on. He brought them up seeing that Jun Huang was in a good condition. He would like an in-depth discussion with her and asked her for advice on issues he did not understand fully. He wanted to be able to give the emperor a good answer should the emperor raise the issue during the morning meeting tomorrow.

 Chapter 186

    Chapter 186: Misfortune


    The issue started out simple: in the northern part of Northern Qi, there were merchants who had been found to be selling salt illegally. Salt is the foundation of the country. It was a major source of ie for the treasury. Lately, however, illegal salt vendors had sprouted like bamboo shoots. In the beginning, their number was small, and their impact negligible. Now, though, it had be a serious problem.


    This could either be really bad, or merely a small nuisance. If the issue was properly dealt with, it would be a great achievement. The fact that the emperor tasked Qi Chen with the responsibility was proof that Qi Chen enjoyed the emperor¡¯s favor.


    Nheless, that was also where the problemy. If the issue wasn¡¯t dealt with with a deft hand, people with malicious intents might used the failing as a way to attack Qi Chen. It was a big risk to take on.


    Jun Huang read over the report again and again, her brows furrowed. What were the factors at y here? She must be careful. She was no longer at Qi Chen¡¯s side at all time. If she failed to take care of the issue properly, Qi Chen might doubt her loyalty, which would be troublesome.


    ¡°Does Your Highness have a hand in this?¡± Jun Huang asked casually.


    Qi Chen cleared his throat and said hesitantly, ¡°I don¡¯t think this is too hard to deal with. I¡¯m just debating over the wording...¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s reaction was all the confirmation Jun Huang needed. Qi Chen must have been involved. She mmed the report on the desk with a scowl. Qi Chen, who was preupied with his guilt, didn¡¯t scold her for forgetting about the rules of propriety between a prince and his subordinate.


    ¡°This gentleman knows that there is great profit to be made, but does Your Highness know what will befall Northern Qi if everyone does the same thing? If Your Highness yourself does not follow the rules, how can you make sure that people who were blinded by profit would stop their wrongdoings? How can you be a convincing leader?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s tone was harsh and blunt. Her tant disregard for Qi Chen¡¯s feelings put a dark expression on his face.


    Jun Huang was reminded of another thing: Even though selling salt illegally could be profitable, it wasn¡¯t easy to run such an operation. Qi Chen would need a solidwork of aplices to avoid detection. There must be someone powerful making the arrangements for him behind the scene.


    ¡°I know what you mean,¡± Qi Chen tried to defend himself. ¡°At the time I didn¡¯t think too much of it. Now that the issue has grown serious, I don¡¯t have an easy way out anymore. I hope brother Feng can help mee up with a good solution.¡±


    Jun Huang sighed and rubbed at her forehead. She was starting to feel weak because of the burden on her mind. ¡°This issue will lead to the depletion of treasury funds. Once it gets to that point, the emperor will conduct the investigation himself. There will truly be no way out for Your Highness then. You must cut your losses now.¡±


    Meanwhile, in the garden of the manor.


    ¡°Have you heard?¡± Wei Lanying overheard a servant said. ¡°Gentleman Feng has returned, and he¡¯s now in the prince¡¯s room.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± said another servant. ¡°I heard that gentleman Feng is a handsome and graceful man. Even other men can¡¯t help being attracted to him. Do you know Prince Nan Xun? He¡¯s known for being aloof to even the most beautiful woman. Now though, he has fallen under gentleman Feng¡¯s robe despite what the world deems appropriate.¡±


    The two servants were young and hade to the manor only recently. They didn¡¯t know they should have lowered their voices. Wei Lanying¡¯s expression darkened. Her personal maid said in a quiet voice, ¡°This servant thinks they have a point. Gentleman Feng has gone to the prince immediately after his return. Who knows what he¡¯s doing in the prince¡¯s room? The favoritism the prince showed to gentleman Feng alone warrants suspicion. This servant spectes that gentleman Feng has seduced the prince to gain his privileges.¡±


    Wei Lanying huffed and snapped the crabapple flower before her. Her maid backed away in fear and fell silent.


    Wei Lanying knew what she was referring to. Jun Huang had always enjoyed Qi Chen¡¯s favor, while Wei Lanying had lost Qi Chen¡¯s affection because of her false pregnancy. She knew how much Qi Chen¡¯s attitude towards her had changed. Of course she was suspicious as well. The servants¡¯ conversation was thest straw to tip her over.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget that Feng Baiyu is the reason for the Wei family¡¯s downfall. Otherwisedy Wei wouldn¡¯t have suffered such terrible treatment from the prince now.¡± The maid choked out a sob before continuing, ¡°I know that Lady Wei wants the prince to love you genuinely. However, we have to be realistic. Maybe we should do what your mother suggested. Once you¡¯re pregnant, the prince will treat you with care.¡±


    Wei Lanying thought back to what she had seen thest time she went back home. Her father had lost his position after Nan Xun found out about his corruption, and he had since been staying at home. The manor was unusually quiet and deste. Everyone in her family was now relying on her.


    After hearing about how she was treated at Prince Chen Manor, her mother had given her an aphrodisiac that would not harm the human body. Once Qi Chen took it, she would be able to be pregnant with Qi Chen¡¯s child. With this child, no one would dare to hurt her.


    She had been hesitating. She didn¡¯t want to use tricks such as this to catch Qi Chen¡¯s attention. With Jun Huang back, though, she had to give it another consideration.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be hesitant,dy Wei,¡± the maid pushed when she saw that Wei Lanying was swaying. ¡°You are the prince¡¯s first spouse. You are entitled to spend nights with him.¡±


    Wei Lanying frowned. She couldn¡¯t make the decision.


    ¡°Are you going to wait until the princess gives birth to the prince¡¯s child and be more favored?¡± The maid was getting nervous. She could picture how Wei Lanying would be exorcised from the manor once Nan Guyue¡¯s child was born. ¡°Her status has risen significantly ever since her pregnancy. What are you going to do after she gives Qi Chen his heir?¡±


    Wei Lanying shuddered. She could not imagine the consequences. She had be Nan Guyue¡¯s worst enemy. Nan Guyue wouldn¡¯t let Wei Lanying stay in the manor if she had the choice. She would take the opportunity to take her revenge.


    I can¡¯t leave this manor, Wei Lanying thought. I¡¯m the one who helped Qi Chen be the crown prince. I¡¯m the one who came first. How can I let thister take what¡¯s rightfully mine?


    Wei Lanying took a deep breath and turned to the maid. ¡°Go prepare a bowl of lotus seed soup,¡± she said carefully. Her mind was made up. ¡°Put the aphrodisiac inside the soup. Make sure that there¡¯s no noticeable signs. I will bring it to the prince.¡±


    The maid broke into a beam for her master¡¯s change of mind. She let out a relieved sigh and made a sound of agreement before rushing away. Wei Lanying was left standing before the crabapple tree, her eyes dark and vicious.


    The lotus soup had been prepared. Wei Lanying fixed her dress and made her way to the study. As the second consort, no one dared to stop her from entering. She knocked on the door and walked in with a bright smile. She came up to the desk, looking at Qi Chen with eyes as tender as water.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Qi Chen asked with a frown.


    ¡°Ying¡¯er heard that Your Highness has been busy and hasn¡¯t had anything to eat,¡± Wei Lanying said, cing the soup on the desk. Her hair fell on Qi Chen¡¯s arm when she bent down. ¡°I happened to be free, so I decided to bring Your Highness a bowl of lotus seed soup in case you¡¯re hungry.¡±


    Qi Chen felt a little awkward. He was in the middle of talking business with Jun Huang. It was inappropriate for Wei Lanying to interrupt them. She was his spouse, though, so he could only let his feelings known with his expression.


    Wei Lanying knew at least not to push her luck, but she was worried that she wouldn¡¯t be able to get to Qi Chen when he was hit with the effect of the aphrodisiac. ¡°I have learned how to massage recently,¡± she said. ¡°Your Highness is going to be tiredter. How about I wait for Your Highness in the room inside? It¡¯ll do Your Highness good to have the tension rubbed out of your muscles.¡±


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t want Wei Lanying to stay. He nodded without thinking. Satisfied, Wei Lanying walked into the room, leaving Qi Chen and Jun Huang alone.


    Jun Huang looked down at the report without any expressions. Qi Chen could tell that she was getting tired. He moved the bowl of lotus soup to her and said, ¡°Brother Feng doesn¡¯t look too good. You should have some of this.¡±


    Jun Huang wanted to argue, but Qi Chen didn¡¯t give her a chance. He took the report from her with a smile and started reading. Jun Huang didn¡¯t have a choice, and she was hungry. She tucked into the bowl of soup and quickly finished it.


    Only after she put down the bowl did Qi Chen return the report to Jun Huang. Jun Huang took it and said, ¡°There are two solutions to this problem. One, Your Highness may delegate some of your business to other people. Then even if the emperor finds out what you¡¯ve done one day, he won¡¯t put all the me on you. You¡¯ll only have to admit to some of it and apologize. You can then help with the investigation while taking care not to damage the foundation of the country.¡±


    ¡°The other solution is for Your Highness to lead by example. You may give up your business and let the officials see how determined you are. With your demonstration, the officials will follow suit.¡±


    ¡°Then how should I tell Royal Father?¡± asked Qi Chen.


    Jun Huang smiled. ¡°It¡¯s simple. You only need to tell the emperor ¨C ¡±


    She paused. Her body heated up as if a fire was spreading from her lower stomach. Sweats broke out of her forehead and dripped from her chin.

 Chapter 187

    Chapter 187: Behind the Scene


    Qi Chen frowned. He felt a sudden attraction to Jun Huang seeing her flushed face. He shook his head, forcing himself to forget about the inappropriate thoughts. He told himself that he was simply affected by the fact Jun Huang was into men.


    Wei Lanying had been wondering why the study was so quiet. She walked out and immediately realized that Jun Huang had eaten the lotus seed soup instead of Qi Chen. She cursed at Jun Huang for spoiling her n. She had to try to shirk off the suspicion.


    She took a deep breath and walked up to them. She huffed seeing the aroused look on Jun Huang¡¯s face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with gentleman Feng?¡± she asked innocently. ¡°Why is your face so red?¡±


    Qi Chen had noticed Jun Huang¡¯s condition. He turned to her with worried eyes.


    Jun Huang knew she had been hit with aphrodisiac. She adjusted her breathing to hide her reaction, but she stumbled when she got to her feet. Qi Chen caught her before she fell.


    From her misty eyes and feverish look, Qi Chen quickly figured out what was happening. He shot a re at Wei Lanying, who put on an innocent look.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what has happened, Your Highness,¡± said Wei Lanying. ¡°The lotus soup was prepared by the kitchen for sister Nan. There was some left. I brought it to you because you haven¡¯t had any. It has nothing to do with me.¡±


    ¡°This gentleman isn¡¯t feeling well, Your Highness,¡± Jun Huang said as she pulled away from Qi Chen. She took a deep breath and cupped her hands. ¡°Please excuse me.¡±


    Qi Chen assumed that Jun Huang was preserving her purity for Nan Xun, so he didn¡¯t stop her. He let her leave with a nod. Jun Huang threw Wei Lanying a nce before stumbling out of the room. Qi Chen walked away soon after, ignoring Wei Lanying¡¯s insistent calls.


    Every step Jun Huang took was a trial. Fortunately her home was not too far from Prince Chen Manor. Soon, she was able to return to her ce. The page boy watching the door ran up to her. He was shocked when he felt her feverish skin. Jun Huang ordered him to keep quiet and prepare some cold water for her.


    She immediately stepped into the barrel of cold water when she got back to her room. A shudder ran down her spine.


    Earlier, Nan Xun had been waiting for Jun Huang at her ce. When the sun started to set, he came to the conclusion that Jun Huang had been kept in Prince Chen Manor by Qi Chen, so he left for the manor to look for Jun Huang.


    He didn¡¯t see Qi Chen. Instead, he ran into Wei Lanying. She mockingly told him that Jun Huang was under the influence of aphrodisiac. He demanded to know where Jun Huang was before rushing away, leaving Wei Lanying fuming.


    Feng Baiyu is a man, she thought. Howe the two princes have be so obsessed with him? It¡¯s infuriating.


    Nan Xun hurried to Jun Huang¡¯s ce. The page boy assured him that Jun Huang had returned safely. Nan Xun let out a sigh of relief, but he didn¡¯t stop his strides. He made his way to Jun Huang¡¯s room.


    He knew how it felt to be hit by aphrodisiac. It wasn¡¯t an experience he would like to have again. The thought that Jun Huang was undergoing such torture upset him.


    Fortunately Wei Lanying had not dared to put too big a dose in the soup. Jun Huang felt better after taking a cold bath. She stepped out of the wooden tub and put on some clean clothes. Shey on the bed on top of the nket, her teeth ttering.


    When Nan Xun opened the door, Jun Huang was curled on her bed, trembling. He could tell how long she had been immersed in the cold water. Her body was freezing and radiating cold.


    Without a word, he took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed, pulling Jun Huang into his arms. Jun Huang was still feeling lightheaded. It took a moment for her to realize what was happening. The heat in her body acted up again. She pushed at Nan Xun, but he didn¡¯t budge.


    ¡°Let ¨C let me go,¡± Jun Huang muttered weakly into his chest.


    Nan Xun sighed. He could smell the scent of sandalwood from Jun Huang. He circled his arms around her and said in a resigned tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do anything. I know how it feels. You¡¯ll feel better this way. I¡¯ll use my inner energy to help you adjust yourself.¡±


    He smoothed his hand over her back. Energy flowed from his warm hands into her body and slowly circted through her system, which alleviated her difort. Her tightened jaw loosened somewhat and her eyes cleared.


    It was gettingte. Jun Huang was exhausted. She ended up falling asleep while she was in Nan Xun¡¯s arms.


    Jun Huang¡¯s breathing slowed to a steady pace. Nan Xun lowered his head to look at her. Her eyshes trembled slightly in the air. She was sound asleep.


    Nan Xun rxed. Fortunately her condition wasn¡¯t too serious.


    He wasn¡¯t willing to let go, though. The chance to hold her didn¡¯te easily. He wasn¡¯t going to let it slip. He gingerly pulled the nket from under him and put it over his and Jun Huang¡¯s body. He tightened his arms and dropped a featherlight kiss on her forehead.


    Jun Huang murmured something unintelligible. Nan Xun stayed awake in the dark for a good while before he finally fell asleep.


    Day broke. Jun Huang¡¯s eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was Nan Xun¡¯s face. The rising sun streamed through the window and hit the side of his face. The entire room was covered in a warm glow.


    In his sleep, Nan Xun looked softer and less stoic. It was rare to see the tender side under his steely demeanor.


    Jun Huang tried to get up and realized that Nan Xun was still holding her. Nan Xun was always a light sleeper. Jun Huang¡¯s slight movement was enough to wake him. He opened his eyes, leveling her with a deep and captivating gaze.


    Jun Huang had shared a bed with Nan Xun before, but it was the first time she woke up in Nan Xun¡¯s embrace. In Yun Town, the two of them had kept to their side of the bed, staying within their boundaries without ever nudging the line. She was not used to this intimacy.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Nan Xun said. His voice was still hoarse from his sleep. Jun Huang flushed a deep red and jerked away from him. She took a deep breath to steady herself and nodded.


    Nan Xun let out a ruefulugh seeing Jun Huang recovering her calm. He rubbed at his forehead and sat up.


    The sun had risen over the horizon. Jun Huang quickly got off the bed and put on a robe before pushing the door open. The backyard was bright and beautiful. It was a good day.


    Nan Xun fixed his clothes and walked up to Jun Huang. He nced at the servants sweeping the fallen leaves and hummed. ¡°Do you still feel ufortable?¡±


    Jun Huang turned to him and shook her head with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m feeling better,¡± she said quietly. ¡°Thank you for yesterday. If not for you, I¡¯d have caught a cold.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to let you suffer.¡± Nan Xun awkwardly touched his nose. Before he could say anything else, Little Girl came to announce that breakfast was ready. She also said that Qi Chen had sent a messenger early in the morning, asking Jun Huang to go to the manor as soon as she got the time.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Jun Huang to figure out what Qi Chen asked for her for. Their conversation about illegal salt vending had gone unfinished. Qi Chen must have failed toe up with a good solution after ruminating it over for a night.


    After breakfast, Jun Huang went straight to Prince Chen Manor. As soon as she arrived, she saw the pregnant Nan Guyue. It had been a while. Nan Guyue¡¯s belly was more and more pronounced.


    ¡°Princess.¡± Jun Huang was going to pretend she hadn¡¯t seen Nan Guyue, but Nan Guyue had stopped in her track and turned to her. Jun Huang had no choice but to stop to greet her.


    Qi Chen happened to be here for Nan Guyue as well. He rxed when he saw Jun Huang and jogged up to her. ¡°I didn¡¯t know yesterday that brother Feng has been the victim of a foul trick. I assumed that brother Feng was feeling tired because of your trip. Rest assured, I will take responsibility for what happened in this manor and find the one behind this.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled and looked up at Qi Chen. ¡°Your Highness is too kind. This gentleman didn¡¯t want to make a big deal out of it, but this has happened in the manor. It¡¯s not ideal to keep someone with ulterior motives around, is it? We should get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.¡±


    Qi Chen had merely been trying to be diplomatic. Jun Huang¡¯s words were a wake up call. He broke into cold sweat and nodded. ¡°Brother Feng is right.¡±


    ¡°Please excuse us, Guyue,¡± Qi Chen turned to Nan Guyue and said. ¡°Let the servants keep youpany. I have business to discuss with brother Feng.¡±


    Nan Guyue threw Jun Huang a look that Jun Huang did not understand. Jun Huang didn¡¯t think too much of it.


    Nan Guyue nodded. ¡°Of course. Your Highness should take care of your business.¡±


    Qi Chen was still concerned despite Nan Guyue¡¯s ready agreement. He ordered two of his experienced servants to keep at Nan Guyue¡¯s side before leading Jun Huang to the study. Nan Guyue kept her eyes on Jun Huang, but quickly looked away when Jun Huang turned to her.


    Jun Huang thought that perhaps she was overly sensitive. She followed Qi Chen into his study. Qi Chen had a servant bring them some tea. He poured Jun Huang a cup and said, ¡°Yesterday I¡¯ve spent some time thinking. I agree with what brother Feng said. My ambition is to gain the world, and it is going to be mine in the future. There¡¯s no need for me to be in a rush. I¡¯ll do as you suggested and let go of half of the salt vending business. What does brother Feng think?¡±

 Chapter 188

    Chapter 188: Inappropriate Feelings


    Jun Huang was a little surprised that Qi Chen actually listened to what she said. And she had only suggested him to give up one third of his business, but Qi Chen nned to let go of half of it. That was beyond her expectation.


    She curved her lips into a smile. ¡°This gentleman admires Your Highness for being able to look at the big picture.¡±


    ¡°Brother Feng is too kind. I still need you to help mee up with a good exnation.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t immediately respond. ¡°The emperor is worried that the treasury will be depleted. Illegal salt vendors sell salt at a much lower price than official salt vendors do. That¡¯s why the general public prefer illegal salt over official one. There is a thin line dividing the two types of vendors, however. If this gentleman remembers right, illegal vendors are mainly based in the saltke area in Yunzhou. Years ago their actions were reported to the emperor, but the emperor didn¡¯t pay too much attention to it. Why doesn¡¯t Your Highness report the issue again?¡±


    ¡°Let the emperor know what¡¯s happening and where the vendors got their salt from. Since illegal salt vending cannot be eliminated, it¡¯s better to turn these illegal vendors into official vendors. If the price official vendors sell at cannot be lowered topete with illegal vendors, the imperial court should acknowledge the existence of private vendors and ask them to turn over part of their revenue.¡±


    ¡°Does brother Feng suggest that vendors should pay taxes like other professions?¡± asked Qi Chen.


    Jun Huang nodded. Qi Chen thought for a moment and shook his head. ¡°Those private vendors have only their profits in mind. Most of them won¡¯t agree to pay taxes.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled behind her teacup and took a sip. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that Northern Qi belongs to the emperor. If the emperor is pleased, he can let those vendors have their business. If he¡¯s displeased, he can force them out of their business. Does Your Highness think that the emperor doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s happening? He simply decided to let Your Highness take full charge of the issue. What he wants is for you toe up with a well-rounded solution.¡±


    Qi Chen fell quiet. Jun Huang¡¯s analysis made sense. The emperor could not be predicted. Arguing against Jun Huang had only made him seem clueless. He shut his mouth.


    ¡°I¡¯m simply speaking my mind. If Your Highness does not agree, feel free to ignore me. I¡¯ve made my case.¡±


    Jun Huang went back to savoring her tea. She didn¡¯t want to waste more time trying to convince Qi Chen. Her expression had made her position clear.


    Qi Chen let out a sigh after a moment of silence and nodded. ¡°I know what brother Feng is thinking. I was wrong. I apologize for making brother Feng upset. I hope you won¡¯t hold it against me.¡±


    Jun Huang scoffed inwardly and looked outside the window with a smile. She got to her feet. ¡°This gentleman has said what I wanted to say,¡± she said as she fixed her broad sleeves. ¡°What Your Highness is going to do is up to you. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out.¡± Qi Chen stood up and followed Jun Huang out.


    Nan Guyue was waiting right at the door. Jun Huang turned to her curiously, but she didn¡¯t say anything.


    Nan Guyue walked up to them. ¡°I¡¯ll like to have a word with gentleman Feng, Your Highness. There are some questions I don¡¯t know the answers for. Someone as knowledgeable as gentleman Feng will be able to enlighten me. May I?¡±


    Qi Chen nodded without thinking and turned to Jun Huang, asking for her opinions. Jun Huang cupped her hands with a smile without missing a beat and said, ¡°It¡¯s my honor.¡±


    Qi Chen left to take care of some business. Jun Huang and Nan Guyue made their way to the pavilion. Nan Guyue asked the servant to leave them alone.


    She stared at Jun Huang without a word. Jun Huang frowned and gave it a moment. ¡°What does the princess want to ask about?¡±


    ¡°Do you harbor inappropriate feelings for the prince, Feng Baiyu?¡± Nan Guyue demanded.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyebrows jumped up. She would never! ¡°What is the princess saying? What inappropriate feelings can this gentleman have for the prince?¡±


    ¡°Have you ever had lewd fantasies about the prince?¡±


    Jun Huang schooled her expression into one of indifference and said in a steady tone, ¡°Why would the princess think so? Everything this gentleman does is out of my loyalty to the prince. I¡¯ve never thought about doing anything inappropriate. Why would you suspect me? It boggles my mind that you would think of me this way.¡±


    Nan Guyue knew that Jun Huang was the strategist Qi Chen favored and trusted the most. She must not offend Jun Huang. If Jun Huang talked to Qi Chen behind her back, Qi Chen would surely reprimand her, and even stop treating her favorably. She tightened her jaw and stared at Jun Huang. Jun Huang held her ground, unfazed by her fierce stare.


    Nan Guyue couldn¡¯t see any guilt on Jun Huang¡¯s face. She rxed a little. ¡°If so, you should keep your distance with the prince. If I notice you doing anything out of line, I will make you pay.¡®


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t consider Nan Guyue her enemy. There was no need for them to sh. She nodded.


    Qi Chen had finished dealing with whatever business he was dealing with. He walked up to them with a smile, assuming that Jun Huang and Nan Guyue was having a pleasant conversation. Noticing their expressions, he frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡®


    Nan Guyue stilled. Jun Huang calmly put on a smile and said, ¡°Nothing. We simply had a disagreement in our academic discussion and neither was willing to back down. This gentleman shouldn¡¯t have argued with the princess when she is pregnant. I¡¯ve forgotten myself in our debate. I hope Your Highness will forgive me.¡±


    Amused, Qi Chen turned to Nan Guyue with a smile. Nan Guyue returned his smile and looked toward Jun Huang. She didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to cover up for her. She had been too rude. She would like to exin herself, but she couldn¡¯t with Qi Chen here. Instead, she nodded in support of Jun Huang¡¯s exnation.


    Qi Chenughed brightly. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that I was away. I would love to see how you two argue. Have you reached an agreement? Who won?¡±


    ¡°The princess, of course,¡± Jun Huang said with her eyes lowered. ¡°Women like the princess is rare. She is open-minded and more clever than this gentleman is. Your Highness is more fortunate than others to have married someone like her.¡±


    She was talking Nan Guyue up, but her words didn¡¯t sound disingenuous at all. Nan Guyue and Qi Chen were both surprised.


    Qi Chen broke intoughter and patted Nan Guyue¡¯s hand. ¡°Brother Feng rarelypliments anyone, and he always means hispliments.¡±


    Nan Guyue looked up at Jun Huang. Jun Huang¡¯s expression was calm and her eyes were clear. It seemed as if she wasn¡¯t the one who had made up such pretty lies. She stood alone in this world, but she didn¡¯t belong here. Her ethereal grace was a sight to behold.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t smile often. Even when he did, his smile was usually faint. He hade to smile more until his feud with the third prince started. Gradually, the frequency of his good mood dwindled. Most of the time he looked so angry it was as if he was looking for a human punching bag for him to lose his temper at. It had been a while since Nan Guyue saw such a carefree expression on Qi Chen¡¯s face. And it was all because of Jun Huang. Nan Guyue couldn¡¯t help but feel jealous.


    She knew Jun Huang didn¡¯t desired Qi Chen after their conversation. Based on the rumors, Nan Xun was most likely the one Jun Huang truly loved. How Qi Chen felt, though, Nan Guyue couldn¡¯t be sure of.


    That was the thorn behind her back. She didn¡¯t know if Qi Chen wanted Jun Huang romantically. She wondered if Qi Chen was the one who gave Jun Huang the aphrodisiac.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qi Chen approached Nan Guyue and asked, worrying over her distracted look. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    Nan Guyue focused her mind and turned to Qi Chen with a forced smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Our child has been making troubles in my belly. It¡¯s been difficult for me to sleep. Even the medicine the doctor prescribed me doesn¡¯t help. The medicine is so bitter, and yet so useless. I might as well stop taking it.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Qi Chen said harshly, upset by her response. ¡°Of course the medicine works. You should take your health seriously.¡±


    Nan Guyue was simplyining. She didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen to react so strongly. She didn¡¯t know if she should be happy or sad.


    Qi Chen cared about the child she bore, but that care was aimed solely at the child, not the mother. It was possible that Qi Chen never felt anything for her at all.


    She let out a quietugh and sighed. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. I apologize for upsetting Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Qi Chen¡¯s expression softened.


    Jun Huang looked at them calmly. She took her leave after a while.


    Meanwhile, Wei Lanying had witnessed everything. Her smile grew vicious and her eyes were cold. Oh, how she wanted to beat Nan Guyue up! Only then would she be able to quell this anger in her heart.


    She forced herself to calm down. Her nails bit into her palms as she tightened her fists, leaving bloody crescents on her skin. The pain didn¡¯t register in her mind. Her venomous gaze flicked between Nan Guyue and Jun Huang.


    She let out a long breath when Jun Huang walked away. Her body trembled uncontrobly. Her vicious gaze was threatening against the backdrop of her pale face.


    Her maid pushed aside her fear and took a deep breath. ¡°Lady Wei, the two of them must have said something worthy of our notice while the prince was away. They seemed to be more friendly with each other than they should be.¡±

 Chapter 189

    Chapter 189: Old Trick


    ¡°How could I not know about things even you noticed? Feng Baiyu and Nan Guyue are not easy to deal with. Nan Guyue has the entire Southern Mu behind her, while Feng Baiyu is the one the prince trusts the most. From what we¡¯ve seen, that damn Nan Guyue must have allied herself with Feng Baiyu. It won¡¯t be easy to take them down.¡±


    Wei Lanying¡¯s eyes were as dark as the bottom of a frozen pond. Dangerous current lurked underneath the calm surface, waiting to im its victim.


    ¡°What does Lady Wei propose we do?¡± The maid was convinced that if Wei Lanying didn¡¯t do anything, they would lose their ce in this manor. She herself would be shunned by others along with Wei Lanying.


    Wei Lanying narrowed her eyes in contemtion. She had an idea. She needed only a point of attack. She turned to the maid and asked, ¡°Are there any neers in the manor? What kind of people are they?¡±


    The maid didn¡¯t know why Wei Lanying asked such a question, but she answered in a respectful tone, ¡°A few days ago an official sent a few women to the manor to butter up the prince. The prince was smart enough to turn him down, but one of the women managed to stay by seducing the prince. She¡¯s called Xiaoyun. She¡¯s not from Northern Qi. This servant has met her a few times. She is pretty and has an alluring body. She is a serving concubine now. Lately the prince has been visiting her a lot...¡±


    ¡°Have I asked you about that?¡± Wei Lanying snapped. She was angry enough because of Nan Guyue. Her mood turned even darker hearing her maidplimenting another woman. ¡°Just answer my question.¡±


    Worried that she might have alerted Qi Chen and Nan Guyue, she looked over at them. Qi Chen helped Nan Guyue up and they left together. They looked like the perfect couple. It put a heavy weight on Wei Lanying¡¯s chest.


    The maid was upset that Wei Lanying suddenlyshed out at her, but she didn¡¯t dare to voice herints. She stared at the ground and said, ¡°This Xiaoyun knows her manners. Yesterday she gifted Lady Wei with some plum blossom cream. She must know the position you are in and is trying to get on your good side. When the prince is not around, however, I heard that this Xiaoyun would forget herself and look down on everyone else in the manor. Even the concubine Rou¡¯er, who¡¯s talented in all forms of literature, has been insulted by her. Rou¡¯er has been in this manor for a while. Even though she is a serving concubine, she holds a more important ce in the prince¡¯s heart. She didn¡¯t say anything because she doesn¡¯t like troubles, but Xiaoyun continues to pester Rou¡¯er.¡±


    Wei Lanying hummed. This Xiaoyun was not someone harmless either. Who knew why she would try to approach Wei Lanying? The fact that she kept harassing Rou¡¯er indicated that she wasn¡¯t a smart one. Everyone knew that Qi Chen trusted and favored Rou¡¯er. Even Wei Lanying didn¡¯t dare to target Rou¡¯er. Xiaoyun, though, recklessly walked into deep water.


    Wei Lanying scoffed and carrassed her hairpin. ¡°Ah, is that so? She is someone the prince likes after all. As the first woman to enter this manor, I should pay her a visit. I can¡¯t let others think that I¡¯m a petty spouse, can I?¡±


    Wei Lanying turned to her maid and put on a smile. ¡°Fetch me the white jade bracelet the honored consort has given me. I¡¯ll go meet with this woman.¡±


    ¡°The bracelet is from the consort,¡± the maid said with a frown. ¡°Isn¡¯t that too valuable a gift? Why do you pick it for a woman like that? This servant can go find some random item to serve as a weing gift. Lady Wei is showing her enough regard by going to her in person. She isn¡¯t going toin.¡±


    ¡°This is why you can never be somebody,¡± Wei Lanying said. ¡°You can¡¯t lure a wolf in if you¡¯re not willing to let your child get bitten. I¡¯m being generous because there is something I¡¯ll like her to do for me. It¡¯s only a white jade bracelet. I can afford to give her one. A servant is always a servant. You don¡¯t understand even something this simple. What will happen if I leave this matter in your hand? Go fetch the bracelet now, or you¡¯ll get your punishment.¡±


    The maid didn¡¯t dare to say another word. She nodded and ran away. After about the time for an incense stick to burn, she came back with a delicate box. Wei Lanying opened it, revealing a white jade bracelet. With a smile, she led her maid to the building Xiaoyun was living in.


    Xiaoyun was enjoying the sunshine in the garden. Hearing the footsteps, she thought that Qi Chen hade. She jumped when she opened her eyes and realized that it was Wei Lanying. She bowed at her respectfully.


    Wei Lanying could tell that Xiaoyun was far from innocent. Her show of deference was a way for her to gain a foothold in the manor. Qi Chen was the crown prince. He was going to inherit the throne from the emperor. No one could predict what his harem would be like then, but it was smart toy down the foundation now.


    As for why Xiaoyun would treat Rou¡¯er this badly, she must have thought that someone meek like Rou¡¯er would not be able to cause her any troubles.


    She wasn¡¯tpletely brainless, but she wasn¡¯t smart either. She was putting her efforts in the wrong ce. Wei Lanying couldn¡¯t help feeling angry knowing that this was the woman Qi Chen had been treating favorably. She hid her anger behind a smile. She still had some use for Xiaoyun.


    Wei Lanying opened the decorative box and took out the bracelet. She put it on Xiaoyun¡¯s wrist. ¡°This is a gift from the consort. Now it¡¯s yours. We are both the prince¡¯s spouse. We should put his well being first and help each other.¡±


    Xiaoyun got excited by the fact that the bracelet was a gift the consort gave to Wei Lanying. Her emotions were clear on her face. She held onto the bracelet in delight.


    ¡°You must be careful, though,¡± Wei Lanying said in a steady voice. ¡°Even if you see the princess being with gentleman Feng, you must not talk about it. Understand?¡±


    Xiaoyun¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Are the maids telling the truth? Is the child the princess bears not the prince¡¯s? The father is that strategist called Feng Baiyu?¡±


    Wei Lanying arched an eyebrow. The rumors started because of what happened on Qi Chen¡¯s birthday. She didn¡¯t know that people were still talking about it. It seemed that even fate was on her side. She didn¡¯t need to say anything more.


    Wei Lanying put on a scowl and looked around before turning to Xiaoyun. ¡°No one knows for sure,¡± she said in a low voice. ¡°Besides, if the prince knows of it, heads are going to roll. Someone like the princess won¡¯t make such mistakes. You shouldn¡¯t dwell on it.¡±


    Xiaoyun made a nomittal sound, preupied by her thoughts. She didn¡¯t even realize that Wei Lanying had left. When she came to her senses, Wei Lanying was nowhere to be seen. She turned to her personal maid with a frown. ¡°When did she leave?¡±


    ¡°In response to thedy, she¡¯s left for a while,¡± the maid answered.


    Xiaoyun nodded. After a pause, she asked, ¡°How close are the prince and the princess?¡±


    ¡°The princess is pregnant, and it won¡¯t be long before she gives birth,¡± the maid said with a smile, massaging Xiaoyun¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Some time ago people started saying that the child might not be the prince¡¯s, but who knows for sure? Weirdly enough, the princess is pretty close to gentleman Feng. If I remember right, gentleman Feng was the one who noticed that the princess was pregnant. That was a long time ago, though. Thedy hasn¡¯t evene to this manor then.¡±


    Xiaoyun was getting suspicious. She drank some tea and asked, ¡°Do you know how many concubines there are in this manor?¡±


    The maid thought for a moment. ¡°Five or six.¡±


    ¡°Who else has gotten pregnant?¡± Xiaoyun continued.


    ¡°Lady Wei has mistakenly thought that she was pregnant. The prince punished her for causing a fuss. Other than that, no one has gotten pregnant. Why does thedy ask?¡±


    Xiaoyun shook her head silently. She was more and more convinced that Wei Lanying was right, that Nan Guyue¡¯s child was not Qi Chen¡¯s. She let out a chuckle. The goddess of fate had smiled upon her! She had been worrying about what she should do after Nan Guyue gave birth to the child, but now she knew Qi Chen wasn¡¯t the father! If he knew the truth, he would not go easy on Nan Guyue. Then, Xiaoyun would be one step closer to bing the empress.


    She didn¡¯t voice her thoughts. Her deepened smile was the only indication of her excitement. It remained on her face even when Qi Chen visited her in the evening.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Qi Chen asked with an arched eyebrow as he poured himself a cup of water. ¡°Why are you so happy? Did something good happen?¡±


    Xiaoyun had done everything she could to seduce Qi Chen. Today, she wore a turquoise silk dress. The way it wrapped around her body without showing skin was arresting. Her long hair ran down her back, framing her face. Her smile was as vibrant as the peach blossoms in spring.


    Qi Chen followed his desires and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her on her supple lips.


    Blushing, Xiaoyun grabbed the hand that was caressing her arm andined in a sweet voice, ¡°Your Highness has been in too much of a hurry today. I still have things to tell you.¡±

 Chapter 190

    Chapter 190: Schadenfreude


    ¡°Oh?¡± Qi Chen smiled. ¡°Do tell.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing too interesting,¡± said Xiaoyun. ¡°I heard someone said that the princess and gentleman Feng are close. Closer than a strategist and his master¡¯s wife should be. It¡¯s difficult to believe that there¡¯s nothing between them. People also said that the father to the princess¡¯s child is actually... gentleman Feng.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Qi Chen shot up to his feet, pushing Xiaoyun away. Xiaoyun staggered and barely kept herself upright by holding onto the desk. She looked at Qi Chen with a frown.


    What was done was done. She had nothing to lose now. She took a deep breath and said, ¡°I know it seems unlikely, but it¡¯s notpletely without basis. If the princess and gentleman Feng are innocent, why would so many people say that they are having an affair? Your Highness has a good number of concubines in this manor, why is the princess the only one who got pregnant? And she got pregnant right after entering this manor. Has Your Highness not suspected anything?¡±


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t know how to respond. Xiaoyun¡¯s questions rang in his head. As a member of the royal family, he was born to be mistrusting. He didn¡¯t want to doubt Jun Huang, but the signs were there. He couldn¡¯t ignore them.


    Besides, Nan Guyue had such a pleasant conversation with Jun Huang earlier. Jun Huang evenplimented her. Everything pointed to a reality he didn¡¯t want to believe in.


    His silence was a clear indication of his doubt. Xiaoyun smiled and leaned into Qi Chen. ¡°I¡¯m just specting,¡± she murmured. ¡°Your Highness can have someone conduct an investigation. It¡¯s gettingte. May I serve you tonight?¡±


    She reached out to untie Qi Chen¡¯s waistband. Qi Chen threw her a cold re. He didn¡¯t¡¯ want to stay here with this heavy weight on his chest. He pushed her hand away and stormed out of the room, leaving Xiaoyun pondering what his reaction meant.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t want to believe in the rumor, but the seed of doubt had been nted. In the end, he ordered one of his men to look into it in secret. The investigation happened without Jun Huang noticing.


    A few dayster, the man returned with some news. Nan Guyue had secretly met with Jun Huang twice, and the meetingsted for longer than they should! Qi Chen trusted Jun Huang, but what he found told him otherwise. He could not stand the possibility that Jun Huang was having an affair with his wife.


    No man could tolerate the fact that his wife was pregnant with another man¡¯s child. Qi Chen definitely could not stomach such betrayal. Coming from Jun Huang, especially, the betrayal hit him even harder. He ordered his men to arrest Jun Huang and keep her in the water prison.


    Jun Huang thought that Qi Chen had realized she was a spy. Panic broke the calm mask she usually wore. Her cold sweat seeped into her clothes.


    She was held in ce at the center of the water prison by iron chains. The valve was shut when the freezing water reached her waist. The guards had not given her a chance to brace for the cold. She tightened her jaw as the chill seeped into her body and reached her bones.


    When Qi Chen entered, Jun Huang¡¯s face was pale, and her clothes drenched. Her untied hair stered over her back. There were droplets of water all over her face. She looked pitiful.


    Qi Chen had thought that his anger would allow no room for sentimental thoughts, and yet he felt pity for Jun Huang. He shifted his focus to the affair between Jun Huang and Nan Guyue and let his anger burn even hotter.


    ¡°I trusted you, Feng Baiyu,¡± Qi Chen said through clenched teeth, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°This is how you repay that trust? Have you no shame?¡±


    Jun Huang ground her teeth together and looked at Qi Chen defiantly. She knew that she must not give Qi Chen any information, especially not about Qi Yun. She must help Qi Yun be the emperor. She would not talk even if Qi Chen threatened her with death.


    Her silence destroyed thest of Qi Chen¡¯s patience. Did she not feel guilty at all?! He huffed and pulled the lever on the wall. More water rushed into the cell, drowning her from head to toe.


    Jun Huang was caught off guard and a mouthful of cold water rushed into her mouth. She hurriedly hold her breath and tried her best to maintain her consciousness. Her face was horrifyingly pale.


    After about the time for a pot of tea to brew, the water drained out of the cell. Jun Huang was finally able to breathe again. Qi Chen leveled her with a cold stare. ¡°Do you admit your guilt?¡±


    Jun Huang sucked in a breath. Air rushed through her trachea, sending her into a coughing fit. Her face turned red as sweat dropped down her forehead. ¡°This gentleman... this gentleman does not know what Your Highness is talking about.¡±


    ¡°You refuse to talk even now? Do you think I will go easy on you? Let me tell you, Feng Baiyu, I have plenty of other strategists apart from you!¡±


    Qi Chen pulled the lever and soon she was immersed in cold water again.


    The same torture went on and on. Jun Huang finally gave up on struggling. She had lost her strength. Even when she waspletely underwater, she let the water rush into her mouth and nose. She choked and lost consciousness from theck of oxygen.


    When she woke up, she was no longer inside the water prison. Instead, she was tied to a wooden pole. Both her arms were restrained. Her clothes stuck to her body ufortably. She grimaced.


    Qi Chen walked up to her with a whip in his hand. It was made of a special kind of leather. The hit would be more painful than a regr whip. Without a word, Qi Chen cracked the whip at her.


    He had used a lot of force. The impact left a long gash on her skin. Blood gushed out of the wound and dripped to the floor.


    Jun Huang bit down a pained cry. Qi Chen didn¡¯t give her much time to recover before making the next strike. Again and again the whip left long bleeding cuts on her body. Qi Chen was blinded by his rage. He could not stop himself from attacking. Jun Huang ground her teeth and forced herself to stay silent. After a couple dozens of hits, Qi Chen finally stopped out of exhaustion. He stared at Jun Huang and asked her the same questions.


    Jun Huang had lost her ability to think clearly. She stared at the ground with unfocused eyes, which Qi Chen took as an admission to her guilt. He flew into rage and started whipping her again.


    He stopped before Jun Huang could pass out, eyes shooting daggers at her prone form. Jun Huang could not even lift her head. She was in so much pain her brain became muddy. It was all she could do to not scream.


    Furious, Qi Chen was unwilling to spare her another nce. He had to do something to quell this ire in his heart. He waved a guard over and said, ¡°Lock him back into the water prison... and put salt in the water.¡±


    He stormed away. The guard didn¡¯t dare to hesitate.


    Silently, he worried for Jun Huang¡¯s life. She might not make it out alive this time. He felt sorry for her. A few days ago Jun Huang was still the strategist Qi Chen valued the most. Now she was locked in prison. Life was unpredictable indeed. In an instant, one could fall down a cliff to his death.


    The guard untied Jun Huang from the pole. Jun Huang didn¡¯t have the strength to stay upright. Without the support, she fell to the floor. The guard almost didn¡¯t catch her.


    Jun Huang¡¯s usual grace had disappearedpletely. She was weak and fragile and so, so breakable. The guard clicked his tongue. ¡°A few days ago, someone told me that he envied gentleman Feng for his grace and talent, saying that he would be the official of our generation. Who knows that gentleman Feng would end up in this prison? His health doesn¡¯t seem all that good. He may die in this ce.¡±


    ¡°Shut it!¡± another guard walked up to him and said. ¡°If the prince hears you, you¡¯ll be punished.¡± He helped carry Jun Huang to the water prison and entered it first. The chill climbed up his legs and made him shudder. He cursed under his breath and told his collegue to lower Jun Huang down. He tied her arms with the iron chains before diving underwater to tied her ankles.


    He only rxed when he surfaced and climbed out of the water. His teeth started ttering because of the cold.


    ¡°This water is freezing. Staying in the water for a night is enough to causesting damage. This will not be easy for Gentleman Feng.¡±


    He sighed and tasted some of the salt. The taste assaulted his senses and made his tongue go numb.


    Before he could pour the bucket of salt into the water, the more sympathetic guard caught his arm. The guard looked around and said in a low voice, ¡°The truth is not clear yet. What if we put too much salt in the water, and gentleman Feng dies because of it, but the princeter finds out that he is innocent? The prince is going to me us. We don¡¯t have a beef with him. There¡¯s no need for us to follow the instructionpletely.¡±


    ¡°What? Are you going to not put salt in the water?¡±

 Chapter 191

    Chapter 191: Guilt


    ¡°Of course not,¡± the guard said. ¡°If we don¡¯t add any, the prince is going to punish us when he notices. I¡¯m just saying we don¡¯t have to put this much salt into the water.¡±


    The other guard took a moment to think and ultimately came to the conclusion that his colleague was right. He added half of the salt into the water.


    The two guards left the room, leaving Jun Huang alone in the water prison.


    Water washed away the blood on her body. Jun Huang ground her teeth together hard to brace for the burning sensation. Being in the cold water help numb her pain, but only for a brief moment. Even though the guard had only put in half of the salt, but once it dissolved in the water, her wounds started to burn and hurt even more. Tears filled her eyes to the brim. She was in so much pain she could barely breathe. Her beautiful face twisted together. She was horrifyingly pale under the the torchlight.


    She was at the edge of falling unconscious, but the pain of being immersed in salt water kept some part of her brain awake. The suffering never ended.


    Qi Chen walked out of the prison. The sun was bright in the sky, but his gloomy mood persisted. He made his way to Nan Guyue¡¯s ce.


    When he reached the building, Nan Guyue was enjoying the sun in the garden with her hands on her belly. She looked at peace.


    The sight was an insult to Qi Chen. With a scoff, he took big strides toward her and seized her arm. He was so forceful that his grip left a red mark on her skin.


    Nan Guyue was startled by his sudden movement and only let out a sigh of relief when she saw that it was Qi Chen. She put on a smile and sat up. ¡°Why is Your Highness here? I thought you¡¯re busy these couple of days.¡±


    ¡°Ha! If I stay busy, you will go to Feng Baiyu, won¡¯t you?¡±


    Nan Guyue stared dumbly at him. ¡°What does Your Highness mean? Why would I go to gentleman Feng?¡±


    ¡°Who knows why you would go to him? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know anything. It¡¯s quite the opposite.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s eyes were dark. He grabbed Nan Guyue¡¯s chin forcefully. The pain made Nan Guyue tear up. She held onto Qi Chen¡¯s arms, unable to say anything.


    Qi Chen felt even more angry seeing her like this. He cast Nan Guyue aside, causing her to fall onto the floor. Her face paled in pain.


    Nan Guyue¡¯s maid had followed her here from Southern Mu. She couldn¡¯t stand by and do nothing when Nan Guyue was being treated this way. She put herself between her master and Qi Chen. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Your Highness? The princess is still pregnant with your child, and yet you¡¯re so forceful with her. This is against the rules of proprietary.¡±


    Qi Chen looked down at the maid and pped her hard, catching her off guard. She fell to the ground. Qi Chen huffed at the two of them. ¡°It seems that maids do resemble their master.¡± He scoffed and turned to his guards. ¡°Keep them inside. Without my order, no one is to leave or to enter the building. If either of them escape, you¡¯ll pay with your life.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Once Qi Chen had left, the guards threw Nan Guyue and her maid into the room without hesitation. They even locked the door like the two women were prisoners.


    Sharp pain stabbed through Nan Guyue¡¯s stomach. Her face twisted into a grimace. The maid was too angry to notice her condition.


    After the time for a pot of tea to brew, the pain in Nan Guyue¡¯s stomach subsided. She propped herself up and walked inside with her arms around her stomach. Her maid wanted to follow her, but she shook her head. ¡°You don¡¯t have toe with me. I¡¯m just feeling a little ill. I¡¯m going to take a short rest. I¡¯ll call out for you if something happens.¡±


    Nan Guyue copsed on her bed. Her stomach started to hurt again. The pain came and went like waves even after she fell asleep. Her fuzzy mind failed to supply her with reason behind Qi Chen¡¯s sudden violence. Her lips curled into a sarcastic smile in her dream. Qi Chen had not even given her an exnation.


    When she woke up again, it was past midnight. There was nomp in the room. The ce was as dark as how she imagined hell would be. She shivered and called out for her maid with a hoarse voice.


    Her maid had been in a state of panic ever since they were locked up. She didn¡¯t feel like sleeping. Hearing Nan Guyue¡¯s voice, she went to her with amp in her hand. When she parted the silk drape, she almost dropped themp. Nan Guyue¡¯s pale face was covered by sweat and her lower body was tainted with blood.


    ¡°Princess!¡± the maid sobbed out. ¡°What ¨C what¡¯s happening?¡±


    Despite the pain, Nan Guyue¡¯s head was clear. She took a deep breath and said through clenched teeth, ¡°Go ¨C go find a doctor. I ¨C I don¡¯t think I can make it without help.¡±


    The maid nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. She rushed to the door, but it was locked. She couldn¡¯t get out.


    ¡°Help! Someone help! The princess... the princess is dying! Someone open the door and go find a doctor!¡±


    The maid¡¯s wails pierced through the silent night. Her voice sounded eerie and chilling.


    ¡°What should we...¡± muttered one of the guards. He was at a loss of what to do.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go find the prince. You stay here and don¡¯t open the door. Otherwise if the prince decides to hold us ountable, our heads will roll.¡±


    The guard rushed toward Rou¡¯er¡¯s building. Qi Chen wasn¡¯t there. Rou¡¯er noticed the guard¡¯s urgent look and decided to ask him what had happened.


    The guard was loyal to only Qi Chen. He shook his head and left, giving her no clue to the current situation.


    His attitude rmed Rou¡¯er. She went off to ask the servants under her charge if they knew anything.


    The guard found Qi Chen at Xiaoyun¡¯s ce. She and Qi Chen had fallen asleep. Being woken up in the middle of the night made Qi Chen irritable.


    The guard knew that he was intruding. He briefed Qi Chen on the situation as soon as Qi Chen left the room. Xiaoyun had heard the guard as well. She could tell that Qi Chen was swaying. She had to say something.


    WIth a smile, she went up to Qi Chen and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why did he wake Your Highness up sote at night?¡±


    ¡°Nan Guyue copsed,¡± Qi Chen said in a cold voice.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s it? I thought it was an emergency. I know that Your Highness wants to send for a doctor, but remember, the child she bears is ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Qi Chen snapped, pointing at the door. ¡°Get back inside!¡±


    Xiaoyun pursed her lips. She knew that Qi Chen would turn on her if she didn¡¯t stop talking. She nced at Qi Chen as she returned to the room. She was relieved to see the hesitation on Qi Chen¡¯s face disappear.


    Qi Chen stood outside, letting the wind sweep through him. ¡°It¡¯ste,¡± he said after a while. ¡°Even if we try to find a doctor, we may not find one. We¡¯ll see what happen tomorrow.¡± He walked away, leaving the guard gaping at him.


    Back in Nan Guyue¡¯s building, her maid was still crying. Her voice had gone hoarse from the exertion. She was going to lose her voice if she continued.


    The guard walked up to them and took a deep breath. ¡°The prince said that we wouldn¡¯t find a doctor at time like this. The princess has to stay strong. We¡¯ll see how she is tomorrow morning.¡±


    He dragged the other guard away. He was worried that he would do something stupid if he stayed here.


    He was a mere guard. He had no power in this manor. Qi Chen¡¯s decisions were thew here. There was nothing he could do to change Qi Chen¡¯s mind. He didn¡¯t want to be tortured by his guilt.


    All hope died down in Nan Guyue¡¯s heart. She stared dumbly at the ceiling. Tears fell from the corner of her eyes. She clutched at the nket under her. Pain had numbed her brain. She felt something sliding out of her body.


    ¡°My... my baby.¡± Her voice was rusty. The few words seemed to have taken all her strength to utter. She couldn¡¯t even move a finger now. Shey there, as motionless as a corpse. Finally, she fell asleep.


    Wei Lanying knew all about what had happened. She stayed up past midnight. In her hand was a cup of tea that had long gone cold.


    ¡°Nan Guyue¡¯s had a miscarriage,¡± she murmured. ¡°How delightful!¡±


    ¡°Lady Wei is indeed intelligent. Now that the princess has lost her child, she has no leverage to maintain her position. She¡¯s going to bow down to you from now on.¡±


    The maid¡¯s words were music to Wei Lanying¡¯s ears. Oh, how ecstatic she was that Nan Guyue had lost both her child and Qi Chen¡¯s favor! What was better, Jun Huang had been put into jail as well!


    The next morning, she made her way to the water prison. She had to suppress her urge tough out loud when she saw how terrible a state Jun Huang was in.


    Jun Huang looked up at the wolfish grin on Wei Lanying¡¯s face. She croaked, ¡°What do you want, Wei Lanying?¡±

 Chapter 192

    Chapter 192: Laying low in Eastern Wu


    ¡°I¡¯m here to see you suffer, of course,¡± Wei Lanying said with a malicious smile. Her words were as vicious as her expression. ¡°Oh, even those who think they are superior can fall from their grace so suddenly. How does it feel to lose everything, Feng Baiyu? Don¡¯t be too upset, though. You¡¯re not alone. Nan Guyue is living a fate worse than death as well.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. She seemed to have misunderstood something. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    In her satisfaction, Wei Lanying didn¡¯t notice anything unusual. She told Jun Huang that Qi Chen had found out about her affair with Nan Guyue, and that Nan Guyue had lost her child.


    Jun Huang cursed inwardly. She sorted through her thoughts once Wei Lanying had left. She had misunderstood the situation from the very beginning! She asked the guard to notify Qi Chen that she would like to have a word with him.


    The guard hurriedly went to find Qi Chen and came back with him not long after. Qi Chen looked at Jun Huang. His anger was not as severe now, but seeing Jun Huang still put a damp on his mood. He asked harshly, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°This gentleman has nothing to do with the princess, Your Highness. The truth is not as you¡¯ve thought.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll believe you?¡± Qi Chen scoffed. ¡°If you¡¯re innocent, why didn¡¯t you say anything when I asked you? Ha, now that Nan Guyue has suffered a miscarriage, you¡¯re telling me you aren¡¯t involved with her? Do you think I¡¯m that stupid?¡±


    Jun Huang tightened her jaw and threw a nce at the guard. ¡°This gentleman is hiding something from Your Highness... The truth is I... I cannot get it up. I was too embarrassed to tell you. I didn¡¯t expect my pride to put the princess in danger. Besides, everyone knows that I¡¯m with Prince Nan Xun. This gentleman... this gentleman can¡¯t possibly have any rtionship with the princess.¡±


    Qi Chen stilled, staring Jun Huang with unblinking eyes as if he was trying to see through her lies, but there was no trace of guilt on Jun Huang¡¯s face.


    He had been too hasty. He had jumped to conclusion before conducting a proper investigation. Guilt seized his heart. There was nothing he could do to go back in time.


    Earlier, he was told that Nan Guyue had lost her childst night. His heart ached knowing that it was his child that had died, but what had happened had happened.


    Qi Chen ordered the guards to get Jun Huang out of the prison. He took Jun Huang¡¯s hand in his and said through clenched teeth, ¡°Rest assured, I will put the one spreading the rumor through hell.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯sshes fluttered. ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°Xiaoyun,¡± Qi Chen bit out. It sounded as if he was going to strangle Xiaoyun alive. ¡°Someone sent her to me some time ago. She looks like an innocent woman, and yet her heart is vicious.¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°Xiaoyun has been used, Your Highness. The one behind her is Lady Wei Lanying. Your Highness must know about the feud between Wei Lanying and the princess. Last time Wei Lanying had wrongfully used the princess. She is doing the same thing again. She didn¡¯t want to be punished when her ploy was discovered, so she used someone else to do the dirty work for her. She is the mastermind manipting Xiaoyun.¡±


    Qi Chen saw the logic in her words. He tightened his hand around Jun Huang¡¯s fingers and promised, ¡°I understand now. What you¡¯ve been through today I¡¯ll make her pay for.¡±


    ¡°What does Your Highness intend to do?¡±


    ¡°Royal Father was the one who arranged our marriage. I can¡¯t be too harsh with her. But I will lock her away and give her no chance to rise again.¡± Qi Chen¡¯s eyes grew dark and his voice hard. ¡°As for Xiaoyun, I¡¯ll sell her to a brothel and let her know how it feels like to be in a living hell.¡±


    Jun Huang was in great pain, and she couldn¡¯t stop shivering now that she was out of the water. Qi Chen was overwhelmed by a sense of guilt. He put an arm around Jun Huang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve made a mistake. In your condition, it¡¯s better that you stay in the manor. I ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your offer, Your Highness,¡± Jun Huang cut in with her eyes narrowed. ¡°Under the circumstances, however, this gentleman shouldn¡¯t be staying here. If Your Highness is willing, please let me stay in Nan Xun¡¯s manor. No one is going to talk then.¡±


    I owe her at least that much, Qi Chen thought. He sighed and nodded at her. ¡°If so, I¡¯ll take you to brother Nan. You should rest and let yourself recover. Other things can wait.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She let Qi Chen take her to Prince Nan Manor.


    Earlier today, Nan Xun had received a message from Rou¡¯er. There were quite a lot of people loyal to her in the manor. She was able to find out what had happened and delivered the news to Nan Xun. She, though, didn¡¯t know what state Jun Huang was in now. The letter therefore was vague about Jun Huang¡¯s condition. It worried Nan Xun.


    He was going to go look for Jun Huang. If he couldn¡¯t find her, he would go to Prince Chen Manor and ask for her directly. The moment he stepped out of his manor, though, he saw Jun Huang being carried to him with Qi Chen following behind.


    Nan Xun jogged up to them and saw the bleary-eyed Jun Huang. The wounds covering her body hit him like a stab in his heart. He stepped toward Qi Chen and grabbed him by his cor.


    ¡°What the hell have you done to him?¡± Nan Xun growled. ¡°You want the throne, Qi Chen, but you don¡¯t even know how to tell right from wrong. You foolishly believed a viin¡¯s words and misjudged the characters of the people around you. Do you honestly think you are worthy of the throne?¡±


    So the rumors are true, Qi Chen thought. Not only does Feng Baiyu adore Nan Xun, but Nan Xun also cares deeply for him.


    He knew he was at fault here, so he didn¡¯t say anything or do anything to defend himself.


    Jun Huang opened her eyes when she heard Nan Xun¡¯s demanding words. Warmth bloomed inside her chest. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Nan Xun. Don¡¯t be so mad.¡± She turned to Qi Chen. ¡°Your Highness should return to the manor. The princess has just lost her child. She is the one who¡¯s in the most pain now. You should stay with her andfort her.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. He exchanged a few words with Jun Huang before walking away.


    Nan Xun carried Jun Huang into his manor and carefullyy her down on her bed. He then sent for a doctor to check on her.


    Yin Yun had brought Jun Hao to a tea house in Eastern Wu. It was said that the most dangerous ce was the safest. People from Eastern Wu would never expect them to hide in their territory.


    ¡°Have you heard?¡± a man in peasant clothes said. ¡°There was a man called Feng Baiyu in the martial arts tournament this year. He¡¯s said to be a handsome man, and very popr among women. There was a woman who insisted on fighting him. He won, of course. But Feng Baiyu is a man of integrity. He showed mercy to the woman and let her win. I¡¯ll say that¡¯s how a real gentleman should be.¡±


    The group of people talked excitedly. They didn¡¯t realize that someone was listening in on their conversation.


    The tournament was a big event. People from ces other than Northern Qi went to participate as well.


    Yin Yun¡¯s hand stilled when he heard the name Feng Baiyu. Jun Hao¡¯s eyes lit up as well. He tugged at Yin Yun¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°It must be big sister. It¡¯s the alias she always used when she snuck out of the pce. She told me that the name meant phoenix.¡±


    Yin Yun nodded. He carefully surveyed their surroundings before saying, ¡°The princess isn¡¯t a reckless person. She must have been trying to leave us with some clues and tell us that she is alright.¡±


    Jun Hao nodded. ¡°It must be so. Big sister is smart. She must be trying to send us a message. Yin Yun, we should go to Northern Qi to find big sister. She has to be waiting for us.¡±


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t,¡± Yin Yun said without hesitation.


    ¡°Why not? We¡¯ve been looking for her for so long. Why don¡¯t we go to her now that we know where she is?¡±


    In his haste, Jun Hao had failed to control his volume. Yin Yun quickly covered Jun Hao¡¯s mouth and shook his head.


    ¡°This is not the right time, Your Highness. We know that she is safe. That¡¯s enough for now. I¡¯ve left some clues for the princess before our departure. You shouldn¡¯t worry too much. What we should do is to stay in Eastern Wu quietly. I have a feeling that the princess will do everything she can to avenge Western Que. We have to stay and help her from within the country when the timees. Eastern Wu must be eliminated once and for all.¡±


    An uncharacteristic dark look appeared on Yin Yun¡¯s face. Jun Hao nodded timidly, unable to say anything in his fear.


    Yin Yun knew that he had scared Jun Hao. He patted his head with a sigh and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The princess will not let us down. She will be here in no time.¡±


    ¡°What are we going to do next?¡±


    Jun Hao had decided that Yin Yun was right. Since Jun Huang had sent them a message, she must be safe. They shouldn¡¯t spend all their time worrying about Jun Huang. Instead, they should think about how they could help her.


    ¡°We¡¯ll open a tea house in Eastern Wu. Tea houses aremon here. We won¡¯t stand out. With disguise on, no one will be able to recognize us. There¡¯s nothing for us to fear. When the timees, we will avenge the tens of thousands of lives lost in Western Que and let them rest in peace.¡±


    Jun Hao nodded with his jaw tightened and took a deep breath to put aside his yearning for his sister. ¡°Alright. For those poor souls, I won¡¯t let the people in Eastern Wu live as if nothing has happened. I¡¯ll wait for big sister toe.¡±

 Chapter 193

    Chapter 193: Phoenix Herb


    After lying on the bed for some time, Jun Huang felt a little better. Her body was going to be rigid if she continued to stay on the bed. She didn¡¯t want to waste her time like this anyway. She sat up and let out a long breath.


    Nan Xun walked into the room with a bowl of medicine in his hand. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± he asked as he went up to her. He didn¡¯t chastise her for getting up on her own.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Jun Huang said quietly with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been too naive. This experience isn¡¯t all bad. It has helped me think more clearly.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and handed the bowl to her. He pulled a chair to the bed and sat down. The words were at the tip of his tongue, but he didn¡¯t say them.


    Jun Huang could tell that there was something he would like to say. She waited patiently.


    In the end, Nan Xun decided to be honest with her. ¡°After what happened this time, I... I don¡¯t want you to stay at Qi Chen¡¯s side as a spy anymore. There¡¯s no need for you to do this personally. We can arrange for other people to take your ce.¡± He looked up at her nervously. He was worried that Jun Huang would be unhappy with him.


    Jun Huang was not upset, but she was surprised by Nan Xun¡¯s reaction. She let out a resigned sigh. ¡°I can¡¯t do that. You and I both know that if I were so easily deterred, I wouldn¡¯t be able to achieve anything in the future. Besides, I¡¯m not disregarding my own safety. I¡¯m simply waiting for an opportunity. Before that, I would not give up, nor would I fall. You have to trust me.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what to say. He knew how Jun Huang was. In the end he let out a sigh. He shared a few words with her and stayed at her side until she asked him for the books they took from the House of Heavenly Fiends.


    She hadn¡¯t had the chance to read the books. During her recovery period, they could go over the information recorded in them.


    What Jun Huang cared the most about was information about Jun Hao. It had not been long since they left the organization, though. There had been no progress yet. She frowned and let out a sigh.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think too much,¡± Nan Xun assured. ¡°You have more people helping you now. Perhaps your brother will be found soon. Perhaps he and the guard have picked a sanctuary in this vast world and decided to stay put. There are many possibilities.¡±


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and nodded beforeying against the bed frame with her eyes shut. Reading the books had caused a sting in her eyes. The prickling paining from her body suggested that her wounds were far from fully healed.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you in pain?¡± Noticing her condition, Nan Xun put his arm around her shoulders. Her face was pale and covered in sweat. Her eyebrows drew together closely.


    Jun Huang waved a hand tiredly and pressed her hands against her stomach. It took a moment for her to recover. ¡°I¡¯m fine. My body hurts a little, but the pain is going to go away. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    With a frown, Nan Xun reached out to take her pulse. He let out a sigh of relief after making sure that she was alright. Nheless, seeing her pale face put a heavy weight on his chest. He didn¡¯t know what to say to make things better.


    Jun Huang always knew what she wanted. Once she had made up her mind, no one would be able to convince her otherwise. He was no exception.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help feeling down. He loved her, but he never knew what Jun Huang was thinking.


    Noticing that Nan Xun was brooding, Jun Huang patted his arm and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Nan Xun. I¡¯ll tell you if anything happens. Promise.¡±


    That made Nan Xun feel a little better. He nodded and looked outside. After a pause, he turned to Jun Huang. ¡°The sun is still out. The doctor has said that cold energy has seeped into your body when you were in the prison. How about I take you outside to let you get some sunlight? It¡¯s also going to be morefortable for you to read under the sun.¡±


    Jun Huang looked outside the window. Sun shone on the desk by the window. The weather was beautiful. It was perfect for staying outdoor.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t argue. ¡°If so, I¡¯ll appreciate your help.¡±


    Nan Xun got moving once he got her approval. He moved the desk out first, then the empress chair. And finally, the books. Once that was done, he gathered Jun Huang into his arms and carried her outside. Gingerly, hey her on the empress chair. He draped a robe over her shoulders before sitting by her side and picking up a book.


    As a general he rarely read. It didn¡¯t take long before he got bored. He put down the book and turned to look at Jun Huang. Her faint smile was beautiful under the sun.


    Jun Huang was so focused when she read, it was as if the world had fallen away. Silently, she paged through the book. The only sound Nan Xun could hear was the rustling of the paper. The sun came from behind her back, enveloping her in a warm glow. He had never known anyone quite like her.


    Nan Xun watched her without a word. The air seemed to havee to a halt. He had not seen Jun Huang a lot since they returned to the imperial city. Most of the time Jun Huang was busy dealing with Qi Chen. If this incident had not happened, he didn¡¯t know how long it would take for him to see her again.


    He had missed her dearly. He would love to stay at her side every moment every day, but he knew that wasn¡¯t possible. Jun Huang had her goals.


    ¡°What?¡± Jun Huang asked when she noticed that Nan Xun had been staring at her. She put the book aside.


    Nan Xun darted his eyes away. ¡°Nothing. You just seem to take everything seriously.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled and picked up another book. ¡°That¡¯s not true. I just have nothing else to do. Besides, I¡¯m now one of the leaders of the House of Heavenly Fiends. I have to take responsibility. I can¡¯t possibly do nothing while upying this position.¡± She paused. ¡°Now that¡¯s the silver lining out of this mess. If I had not been yed by Wei Lanying, I wouldn¡¯t be calm and at ease enough now to sit down and read these books.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have to bear this burden...¡±


    ¡°If I shirked away all responsibilities, I wouldn¡¯t be here today. If I have no talent and no character, I won¡¯t be bothered with these problems. However, we both know that¡¯s not a possibility for me. I cannot put the destruction of Western Que out of my mind.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s voice was steady and calm, but Nan Xun was rendered speechless. He sighed inwardly and didn¡¯t say anything.


    Fate had dictated where one¡¯s life would go. There was nothing other people could do to change it.


    Jun Huang stopped flipping the pages suddenly. Nan Xun looked up at her in question. She stared at one of the wanted mission recorded on the paper.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Nan Xun asked in a low voice. He didn¡¯t want to startle her.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and handed the book to Nan Xun. ¡°Don¡¯t you think there¡¯s something odd about this mission? There¡¯s no such thing as a phoenix herb in the world now.¡±


    She was reminded of what Yin Yun told her a few years ago: In an ancient text there were mentions of a phoenix herb. It was the herb of the celestials. It represented safety and peace.


    How many would have read that same book? How many knew about the existence of such herb? Very few would have even heard of the name.


    Nan Xun handed the book back to Jun Huang. She read through the mission description again. Yin Yun was a careful man. He didn¡¯t leave a lot of clues for her. Nheless she was sure the one who gave the mission was him.


    The mission was given on the day they arrived at Yun Town. So Yin Yun and Jun Hao had been in Yun Town. She had missed them by a hair.


    Jun Huang let out a sigh. Fortunately she was able to get some information about them. She was d that they were safe. Still, she was disappointed that they had missed each other. She didn¡¯t get the chance to check if Jun Hao had grown. Was he taller now?


    Nan Xun noticed the change in her expression, but he didn¡¯t know what was going on. He didn¡¯t ask for fear of upsetting Jun Huang. He could only watch her. What he wouldn¡¯t give to take all the pain from her.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired. Can you please help me inside?¡± Jun Huang put the books on the table and looked up at him, waiting for Nan Xun to carry her in.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Without another word, Nan Xun picked her up and walked into the room. He gingerly put her on the bed before going out to move everything back to where they belonged.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t feel like sleeping. When she closed her eyes, all she could think of was the way Western Que had looked when it still stood. It used to be a prosperous country. Jun Hao used to follow her everywhere.


    Now, however, everything was gone. The only thing left of Western Que were ruins covered in burn marks. Thend was barren and lifeless. Sorrow filled her heart every time she thought of her home.


    She stayed on the bed and only sat up when the sun had set. She talked to a maid and found out that there was a banquet in the pce. Every courtier was invited. Nan Xun therefore wasn¡¯t in the manor at the moment.

 Chapter 194

    Chapter 194: Wedding Gift


    After some consideration, Jun Huang took out a signal re and walked out of the room. She lit it up. Not long after, someone from the House of Heavenly Fiends showed up and knelt before her.


    ¡°I called for you to cancel the mission I gave some time ago,¡± said Jun Huang.


    The man was puzzled, but Jun Huang was the leader of the House of Heavenly Fiends. He wasn¡¯t going to question her. He nodded and disappeared into the dark.


    Jun Huang let out a long breath. Her strength seemed to have drain out of her body at once. Her knees went weak and she fell to the ground. She stared at the cool moon with unfocused eyes.


    Yin Yun and Jun Hao were safe. It was better for her to stop tracking them down. Her days were numbered. And she wouldn¡¯t be able to control herself if she found out where there were. She didn¡¯t want her only family to experience the fear of losing her and to despair. It was best to avoid them altogether.


    She let out a quietugh and leaned against the cold wall. She closed her eyes. Moonlight covered her face with a silver glow, adding an ethereal air to her.


    When Nan Xun came back, what he saw was Jun Huang¡¯s rueful expression. Her eyebrows were drawn together in her sorrow. It made his heart ache.


    He made his way to her in quiet steps and knelt before her to tuck her hair behind her ear. She was still so beautiful.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes snapped open when Nan Xun¡¯s hand touched her eyshes. She rxed once she saw that it was Nan Xun. With a smile, she looked at the night sky and said, ¡°You¡¯re early. I thought you wouldn¡¯t return today.¡±


    She lowered her head and chuckled, hiding her sorrow behind a smile.


    ¡°I left early,¡± Nan Xun said. ¡°One of the servants came to tell me that you hadn¡¯t had dinner. I was worried that you wouldn¡¯t eat anything. There¡¯s nothing for me to do there, so I came back.¡±


    He bent down to pick her up and put her on the empress chair. He then covered her with a robe.


    ¡°I just didn¡¯t feel like eating. You should have eaten on your own. There¡¯s no need for you toe back. What if the emperor is going to ask for you?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t mention her conversation with the man from the House of Heavenly Fiends. She knew that if she said anything, Nan Xun would send people to go find Jun Hao. It wouldn¡¯t help for her to meet with her brother now.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know why Jun Huang was in a bad mood. Was it because she was worried about her brother and Yin Yun? He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to live for other people and forget to take care of herself. ¡°The weather has been nice these couple of days,¡± he said after a brief pause. ¡°Wan¡¯er¡¯s wedding ising. We haven¡¯t prepared any gifts. If you¡¯re feeling better tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you out.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to him and gave him a nod. ¡°That will be good. I have to give her something for her wedding day.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have the servants prepare dinner. You should eat something and go to sleep. You may not have noticed, but you haven¡¯t looked too good recently.¡± As he spoke, he stood up and exited the room. He went on to tell the servants what they should prepare.


    Jun Huang stayed quietly on the empress chair. She touched her face when she heard Nan Xun¡¯s words. While she couldn¡¯t see how she looked now, it was true that she hadn¡¯t been sleeping very welltely. She must look tired.


    After dinner, she went straight to bed. Exhaustion sent her into slumber not long after. Nan Xun stood by the bed looking at her with sympathy. He tucked her in before leaving the room.


    The next morning, Ji Bo sent his page boy to deliver a wheelchair to the manor. Jun Huang was still asleep, so it was Nan Xun who epted the gift. Ji Bo had made the wheelchair himself.


    Jun Huang had not recovered enough to walk on her own. The wheelchair would be useful. Nan Xun thanked the page boy and brought the wheelchair to the room Jun Huang was staying in.


    Jun Huang chuckled when she saw the wheelchair. She had seen one when she was in Western Que. The mechanisms in ce allowed the chair to move for those who had lost their mobility. It wasn¡¯t easy to construct. She didn¡¯t expect a schrly man like Ji Bo to be able to make one.


    With Nan Xun¡¯s help, she sat down on the wheelchair. Nan Xun pushed her out of the door to the main hall. They had breakfast together before going outside.


    The weather was pleasant. Sunlight enveloped them in a nket of warmth. Jun Huang took a deep breath with a small smile tugging her lips. The smile was enough to draw one¡¯s soul. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her.


    ¡°It will be good if the sun can be out every day in Northern Qi,¡± Jun Huang said and let out a sigh.


    ¡°Northern Qi is located near the arctic region,¡± Nan Xun said with augh. ¡°Weather like this is rare. That, however, is what make it precious. If it¡¯s sunny every day, no one will appreciate the sunlight.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled in lieu of a response and sat back as Nan Xun took her to a store.


    The storefront was ssically designed, while the interior of the store was obviously catering to young women. Jun Huang closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The fragrance told her what this store sold.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the famous Prince Nan Xun to know a store that sells cosmetics for women,¡± Jun Huang said teasingly. ¡°You must have bought many such products for women you like.¡±


    Nan Xun coughed. ¡°I didn¡¯t know the ce before, but one of my servants needed to buy some cosmetics for his wife one day when he was apanying me. I came here with him to have a look.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t being serious,¡± Jun Huang said. She didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to give her an exnation. She let out augh like she didn¡¯t care that much.


    Nan Xun silently pushed Jun Huang to a shelf. He didn¡¯t know if rouges would make a good wedding gift. Since Jun Huang didn¡¯t say anything, though, it must be a viable option.


    Jun Huang checked through the great variety of rouges. She leaned in to take a whiff. The smell was graceful and longsting. Her hand settled on one made of crabapple flower. She hesitated, unable to make a decision.


    Noticing her hesitation, Nan Xun took the rouge and made a y of smelling it himself. ¡°It¡¯s pretty pleasant. Wan¡¯er is going to like it. Since you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll take this as my gift for her.¡±


    Jun Huang arched an eyebrow at him without a word, giving him her silent permission. She knew that Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t be able to find a good gift himself. She sighed and turned her attention to the other shelves. Her eyes settled on a delicate box put in the corner.


    ¡°Would you please bring that box to me?¡± Jun Huang whispered to Nan Xun.


    With a nod, Nan Xun took the box down for Jun Huang. She opened the box and was greeted with the scent of sandalwood. She realized that it was scented incense, not rouge. She turned to the clerk with a smile and said, ¡°I¡¯ll have this. Please pack it for me.¡±


    Nan Xun handed the rouge to the clerk as well before pushing Jun Huang to another area of the store. On disy were some jade wares of fine quality. They were both reminded of their argument with Rong¡¯er in Yun Town for the piece of blood jade. Jun Huang let out a chuckle. Nan Xun ducked his head in embarrassment.


    His gazended on the blood jade Jun Huang wore on her waist. His mortification intensified. He coughed and looked away.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t linger on the jade pieces. They were of good quality, but most weremon ones that could be bought everywhere. Her attention was drawn by the hairpins and jade caps. Nan Xun took her closer.


    The white jade caps were here for the customers to buy for the object of their affection, while the hairpins were mostly designed for women. They were so delicately crafted Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help being drawn.


    It had been too long since thest time she wore a hairpin. She picked up one and imagined how Wan¡¯er would look wearing it with her wedding gown. It would be a good match, she decided She told the clerk to wrap it up for her as well.


    Nan Xun thought that Jun Huang wanted it for herself. Surprised, he bent down and whispered, ¡°Even though I¡¯m a general, I know that the hairpin is for women. Are you going to wear it? As a man?¡±


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun with a deadpan look. ¡°I just thought that it would suit Princess Wan¡¯er. She tried to get to know me, but she and I are never meant to be. It makes sense for me to give her a good gift for her wedding. I think that the hairpin will go well with the phoenix cap she is going to wear. She will look beautiful.¡±


    Nan Xun felt a pang of jealousy. He knew Jun Huang didn¡¯t reciprocate Wan¡¯er¡¯s feelings, but he didn¡¯t like it when she showed too much affection for other people. Jun Huang had a rare smile on her face, though. He didn¡¯t want to put a damp on her good mood. He pushed aside his jealousy and stayed at her side. He even managed to put on a smile.

 Chapter 195

    Chapter 195: Chilling Coldness


    Nan Xun sighed. He never expected himself to be such a different person. If his soldiers could see him now, they would think that he had lost his senses. It was said that even the most stoic man would soften when faced with the person he loved. Perhaps those ancient texts had been telling the truth.


    Nan Xun chuckled, lowering his head to watch Jun Huang browsing through the different trinkets. His eyes were as soft as a gentle stream.


    Once the clerk had packed up their purchase, Nan Xun reached out to take the bag from him. Jun Huang caught his hands and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take it. You still have to push me around.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Anything else you want to buy?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and closed her eyes. Without another word, Nan Xun took Jun Huang out of the store. They weren¡¯t nning to return just yet.


    Jun Huang was surprised to see the schr Zhang Yuan. Nan Xun shared her feelings. It was only two days away from Zhang Yuan¡¯s wedding with Wan¡¯er. He shouldn¡¯t be wandering on the street.


    Nan Xun looked down at Jun Huang. As he expected, her smile had dropped from her face. She stared at Zhang Yuan with cold eyes and scoffed.


    She told Nan Xun to take her to Zhang Yuan. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t say no to her. He silently said a word of prayer for Zhang Yuan and pushed Jun Huang ahead.


    Zhang Yuan was overwhelmed by stress. He had to personally attend to every little detail about the wedding, but he wasn¡¯t allowed to even see Wan¡¯er. He brooded as he thought back to how coldly Wan¡¯er had treated him before. It didn¡¯t help that his family and friends hade to the imperial city with their families once they knew he was marrying the princess. The manor had practically be a zootely. Troubles followed him around and gave him a huge headache.


    Today, he finally had the opportunity to leave the manor. He walked around the street, hoping the wedding woulde sooner. He spotted Jun Huang and Nan Xun from a distance. She looked graceful even when she was confined to a wheelchair, while Nan Xun looked as cold as ever.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since Ist saw the gentleman,¡± Zhang Yuan knelt down and said, oblivious to the disapproving look on Jun Huang¡¯s face. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you¡¯re hurt. What happened?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. I¡¯ll be fine after a few days.¡± Jun Huang looked at the pedestriansing and going around them. ¡°Let us go to a tea house to have a talk.¡±


    Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t think too much of it. He nodded and reached out for the wheelchair, but Nan Xun¡¯s cold stare made him pause. He swallowed down the gulp in his throat and trailed after them without a word.


    They entered the first tea house they came upon and went into a booth on the second floor. Jun Huang stayed silent, rubbing at her teacup with a thumb. Only then did Zhang Yuan realize that Jun Huang was angry with him. He sat with his back tense. He didn¡¯t dare to ask her what he had done wrong.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t normally have such an intimidating air around her, but now there was no expression on her face, and she had not said a word since entering the booth. Instead, she silently stared at the tea in her cup. Tension built up in the room the longer she stayed silent.


    Nan Xun could understand how Zhang Yuan felt. He was simply feeling lost because the wedding wasing. As a peasant, it was natural for him to feel untethered to reality for entering the throne room and marrying the princess.


    Jun Huang, on the other hand, could not sympathize. She considered Zhang Yuan to be irresponsible for diddling about instead of making arrangements for the wedding while Wan¡¯er was waiting in the pce for her bridegroom. She questioned herself for her decision to entrust Wan¡¯er to Zhang Yuan.


    Jun Huang looked up at Zhang Yuan and finally broke the silence. ¡°I saw the schr official wandering about on the street. Have you finished the preparation for the wedding? Have you figured out how you are going to lead Princess Wan¡¯er out of the pce that day?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know your responsibilities?¡± Jun Huang demanded in a harsh tone. ¡°This gentleman feels sorry for Princess Wan¡¯er. The wedding ising in two days, and yet you are wasting your time outside. Do you not care about Princess Wan¡¯er? This gentleman starts to wonder if you¡¯re the right one for the princess.¡±


    Jun Huang had not pulled her punches. Her words rendered Zhang Yuan speechless.


    Zhang Yuan struggled to defend himself. Nan Xun stepped in and patted Jun Huang¡¯s arm. ¡°The schr must know what he should do. I believe that he cares about Wan¡¯er ¨C ¡±


    ¡°And this is how he shows it?¡± Jun Huang scoffed, throwing Nan Xun a cold nce. Nan Xun shut his mouth and gave Zhang Yuan a pointed look. He was on his own now.


    ¡°If the schr believes that you¡¯ve done nothing wrong, feel free to ignore my words, or even pretend that you¡¯ve never seen me today,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°But remember, Princess Wan¡¯er is not like other women. She¡¯s going to be your wife. She¡¯s going to share you joy and pain until the end of life. If this is how you treat her, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going to happen in the future.¡±


    Zhang Yuan opened his mouth to say something, but what came out was a long sigh.


    ¡°I... just can¡¯t believe that the wedding is really happening,¡± said Zhang Yuan. ¡°As the gentleman said, Princess Wan¡¯er deserves better than having me as her husband. Besides, I think the princess... don¡¯t really like me...¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°Princess Wan¡¯er is a member of the royal family. She didn¡¯t know anyone like you before she met you. Now that the emperor has arranged your marriage, marrying you is a fate she cannot escape. If even you are dissatisfied, who is the princess going toin to?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s words was a wake up call. Zhang Yuan felt shaken to the core. He shot to his feet with his eyes fixed on Jun Huang and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been selfish and have been thinking only about myself. The gentleman has pointed me to the right direction. Please ept my sincere gratitude.¡±


    He cupped his hands and hurried back to his manor. He would tell his friends and family to help him arrange the wedding. After marrying Princess Wan¡¯er, he would spend his whole life loving and caring for her. He would be her strongest support.


    Jun Huang put down her teacup and sat back, leaning against the wheelchair. Some of the tea had spilled onto her fingers in her anger. She wiped her hand with a handkerchief. Her expression had lost the edge. She lookedpletely different from when she was demanding answers from Zhang Yuan.


    Nan Xun could feel her heavy mood. He sat by her side without a word.


    ¡°I¡¯m not being overly sensitive,¡± Jun Huang said slowly. ¡°A woman can only marry once in her life. If her man doesn¡¯t pay enough attention, it can cause a lifetime of regret. Princess Wan¡¯er may seem like she doesn¡¯t care about such things, but that can¡¯t be true. All women care about their wedding and their marriage. They simply didn¡¯t voice their concerns because it won¡¯t help.¡±


    ¡°Regret is a terrible thing. We all fear making mistakes we cannot redeem. One day, when we are old and grey, we don¡¯t want to think back to our past andment what could have been.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s voice was quiet like a whisper to herself. Nan Xun felt like an idental voyeur to her feelings. It was disquieting.


    Nan Xun had never thought about how important weddings could be to a woman. He didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to share the concern. The realization came as a shock.


    I will give her a wedding to remember, he swore to himself. I will give her everything she has ever wanted.


    What matter most now was to find a way into Jun Huang¡¯s heart and to help her recover. Then, they would build a life together.


    ¡°Come on, we should leave this ce as well,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°On our way here I saw someone selling rivernterns. Let¡¯s check that out.¡±


    Her tone had turned impassive. No trace of sorrow could be detected in her voice. It was as if nothing had happened. Jun Huang was still her usual self.


    Nan Xun pushed aside his thoughts and nodded. When they went down to pay the bill, the cashier told them that Zhang Yuan had paid already. Neither of themmented on it. They left the tea house and started walking.


    They found the stand Jun Huang was talking about. She lowered her head to look at the intricately designednterns. The sun added a touch of warmth to her face. Nan Xun imagined her wearing a phoenix cap and a wedding gown. His heart pounded against his ribcage. He had to stop himself from confessing to Jun Huang then and there that he wanted to spend his life with her.


    Nan Xun knew that this wasn¡¯t the right time. Jun Huang was too calm and too logical. Other women he would be able to win as long as he put his mind to it, but Jun Huang was different. She had too much on her mind and none she was able to let go of. There was no room for another person, not even a man she cared about. She would not ept him even when she shared his feelings.


    She cared too much about too many to give him a promise.


    While Nan Xun was lost in his thoughts, Jun Huang grimaced as sweat breaking out of her forehead. Thentern in her hand dropped onto the ground.


    She held tight onto her knee. The sudden pain burrowed into her bones and joints. She could not stop trembling even by clenching her teeth. Her face grew pale and her lips lost their color.


    Both the stand owner and Nan Xun were startled. Nan Xun dropped down to his knee before her, his breath hitched. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you in pain?¡±


    ¡°My knee starts hurting all of a sudden,¡± Jun Huang struggled to say. The pain made it difficult to even make a sound. The single sentence had taken all her strength to voice.

 Chapter 196

    Chapter 196: Lasting Sorrow


    Nan Xun hurriedly picked Jun Huang up and rushed toward the manor. One of his shadow guards followed after him with the wheelchair in tow, but he ended up losing track of Nan Xun because he was moving too quickly.


    Nan Xun brought Jun Huang back to his manor and sent for a doctor. The doctor did not dare to treat this job lightly. He followed the servant to the manor. When he entered the room, Jun Huang was curling into herself with her fingers clutching at her knees as if that would stop the pain.


    ¡°Please let go, gentleman Feng,¡± said the doctor.


    Jun Huang looked up at the doctor, then turned to Nan Xun. She tightened her jaw before letting go of her knees. The doctor took the opportunity to check over her. Nan Xun could only stand by and watch. What he wouldn¡¯t give to be a medical expert himself.


    ¡°How is it?¡± Nan Xun asked as soon as the doctor finished checking Jun Huang.


    ¡°It¡¯s simply a case of body being affected by the cold chill. The prickling paines from the joints. He¡¯ll feel better once I let out the tainted blood from his knees.¡± The doctor opened his medical kit and took out a silver needle.


    Jun Huang had been through countless tortures, but this time, the pain came from within her bones and joints, which made it unbearable. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to distract herself from the pain. When the needle buried into her knee, she was relieved. The pain was slowly fading.


    Nan Xun stared at Jun Huang¡¯s knees without blinking. In and out the needle went, leaving several puncture wounds to let out the tainted blood. Afterwards, the doctor applied a medicine to stop the bleeding. That was the end of the treatment.


    Jun Huang had recovered herposure, and her tense muscles finally rxed. She let out a long breath and opened her eyes. Her face was still pale, but her knees felt a lot better. She sat up with Nan Xun help and smiled at the doctor. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. I¡¯ll prescribe you some medicine. The gentleman will be able to recover after taking it.¡± The doctor sorted through his medical kit for his writing brush and ink to write down the prescription. Nan Xun was worried that something might go wrong again. He stayed by Jun Huang¡¯s side.


    Once the doctor finished writing, Nan Xun made sure to ask the doctor what possible side effects he should expect. Then he ordered a servant to retrieve the ingredients for the medicine.


    Jun Huang was moved by his attentiveness, but she didn¡¯t let it show. It wasn¡¯t long until she fell asleep leaning against the bed frame. She was exhausted.


    Nan Xun came back into the room after walking the doctor out. Jun Huang was sound asleep with a peaceful expression. He gingerly helped her lie down and tucked her in before leaving.


    After days of resting, Jun Huang was feeling much better. She was satisfied with her life in Nan Xun¡¯s manor. Her copse had made Nan Xun even more protective of her. He didn¡¯t let Jun Huang read the records made by the House of Heavenly Friends as he had before. He was worried that she would exhaust herself and fell ill again. Instead, he read through the records for her in his study even though it went against his nature as a general. He had to shoulder some of the burden to prevent Jun Huang from pushing herself.


    It was the day of Wan¡¯er¡¯s wedding. Jun Huang woke up at the crack of dawn and went through her morning routine. She stared at her reflection in the bronze mirror. A young man with white teeth and red lips stared back at her. She touched her hollowed cheek. She was starting to forget how she looked as a woman. She spent a long time in men¡¯s clothes. Today, there seemed to be a masculine edge to herself, which she wasn¡¯t averse to. Sometimes, she hoped that she was a real man. Then things would have been a lot lessplicated.


    Hearing that Jun Huang had woken up, Nan Xun hurried to her room. He frowned at her as she stared at the mirror. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Jun Huang broke out of her trance and turned to him. ¡°Nothing.¡± She pulled her lips into a faint smile and lowered her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just wondering if I look ready for Princess Wan¡¯er¡¯s wedding.¡±


    Nan Xun knew that Jun Huang wasn¡¯t telling the truth. She had attended Qi Chen¡¯s wedding twice. She must know how to dress herself for the asion. If Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to tell him, however, he wasn¡¯t going to force her to open up. Everyone had their secrets.


    ¡°Of course you¡¯re ready,¡± Nan Xun said with augh, trying to lighten up the mood. ¡°It¡¯s no secret that you¡¯re handsome. You look like you¡¯re going to steal Wan¡¯er away from Zhang Yuan at the wedding.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled and smiled at him. ¡°Your Highness is too kind.¡±


    ¡°Are you going out now?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. Her knees were wobbling again. She let out a long breath and got on the wheelchair after some struggle. She looked up at Nan Xun. ¡°I was going to go myself, but you¡¯re awake now. If you have the time, can you take me to the princess manor?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what Jun Huang was going to do, but he nodded anyway. As a princess, Wan¡¯er had moved into the princess manor to avoid troubles before the wedding. She would wait for Zhang Yuan to lead her out of the manor.


    It was still early. Only a couple pedestrians walked the street. The air was cool and wet. In Northern Qi, it was usually humid at dawn even in summer. Jun Huang and Nan Xun could both feel their clothes sticking to their bodies because of the humidity. The chilling wind swept through them.


    Even Nan Xun was feeling a little cold. He knew Jun Huang must be as well. He took a robe from his shadow guard and put it over her shoulders. His movement was gentle and his eyes tender.


    By the street, the owner of a steamed buns shop gaped at them.


    The early morning light shone on Jun Huang, adding a translucent quality to her turquoise robe. With her wind-tousled hair and faint smile, she looked like a celestial being. Nan Xun, on the other hand, had cheekbones sharp enough to cut ss, but his eyes were bright and tender. His feelings for Jun Huang had softened the hard lines of his face.


    It didn¡¯t seem possible for the two of them to exist in a less than peaceful world.


    When the shop owner came to his senses, Jun Huang and Nan Xun had long disappeared. He patted himself on the cheek and muttered, ¡°I must have seen the gods. They can¡¯t be one of us.¡±


    He chuckled. He was lucky to witness the celestials visiting the world.


    Nan Xun pushed Jun Huang forward at a steady pace. Every once in a while Jun Huang would wrap the robe over her shoulders tighter to guard against the wind. She didn¡¯t say anything on their way to the princess manor.


    They soon reached their destination. Wan¡¯er had ordered her servants to let Jun Huang in if she came. The servants therefore didn¡¯t stop Jun Huang and Nan Xun from entering.


    Nan Xun left after taking Jun Huang to Wan¡¯er. He knew that Jun Huang wanted to have a private conversation with Wan¡¯er. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for him to stay. He waited outside.


    Wan¡¯er was sitting before a bronze mirror dressed in a wedding gown with a phoenix cap on her head. Her eyes lit up when she saw Jun Huang. She shot up to her feet. The dangling ornament on her head shook and clinked. The pleasant sound rang in the room.


    ¡°The gentleman has surprised me. I...¡± Her voice was unsteady and her eyes were red. She looked like she was on the brink of crying.


    Jun Huang sighed. ¡°Please don¡¯t be like this, princess. You¡¯re going to smear your makeup. This gentleman came only to give you a gift in person. I didn¡¯t mean anything else by this visit.¡±


    She took out the hairpin she bought a few days ago and handed it to Wan¡¯er. Wan¡¯er stared owlishly at the delicate hairpin, her breath hitched. She looked up at Jun Huang.


    ¡°When I saw this hairpin, I could tell that it would suit the princess,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°This gentleman believes that I owe you a gift for your appreciation. After some contemtion, I settled on this hairpin. I bought it from a shop. I hope the princess won¡¯t find it too crude a gift.¡±


    Wan¡¯er shook her head and took a deep breath to suppress her urge to cry. ¡°Anything the gentleman gives me is a good gift,¡± she said ruefully. ¡°I¡¯m honored that the gentleman hase to visit me in person. I don¡¯t expect more from you. There must be many people who adore the gentleman, but no regr women can be a good match for you. Wan¡¯er is the only one who has received such a gesture from you, am I not? That¡¯s enough for met.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t say anything. She knew how women thought, but she had to pretend to not understand Wan¡¯er. That was the smartest thing for her to do.


    She exchanged some pleasantries with Wan¡¯er, staying perfectly within the boundaries. Her politeness kept Wan¡¯er at arm¡¯s length. Wan¡¯er stared at her and pretended to not care about her aloof attitude.


    Nan Xun entered the room after a while. Jun Huang left with him and went to Zhang Yuan¡¯s manor.


    A princess¡¯s wedding was a rare event. Many hade to attend the wedding. At noon, most of the guests had already arrived, causing a clog in Zhang Yuan¡¯s garden.


    Jun Huang had been feeling down ever since she left the princess manor. She didn¡¯t want to attend the wedding banquet, but Zhang Yuan invited her earnestly. As somewhat of a friend of his, she shouldn¡¯t turn him away.


    She picked a corner and stayed there, watching everyone else like someone watching a y. There was an impassive look on her face. Nan Xun could tell that she wasn¡¯t in a good mood, but he didn¡¯t know why or what he should do to change it.


    Zhang Yuan led Wan¡¯er to the manor on a tall horse followed by a sedan chair carried by eight men. They had gone to the pce to greet the emperor and the honored consort. The guests present wereposed mainly of courtiers and young men from esteemed families who came for the experience.

 Chapter 197

    Chapter 197: Alone amidst a Crowd


    Jun Huang watched as the matchmaker helped Wan¡¯er cross the brazier ced at the door. After going through several more rituals, Wan¡¯er entered the main hall. Inside, Zhang Yuan¡¯s family members sat on the main seats. The ceremony ended after she and Zhang Yuan bowed to the god, their family, and each other.


    During the banquet, Zhang Yuan stood proudly among the crowd. He had learned to mingle with other people. He was no longer the lost schr whose talent went unnoticed.


    Jun Huang should be happy for him, but she couldn¡¯t manage a smile no matter how hard she tried.


    Nan Xun knew that the wedding must have brought up memories she didn¡¯t want to be remind of. Zhang Yuan had married the woman of his dream and earned his fame and glory, while Jun Huang was all alone, unable to find her brother. The difference between them was as great as the distance between heaven and hell.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t like seeing her wallow. He knew that Jun Huang would only feel worse until she left this ce. He knelt down before Jun Huang and muttered, ¡°Weddings are always the same. By the look of the number of people in this ce, it must be quiet outside. We should leave if you don¡¯t feel like staying.¡±


    Jun Huang threw a nce at Zhang Yuan before giving Nan Xun a nod. She didn¡¯t pay her surrounding any attention as Nan Xun took her outside. She therefore didn¡¯t notice that Qi Yun had been looking for her.


    Qi Chen had seen her leave, which troubled him for reasons unclear to himself. It must have been the guilt, he thought. Jun Huang was hurt because of him.


    He had always thought that he trusted Jun Huang, and yet he had believed Wei Lanying¡¯s and Xiaoyun¡¯s usations. It weighed on his heart. He left as soon as Wan¡¯er was led to the newlywed room.


    Nan Xun took Jun Huang to the temple outside the city. Most of the young men in the city were in Zhang Yuan¡¯s manor. As a result, the temple was quiet and free of any activities. The only sound they could hear was the birds¡¯ pleasant chirps.


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart settled. The serene atmosphere put her at ease.


    The peach blossoms had wilted. Nan Xun pushed Jun Huang into the bamboo forest. The rustle of the bamboo leaves sounded like rain, but softer, lighter. The mncholy song evoked a yearning for peace.


    That wasn¡¯t how Jun Huang perceived it. She closed her eyes and listened to the gust of wind underlying the gentle rustle. What surfaced her mind were endless killings and deaths, after which came the prosperity everyone hoped for.


    ¡°How do you feel seeing Princess Wan¡¯er and the schr get married?¡± Jun Huang asked, breaking the silence. She wasn¡¯t really trying to get an answer. She just didn¡¯t know what else to say.


    She regretted the question as soon as it left her mouth. She sighed inwardly and added, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much of it. I¡¯m just reminded of Shangguan Yue. She is deeply in love with you, but unfortunately you don¡¯t reciprocate her feelings. Now, after seeing this extravagant wedding, have you changed your mind at all?¡±


    Nan Xun pretended to give it some thoughts, but the answer was already clear to him. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t. Wan¡¯er¡¯s wedding has nothing to do with me, neither does Shangguan Yue. I¡¯ve said no to the emperor. That¡¯s the end of it. I have no feelings for Miss Shangguan. I can¡¯t possibly get married just for the sake of it, can I? Otherwise I could just pick a random woman and ask the emperor to arrange the marriage. I wouldn¡¯t have to put the emperor in this dilemma.¡±


    ¡°Besides, it¡¯s taken a lot for me to turn down the marriage. I don¡¯t want the problem to arise again. Fortunately I have you to deter unwanted attention now. People will talk about us as a match made in heaven.¡±


    He grinned, softening the hard lines of his face and driving away the coldness that was usually around him.


    Jun Huang turned to look at him. The sun shone through the bamboo leaves, illuminating his face. She couldn¡¯t describe how mesmerizing he was to her at this moment. She turned away with her heart pounding and forced herself to forget about her feelings.


    Jun Huang lowered her head and fell silent. Her dark hair obscured part of her face, but that didn¡¯t stop Nan Xun from wanting her. He wanted to pull her into his arms and gave her everything good in the world. He wanted to lodge himself in Jun Huang¡¯s heart and became irreceable to her.


    Even if Jun Huang would be confined to a wheelchair her whole life, he would be willing to push her around until death tore them apart.


    Sometimes, he wondered if he would still fall for Jun Huang if she had no talent nor intelligence. Would he be in love with her if she was just like any regr person? He didn¡¯t know the answer, and he didn¡¯t want to look for an answer. The Jun Huang he knew was more observant than many people, and she wished for a prosperous world. That was the end of it.


    Silence stretched. Nan Xun was suddenly reminded of something. He tried to find a less direct way to ask the question. ¡°Have you seen anyone from the House of Heavenly Fiendstely? Have they found your brother?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to bring this up. After some hesitation, she sighed and said, ¡°I don¡¯t n to let them keep looking for my brother.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Xun frowned. He knew Jun Huang had talked to someone from the House of Heavenly Fiends. He had talked to one of the members to ask if they had found anything, and the person told him that Jun Huang had canceled the mission. He didn¡¯t understand why she would do so. What concerned him more was that Jun Huang didn¡¯t tell him about it.


    He thought that Jun Huang would like to find Jun Hao as quickly as possible. After the time and efforts she had spent on her search, it didn¡¯t make sense for her to give up now. With the help of an entire organization, she stood a better chance at finding Jun Hao.


    ¡°I know that they are safe,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°There¡¯s no reason for me to keep looking for them.¡±


    ¡°You should make sure yourself, or you won¡¯t be able to rest easy. I know you¡¯re still worried about them. Why don¡¯t you seek them out? It won¡¯t hurt.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t understand why she would make such a decision. He knew from the way Jun Huang behaved at the wedding banquet that she was still worried. She was thinking of Jun Hao always, and yet she was unwilling to keep looking for him. Instead, she chose to push aside her yearning and let the uncertainty gnaw at her.


    Jun Huang was troubled enough as it was. Nan Xun¡¯s words jumbled up her thoughts even more. This was her decision to make. She looked up at him with hard eyes and said in a hostile tone, ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing. Your Highness doesn¡¯t have to get involved. Thank you for helping this gentleman, Your Highness, but please give me the room to make my own decisions. I¡¯ve made up my mind regarding this matter. There¡¯s nothing Your Highness can say to change my mind. You¡¯re better off thinking about how you should achieve your own goals. There¡¯s no need for Your Highness to worry about me.¡±


    ¡°You ¨C ¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what you and I are, Your Highness. This line cannot be crossed. This gentleman doesn¡¯t mean you any harm, but your intervention is a burden for me. I hope you¡¯ll forgive me for being blunt.¡±


    Her words hit Nan Xun like a dagger driving into his heart. He looked at the way her face went pale in anger. Her eyes were so distant it was as if she was looking at a stranger. Was everything they had been through real, or were they a dream? The paths they walked on crossed and separated.


    Nan Xun lowered his head and let out a bitterugh, a hurt look shed through his eyes. Jun Huang felt a lump forming in her throat. She only realized then how hurtful her words were. She reached out for his hand.


    The moment her fingers touched his sleeve, Nan Xun took a step back and looked at Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang opened her mouth to exin, but before she could say anything, Nan Xun said with a rueful smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t know I¡¯ve caused you so much trouble. I you hadn¡¯t told me, I¡¯d still be trapped in my delusions. I apologize for crossing the line.¡±


    He turned around and walked away. His heart convulsed painfully. He put his hand over his chest to steady himself. The smile on his face grew stilted and pained.


    ¡°I ¨C ¡± Jun Huang croaked. Hurting Nan Xun was painful for her as well. She could tell that Nan Xun was truly upset with her this time. She would like to catch up with him, but how could she when she was dependent on this wheelchair? He disappeared from her view in no time.


    Nan Xun realized that Jun Huang hadn¡¯t been following him, which made him think that Jun Huang had been telling the truth. She treated him as a mere ally. The re of hope in his heart died down.


    Jun Huang started panicking once Nan Xun had disappeared. She tried to wheeled herself forward, but she was too slow. Sweats dropped down from her face. Her breathing quickened. Why couldn¡¯t she stand and walk on her own when it mattered?


    She tried. She didn¡¯t care if her body would be able to support her own weight. She propped herself up and took a step forward. Sharp pain shot through her legs. The cold chill had seeped into her bones, making her muscles weak and sore.


    But she couldn¡¯t not try. She had a feeling that she and Nan Xun would be strangers if they didn¡¯t resolve this misunderstanding she caused. She had lost all sense and reason. Calm was thest word one would use to describe how she was now.


    She tried to move faster. The moment she took another step, however, her legs wobbled and her knee mmed into the bluestone step. The pain almost caused her to lose consciousness.


    Her vision was blurred by her tears. She tightened her jaw and buried her nails into her palms, trying to distract herself from the pain, but it didn¡¯t help.

 Chapter 198

    Chapter 198: Deep in the Bamboo Forest


    Jun Huang stayed on the ground for a good moment. She finally came to terms with the fact that she couldn¡¯t catch up with Nan Xun. The panic on her face gave way to quiet resignation. She propped herself up and wiped away her sweats. After taking a deep breath, she shakily got herself onto the wheelchair.


    Her knees had been scrapped because of her earlier struggle. She sighed. Nan Xun must have left already. She decided to get some fresh air to lighten her heavy mood.


    The sky went dark before she quite realized it. She had been wandering in the forest for a good while. The path before her was difficult to see. She stopped and tried to find her way back.


    Nan Xun had stormed away in the heat of the moment, but he regretted it as soon as his head cleared. He shouldn¡¯t have left Jun Huang in the forest on her own.


    He hurried back to the spot he had left Jun Huang at, but there was no one around. On the ground he noticed tracks left by wild beasts. There were two droplets of dried blood on the blue stone step next to it. Realization chilled him to the bone. It couldn¡¯t be...


    The sun had set and it was getting dark. Nan Xun forced himself to remain calm. He knew that it was unwise to blindly look for Jun Huang on his own. He wiped away his cold sweat and took a deep breath to clear his head. The smart thing to do would be to go to the temple to seek out help. He had left his servants at the temple because he wanted to be alone with Jun Huang.


    Once he made up his mind, he rushed to the temple as quickly as a gust of wind. He had not stopped to rest even once on his way.


    The servants were puzzled to see him on his own. Before they could ask, Nan Xun ordered them to go search for Jun Huang. That was a clear enough indication that Jun Huang was missing.


    One of the servants went off to ask the monks for help. The other followed Nan Xun into the bamboo forest. Nan Xun didn¡¯t know if there were any dangers lying await in the forest. He didn¡¯t dare to think about what might happen to Jun Huang, of if she was safe. He didn¡¯t know how he would react if he knew that Jun Huang was hurt.


    She has to be safe, he told himself. He had not seen any signs of struggle earlier in the forest, and Jun Huang¡¯s wheelchair was nowhere to be seen. His heart slowed down to a steady pace.


    It was dark when Jun Huang started to find her way back. The forest wasn¡¯t exactly brightly lit in the morning, let alone now. She got lost not long after and couldn¡¯t find the right way. She forced herself to calm down. She must not panic. If Nan Xun had been with her, she could depend on him. Without him by her side, she had to stay calm and depend on herself.


    She looked around. All she could see were bamboo trees. Every path looked identical. It didn¡¯t help that there was no light source.


    Inhale, then exhale. She let her anxiety flowed out of her body with her breath. She took off the robe she had over her shoulders and tore it into strands. As she navigated around the forest, she used the strands of clothing to mark her track. On one hand, it would tell her if she had been led around. On the other hand, Nan Xun would be able to follow the breadcrumbs if he came to find her.


    Without the robe to guard her against the chilling wind, the cold air bit into the open wounds on her knees. It felt as if her flesh had been torn out. She sucked in a breath in pain, her face going pale. Her sweat dropped down onto her hands.


    It was getting darker and darker. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help the fear festering in his heart. He kept walking around the forest trying to locate Jun Huang. He couldn¡¯t stop. It felt as if he would lose Jun Huang forever if he stopped moving.


    He was getting tired, but the cold wind kept him awake. His servants roamed through the forest with torches in their hands. They were as worried about Jun Huang as Nan Xun was. They all knew about the rumors. Even though they weren¡¯t sure that Nan Xun would truly fall for a man, they knew how much Nan Xun cared about Jun Huang. If anything happened to her, they didn¡¯t know if Nan Xun could take it.


    Jun Huang had walked for a long time. There didn¡¯t seem to be an end to this path. All she could see was all-consuming shadow that devoured even light itself. Jun Huang tightened her fists and kept her guard up.


    Meanwhile, a monk had seen one of the strands of cloth Jun Huang tied around a bamboo tree. ¡°Look! This must be left by gentleman Feng!¡±


    Nan Xun went up to the monk. He untied the piece of cloth with trembling hands. Under the light of the torch, he could see the dark patterns on the fabric. This was from the robe the honored consort gifted him sometime ago. He had personally draped this robe on Jun Huang¡¯s shoulders earlier.


    ¡°It¡¯s her, it¡¯s her!¡± Nan Xun said in an unsteady voice. ¡°Let¡¯s split up and meet again here.¡±


    He rushed ahead. The others followed his instruction and divided into two teams. One followed after Nan Xun, while the other followed his confidante.


    He had been searching blindly like a headless fly. Now that he had a trail to follow, his heart finally started to beat normally again. He let out a sigh of relief, but he didn¡¯t allow himself to rx. He wouldn¡¯t until he found Jun Huang.


    After about the time for an incense stick to burn, the trail Jun Huang left ended. Nan Xun frowned and took a couple steps forward with a torch in his hand.


    There she is!


    Jun Huang must have been exhausted. She had fallen asleep sitting on the wheelchair. Her face looked pale under the torchlight. Nan Xun¡¯s breath hitched as he stared at her.


    The others had not seen her. They thought that something bad had happened when they saw Nan Xun¡¯s expression. Before they could get close, Nan Xun held up a hand to stop them.


    He took a deep breath and croaked, ¡°Without my order, no one is to get closer.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Nan Xun took careful steps toward Jun Huang. Her eyshes fluttered in the cold wind. In her hand was what remained of the robe Nan Xun had put on her. From her furrowed brows he could tell that her sleep was not a restful one.


    Nan Xun stopped before her. It felt as if a lifetime had passed. He knelt down to look at Jun Huang¡¯s delicate face. His eyes stung. He had to blink away the tears. His trembling hands found their way to Jun Huang¡¯s face and caressed her cheeks tenderly.


    Jun Huang muttered something in her sleep. Nan Xun didn¡¯t understand her, and he didn¡¯t try. He carefully put his arms around her. He could see the scrapes on Jun Huang¡¯s knees. The blood had dried, but the sight hit him hard.


    He didn¡¯t wake Jun Huang up. He didn¡¯t know how Jun Huang had endured the time they were apart. He didn¡¯t dare to and wasn¡¯t willing to think about it.


    He took a deep breath and picked Jun Huang up. Subconsciously she seemed to know what was happening. Her arms looped around Nan Xun¡¯s neck without her waking up. Her reaction smoothed away the knot in Nan Xun¡¯s heart. He picked up his pace.


    The servants were d to see that Jun Huang was safe. Nan Xun said in a low voice, ¡°Bring the wheelchair. One of you tell the others that gentleman Feng has been found. Also, send for a doctor.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± the servants responded in a quiet voice to avoid rousing Jun Huang from her slumber. They watched Nan Xun left before following his orders.


    When Nan Xun returned to one of the rooms in the temple with Jun Huang, the doctor had arrived as well. The doctor carefully checked up on Jun Huang¡¯s condition. He let out a long breath and let go of Jun Huang¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Your Highness. The gentleman is alright. There is no added injury except for the scrapes on his knees.¡±


    Nan Xun let thest of his worries drain out of him. He poured himself a cup of tea and watched the doctor clean the wounds on Jun Huang¡¯s knees. He didn¡¯t stand up to walk the doctor out once the treatment had ended. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to. He simply couldn¡¯t pick himself up after the intense emotions he had gone through.


    He stared at Jun Huang quietly. There was a lump in his throat, and his eyes were stinging. He squeezed his eyes shut to stop himself from crying.


    Night fell. The incident hade to an end. Jun Huang had been found. Nan Xun¡¯s eyelids started growing heavy. He cleaned up andy down next to Jun Huang.


    He had nned to keep a polite distance from her, but he couldn¡¯t help being overwhelmed by the fear of losing her. He moved a little closer to Jun Huang until their hand touched. He held onto her fingers and turned to her.


    Through the window came a ray of moonlight, illuminating Jun Huang¡¯s profile. Nan Xun could spend his lifetime staring at her. He tightened his grip on Jun Huang¡¯s fingers. He was worried that he would lose Jun Huang again. He was fortunate to be able to find Jun Huang. This must not happen again. The despair and fear were not something he was eager to go through. He couldn¡¯t imagine what he would do if one day Jun Huang disappeared and he couldn¡¯t find her.


    Nan Xun¡¯s grip tightened, which woke Jun Huang. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked at Nan Xun blearily. Was this a dream, or was it reality? She curled herself into Nan Xun¡¯s arms and murmured, ¡°I know you¡¯ll find me.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He put his arms around her and whispered, ¡°I won¡¯t ever lose you again. I swear.¡±


    Jun Huang had quickly fallen asleep again. She had not heard his promise. Nan Xun chuckled and left a feather-light kiss on her forehead before closing his eyes, satisfied. He fell asleep with Jun Huang in his arms.

 Chapter 199

    Chapter 199: Half-hearted usation


    Morning came. When the first ray of sun broke through the night, Jun Huang¡¯s eyes fluttered open. She stared at the ceiling for a long while before turning to her side. Nan Xun was deep in sleep, holding her hand firmly. With wide eyes, she carefully pulled her hand out of his grip. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw that Nan Xun had not been woken up.


    With a hand supporting her head, she looked at Nan Xun¡¯s face. Her heart swelled and expanded as their argument yesterday faded away from her mind. She wanted to treasure this moment ¨C this man. The rest was insignificant.


    On impulse, she reached out to a hand to trace the contour of Nan Xun¡¯s handsome face. Her cool fingertipsnded on his eyebrow, the bridge of his nose, then the corner of his mouth. A small smile tugged at her lips. She lowered her eyes, a few strands of her hair ran messily down her face. If Nan Xun opened his eyes now, he would see how tenderly she was looking at him.


    Nan Xun had woken up when Jun Huang pulled her hand out of his grip, but before he could open his eyes, Jun Huang¡¯s fingers had ghosted over his skin. He didn¡¯t want to interrupt this rare demonstration of affection. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to jump away like a scared fawn once he opened his eyes. He pretended to be asleep despite how fast his heart was beating.


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart was pounding just as fast. She had reached out for Nan Xun without thinking. Her hand touched Nan Xun¡¯s face before she realized it. She didn¡¯t want to lose the connection. She would like this moment to stretch and never end. Her feeling for him was now her weakness. She knew that she had changed because of Nan Xun.


    Thinking of their argument yesterday, Jun Huang let out a deep breath. The words had fallen out of her mouth in the heat of the moment. What was said could not be unsaid. She didn¡¯t know how Nan Xun felt about it, but she was truly regretful.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it, Nan Xun,¡± Jun Huang said quietly. She could only open up when she thought that no one could hear her. ¡°I was in a bad mood yesterday. I never wanted to hurt you...¡±


    Under the nket, Nan Xun¡¯s hands twitched. He wanted to pulled Jun Huang into his arms and told her that he didn¡¯t mind, but he managed to stop himself. Jun Huang had not epted him yet, and he knew that there was some truth to what Jun Huang said yesterday. He could be too intrusive sometimes. That was bad for both of them.


    ¡°If you aren¡¯t going to say anything, I¡¯ll assume that you¡¯ve forgiven me,¡± Jun Huang said with a mischievous smile. She took a deep breath and sat up, but her fingers continued to ghost over Nan Xun¡¯s face.


    A monk came to knock on their door with a jug of water in his other hand. Nan Xun pretended that he had just woken up. When he opened his eyes, Jun Huang¡¯s hand was right before him. He caught her wrist without thinking.


    Jun Huang jumped and pulled away, her face flushed. The color on her cheeks vanished as soon as a gust of wind swept into the room. Even her heated cheeks had cooled down.


    She cleared her throat, sneaking nces at Nan Xun, wondering if he had heard her. She rxed when she saw the impassive expression on his face.


    ¡°Why have you woken up so early?¡± Nan Xun asked worriedly. ¡°Is your knee still hurting?¡±


    Now that Nan Xun brought it up, she felt a dull pain spreading through her knee. She looked down and saw that her injured knee was wrapped in bandages.


    She frowned and reached out for her knee, but Nan Xun caught her wrist quickly. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I... it¡¯s itching,¡± Jun Huang whispered, embarrassed.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good sign. It means the wounds are healing.¡± Nan Xun looked up at her. His ck eyes were as opaque as ake in winter. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten injured before. You must know this already.¡±


    Jun Huang blushed. Of course she knew. When she met Nan Xun¡¯s eyes, however, her brain seemed to stop working.


    How ridiculous! She always fancied herself someone who never lost her calm, and yet she had forgotten herself because a man was looking at her with stars in his eyes.


    She jumped off the bed, forgetting that her legs had not fully recovered from the chilling cold. Pain shot through her knee and she lost bnce. Nan Xun caught her before she could fall.


    ¡°I never thought of you as a clumsy person,¡± Nan Xun teased. He knew that Jun Huang had been acting differently since he woke up. It was the first time that he saw the mature mask fall from Jun Huang¡¯s face. She was finally behaving like someone her age.


    He found himself even more drawn to her.


    Nan Xun wanted her to not act old before him. He wanted her to be how she was now. To openly blush and be clumsy. To feel safe to be the young woman she was.


    Now he knew that the one he loved was not the intelligent and ambitious Feng Baiyu, who pushed through all difficulties with a tightened jaw, who considered everyone¡¯s interest without boasting it, whoforted others with a smile even when faced with great dangers. The one he loved was Jun Huang, who had fallen into his arms like an unexpected dream.


    He was in love with her soul. The rest didn¡¯t matter.


    The tenderness in Nan Xun¡¯s eyes was overwhelming. Jun Huang jumped away like she had been scorched by hot water. Her aching knees didn¡¯t allow her to flee. She could only sit on the bed, averting her gaze. A faint blush dusted her cheeks.


    Nan Xun awkwardly touched his nose and sat up to look at Jun Huang. The silence between them was a little heavy, but he didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°Why did you leave me there alone yesterday?¡± Jun Huang regretted her words as soon as she said it, but she couldn¡¯t quite stop herself from spilling her thoughts. Her half-hearted usation quickly turned into self-deprecation. ¡°Weren¡¯t you worried that something would happen to me? I didn¡¯t mean what I say, and I¡¯m not trying to me you now. What you did, though... Well, you¡¯re used to staying at the border, and you¡¯re a prince. Of course you wouldn¡¯t pay attention to someone like me. Forget what I¡¯ve just said.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s chest tightened. He knew he had made a mistake. No matter how angry he was, he shouldn¡¯t have left her on her own. It was fortunate that she wasn¡¯t seriously hurt. If something simr happened again, he wasn¡¯t sure if he would be able to stay calm. Perhaps he would lose his sanity as soon as he realized that she was gone.


    He took her hands in his and said seriously, ¡°Trust me. I will never leave you like that again.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness can make promises all you want. A leopard never changes its spots. How can this gentleman believe your promise? Ah, but I am only a peasant. I don¡¯t deserve your consideration. Your Highness should tell your promise to your wife. She¡¯ll be happy.¡±


    Jun Huang spoke in a deadpan tone, but her words were chilling. Nan Xun knew that Jun Huang wasn¡¯t as angry as she sounded. She was only letting loose her pent-up frustration and worries.


    ¡°Alright, alright. It¡¯s all my fault. I¡¯m not gonna call you gentleman Feng just because you called me Your Highness.¡± Nan Xun got off the bed and knelt before Jun Huang. His tone was earnest. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have left you yesterday. You¡¯re right to be angry. But you shouldn¡¯t talk down yourself like that. In my heart, you... are more important than anyone, including the wife that I¡¯ve never had. I swear on the sun and the moon that I¡¯m being honest with you. Please don¡¯t be mad at me.¡±


    Jun Huang stared at Nan Xun with wide eyes. She didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to give her such a response. Her heart fluttered.


    ¡°I... I wasn¡¯t being serious,¡± she whispered.


    Nan Xun smiled. He bent down to pick her up and put her on the wheelchair by the bed. ¡°It¡¯s a good day. Let¡¯s have breakfast and take a walk in the temple before returning to the city. What do you think?¡±


    He leaned in to talk to Jun Huang. The white jade cap he wore softened his intimidating aura. His handsome face looked even more attractive.


    ¡°You decide,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile. She threw him a nce before looking away.


    At dawn the temple was shrouded in a serene tranquility. The only sound they could hear were the temple block and the young monks¡¯ chanting. It had been windyst night. The ground was covered in fallen leaves. Every step they took was followed by a rustle.


    Jun Huang closed her eyes as Nan Xun pushed the wheelchair forward. The air smelled of the earth. She felt lighter after resolving their misunderstanding. The faint smile on her face could capture anyone¡¯s attention.


    The little monk sweeping the fallen leaves stared dumbly at her. He had never seen anyone so beautiful. In his trance, the broom he was holding fell on the ground. The sound was loud enough to startle the birds perching on the tree.


    Jun Huang followed the sound and looked at the monk, her eyes crinkling. The little monk ran away with a blush without a word. His innocent reaction was endearing.


    Amused, Jun Huang covered up a smile, her eyes twinkling and her lips curved. The turquoise robe she wore danced in the air.


    ¡°Can¡¯t me him for reacting like that,¡± Nan Xun said with a smile.

 Chapter 200

    Chapter 200: Devotion


    Jun Huang threw a questioning nce at Nan Xun. What did he mean by that?


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t stop himself from staring at her. She looked adorable when she cocked her head. After a long pause, he said, ¡°You¡¯ve always been more beautiful than other people. Your smile is capable of bewitching anyone.¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes slightly before chuckling. ¡°Only you are able to say such shameless things with such a serious face.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to think that he was joking. He hurriedly added, ¡°I ¨C I meant it.¡±


    Jun Huang paused. They shouldn¡¯t continue this topic. She fell silent. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t going to say anything either if she didn¡¯t give him a response. He continued to push the wheelchair forward.


    The sun had risen near the top of the sky. Under the shade, the warmth was pleasant, and it made them reluctant to leave.


    They reached the front pce, which was where most visitors went to pray. It was said that the Buddha honored here could ensure the worshipper a lifetime of safety.


    That reminded Nan Xun of something. He told Jun Huang to wait for him before rushing into the pce.


    Nan Xun said a few words to the abbot, who nodded in response. He took Nan Xun to the back. When they came back out, Nan Xun was holding something in his hand. He bowed to the statue of Buddha earnestly, whispering something at the same time. Jun Huang assumed that he was expressing his gratitude to the Buddha.


    Nan Xun hurried to her with a wide grin. His forehead was covered in sweat, but it didn¡¯t dampen his grace.


    ¡°Why are you smiling like that?¡± Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help her curiosity. ¡°Has something good happened?¡±


    ¡°I requested for this charm some time ago. I just got it blessed. It¡¯s said that this charm can protect you for your whole life. I¡¯ll put it on you.¡± Nan Xun leaned in to put the protection charm on Jun Huang¡¯s neck. He nodded in satisfaction and added, ¡°I know you don¡¯t believe in things like this, but it can¡¯t hurt. I heard that after being exposed to the incense smoke for some time, a charm would be magical.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s attitudepelled Jun Huang to take his gift seriously. She lowered her head to look at the yellow protection charm. After a moment of silence, She looked up at Nan Xun and smiled at him. ¡°Then I¡¯ll ept this gift.¡±


    ¡°Of course you will,¡± Nan Xun said with a smile. ¡°I got it for you. It¡¯s not going to work on me if I keep it. Your health condition isn¡¯t the best. The incense smoke may help. It¡¯s going to waste on someone like me, someone who¡¯s taken countless lives.¡±


    Jun Huang gave him a meaningful look. Nan Xun didn¡¯t see anything wrong with his exnation. ¡°Come on. It¡¯s gettingte.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Time flew when one wasn¡¯t burdened by responsibilities. Jun Huang didn¡¯t usually have such feelings. After resting for days to recover from her wounds, though, she started to feelzy.


    Due to her injury, Nan Xun had ordered the cooks to prepare specially designed meals for her every day. Qi Chen sometimes delivered rare medicinal ingredients to the manor as well, which Nan Xun would have the cooks put into her food. She was almost getting overly nourished.


    She felt like she had been wasting time, but Nan Xun disagreed. He thought that Jun Huang was overtaxing herself by reading books all the time. He knew he couldn¡¯t stop her from doing it. She would get bored.


    The opportunity to stay with Jun Huang for days did note often. He didn¡¯t want to anger her and cause her to move out.


    Nan Xun wanted to let her rest for a few more days, but Jun Huang turned him down. Once she was able to walk on her own, she started nning her next step.


    She now knew about most of the forces supporting Qi Chen openly, but she didn¡¯t know about his secret benefactors. If she went head to head with Qi Chen recklessly, it wasn¡¯t going to end well for her. It was better that she stayed at Qi Chen¡¯s side for now.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to exhaust herself. Besides, he had not forgiven Qi Chen for hurting Jun Huang without thinking things through. He didn¡¯t think Jun Huang should return to Qi Chen. He had even prepared a speech to convince her.


    Nan Xun went to Jun Huang the day she nned to return to Qi Chen and said without preamble, ¡°I don¡¯t think you should go back to Qi Chen again.¡±


    Jun Huang arched an eyebrow. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Think about it. He put you in the water prison because of someone¡¯s false usation. What¡¯s going to happen next time? Will you be lucky enough to make it out alive? I can¡¯t imagine the possibilities. You still have a lot of goals. Why must you focus all your efforts on Qi Chen? There are other angles we can attack to get what we want.¡± Nan Xun slowly told her the arguments he had prepared and rehearsed several times. He didn¡¯t even have to stop to think.


    ¡°You know I won¡¯t do that at time like this, Nan Xun,¡± Jun Huang said seriously. She wasn¡¯t just humoring Nan Xun. ¡°That¡¯s not going to help. I know what I¡¯m doing and the risks I¡¯m taking. This time Wei Lanying has caught me off guard, but she isn¡¯t going to get lucky again. Do you think that I¡¯m incapable of protecting myself? You don¡¯t have to worry too much. If there¡¯s something I can¡¯t deal with, I¡¯ll tell you immediately, and I¡¯ll keep myself safe.¡±


    Nan Xun knew that there was never a way back for Jun Huang. He knew how hard she had worked to realize her dream of a better country. If she gave up now, all the time and efforts she had devoted would be in vain. She had thus stubbornly insisted on dragging her tired body around in the imperial city. He knew he couldn¡¯t convince her to pull away.


    He sighed. There was nothing he could say to change her mind. They had finally resolved their differences, and they got closer because of it. He didn¡¯t want to push her away, and he didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to push him away.


    ¡°No matter what happens, don¡¯t shoulder everything on your own,¡± he said after a long pause. ¡°Remember toe to me. I¡¯ll do everything I can to ensure your safety. Understand?¡±


    Jun Huang broke into a bright smile. Covered in the warm glow of sunlight, her crinkling eyes made Nan Xun¡¯s heart race.


    Nan Xun was worried that he would lose control of himself. He quickly turned away. Jun Huang let out a silentugh at his reaction.


    One of her servants came to take her things back to her manor. She was going to visit Qi Chen. She shouldn¡¯t go there with her hands full.


    Qi Chen had note to bother her the past few days ¨C it was probably the guilt that stopped him froming. It gave her time to recover.


    On the other hand, the housekeeper, who came to deliver the medicinal ingredients to her, had exchanged a few words with her, telling her that Qi Chen had been looking into the one who drugged her, and that the investigation had yielded some results. Qi Chen was waiting for an opportunity to talk to her before deciding what to do.


    Jun Huang knew Wei Lanying was the one who drugged her, but she didn¡¯t have evidence to back herself up. She wasn¡¯t someone who would point fingers without proofs, so she kept it to herself.


    She was surprised that Qi Chen had found something. Even though Wei Lanying was prone to jealousy, she wasn¡¯t brainless. Xiaoyun, who had so easily been manipted by Wei Lanying, was the gullible one. Wei Lanying would not make the same mistakes. Jun Huang believed that things weren¡¯t as simple as it seemed.


    She went to the crown prince¡¯s manor straight away. Qi Chen was sitting in the pavilion with his eyebrows furrowed. He put down the letters in his hand when he saw her and walked up to her.


    ¡°Is brother Feng feeling better?¡± Qi Chen gave her a once-over before letting out a sigh of relief. He still felt a little guilty for what happened. He was the one who wronged her. Every time he thought about the way Jun Huang had helped him without asking for anything return, he felt the urge to kill Wei Lanying with his own hands.


    Jun Huang pulled her lips into a smile and nodded. ¡°This gentleman is feeling alright. I only got sick because I¡¯ve always been prone to diseases. After recovering from the illness, I¡¯m feeling much better. I¡¯m fine as long as I don¡¯t stand for too long.¡±


    Qi Chen was reminded of the fact that Jun Huang had stayed in the freezing water overnight. The water came from a river of negative energy. The cold would seep into the bones. Even if she had only put a hand underwater, her blood cirction would slow down after half an hour. The chill could stay in her body causing her pain for quite a long time. He couldn¡¯t imagine how she felt after being immersedpletely for a day.


    ¡°Then have a seat,¡± said Qi Chen. He helped her sit down and turned to the maid standing next to them. ¡°Go brew a pot of ginger tea.¡±


    Once the maid left, Qi Chen said, ¡°It¡¯s been proven that ginger tea can drive away the cold energy. It was remiss of me to not think of it until today. Brother Feng should take some ginger with you when you leave.¡±


    Northern Qi didn¡¯t produce ginger locally. Most of the time it was imported from other countries, and the prices were high. Only the rich royalties could afford it. Peasants normally lived their whole life not knowing the taste of ginger.


    Ginger, however, had been amon produce in Western Que. Jun Huang hated the taste, but of course she couldn¡¯t turn down Qi Chen¡¯s earnest offer. She nodded.


    ¡°By the way, these are something I¡¯ve been reading. Brother Feng should have a look.¡± Qi Chen handed the letters he had ced on the stone table to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang took the letters. She was surprised to see what¡¯s written on them.


    They were letters Wei Lanying exchanged with her parents. At first, Wei Lanying onlyined to her parents that she had not been treated well, and that Qi Chen was being colder and colder to him. Then something caught Jun Huang¡¯s attention. Wei Lanying¡¯s mother had proposed some tricks she could use. They were shameless tricks that could not be brought up in politepany, one of which was the use of aphrodisiac.

 Chapter 201

    Chapter 201: Affair


    ¡°What does brother Feng think?¡± Qi Chen asked.


    Jun Huang gave it a moment before saying, ¡°This gentleman thinks that the letters are likely to be given to you on purpose.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Are these fake?¡±


    ¡°Not necessary,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile. ¡°But I think that these are not all of the letters. Lady Wei doesn¡¯t seem worried that you would see the letters. Actually, it seems that she wants you to see them. The first few letters show you her genuine love for you, and her feelings justify what she did next. Isn¡¯t that how Your Highness think?¡±


    Qi Chen nodded hesitantly and sighed. ¡°When I first read the letters, I felt like it was me who forced her to take such extreme action. If I had paid more attention to her, she would not have tried to drug me.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness is mistaken,¡± Jun Huang said.


    Qi Chen looked up at her, waiting for her to continue. Jun Huang read through the letters again. There was something odd about them. She pointed it out to Qi Chen. ¡°Has Your Highness noticed the change in frequency of the letter exchange? At first, Lady Wei exchanged three letters with her parents per month on average. Last month, there was a sudden spike. There was a letter almost every day. Then, suddenly, there was a period of time when no letters were exchanged. Why is that?¡±


    ¡°What is brother Feng implying?¡±


    ¡°This gentleman believes that they have exchanged letters on those days as well, but they were nning something they didn¡¯t want Your Highness to know about. That was why the letters are missing. Of course, that¡¯s merely my spection. I don¡¯t have any evidence yet.¡±


    The maid who had left earlier came back with a pot of ginger tea. She poured Jun Huang a cup. The intense smell made Jun Huang scrunch her nose. She knew she didn¡¯t have a choice here. She took a deep breath and picked up the teacup. As soon as she took a whiff, though, it sent her into a coughing fit. Qi Chen startled and came up to steady her breathing.


    It took a while for Jun Huang to recover. Her eyes were misty and her cheeks were red. Some of the ginger tea had been spilled, but not much. Even though her robe was stained, it wasn¡¯t obvious.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qi Chen frowned. He was momentarily drawn by Jun Huang¡¯s appearance. He shook his thoughts away and cursed at himself. He turned to Jun Huang with a concerned expression.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Nothing. The smell is a little strong. That¡¯s all. I¡¯ll be fine. There¡¯s no need to worry.¡± She held her breath and took a small sip. The tang of ginger assaulted her taste buds. She grimaced.


    She tilted her head up and finished the whole cup. It tasted as bad as it worked well. Jun Huang¡¯s body warmed up and her face lost its sickly look. Qi Chen rxed and sat back down.


    ¡°Brother Feng¡¯s words make sense,¡± Qi Chen said after drinking some tea. ¡°But how should we recover the lost letters?¡±


    Jun Huang curved her lips. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Your Highness must remember that Lady Wei has a personal maid. The maid entered the manor with Lady Wei when you married her. I was told that the maid had been serving Lady Wei since they were little. If that¡¯s the case, the maid must know a lot of Lady Wei¡¯s secrets. Perhaps she was even behind some of the tricks Lady Wei¡¯s used.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. How about I had her taken here for interrogation? If you have the time, you should stay and help.¡±


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to turn the offer down. She wanted to hear what the maid had to say. She also wanted to prevent the maid from getting her and her master out of the mess. What happened was no trivial matter. Jun Huang would not allow history to repeat itself. She would eliminate the roots of the problem.


    The maid was brought to them. Her eyes were red from crying. Her pink dress was tainted with dirt. And her hair was a mess. She looked pitiful, but Jun Huang didn¡¯t feel a lick of sympathy for her. Jun Huang wasn¡¯t a merciful person, and she had been through much worse in the water prison. The state the maid was in was nothing inparison.


    The maid looked at Qi Chen, then at Jun Huang. A shudder ran down her spine. She knew Jun Huang would demand packback from her, but she didn¡¯t expect that toe so soon and so unexpectedly. She wasn¡¯t prepared at all.


    ¡°Kneel!¡± the guard restraining her snapped. The maid shuddered and dropped down to the ground. The impact sent a sharp pain through her knees. She grimaced and bowed down with a pale face.


    ¡°Your ¨C Your Highness...¡±


    ¡°Talk,¡± Qi Chen demanded in a steely voice. ¡°Tell me everything you know. If you dare to hide anything from me, I will not go easy on you.¡±


    The maid bit her lip and stared at the ground. She had been with Wei Lanying for more than a dozen years. She had learned to be cruel to herself when needed. She took a deep breath to calm herself, but her fingers were still trembling.


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes at the maid as if she could see through her. The maid broke into cold sweat. Her hair stuck to her forehead messily.


    ¡°You should open up,¡± Jun Huang said calmly. It was as if she was merelymenting on the weather. The maid, however, felt chilled to the bones. ¡°You should know that if you hide anything from the prince, you will end up worse than Xiaoyun. Do you think that Lady Wei will save you? This gentleman knows that you are a smart one. Don¡¯t fool yourself into thinking she would risk herself for you.¡±


    The maid had been under arrest along with Wei Lanying, but she knew what had happened to Xiaoyun. It was a fate worse than death. She would never want the same thing to happen to her.


    Wei Lanying had lost. It was impossible for her to rise again. After some hesitation, the maid decided to talk.


    Jun Huang and Qi Chen expected the maid to tell them how Wei Lanying nned to regain Qi Chen¡¯s favor, but what the maid said was far worse. She exined how they had used the child in Nan Guyue¡¯s body against her and Jun Huang. Qi Chen had been feeling guilty about that already. Her confession sent him into fury. No one said anything lest they attracted Qi Chen¡¯s ire.


    The maid was dragged away. Qi Chen had made up his mind about what to do. If Wei Lanying was capable of such malice, the ones serving her were unlikely to be innocent. There was no reason for him to go easy on the maid. As for Wei Lanying...


    Qi Chen¡¯s eyes went cold. Jun Huang got to her feet and cupped her hands. ¡°Your Highness needs time to take care of your personal affairs. This gentleman will take my leave.¡±


    She fixed her clothes and walked away without stopping.


    Qi Chen stood up and made his way to Wei Lanying¡¯s cell. She was kept in the hidden prison in the manor. It wasn¡¯t as torturous as the water prison, but it was far fromfortable. The whole ce was infested with vermins. Wei Lanying had never been in a situation like this. Her pale face was covered in dried tears. She had lost the superior air around her.


    She rushed toward the cell door when she saw Qi Chen. ¡°Are you here to let me out, Your Highness? I know you wouldn¡¯t listen to those lies...¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Qi Chen snapped. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that stupid? Why must you keep on plotting against other people, Wei Lanying? I had let you run free because I didn¡¯t know what kind of a person you are. You¡¯re vicious enough to kill an unborn child! Are you going to plot against me next time?!¡±


    Wei Lanying shook her head and tried to exin, but Qi Chen had already waved a man in. The man came in with a variety of torture devices. Wei Lanying tried and failed to break out of the other prison guards¡¯ restrain. Her scream rang through the prison. Qi Chen didn¡¯t stay for long.


    When Wei Lanying regained her consciousness, Nan Guyue was standing before her. Nan Guyue huffed when she saw the state Wei Lanying was in ¨C both her hands and legs were restrained by iron chains, and her body was covered in wounds.


    ¡°So this is how it ends for you,¡± Nan Guyue sneered. ¡°You¡¯re more pitiful than the beggars on the street.¡±


    Compared to Nan Guyue, Wei Lanying was a mess. Wei Lanying pulled her lips into a feral grin and said mockingly, ¡°Yes, this is how I end up, but what about you? I pity you, Nan Guyue. One day you¡¯ll end up like me.¡±


    Nan Guyue was reminded of the premature death of her child. She couldn¡¯t take Wei Lanying¡¯s jabs. She pped her with all the force she could muster. Blood streamed down from the corner of Wei Lanying¡¯s mouth.


    Wei Lanying stared at Nan Guyue with vicious eyes. If looks could kill, Nan Guyue would be dead. There was nothing Wei Lanying wanted more than to tear Nan Guyue to pieces and devour her blood and flesh. She would send her to hell and leave her with no hope to reincarnate.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ve been quiet because I¡¯m scared of you, Wei Lanying? No, I¡¯m just not as foolish as you are. You¡¯ve tried every trick to gain the heart of a heartless man, and you doomed yourself as a result. For the prince, you¡¯re merely a pawn on his way to sess. Now you¡¯re useless to him, so he throws you away.¡±


    A cruel smile split Nan Guyue¡¯s face. She looked terrifying with the shadow embracing her from behind.

 Chapter 202

    Chapter 202: Open Appreciation


    Wei Lanying tightened her jaw and scoffed. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re smarter than I am, Nan Guyue? I feel sorry for you. You probably don¡¯t know that the one who truly cares for you is Feng Baiyu. Why would he be so attentive to you if he didn¡¯t feel anything for you? How pathetic. The right person for you is within your reach, and yet you can never take his hand. You will never have a man¡¯s genuine love.¡±


    Nan Guyue shot up to her feet, letting go of Wei Lanying, staring at Wei Lanying with unfocused eyes. It took a moment for her to regain herposure. She gave Wei Lanying a pointed look before walking away.


    Wei Lanying¡¯s words rang in her head even after she returned to her building. She fidgeted with a teacup in her hand. She could picture the graceful man in her mind.


    Nan Guyue stared at her t belly, muttering Feng Baiyu under her breath. Sheughed quietly.


    When she first came to Northern Qi, Qi Chen treated her like she was the most important thing in the world. It wasn¡¯t until muchter that she knew Feng Baiyu was the one who advised Qi Chen on how to court her. Gentleman Feng looked as if he had walked right out of a painting. He stood alone in this world untethered to anything.


    The untouchables ones often left the strongest impression.


    The image would not leave Nan Guyue¡¯s head. Jun Huang came to Nan Guyue¡¯s mind often ever since her conversation with Wei Lanying. She thought about the way Jun Huang smiled. She thought about the way Jun Huang looked at her. Had Jun Huang always looked at her tenderly, or had her memories been distorted?


    There was no trust left in her heart for Qi Chen after losing her child. When they first got together, Qi Chen was attentive to her every need. Whatever she wanted, he would give her. Things changed, however. Qi Chen had torn her heart out in one swift movement without hesitation. He cared nothing about their marriage.


    Her disappointment sat heavily on her chest. Qi Chen was the one who falsely used her and Jun Huang for having an affair. She might as well seek Jun Huang out and make his usation a reality. What was he going to do?


    Nan Guyue felt the sudden urge to see Jun Huang. She could not wait any longer. She rushed out of the room, dropping her teacup on the table. The teacup twirled, spilling tea all over the table, and shattered on the floor.


    Jun Huang was confused when she was told that Nan Guyue wanted to see her. She didn¡¯t want to meet her, but Nan Guyue¡¯s messenger insisted that Nan Guyue had urgent matters to talk to her about. She had no choice but to agree.


    Jun Huang arrived at the tea house that Nan Guyue had met her inst time. The atmosphere in the room was not as heavy asst time, which was what unsettled Jun Huang. Something was wrong. Jun Huang felt even more unnerved when Nan Guyue turned to her with a beam.


    Jun Huang pushed aside her uncertainties and cupped her hands with a smile. ¡°This gentleman is here to see the princess. I wonder why the princess asked me toe today?¡±


    Nan Guyue frowned when she heard how Jun Huang greeted her. It¡¯s probably because there are people watching, she told herself. That¡¯s why he has to act distant with me.


    Once she asked the servants to leave, Nan Guyue took a seat and looked at Jun Huang with a hand supporting her head. ¡°Gentleman Feng doesn¡¯t have to be so formal with me,¡± she murmured. ¡°Call me Guyue.¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes slightly, standing as still as a statue. Only when Nan Guyue asked her to take a seat did she move to the table. Nan Guyue poured a cup of tea for her. Jun Huang had a bad feeling about the whole situation.


    She reached out to take the cup from Nan Guyue. With eyes lowered, Nan Guyue brushed her fingers against Jun Huang¡¯s. Jun Huang almost dropped the cup in shock.


    ¡°What does the princess need from me?¡± Jun Huang asked. She wasn¡¯t dense. She knew what Nan Guyue was doing. She sighed inwardly. She couldn¡¯t bring the topic up herself. She could only call Nan Guyue by her title to remind her of her position.


    Nan Guyue took Jun Huang¡¯s stubbornness as shyness. She stopped dwelling on the way Jun Huang called her and looked up at Jun Huang.


    That was a leer. There was no denying it.


    ¡°I asked you toe for one thing...¡± Nan Guyue murmured, her eyes fixed on Jun Huang and her eyebrows arched, waiting for Jun Huang¡¯s response.


    Jun Huang could not believe her ears. She looked dumbly at Nan Guyue for a good moment before she recovered her calm.


    ¡°The princess has crossed a line,¡± Jun Huang said calmly. Her expression was perfectly genuine. ¡°This gentleman will never agree to such things. This gentleman knows that the princess is upset with the prince for what happened, but a marriage is not to be cast aside lightly. The princess should build a good life with the prince.¡±


    Nan Guyue stilled. She was going tosh out at Jun Huang for embarrassing her, but with Wei Lanying¡¯s words in mind, Jun Huang¡¯s calm attitude caused a vague fondness to sprout at the bottom of her heart. This wasn¡¯t the right time for such behavior.


    She shook her fist at Jun Huang and said with a scowl, ¡°If what happened today leaves this room, I¡¯ll break your leg.¡± She stood up and left without waiting.


    Jun Huang let out a sigh of relief once Nan Guyue was gone.


    Qi Chen realized that Nan Guyue had been giving him the cold shoulder. He had not yet be the emperor. Losing the support of the Wei Family had a big enough impact on him. He must not lose the support of Nan Guyue and Southern Mu. He thought that her miscarriage was the only thing behind her change of attitude. He needed someone to help him convince her.


    Naturally he thought of Jun Huang. Jun Huang had a silver tongue. She was also the reason Qi Chen could marry Nan Guyue in the first ce. That told him that Jun Huang knew women well. There was no better candidate than Jun Huang for the important task of bringing Qi Chen and Nan Guyue together again.


    Once he had decided, he went straight to Jun Huang and told her what he needed. Jun Huang had not forgotten about Nan Guyue¡¯s visit. She didn¡¯t know how to respond. She had no valid reason to turn Qi Chen away. She could only agree to his request no matter how reluctant she was.


    Jun Huang visited Nan Guyue¡¯s ce. From afar, Nan Guyue looked up from the flowers and saw Jun Huang. Her heart skipped a beat. She didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang toe to her.


    ¡°Why has the gentlemane?¡± Nan Guyue put on a smile and approached her, her expression tender.


    Jun Huang gulped and told her why she was here. Nan Guyue¡¯s smile dropped. She looked up at Jun Huang intensely as Jun Huang stared at the ground in deep thoughts. What a handsome man, Nan Guyue marveled. Jun Huang was a much better man than Qi Chen could ever be. Qi Chen might look calm and mature, but that was an illusion. Jun Huang was different. She had this innate calmness that was deeply attractive.


    Still, Nan Guyue would be lying if she said she had no feelings for Qi Chen. After all, she had once given her whole heart to Qi Chen.


    Mid conversation, Nan Guyue stared at Jun Huang¡¯s face and said, ¡°Has anyone told the gentleman that you are as handsome as the famous Pan An, or even more so?¡±


    Jun Huang coughed and averted her gaze. Nan Guyue thought for a moment. She did have to talk to Qi Chen. ¡°The gentleman has delivered the message. You should leave. I¡¯ll talk to the prince.¡±


    Nan Guyue¡¯s promise did not smooth away the uncertainties in Jun Huang¡¯s heart, but she didn¡¯t say anything. She nodded and walked away.


    Evening came. A servant notified Qi Chen that the princess was waiting for him for dinner. Qi Chen was pleased by the news. It would be bad if Nan Guyue kept on with the cold treatment and the emperor knew.


    As someone who grew up in the royal family, however, he was notpletely without suspicion. He had tried to make up to Nan Guyue to no avail. A single visit from Jun Huang, on the other hand, was enough for Nan Guyue to soften her attitude. He felt a little jealous.


    When he went to Nan Guyue¡¯s building, she was sitting at the table for him. She had lost weight, and she looked ill, which was likely to be caused by the miscarriage. He felt a pang of hurt in his heart. He walked up to her and pulled her into his arms.


    Nan Guyue let out a silentugh. If Qi Chen had held her like this the day after she lost her child, she would not be so upset with Qi Chen. Qi Chen, however, had not offered her anyfort. The embrace came toote.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t see the pain shing through Nan Guyue¡¯s eyes. When he let go of her, she had put on a soft smile. She guided Qi Chen to his seat.


    Dinner passed without troubles. Qi Chen kept putting food Nan Guyue liked on her te, trying to make amends to her.


    ¡°What I want is merely for Your Highness to show me a little more trust, and to show gentleman Feng a little more trust,¡± said Nan Guyue. ¡°None of us expected what happened this time. I lost my child, and gentleman Feng ended up seriously injured. If we had trusted each other, the lies would not have worked. The price we paid was high. Who knows what¡¯s going to happen next time? I dare not to imagine.¡±


    Nan Guyue¡¯s eyes turned red. She started out trying to exin to Qi Chen where the problemy, but she ended up thinking of the child who was killed in her womb. Her heart clenched painfully.


    Qi Chen came to Nan Guyue¡¯s side and smoothed a hand over her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± he said gently. ¡°Everything is alright. I will not let you be harmed again.¡±


    Nan Guyue nodded without a word. Qi Chen murmured a few more words offort. Afterwards, he excused himself iming that he had business to attend to, but in truth, he simply didn¡¯t like it when women cried.


    Nan Guyue didn¡¯t intend to ask Qi Chen to stay, so she epted his excuse calmly. Once Qi Chen was out of her eyesight, she wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and returned to her room.

 Chapter 203

    Chapter 203: The Three Unfilial Things


    After leaving Nan Guyue¡¯s building, Qi Chen slowed down his pace. He turned around, his mind filled with a mess of thoughts. His personal guard looked at him inquisitively and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, your Highness? Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    Qi Chen shook his head. With a sigh, he looked up at the full moon. ¡°Have a few men watch the princess. Tell me if anything unusual happens.¡±


    The guard wondered why Qi Chen would make such an order, but he didn¡¯t dare to question Qi Chen. He nodded and left to make the arrangements.


    Nan Guyue was not the only one Qi Chen was watching. Jun Huang was under his close scrutiny as well. Whenever she left Nan Xun¡¯s manor, there would be Qi Chen¡¯s men following her around. She had nned to return to her ce, but under the circumstances it didn¡¯t seem wise. She could only stay at Nan Xun¡¯s.


    Nan Xun had noticed Jun Huang¡¯s dark mood. Heughed quietly as he approached her. ¡°Are you still troubled?¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him and nodded. ¡°I am. Qi Chen¡¯s action shows that he¡¯s again suspicious of me. Last time, he had me arrested. His approach was forceful, but I could take the physical abuse. At least I didn¡¯t have to hide away all the time. Now, though, my freedom is stripped away.¡±


    ¡°What are his excuses this time?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang scoffed. She downed her room-temperature tea and said, ¡°He said that I haven¡¯t fully recovered, so he sent a few men to watch me in case something went wrong.¡±


    ¡°That can¡¯t be helped,¡± Nan Xun said with a smile. ¡°Maybe he really is worried about you.¡±


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t manage a smile. She didn¡¯t tell Nan Xun about Nan Guyue¡¯s sudden change of attitude. It wasn¡¯t anything serious. Telling him wouldn¡¯t help. It would only weigh him down.


    Jun Huang knew as soon as Qi Chen asked her to talk to Nan Guyue that he was testing her. She had no choice but to go to Nan Guyue. What she didn¡¯t expect was how quickly Nan Guyue had a change of heart.


    Jun Huang wondered what Nan Guyue had said to make Qi Chen suspicious, but not convinced of her guilt.


    Well, she wasn¡¯t guilty in the way Qi Chen suspected. It was all a baseless lie.


    Jun Huang sighed. She hadn¡¯t seen Qi Yun for a while. She had almost forgotten about him when she was busy dealing with Qi Chen.


    ¡°By the way, can you bring Qi Yun here?¡± Jun Huang asked, looking up at Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t make light of Jun Huang¡¯s caution. He nodded. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s too risky during daytime, though. Qi Chen¡¯s men might notice. How about I bring him here tonight? We¡¯ll talk then.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. They must be calm in face of moments such as this. Plots and schemes would have to wait.


    Silence descended on Prince Chen Manor after night fell. Jun Huang waited in her room for Nan Xun to return. During the time, she made a mental catalogue of her observations on the current situation.


    Someone knocked on the door. Jun Huang knew it was Nan Xun and Qi Yun. She hurriedly got the door and let them in.


    ¡°I was looking for Gentleman Feng at Wan¡¯er¡¯s wedding,¡± Qi Yun said with a smile as he walked into the room. ¡°I asked brother Nan and he told me that he and gentleman Feng had left early that day. No wonder I didn¡¯t see you.¡±


    Jun Huang threw Nan Xun a nce and smiled at Qi Yun awkwardly. She poured each of them a cup of tea. ¡°There is something we should have talked about earlier. Qi Chen has be suspicious of me and I didn¡¯t have a chance to talk to you until now. Since you¡¯re here now, let us discuss the issue.¡±


    Qi Yun and Nan Xun nodded and waited for her to continue. Jun Huang hummed. ¡°We don¡¯t know how many factions are supporting Qi Chen, but there¡¯s one thing that¡¯s certain ¨C there are two people offering him open support. The one that provided him the funds has been dealt with. That¡¯s why Qi Chen turned to illegal salt vending to earn money. The other one is Sir Shangguan. He is a formidable foe that cannot be eliminated easily.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Sir Shangguan is one of the officials who has been in the court since the beginning of Royal Father¡¯s reign. He¡¯s made great contribution to Northern Qi. Royal Father would not take out someone who helped him establish his power. We, however, cannot afford to let Sir Shangguan run free.¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°Half of the courtiers who support Qi Chen are recruited by Sir Shangguan. I can¡¯t say for sure why Sir Shangguan did so, but I can specte. Qi Chen is ambitious. If he seeds in gaining the throne, he will put Sir Shangguan on an important position, such as an honored lord. Some people are willing to throw everything away for fame and fortune. We must take him out to eliminate all possible risks.¡±


    The candlelight covered her face with a warm glow. Nan Xun watched her quietly, listening to the two of them discuss how Sir Shangguan should be eliminated without reaching a conclusion. After all, Sir Shangguan was not an easy prey.


    After an hour they still hadn¡¯t figured out a n. Jun Huang frowned deeply. Qi Yun too was at a loss of where to start.


    Qi Yun sighed. ¡°Sir Shangguan is too good at keeping up an honest front. Otherwise we wouldn¡¯t be so lost.¡±


    ¡°Everyone makes mistakes, let alone a corrupt official like him,¡± Jun Huang said. Her tone smoothed away the concerns in Qi Yun¡¯s heart. ¡°He may have covered his tracks well, but there must be something to be found. We have to keep a level head.¡±


    Their conversation continued. It wasn¡¯t until muchter that Qi Yun took his leave.


    Meanwhile, in Shangguan Manor, troubled water lurked under the serene surface. The tension was thick enough to drown someone.


    When Sir Shangguan returned home, the servants told him that Shangguan Yue had been staying in her bedroom for the whole day. She had not eaten anything. The servants tried everything they could think of, worried that she would starve herself, but they were unsessful.


    Sir Shangguan immediately rushed to her room. He had thought that Shangguan Yue and Nan Xun¡¯s marriage was a done deal, but somehow Nan Xun was able to get out of it. The emperor used the opportunity to achieve his own goal and let Nan Xun¡¯s disobedience slide.


    Nan Xun may be happy with that, but his daughter certainly wasn¡¯t. After she heard that Nan Xun had gone against the emperor to turn down the marriage, she had been keeping herself in her room. When he was at home, he would be able to convince her to eat something. When he was not, however, she would refuse to eat.


    His daughter was born when he was in theter stage of his life. He cherished and protected her like she was the finest china in the world. Her daughter had never been hurt like this. It pained him to see her in this state. As a result, he grew more and more resentful of Nan Xun.


    When Sir Shangguan reached Shangguan Yue¡¯s room, he heard the faint sound of her ying zither. He was reminded of her performance at the Banquet of a Hundred Families a few years back. At the time, the crude Nan Xun had unexpectedly offered Shangguan Yue praises for her performance. Ever since that day, Shangguan Yue had been practicing zither regrly. She imagined that one day, she would be Nan Xun¡¯s wife ¨C his other half. They would be the perfect love story everyone talked of in decades toe.


    Nan Xun, however, was unwilling to stay for her. He wasn¡¯t even willing to spare her a nce.


    Sir Shangguan stood outside for a long time. In the end, he knocked and entered the room. His beautiful daughter was sitting at the table, her face pale. The zither before her had a broken string. There was a bleeding cut on her fingertip.


    He startled and rushed to her. A servant handed him a handkerchief. He used it to bandage Shangguan Yue¡¯s up. He sighed. ¡°There are so many young men in Northern Qi, my dear. Isn¡¯t there anyone who¡¯s better than Nan Xun, who¡¯s dense like a wood nk when ites to romance? Nan Xun is now ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it, dad,¡± Shangguan Yue cut in. ¡°I will not marry anyone but Nan Xun.¡±


    Sir Shangguan could only nod. ¡°Alright, alright. You will not marry anyone else.¡± He sighed. ¡°I will go to the pce to talk to the emperor again.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Shangguan Yue¡¯s head jerked up. She was worried that she had heard it wrong. Her eyes lit up like a pair of luminous pearls under the candlelight.


    After spending some more time reassuring Shangguan Yue, Sir Shangguan left the manor for the pce. It was getting dark. He wasn¡¯t sure if the emperor was still busy. He nervously requested for an audience, and he was told that the emperor was reading in his study. He sighed and followed a eunuch to the study.


    Sir Shangguan forced himself to put on a smile. The emperor was sitting on a chair with his brows furrowed. Sir Shangguan bowed to him before saying quitely, ¡°This humble official has something to report, Your Majesty.¡±


    The emperor threw him a cool nce without a word. Sir Shangguan didn¡¯t dare to say anything. He stayed on the floor and waited for the emperor to speak.


    Time passed. After the time for a pot of tea to brew, the emperor put down the book in his hand and said, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°This official is here for the marriage between Prince Nan Xun and my daughter.¡± Sir Shangguan lowered his head further. He didn¡¯t want to anger the emperor.


    As expected, the emperor¡¯s face fell. ¡°Are we not over that already? What else are you going to say?¡±


    ¡°The emperor should reconsider.¡± Sir Shangguan came prepared. He looked up at the emperor with a calm face and continued, ¡°It¡¯s said that there are three unfilial things: First is to disobey one¡¯s parents. One should not talk of his parents¡¯ mistakes, let alone when he himself is at fault. Prince Nan Xun had lost his parents at a young age. That¡¯s all the more reasons that he should listen to the emperor. Your are like his parent. He should not disobey you. The second failure is to not support your parents with your stipend. A member of the royal family, especially, must keep this in mind. Even though Prince Nan Xun has no parent to support, he should share the emperor¡¯s burden. The third failure is to not produce an heir. It¡¯s said that having no descendents is the worst of the sins. Isn¡¯t that what Prince Nan Xun is doing?¡±

 Chapter 204

    Chapter 204: Toppling the first Domino


    The emperor was caught off guard. Of course he had thought about this as well. His conversation with Nan Xun reyed in his head. He huffed out augh. ¡°The official may not know that Nan Xun has admitted to being attracted to only men. Having a descendant is never on the table.¡±


    Sir Shangguan scoffed and looked up at the emperor. ¡°There have been many homosexual men throughout history, and a good number of emperors kept male lovers. Your Majesty must know, however, that these men still ended up having a wife and children. This official has heard about the affair between Prince Nan Xun and Feng Baiyu. I was told that Feng Baiyu is a man with both intellect and bravery. His talent must be what attracted the prince. My daughter may not be the most talented person in the world, but she has her strengths. She can easily recite poems from the ssic of Poetry1. She¡¯s no worse than that man. Besides, maybe Prince Nan Xun is merely having a fling with the man. He¡¯s unlikely to be truly in love. This official will tell my daughter to turn a blind eye to what the prince and Feng Baiyu is up to and pretend that they are friends.¡±


    The emperor frowned as Sir Shangguan spoke. Everyone knew that the emperor was wary of Nan Xun. Sir Shangguan kept pushing his button by trying to make decisions for him. Sir Shangguan might think that he was safe as one of the founding officials, but he wasn¡¯t. The emperor had let his interference slide the first few times. After a while, though, he started to get irritated.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Sir Shangguan had such a silver tongue,¡± said the emperor. His narrowed eyes fixed on Sir Shangguan, sending a shudder down his spine. Fear crept into Sir Shangguan¡¯s heart. He stayed on the ground, too afraid to say another word.


    Huffing, the emperor got to his feet and put his hands behind his back. He looked down at Sir Shangguan. After what felt like hours, he finally broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision. Keep quiet and go.¡±


    There were thousands of words at the tip of Sir Shangguan¡¯s tongue, but he couldn¡¯t possibly say anything now. He bid the emperor farewell and hurried out of the pce. After he had put some distance between him and the emperor, he finally let himself rx. He wiped away the sweat covering his face.


    The emperor didn¡¯t feel like reading now. What Sir Shangguan said did make some sense to him. He may be wary of Nan Xun, but he couldn¡¯t let the Nan family bloodline ended after Nan Xun. It was time to talk to Nan Xun again.


    Without wasting any time, the emperor ordered a eunuch to go retrieve Nan Xun. When the eunuch arrived at Prince Nan Manor, Nan Xun was having dinner with Jun Huang.


    It must be something important, thought Nan Xun. He said a few words to Jun Huang before leaving with the eunuch.


    The emperor had been waiting for him in the pce. Without preamble, the emperor told him what Sir Shangguan had said earlier. Nan Xun frowned. Annoyance shed through his narrowed eyes.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± asked the emperor. He kept his gaze on Nan Xun.


    ¡°Your Majesty doesn¡¯t have to worry about this humble official,¡± Nan Xun said earnestly. His tone made it clear that he believed in what he was saying. ¡°This gentleman has fallen for a man. I will not and cannot give him up. I¡¯m not going to hurt other people by making promises I can¡¯t keep.¡±


    The emperor frowned. ¡°Are you really going to stay with a man for life, Nan Xun? That¡¯s against the ¨C ¡±


    ¡°What does his gender have to do with my decision?¡± Nan Xun cut in. He didn¡¯t want to waste his time arguing. ¡°This official loves him and only him. I¡¯m not going to give up simply because he is a man. If I cannot protect the person I love, how am I going to protect Northern Qi?¡±


    The emperor was moved by his confession. Being in the royal family put a shackle on you. Oftentimes, personal decisions were not decisions at all. The control was rarely in your hand. It was admirable of Nan Xun to willingly make such sacrifice for another man. They might end up being shunned by the general public.


    If the emperor was being honest with himself, he had to admit that somewhere in his heart, he was pleased by Nan Xun¡¯s decision. If Nan Xun didn¡¯t produce an heir, there would be one less threat to the royal family.


    Nevertheless, the emperor had watched Nan Xun grow up. He couldn¡¯t let Nan Xun put himself in this situation. He sighed. ¡°If you don¡¯t like Shangguan Yue, how about I gather a few children and let you pick one to adopt? Even though you have no feelings for women, you should have an heir to inherit your legacy.¡±


    ¡°This official has never had such thoughts. We live in this world for merely a few decades. If all we think about is producing an heir, we will achieve nothing. The time is better spent on improving myself so that I can protect Northern Qi better. Fate has already pointed me to where I should be. Your Majesty doesn¡¯t have to be too worried.¡±


    Nan Xun had given him a convincing response. The emperor couldn¡¯t argue with him. He waved a hand in the air and changed the subject.


    Nan Xun knew what the emperor was thinking. Nan Xun possessed one of the pair of tiger tallies. With it, he would be able tomand the army. Thest emperor was the one who gave Nan Xun the tally, and he dered that no one was to take it away from Nan Xun without a good reason.


    The past two years might have passed in peace, but Eastern Wu was always waiting for its chance to strike. Northern Qi needed Nan Xun. No matter how worried the emperor was that Nan Xun would one day stage a coup, he could not take the tally away from Nan Xun. That was why he kept Nan Xun in the imperial city. And yet he was still concerned.


    If Nan Xun had a child, the child would be his weakness. Then the emperor would be able to use that as a leverage to control Nan Xun. He wouldn¡¯t need to walk this tightrope to keep Nan Xun in check.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t going to voice the unspoken words. The emperor couldn¡¯t take him out yet. There was nothing for him to fear. Sir Shangguan, however...


    Nan Xun narrowed his eyes. A sharp glint shed through his expression. Last time Sir Shangguan had almost driven a wedge between him and Jun Huang. He didn¡¯t expect Sir Shangguan to try the same thing again. Sir Shangguan even used the three unfilial things as his argument! Nan Xun would not tolerate Sir Shangguan again. As themanding general, he wasn¡¯t afraid of a mere schr official.


    When Jun Huang and Qi Yun were trying to figure out a n to take out Sir Shangguan, Nan Xun had stopped himself from stepping in. Now, though, he would not let Sir Shangguan stay in power for a moment longer.


    Sir Shangguan is approaching the age for an official to enjoy retirement in his home town, Nan Xun thought to himself, oblivious to what the emperor was saying to him. If I didn¡¯t deal with him now, who knows what troubles he will stir up in the future? It¡¯s time that I help him get an early retirement.


    After bidding the emperor farewell, Nan Xun looked up at the cloudy night sky. He had an idea.


    As the grand chancellor of the country, Sir Shangguan must be smart enough to destroy evidence of his wrongdoings, but no one could truly eradicate all records of his past. Nan Xun had nned to stay away from Sir Shangguan¡¯s business, but no more.


    He didn¡¯t return to his manor. Instead, he took a few shadow guards and snuck into Shangguan Manor on a treasure hunt. He was able to find what he needed.


    It would be unwise for Nan Xun to bring the evidence to the emperor himself. The emperor might get suspicious. The third prince, upon reflection, was the best candidate. Nan Xun asked a shadow guard to deliver the evidence to the third prince¡¯s manor.


    The third prince was over the moon when he saw the evidence. He was sure that he would be able to handle it himself, so he didn¡¯t tell Ji Bo. Ji Bo, however, knew something was up with the prince. He simply wanted to wait and see what the prince would do.


    Ji Bo only knew after a few days that the third prince, being the fool that he was, tried to ckmail Sir Shangguan into supporting him. He promised Sir Shangguan great power and fortune. Sir Shangguan, however, wasn¡¯t going to be seduced like a lesser man would. As soon as he knew that the evidence was in the third prince¡¯s hand, he sent out assassins to go after the prince.


    The third prince had never been held at swordpoint his whole life. He trembled in fear uselessly. Even though his personal guards had rescued him in time, and he suffered no loss other than a scraped knee and having parts of the evidence taken away, he would not let Sir Shangguan off the hook.


    The next morning, the third prince barged into the pce in a huff. There was a morning meeting this day. The third prince nned to announce the scandal while every official was in the room.


    From under a pavilion in the third prince¡¯s manor, Ji Bo watched the third prince leave. A smile tugged at his lips.


    He knew the third prince was furious, and in fury, the prince had lost all sense and reason. The prince would do as he had predicted. Just in case something go wrong, however, he snuck into Nan Xun¡¯s manor and told Jun Huang about what had happened.


    In the morning meeting, the courtiers would take turns briefing the emperor on their work, and a discussion about the important matters the officials were dealing with would be held. It wasa-inducing. The third prince used to care nothing about the administrative affairs. Many meetings were spent dozing off, and many times he was kicked out by the emperor. He only changed after Ji Bo started assisting him. The emperor had praised him for his change. Afterwards, he had been parading the pce like a peacock for some time.


    Once the items on the agenda had been addressed, the emperor opened his mouth to tell the eunuch to conclude the meeting. The third prince stepped forward and bowed down to the emperor the way an official would to his master. ¡°This official has something to report.¡±


    With an eyebrow raised, the emperor fixed his robe and cleared his throat. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°This official can prove that Sir Shangguan has been taking bribes, and that he has colluded with people in the martial arts world to create his own personal army in secret.¡±


    The third prince had spoken slowly. He kept an eye on Sir Shangguan¡¯s expression ¨C it was like a patch of dark clouds had gathered over Sir Shangguan¡¯s head. The third prince huffed with his chin lifted arrogantly.


    Sir Shangguan dropped down to his knees and dered, ¡°This old official is innocent! Please don¡¯t be hasty, Your Majesty!¡±


    The emperor turned to the third prince. ¡°It¡¯s your words against his ¨C ¡±


    ¡°This son has the evidence to support my im. Royal Father will understand as soon as you read it yourself.¡±


    The third prince handed the documents to the eunuch, who presented it to the emperor. The emperor¡¯s eyebrows drew closely together.


    Sir Shangguan could feel his heart in his throat. He thought that he had taken everything back! He didn¡¯t expect the third prince to possess more evidence...

 Chapter 205

    Chapter 205: Thunderous Rage


    The emperor had always been more forgiving to the senior officials. The crimes recorded in the documents were atrocious, but not terrible enough for him to take immediate actions. The third prince was, for once, smart enough to recognize the situation. He told the emperor about the assassins Sir Shangguan had sent to kill him. The emperor was shocked. With that knowledge in mind, the evidence suddenly seemed a lot more incriminating.


    The officials present noticed the way the emperor¡¯s expression darkened. Qi Chen would like to say a few words for Sir Shangguan, but he couldn¡¯t. He wasn¡¯t so ignorant that he would take such a risk. Sir Shangguan might be his right hand man, but he wasn¡¯t going to risk himself for an arm.


    The emperor threw the documents before Sir Shangguan. Sir Shangguan shuddered. He didn¡¯t dare to move at all. He stayed on the floor, trembling.


    After a long stretch of silence, the emperor had Sir Shangguan arrested and ordered the Court of Judicial Review to conduct an investigation.


    A few dayster, Sir Shangguan¡¯s crimes were proven and announced to the world. Sir Shangguan himself was going to be executed once autumn came. His manor was raided, and his family exiled. That was the end of the Shangguan family.


    Jun Huang was having tea with Ji Bo when the news reached her. She let out a sigh of relief hearing that another major supporter of Qi Chen had fallen. The smile at her lips deepened.


    ¡°You¡¯re better than I gave you credits for,¡± praised Ji Bo. ¡°With the Shangguan family out of the picture, we stand a better chance at winning.¡±


    Jun Huang drank some tea and looked up at Ji Bo. ¡°It¡¯s thanks to the gentleman that Sir Shangguan has fallen from grace. Without you, the Shangguan family would still stand.¡±


    Ji Bo waved a hand in denial. ¡°I wasn¡¯t the one who gave the third prince the evidence for Sir Shangguan¡¯s crimes. I heard the servants said that it was delivered to the manor.¡±


    Jun Huang paused. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, either. Does it mean someone else was trying to get rid of the Shangguan family?¡±


    Ji Bo sighed. ¡°Who knows? However¡­¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s hesitance unsettled Jun Huang. ¡°What¡¯s on the gentleman¡¯s mind?¡±


    ¡°Sir Shangguan has been eliminated, which is good,¡± said Ji Bo. ¡°Qi Chen, on the other hand, is someone we have to keep an eye on. He¡¯s suffered a great loss this time. The emperor must know that he¡¯s close to Sir Shangguan. With Sir Shangguan¡¯s arrest, the trust the emperor has for Qi Chen must have been damaged. Qi Chen is going to stir up troubles to distract the emperor.¡±


    Jun Huang had been at Qi Chen¡¯s side for some time. What Ji Bo said was no surprise to her. This could either be trivial or serious. They had to be careful. Without saying goodbye to Ji Bo, Jun Huang got to her feet and left for Prince Chen Manor.


    With a sigh, Ji Bo continued to drink his tea, waiting for Jun Huang to return with some news.


    When Jun Huang arrived at the manor, Qi Chen was, as she expected, discussing this issue with other people. She stayed outside until Qi Chen noticed her. She approached him and cupped her hands in greeting. ¡°This gentleman believes that this isn¡¯t the right time for Your Highness to tell the emperor about the spies from Eastern Wu.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Qi Chen demanded. ¡°Do you know how Royal Father sees me now? Sir Shangguan is done. Everyone knows he was my supporter. You can¡¯t be oblivious to what it means for Royal Father to get rid of him without hesitation. When I entered the pce this morning, Royal Father gave me the cold shoulder. He even implied that I should watch myself. Doesn¡¯t that mean ¨C ¡±


    ¡°The emperor has told Your Highness to behave,¡± Jun Huang said bluntly, turning a blind eye to Qi Chen¡¯s murderous gaze. ¡°Why does Your Highness insist on doing this?¡±


    Her advice won her only scorns from Qi Chen. He gave her a wary look and said, ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind, Feng Baiyu, and I know I¡¯m right. If you dare to say another word to oppose me, I will not go easy on you.¡±


    He walked past Jun Huang and out of the manor. Going to the pce, Jun Huang assumed. She rubbed at her temple worriedly.


    The housekeeper had a decent rtionship with Jun Huang. He said reassuringly, ¡°We know it¡¯s unwise to reveal now the fact that there are spies from Eastern Wu in Northern Qi. The court is still unstable from what has happened. If the secret is out of the bag, people will panic. The prince, however, is our master. There¡¯s nothing we can say to convince him. The prince is in a bad mood. We can only hope that he¡¯ll calm down afterwards.¡±


    He patted Jun Huang on the shoulder and left with a sigh.


    Qi Chen went straight to the pce and requested an audience with the emperor. The emperor frowned at him without a word. Qi Chen, however, could tell that the emperor was giving the third prince more and more attentiontely, which wasn¡¯t a good sign.


    ¡°This son has something to tell Royal Father,¡± Qi Chen said after bowing to the emperor.


    The emperor picked up the report he had just put down and took a few nces. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Qi Chen was decisive once he had made a decision. He told the emperor everything he knew, including how his men noticed the existence of spies from Eastern Wu, and what his men had overheard.


    The emperor had not been paying attention when he thought that Qi Chen was here for Sir Shangguan. Now, though, he shot up to his feet and stared at Qi Chen. This was not something he could ignore. ¡°What? Spies from Eastern Wu?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Qi Chen. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I got wind of their existence. I didn¡¯t tell Royal Father because I didn¡¯t have any evidence. Now, my investigation finally yielded some results, which prompted me toe to Royal Father.¡±


    ¡°How ridiculous! Does Eastern Wu consider itself invincible?¡± In rage, the emperor kicked down the desk before him, scattering scrolls of books everywhere. The loud bang scared everyone else in the room into silence.


    It took some time for the emperor to calm down. He turned to Qi Chen. ¡°You¡¯re in charge of this. Remember, you have to be thorough. Arrest anyone with a questionable background. I¡¯ll rather you wrongfully kill a hundred people than let one of the conspirators slip. Do you hear me?¡±


    Qi Chen agreed readily and left the pce. He went on to make the arrangements.


    Jun Huang read about it in an announcement. She sighed with a resigned smile. She wasn¡¯t worried about herself. Nan Xun had taken care of her cover. She was using the identity of a dead man. She was safe unless someone who knew the dead man came forward. Besides, Qi Chen wasn¡¯t going to look into her background. He needed her to make ns for him. He had lost his biggest supporter. He would not do something to harm himself.


    Qi Chen had suffered a great loss. What happened to Sir Shangguan was a warning sign to him. He knew the third prince wasn¡¯t capable of finding the evidence on his own. There must be someone helping him. Qi Chen sent his men to look into it.


    Days had passed, but there wasn¡¯t any progress. Qi Chen was furious. When Jun Huang visited the manor, he was berating one of his men, who was kneeling on the floor. His ire was a terrifying thing.


    Qi Chen had gotten into an argument with Jun Huang because of the spies from Eastern Wu, but neither of them held a grudge for that. They were therefore able to treat each other as they usually did. Qi Chen took a deep breath and waved a hand to dismiss the man. He was a little calmer.


    ¡°How is brother Feng feeling?¡± asked Qi Chen.


    Jun Huang pretended to give it some thoughts. ¡°Thest few days have been eventful,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s as if whatever could go wrong has gone wrong. It¡¯s troublesome.¡±


    Sometimes, someone¡¯s own perception could askew the meaning of what the other said. Jun Huang was only joking, but Qi Chen took it as aint about the pain she had suffered at his hand. Before he could say anything, Jun Huang continued to say, ¡°This gentleman came here today because I¡¯ve discovered one of the Easter Wu spies¡¯ hideouts. I wanted to investigate, but I didn¡¯t want to wake the tiger in slumber. Therefore I came to talk to Your Highness.¡±


    Qi Chen lost his train of thoughts as soon as he heard the word Eastern Wu. ¡°You have?¡± he said in a rush. ¡°People from Eastern Wu are cunning. Brother Feng is right to be careful. I need some time to think. How about I talk to brother Feng about the details tomorrow?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes shed. Qi Chen had a lot on his te. Most of his men must have been sent out on different missions. Now, he would need to use the secret force that had been supporting him. Someone as careful as Qi Chen would need some time to weigh his options.


    ¡°This gentleman will take my leave,¡± Jun Huang said. She didn¡¯t ask any questions.


    Qi Chen let out a sigh of relief. He immediately went to consult his confidantes. In the end, he had no choice but to seek help from his secret supporter.


    The spies were a serious threat. Since Jun Huang was the one who made the discovery, she was given the responsibility to lead the team Qi Chen assigned her. Jun Huang was curious about this team of people, but she couldn¡¯t ask about their identities when Qi Chen hadn¡¯t brought the topic up himself. She put it out of her mind.


    Jun Huang had been a natural leader ever since she was little. She knew how to gain people¡¯s respect. The men Qi Chen assigned her quickly changed their attitude. In the beginning, they thought that Jun Huang was a paper tiger who could not shoulder such an important task. After a few days, however, they came to see that Jun Huang possessed both courage and intelligence. She also knew ways to punish people and make it hurt. They soon came to find her intimidating. They dared not criticize her even in private, let alone question her decisions in person.


    That was beyond what Qi Chen expected. When one of the men assigned to Jun Huang told him, he was pleasantly surprised. Jun Huang never disappointed him.

 Chapter 206

    Chapter 206: Mission


    When Jun Huang went back to Nan Xun¡¯s manor, Nan Xun was waiting for her. He had been busy training his soldiers these days. The writing was on the wall that a war would break out between Eastern Wu and Northern Qi. He had to prepare the army for the looming threat. He and Jun Huang rarely had time to even talk.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally back,¡± Nan Xun said without preamble. ¡°There¡¯s something I have to tell you.¡±


    Jun Huang looked around for any unwanted eyes before following Nan Xun to the study. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t keep anything from her. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy these days, but what you¡¯re going to do is difficult. I wanted to help, so I had some of my men investigate the spies as well. Today, they came back with some news. Those men from Eastern Wu is staying in a brothel next to the biggest brothel in the imperial city. The two are almost equal in their poprity.¡±


    Jun Huang was surprised. She always considered Nan Xun to be a lone wolf in the imperial city, but it turned out that he had his influence still. He had provided her with important information. That got her thinking. ¡°Were you the one who sent the evidence against Sir Shangguan to the third prince?¡±


    Nan Xun pulled his lips into a smile and patted Jun Huang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Sir Shangguan is history. You don¡¯t have to waste your time worrying about him. Focus on what¡¯s at hand now. The rest you can ignore. Alright?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to go into details. Jun Huang nodded without a word. It was still early. Since Jun Huang knew already the exact location of the spies¡¯ hideout, she had to go have a look before they left.


    After bidding Nan Xun farewell, she went straight to Prince Chen Manor. Qi Chen had ordered the team he assigned to Jun Huang to stay in the manor. He didn¡¯t want anyone to notice what they were going to do. It was also easier to keep an eye on everyone this way. Jun Huang had to go to the manor to talk to the team.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t trust herpletely. Some of the team members acted as informants for Qi Chen. On the surface, they were here to help Jun Huang, but Jun Huang knew better. She knew that Qi Chen was still suspicious of her.


    The team members were surprised to see Jun Huang return. A man with tanned skin took a step forward and asked, ¡°Is there anything else the gentleman would like to say?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and led them into a room. She told them about what Nan Xun had found. When asked, Jun Huang imed to have discovered the clues on ident. She didn¡¯t tell them that it was Nan Xun who gave her the information.


    ¡°That¡¯s their operation base,¡± said a man. ¡°We should go investigate now.¡±


    Another man shook his head. That would be unwise. ¡°It¡¯s broad daylight. If we go near the brothel, we risk alerting them. Besides, even though the emperor favors the prince, he¡¯s going to grow suspicious if he knew that the prince hasmand over a private army. Alerting the enemies is one thing. Making the emperor suspicious is far more serious a problem.¡±


    Jun Huang silently praised the man for his sharp mind. Originally she was going to take them to the brothel now. She could kill two birds with one stone by doing that. She didn¡¯t expect there to be a smart man in the team. She had underestimated them.


    Jun Huang hummed. If she supported the man who wanted to investigate now, that might be used against herter on. ¡°I find the brothel suspicious, but I can¡¯t be sure it¡¯s the ce. It¡¯d be unwise to take action now. We should depart at night.¡±


    ¡°The gentleman is right,¡± the young man who had been silently standing by the wall piped up. ¡°What we should do now is to find out about Eastern Wu¡¯s n. We shouldn¡¯t waste our time arguing. I¡¯ll go talk to the others. We should go investigate tonight.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded at the young man politely. She didn¡¯t recognize the face. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you tonight,¡± she said after taking a deep breath. ¡°You should take a rest to prepare for the mission.¡±


    She walked away, leaving the men in the room staring among one another in shock.


    They knew that this would be a dangerous mission. They thought Jun Huang would let them do the dirty work, but instead, Jun Huang was going with them. In their eyes, Jun Huang was a simple schr. Perhaps she was only paying lip service. They would wait and see if she came to the brothel in evening.


    They were surprised when Jun Huang showed up. Jun Huang, of course, noticed their reaction, but she didn¡¯tment on that. ¡°The enemies we¡¯re facing are not easy to deal with,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°This time, we¡¯ll focus on investigating. We don¡¯t need everyone to go inside the brothel. The ones who do will disguise as regr customers. Does any of you have something to say?¡±


    They shook their head, staring dumbly at Jun Huang. She was dressed in a turquoise robe with her hair held up with a white jade cap. She looked both graceful and carefree. The foldable fan she held was a perfect essory to symbolize her status.


    They had heard that there was a handsome gentleman in Qi Chen¡¯s manor. Now they knew the praises were no exaggeration. Even a group of crude men like them were captivated.


    Jun Huang turned a blind eye to their obvious stares. Whatever they thought of her appearance didn¡¯t matter to her. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    She turned around. The men shared a look. Two of them followed Jun Huang into the brothel so that they could protect her if anything went wrong. The others waited outside. They would enter at the right time.


    Women in cheap cosmetics swarmed up to her. Jun Huang had always disliked the aggressive smell of poor-quality rouge. She frowned.


    The two men following her noticed her expression. One of them went up to stop the women from getting closer. ¡°Go away. The gentleman is not going to set his eyes on people like you. Get going, or we¡¯ll have to resort to force.¡±


    The women widened their eyes. How could this man be so blunt? They had no choice but to watch Jun Huang leave, staring after her with desires in their eyes.


    Jun Huang walked up to the procuress and put on a smile. ¡°This gentleman is here for the leading courtesan, not regr women like them.¡±


    The procuress noticed the way Jun Huang held herself. The robe she wore was exquisite as well. This was an important customer. The leading courtesan, however, had been reserved by a high-level official in the imperial city. The procuress debated over what she should do. ¡°How unfortunate! The leading courtesan doesn¡¯t take guests today.¡±


    Jun Huang threw the procuress a brief nce. A shiver ran down the procuress¡¯ spine.


    Jun Huang turned around to leave. She wasn¡¯t going to stir up troubles. The procuress reached out to stop her. A servile smile appeared on her face. ¡°There¡¯s this one girl ¨C Qing¡¯er. She¡¯s a pretty one who knows how to please people. I¡¯m sure the gentleman must be well-versed in music. Qin¡¯er happened to be skilled at ying zither.¡±


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to leave the brothel without finding anything. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, this gentleman would like to meet her.¡±


    The procuress sighed in relief. She took Jun Huang and the others to a room on the second floor and sent for Qin¡¯er.


    Qin¡¯er entered the room not long after. She was pretty. Her features were lively and her eyes were bright. The men following Jun Huang could not peel their eyes away from her. Jun Huang, on the other hand, had a feeling that something was wrong. If she had been a man, she would be entranced by Qin¡¯er as well. She wasn¡¯t, however, so she noticed only that Qin¡¯er wasn¡¯t so beautiful that she could transfix men to this level. Jun Huang was reminded of the fact that there was a tribe in Eastern Wu capable of casting charms.


    Qin¡¯er started to y the zither. Jun Huang remained calm and collected. Qin¡¯er got more and more into her performance, as if she would not give up until Jun Huang lost herself as well. When Jun Huang thought it was about time, she shot a silver needle at Qin¡¯er.


    Qin¡¯er fell unconscious. The men came to their senses like they had been jerked out of a dream.


    ¡°You were charmed,¡± Jun Huang said. She didn¡¯t go into details, but the men understood what had happened. They touched their heads and realized that they were sweating. They had been trapped in an alluring dream. If Jun Huang had not stopped Qin¡¯er, they would fall deeper and deeper in trance.


    They felt a growing respect for Jun Huang. She was able to save them despite the circumstances! She really was a special man.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t say anything. The more she talked, the more likely her true identity would be revealed. She would let the men considered her to be someone in control of her carnal desires. It wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    She got to her feet. Her legs were going numb again. She stumbled and almost fell. Fortunately one of the men managed to steady her. Jun Huang thanked him and took a step back. She was polite, but distant. Unapproachable.


    ¡°What happened to the woman?¡± the young man who caught Jun Huang asked. He had spoken a little quickly ¨C perhaps trying to dissolve the awkward air between them. The other men in the room heard him as well. They turned to Jun Huang in unison.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine. I only knocked her out. She would forget about what happened when she wakes up. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Jun Huang threw the woman copsing on the chair a nce. A cold smile tugged at her lips. Without wasting any more time, she walked to the door.


    There was someone outside ¨C the procuress. Jun Huang looked around and waited to see where the procuress was going. Jun Huang and the men listened to the procuress¡¯ footsteps getting fainter and fainter.


    Once it went quiet outside, one of the men asked, ¡°I have a question, gentleman Feng.¡±


    Jun Huang knew what he was going to ask. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with the procuress. There can¡¯t be more than a dozen women like Qing¡¯er here. They are mostly sent to keep important officialspany. Perhaps that¡¯s the way people here gather information. The procuress must have assumed that we came from an important family. This is something we have to discuss with the prince before we make any decisions.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we look into it further?¡± another man asked carefully.

 Chapter 207

    Chapter 207: Seizing the Opportunity


    Jun Huang scoffed, tilting her head to stare at the man coldly. ¡°How are you going to further the investigation? People are panicked enough as they are. What do you propose we do? Eastern Wu is not a simple foe. If we provoke them into taking drastic actions, how are we going to clean up the messes? You¡¯re not going to disregard the safety of the civilians for a quick resolution, are you?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s tone was slow and deliberate, but there was an edge to it. The man fell silent. He knew he had not thought through the issue before asking the question. This was something too big for any of them to shoulder the responsibility alone. The best thing to do now was to talk to Qi Chen.


    The men looked at Jun Huang without a word. Jun Huang sighed. Her throbbing temples made her frown in difort. She rubbed at her forehead. ¡°The procuress must have sent Qin¡¯er here for a reason. The situation isplicated. We must be careful. Without any concrete evidence, we should refrain from doing anything, or it maye back to bite us. We should leave now.¡±


    Jun Huang walked outside. The others waited until Qin¡¯er regained consciousness to make sure she showed no sign of remembering before leaving.


    The mission ended without idents. Qi Chen didn¡¯t expect them to resolve the problem once and for all. He asked only for them to find out more information. His men¡¯s report smoothed away the suspicion in his heart. What Jun Huang said in the brothel made sense.


    Qi Chen had started to doubt Jun Huang because she wasn¡¯t able to turn Nan Xun into his ally despite her close rtionship with Nan Xun. This time, however, Jun Huang had shown her devotion to him. It made Qi Chen feel a little more at ease. He ordered some of his men to keep watching the brothel. They were to notify him immediately should anything unusual happen.


    Qi Chen might have stopped suspecting Jun Huang, but there were things he would continue to hide from her. He wanted to keep Jun Huang as his strategist, which meant she must not know too much that she became a threat. Now that some of his men had returned from their missions, he was able to dismiss the team he assigned Jun Huang from the manor.


    Jun Huang went to talk to Qi Chen the day after she went to the brothel. When she returned to Nan Xun¡¯s manor, it was close to noon. She was too tired to talk, but Nan Xun had been waiting for her. He knew what she had donest night.


    Jun Huang was eager to find the spies; that he understood. But he didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to put herself in such danger. He grabbed Jun Huang¡¯s arm in frustration and scowled at her. ¡°Do you know how dangerous the missionst night could be? If you alerted Eastern Wu, you¡¯d be doomed. You know better than anyone what they are capable of.¡±


    Jun Huang knew Nan Xun was worried for her. She felt a lingering trace of fear after the adrenaline rush was over. She didn¡¯t have to go on the mission herself, but she must take the risk in order to regain Qi Chen¡¯s trust. Qi Chen must believe that she had his best interest at heart. Otherwise he would keep having his men watch her, and she would have to keep guessing what Qi Chen meant every time he said anything to her.


    Jun Huang had a lot on her shoulders. She didn¡¯t have the efforts to spare for Qi Chen. That was why she went to the brothel herself. Fortunately she was able to ovee the challenges and came back intact.


    Even though Nan Xun¡¯s tone was severe, his eyes were filled with concerns. Itforted Jun Huang. She curved her lips into a smile. ¡°I know, I know. I didn¡¯t have a choice, but I won¡¯t do it again.¡±


    Tension drained out of Nan Xun¡¯s body. He led Jun Huang to a pavilion and asked, ¡°I don¡¯t know about the details of what happened yesterday. Were you hurt?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and took Nan Xun¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m alright,¡± she whispered. ¡°I know I must protect myself. I may have been a little hasty this time, but I¡¯d made proper preparation before going on the mission. A mere brothel can¡¯t be that dangerous a ce. Besides, I¡¯ve learned some valuable information. Eastern Wu is going to make their move, and it¡¯s going to be something big.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. If the spies dared toe to the imperial city, they must have a n in mind. There were things yet to be discovered. ¡°You know where their operation base is now. What do you n to do next?¡±


    ¡°That we¡¯ll have to ask Mister Ji Bo for help.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes were dark, but it didn¡¯t intimidate Nan Xun. Quite the contrary, it was riveting for him to see this cunning side of hers.


    Jun Huang woke up in the evening after resting for the whole day. She was told that Nan Xun had invited Ji Bo here for her, which saved her the troubles of doing so herself. She made herself presentable before walking outside.


    Ji Bo and Nan Xun were having wine in the garden under the moon. They looked like they were enjoying themselves. As soon as Nan Xun saw Jun Huang, however, he told the servants to put away the cups and wine jugs. Ji Bo looked at Nan Xun with open amusement, while Jun Huang turned to him in exasperation.


    ¡°You can¡¯t have alcohol,¡± Nan Xun said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to tempt you with the sight. Mister Ji Bo and I won¡¯t drink either.¡±


    Despite his words, Jun Huang could tell that the two of them had drunk quite a lot. She didn¡¯tment on it as she took a seat.


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re nning,¡± said Ji Bo. He was a smart one. After Nan Xun told him what Jun Huang had done, he soon figured out what was going on and what Jun Huang would like him to do. It was the best course of action. He didn¡¯t argue against it.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t surprised that Ji Bo was able to correctly guess her thoughts. He was a famous strategist after all. If he wasn¡¯t smart enough to do that, he wouldn¡¯t be so well-known. His intellect was why she had sought Ji Bo out in the first ce.


    Jun Huang nodded and said in a quiet voice, ¡°I¡¯ll leave the matter in your hand, Mister Ji Bo. Please be cautious. No one is to know about our true intentions.¡±


    ¡°Worry not,¡± Ji Bo said. ¡°The third prince hase to abide to every word I say.¡±


    Ji Bo should not stay out for too long. He got to his feet and bid Jun Huang and Nan Xun farewell.


    Back to the third prince¡¯s manor, Ji Bo saw that the third prince was still drinking in the main hall. Lately, Qi Chen had made the third prince his punching bag after losing Sir Shangguan¡¯s support. He openly criticized the third prince for what he had done in the past with reckless abandon. It was a p to the third prince¡¯s face. The third prince could also tell that the emperor was growing distant from him again, but he didn¡¯t know why. In frustration, he turned to alcohol.


    He waved a hand at Ji Bo with his other hand supporting his chin. A hup escaped his mouth. ¡°Come! Have a drink with me! I¡¯ve been agonizing over what¡¯s happened. I¡¯d like the gentleman to answer my questions.¡±


    Disdain shed through Ji Bo¡¯s eyes. He had no respect for people like the third prince. He gave up as soon as he ran into a challenge, and yet he foolishly yearned for the throne. How pathetic.


    No matter how much Ji Bo hated him, though, he could be of use as a pawn.


    Ji Bo walked up to him and sat down by his side. With one swift movement, he grabbed the cup from the third prince¡¯s hand and leveled him with a cold stare.


    The third prince looked up at him angrily. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡±


    Ji Bo cut right to the point. ¡°Is Your Highness going to give up because of a little obstacle?¡±


    ¡°What else am I going to do?¡± the third prince said tiredly, his body sliding down from the chair to the floor. He stayed there, unmoving. He didn¡¯t care how pitiful he looked. ¡°Royal Father suddenly started to ignore me again. In his eyes, I¡¯ll never be as good as Qi Chen or Qi Yun. But why? What¡¯s so wrong with me? Qi Chen cares only about power. Qi Yun is obsessed with poetry and literature. I, on the other hand, want only to sit on the throne and go down in history as a good leader. Why can¡¯t he give me the opportunity?¡±


    Ji Bo stared at him silently. Finally, he said, ¡°It¡¯s not difficult to figure out why the emperor changed his attitude. It¡¯s simply because the crown prince is now more useful to the emperor. That¡¯s why the emperor put all his focus on the crown prince, and spared none for Your Highness. Hasn¡¯t Your Highness noticed anything unusual about the crown prince?¡±


    Ji Bo words woke him like a blow to his hazy mind. The third prince thought back to the private conversations the emperor had with Qi Chen after the morning meetings. In addition, Prince Chan Manor had be more tightly controlledtely. Qi Chen must have found something.


    The third prince had shaken away the effects of the alcohol. He looked up at Ji Bo, ignoring the sweat streaming down his face. Ji Bo looked back at him with an impassive expression.


    The third prince took a deep breath and got to his feet. After some contemtion, he ordered a man to go retrieve the spy he had nted at Qi Chen¡¯s side.


    The spy came quickly and told the third prince everything he knew. So that¡¯s why Royal Father has been spending so much time with Qi Chen, the third prince thought. There are men from Eastern Wu in the imperial city!


    ¡°He has found something, hasn¡¯t he?¡± said the third prince in a low voice.


    The man nodded. He told the third prince what he had overheard in the morning. After dismissing the man, the third prince turned to Ji Bo and asked respectfully, ¡°What does the gentleman think that we should do?¡±


    Ji Bo had reached an agreement with Jun Huang as to what should be done, but Ji Bo couldn¡¯t give the prince the answer directly. He pretended to give it some thoughts.


    After the time for a pot of tea to brew, Ji Bo said, ¡°It isn¡¯t difficult to figure out what the emperor is thinking now. Your Highness only needs to do something that will make the emperor happy.¡±


    ¡°Make him happy? What exactly do you mean?¡±


    With a smile, Ji Bo leaned in closer to the third prince and murmured, ¡°Hasn¡¯t the crown prince given Your Highness the perfect opportunity? There¡¯s no need for you to look elsewhere.¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s spotless track record had won him the unconditional trust from his temporary master. Realization dawned on the third prince. He wasn¡¯t so dense that he would fail to understand what Ji Bo was proposing. Every cell in his body seemed to be on fire due to his excitement. Ji Bo was right!

 Chapter 208

    Chapter 208: Secret n


    The third prince wasted no time before he hurried out of the manor. Ji Bo stayed seated and left the third prince to it. Ji Bo¡¯s only worry had been that the third prince would not dare to take action. Fortunately the third prince had done what they needed him to do.


    The third prince went to ask themander of the imperial army1 for help, saying that he had found the men from Eastern Wu. Themander was loyal to the third prince. Without hesitation, he assembled a team to help the prince. The third prince led the team directly to the brothel.


    Without giving any warnings, the third prince ordered the imperial army to surround the building. It was peak hour for the brothel. The soldiers rushing into the building caused screams to ring through the first floor.


    The procuress¡¯ heart sank. She could guess what was happening, but this was Northern Qi¡¯s ground. She didn¡¯t dare to do anything reckless. She put on a smile and walked up to the soldiers. ¡°What¡¯s happening? What are the esteemed guests here for?¡±


    The third prince scoffed at the procuress and waved a hand in the air. ¡°Arrest everyone! The others, go upstairs and search thoroughly!¡±


    ¡°No! You mustn¡¯t! This is a small business. What is this raid for? You¡¯re forcibly going through ¨C ¡±


    The procuress¡¯ wails grated on the third prince¡¯s nerves. He pped her and snapped, ¡°Shut up! Or I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    The procuress fell silent. She could only watch as the third prince ransacked her brothel and arrested everyone, including her. They were put into prison.


    The man watching the brothel for Qi Chen had seen what the third prince was doing. They sent a messenger to notify Qi Chen. When the messenger reached the manor, however, he was told that Qi Chen had gone to the temple with Rou¡¯er, and would not return until tomorrow. He was at a loss of what to do.


    He went to Jun Huang for help. She, however, looked so pale it was as if she would stop breathing the next second.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t say anything to break the silence. She knew what the man was here for. After a good while, the man finally said, ¡°The third prince led a group of soldiers to the brothel and arrested everyone, gentleman Feng! I went to find the prince, but he¡¯s left with Lady Rou¡¯er. He¡¯s not in the imperial city at the moment.¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes and broke into a coughing fit. Blood sttered out of her mouth. The man startled and tried to help her, but Nan Xun pushed past him.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nan Xun asked nervously.


    Out of the messenger¡¯s line of sight, Jun Huang shook her head at Nan Xun reassuringly. It took some time for her to stop coughing. She gestured for Nan Xun to step back before saying, ¡°I got sick yesterday. The doctor said that I should not leave the room. What you must do now is to locate the prince and tell him what¡¯s happened. Then have people watch the third prince¡¯s manor to figure out what he¡¯s trying to do.¡±


    The man nodded. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ve sent a man to notify the prince already. They won¡¯t be back until after midnight. I¡¯ll arranged for someone to keep watch on the third prince. The gentleman should have a good rest. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    The man bowed at her and walked away. Everything had happened so suddenly. He wasn¡¯t prepared. Controlling the situation was therefore difficult.


    Once the man had left, Jun Huang¡¯s body slumped on the bed. She started coughing again. Her face was as pale as a sheet. In panic, Nan Xun rushed out to send for a doctor. He only let himself rx when the doctor said that Jun Huang would be alright.


    She had caught a cold after exhausting herself yesterday. She would be fine after resting.


    Nan Xun had heard the same thing from different doctors again and again, but still, it wasforting. Everything was alright as long as Jun Huang was fine.


    Jun Huang took some medicine and got back to bed. Nan Xun stayed at her bedside out of concerns. Jun Huang smiled and patted the back of his hand. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Starting from tomorrow, Qi Chen will shift all his focus away from me. The imperial court, however, is andmine. You have to be careful and keep yourself out of trouble.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He knew what he had to do.


    When Qi Chen rushed back to the imperial city, the sun was rising from the horizon. He made his way to the brothel. The ce was indeed under siege. Frustrated, he turned to Jun Huang for advice, but he was told that Jun Huang was sick. He knew she was prone to illnesses, so he didn¡¯t question the exnation. He turned his focus to the third prince. The third prince had already gone to the pce for the morning meeting.


    It was Qi Chen¡¯s day off. That was why he had been caughtpletely off guard by his brother. Qi Chen gritted his teeth. He rushed to the pce right after sending Rou¡¯er back to the manor.


    Many officials were waiting outside the pce. The third prince could not suppress the smile tugging at his lips. The officials who were friendly with the prince exchanged some small talk with him. He responded to their friendly jabs with unusual grace. It was clear that the third prince was in a good mood.


    ¡°Ah, if it isn¡¯t second brother,¡± said the third prince. His voice was loud enough to reach every officials currently present. They turned around and saw Qi Chen, his expression dark. They debated over what to do. Qi Chen wasn¡¯t someone they could afford to offend. They greeted Qi Chen as if everything was normal.


    The third prince narrowed his eyes at Qi Chen. He could tell that Qi Chen was angry and tired. He must have received the newsst night, and had departed for the imperial city immediately. The third prince couldn¡¯t be more pleased. Even the wind seemed more pleasant. His smile deepened.


    Qi Chen clenched his hands into fists. He wanted to punch the third prince in his smug face. As soon as he took a step forward, however, a eunuch came out to announce that the morning meeting had started. The officials got into a line and entered the pce one by one.


    The emperor looked down from his throne and spotted Qi Chen. With a frown, he said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this your day off? Why have youe?¡±


    Qi Chen bowed to the emperor. ¡°This son is now head of the east pce2. I must keep the state affairs as my priority. I know there are still many things I have to learn. Even on off days, I shoulde listen to the reports. I cannot afford to stop learning.¡±


    The exnation Qi Chen gave was perfectly valid, and it pleased the emperor. The emperor praised him generously.


    The third prince kept a cold gaze on Qi Chen. He took a step forward and knelt down before the emperor. ¡°Royal Father, this son has searched through the operation base of the spies from Eastern Wu, and the spies themselves had been arrested. They were kept in the prison in the Court of Judicial Review. They await Royal Father¡¯s interrogation.¡±


    The spies had been on the emperor¡¯s mind. He got to his feet and asked in surprise, ¡°Is it true?¡±


    ¡°This son dares not to trick Royal Father. I didn¡¯t say a word of artifice.¡±


    The third prince went on to exin that he had discovered the operation base on ident. He then sought out the imperial army for help in the raid. He was suddenly reminded that it was against the rule for him tomand the imperial army without asking for permission. He apologized for his mistakes.


    The emperor was too delighted to care. He showered the third prince with praises. Qi Chen, on the other hand, had disappointed him. He had tasked Qi Chen with the responsibility, but in the end, it was the third prince who had discovered the spies first. Before a whole room of schr officials and military officials, the emperor put the third prince in charge of the matter.


    With fake deference, the third prince said to Qi Chen that he would need Qi Chen¡¯s advice. Qi Chen barely stopped himself from losing his temper. He tightened his jaw and red at the third prince.


    After the meeting, Qi Chen dragged the third prince ¨C who was entirely too pleased with himself ¨C to the side and scoffed. ¡°I didn¡¯t know the third prince could be so cunning and so shameless.¡±


    The third prince arched an eyebrow and broke out of Qi Chen¡¯s hold. ¡°Second brother has misunderstood me. We both are trying to lessen the burden on Royal Father¡¯s shoulders. Of course I have to do something when I¡¯m able to. Even though I¡¯m not as thoughtful as second brother, it seems that Royal Father prefers my honesty. Second brother is the one who let the opportunity slip. What good is it going to do for you to mock me now?¡±


    Qi Chen never knew the third prince had such a sharp tongue. The third prince didn¡¯t want to waste any more time talking to Qi Chen. ¡°This brother has other business to attend to. I¡¯m not going to stay here. If second brother has so much time, you should go back home and spend time with your family. Please excuse me.¡±


    Qi Chen stared daggers at the third prince¡¯s back. His hands balled into tight fists. He stayed there for a good while before leaving with a huff.


    Nan Xun watched them go from the door of the pce. His lips quirked up.


    Once everyone had left, Qi Yun walked to Nan Xun¡¯s side and asked, ¡°Is this all thanks to gentleman Feng as well?¡±


    Nan Xun turned to him without a word, waiting for Qi Yun to continue. As he expected, what came out of Qi Yun¡¯s mouth next were words that would hurt Jun Huang.


    ¡°She truly is willing to do anything to destroy Eastern Wu,¡± Qi Yun said coldly. ¡°Everyone is now panicking. The imperial city is falling into chaos. If the men from Eastern Wu seize the opportunity, it is the people that are going to pay for it. Do you two know that?¡±


    ¡°Of course we do,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°The gentleman and I will find ways to solve the problems. Please excuse me.¡±


    When Nan Xun returned to his manor, Jun Huang had just woken up. She sat on the hallway looking at the flowers and greenery in the garden, her expression inscrutable. Suddenly. Nan Xun started to question if everything was worth it after all. He sighed and walked up to her.


    Jun Huang looked over at him when she heard his footsteps. She smiled. ¡°How was it?¡±


    ¡°As you predicted, the emperor has put the third prince in charge. Qi Chen cannot hate the third prince more.¡±


    Nan Xun told her everything that happened during the morning meeting. The frown on Jun Huang¡¯s face, however, remained.


    After a good while, Jun Huang sighed. ¡°The country is getting more and more chaotic. Eastern Wu has always been watching Northern Qi for any openings. In no time, they would send out an army to Northern Qi and take revenge against you.¡±

 Chapter 209

    Chapter 209: Diverging Thoughts


    These were all factors Jun Huang and Nan Xun had taken into consideration. She believed that with Nan Xun¡¯s and Qi Yun¡¯s help, she would be able to keep the damage under control. Besides, she now had the House of Heavenly Fiends on her side. The tiger had acquired a pair of wings. She would not let things go ording to Eastern Wu¡¯s n.


    Still, there was a lingering doubt in her heart. The civilians were the ones who would pay the ultimate price. She could only do her best to minimize the casualties.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t tell Jun Huang what Qi Yun had said. It would do nothing but to make her feel bad. It was better to let it be forgotten.


    Seeing Jun Huang¡¯s furrowed brows, Nan Xun took her cool hands and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Northern Qi is not an easy prey, and Eastern Wu doesn¡¯t always win. I¡¯ve beaten them once. I can beat them again. Moreover, I¡¯ve gained permission from the emperor to stock up military supplies in secret, while I myself have been training the soldiers. We are prepared for this fight.¡±


    ¡°And the emperor agreed?¡± Jun Huang asked in surprise. The emperor had been avoiding getting into wars with other countries. On one hand, he was reluctant to let Nan Xun back to doing what he did best. On the other hand, the emperor was worried that he would lose his life. In the end, he was but a man who was afraid of death.


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°The emperor would like to left a mark in history. No emperor is willing to be known as a leader who had achieved nothing. When I brought it up, he agreed readily. Preparations are being made. We only hide our efforts to cheat those from Eastern Wu. The more chaotic the circumstances seem, the better we can catch Eastern Wu off guard.¡±


    Jun Huang considered the issue. So that was why the emperor agreed to let his sons investigate the spies. He wanted to use this opportunity to eliminate Eastern Wu once and for all. She didn¡¯t expect the emperor to make such a bold decision.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll stop worrying too much,¡± Jun Huang said with a chuckle.


    For the longest time, her only goal was to eliminate Eastern Wu. When she talked about her ambitions to unite the world, she was merely humoring other people. Now that the end was getting closer, and everything was happening quickly, she realized that she must not leave Qi Yun to deal with Qi Chen alone. It was time that she took care of Qi Chen.


    It was, however, easier said than done. Qi Chen was after all the crown prince. He was the candidate for the throne. Even though his biggest supporters had been eliminated, there was still a secret force behind him. She had to be careful and looked for an opening.


    At night, Nan Guyue stayed in the garden waiting for Qi Chen toe. She had heard about how angry Qi Chen was today. Even though she didn¡¯t think she would be able to help with his problems, she hoped that Qi Chen woulde and let herfort him.


    Unexpectedly, Qi Chen came to visit. Nan Guyue shot up to her feet with a smile. ¡°Your Highness.¡±


    Qi Chen threw Nan Guyue a nce and gave her a nod before entering the building. She caught up with him and helped him take off his outer robe. She then ordered a servant to prepare some hot wine to warm Qi Chen up. Qi Chen, though, waved a hand to stop the servant.


    Nan Guyue couldn¡¯t go against his will. She dismissed the servant and took a seat at Qi Chen¡¯s side.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard what has happened during the meeting. That ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know that women should not get involved in matters in the court?¡± Qi Chen cut in harshly.


    Nan Guyue fell silent. She knew Qi Chen was in a bad mood, but she didn¡¯t expect him to lose his temper on her. Other than the time Qi Chen mistakenly suspected her of having an affair, Qi Chen had always been gentle with her. They had treated each other with respect. What happened to make him change?


    Nan Guyue was prone to overthinking. Wei Lanying could never rise up again. Rou¡¯er was merely a nobody who didn¡¯t care about power. Nan Guyue was the only one who could be considered Qi Chen¡¯s wife. Qi Chen, however, had been more and more distant to her. She wondered if Qi Chen had acquired another lover.


    It was normal for men from the royal family to have a few serving concubines. Wei Lanying and Rou¡¯er hade to the manor before her. There was nothing she could do to change that. Without the child, though, Nan Guyue didn¡¯t want another woman toe into the manor. What was she going to do then?


    Nan Guyue curved her lips into a smile and pushed her thoughts away. ¡°If Your Highness is tired, I¡¯ll help you sleep.¡±


    Qi Chen was exhausted. He rubbed at his forehead and walked toward the bed. Nan Guyue took off his clothes for him, her fingers gliding across his body seductively.


    The red candle by the bed dripped tears of wax over its base. The bed veil next to her cast a faint shade of pink on her cheeks. With her head lowered, she looked like a bashful bride waiting for her groom on their wedding night.


    Qi Chen only realized then that Nan Guyue was dressed in a thinyer of robe. The wind swept up her broad sleeves, revealing the fair velvet skin of her arms. If it was any other day, Qi Chen would not be able to resist her. Today, however, he really wasn¡¯t in the mood. He sighed at Nan Guyue and caught her wandering hands.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired. Sleep.¡± Qi Chen climbed onto bed andy down. Nan Guyue stared at him dumbly. A tangled mess of feelings upied her heart.


    She put out the candle andy down on Qi Chen¡¯s side. She wanted to hold his hand, but Qi Chen turned away as soon as their skin touched. It was clear he didn¡¯t appreciate the intimacy.


    They shared the same bed, but their hearts were not aligned. Nan Guyue started to wonder if her earlier suspicion had been true after all. Sleep didn¡¯te easily, and she didn¡¯t fall asleep until dawn. When she woke up, Qi Chen was gone. Theck of warmth on his side of the bed told her that he had left for some time.


    The maid served her as Nan Guyue went through her morning routines. Even after the maid had left, Nan Guyue stayed seated before the bronze mirror. The more she thought, the more suspicious she grew. She got to her feet and considered asking for Jun Huang toe, but it didn¡¯t seem appropriate. In the end, she put on an outer robe and left for Jun Huang¡¯s ce.


    Jun Huang had been staying in Nan Xun¡¯s manor. She only returned to her home because something hade up. Once the matter was dealt with, the page boy watching the door told her that the princess was here. Putting aside her surprise, Jun Huang let Nan Guyue in.


    Under the pavilion in the garden, Nan Guyue surveyed the lively nts and flowers with cold eyes. They matched well with Jun Huang¡¯s turquoise robe. She looked at Jun Huang with a hand around the teacup.


    Jun Huang was at a loss as to what Nan Guyue was staring at her for. She stayed silent.


    After Jun Huang had finished a cup of tea, Nan Guyue said, ¡°Be honest with me, Feng Baiyu. Is there anyone suspicious by the prince¡¯s side?¡±


    Jun Huang looked at her in confusion.


    The sun shone from behind Jun Huang, illuminating her beautiful face. Her turquoise robe looked vibrant under the sun. Jun Huang had always been graceful. Even though she was doing something as simple as drinking tea, she was mesmerizing.


    The answer seemed clear to Nan Guyue.


    She had heard that Jun Huang was into men. Everyone in the imperial city knew it. In the past, Nan Guyue had not connected that to the fact that Jun Huang had been serving Qi Chen loyally without asking for anything in return. Now, her eyes had been opened. Jun Huang must have wanted Qi Chen, but couldn¡¯t have him. That was why she threw herself into Nan Xun¡¯s arms.


    The fondness Nan Guyue once had for Jun Huang disappeared. In its ce were anger and distaste. Qi Chen must have grown distant with her because of Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what Nan Guyue was thinking about. She had noticed the frown on Nan Guyue¡¯s face, but she didn¡¯t think too much of it.


    To get rid of Qi Chen, Jun Huang had to slowly weed out Qi Chen¡¯s supporters. She could start with Nan Guyue. Taking away Southern Mu¡¯s support meant one less ally Qi Chen could turn to.


    The more Jun Huang thought, the more she found it a viable option. Nan Guyue seemed to think that Qi Chen had found a new lover. She must have been getting nervous because of Qi Chen¡¯s increasingly cold attitude, which prompted Nan Guyue toe to her for answers.


    Jun Huang looked up at Nan Guyue and put on a concerned expression. ¡°I... didn¡¯t want to tell the princess. I worried that the princess would develop another illness because of it. In the end, however, I find it unfair for the princess to be kept in the dark. The prince has found someone he loves. He doesn¡¯t allow me to tell you in the fear that you¡¯ll be upset with him. The princess hase to me personally, however. This gentleman cannot stand seeing you in agony.¡±


    Jun Huang did have a sharp tongue, but she couldn¡¯t read minds. She didn¡¯t know what Nan Guyue was thinking.


    Nan Guyue was angry that Jun Huang dared to unt Qi Chen¡¯s favor so openly. She believed she had discovered the truth. How shameless could this person be?! She grew resentful of both Jun Huang and Qi Chen.


    Nan Guyue considered putting everything on the table. She wasn¡¯t the one who was going to lose face. Qi Chen was the crown prince, however. He was going to inherit the throne one day. Nan Guyue would be the empress then, not Jun Huang. She told herself to be patient. There was no need for her to give up on being the most powerful woman in the country because of Jun Huang. She took a deep breath to suppress her anger and forced herself to smile.


    Nan Guyue took a sip of her tea. ¡°So what? The prince is a busy man. Even if he has set his eyes on someone, it¡¯s merely for him to relieve his stress. No one in the royal family can truly be a loyal lover. The prince can do whatever he wishes to do. I¡¯ll wait at home for him to return.¡±

 Chapter 210

    Chapter 210: Disguise


    Jun Huang was puzzled by her change of attitude. She had been harshly demanding answers from Jun Huang. Why was she finding excuses for Qi Chen now?


    Trying to force a thought into Nan Guyue¡¯s mind would be unwise, though. That Jun Huang recognized. She would risk giving away her intentions.


    ¡°The princess is right,¡± said Jun Huang, her tone earnest, but the gears in her head were spinning. ¡°The prince is fortunate to have you as his wife.¡±


    Nan Guyue considered Jun Huang. Jun Huang had lowered her eyes in contemtion. Nan Guyue interpreted that as Jun Huang¡¯s admission to defeat. Her mood lightened considerably. She smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about the prince and me now. Let¡¯s talk about the gentleman. You¡¯vee to the imperial city for some time. Is there anyone you like?¡±


    A lot of people have been spreading rumors about Jun Huang and Nan Xun, saying that they were involved. Jun Huang didn¡¯t believe that Nan Guyue would be oblivious to that. Perhaps she¡¯s simply asking, Jun Huang thought. Or maybe she¡¯s mocking me.


    Jun Huang scoffed inwardly, but her tone was respectful when she said, ¡°This gentleman is already in love with someone. The princess doesn¡¯t have to worry. If the princess doesn¡¯t have anything else you want, you should go ahead and return. This ce is too in and humble for someone like the princess. I don¡¯t want your dress to be dirtied. Moreover, this gentleman has some personal affairs to take care of.¡±


    Jun Huang was obviously asking Nan Guyue to leave. Nan Guyue would have to be spectacrly dense to not understand the subtext. She threw Jun Huang a re that Jun Huang¡¯s lowered eyes had not seen. Nan Guyue refused to lose herposure for a mere strategist. She scoffed and got to her feet.


    ¡°I¡¯ll stop bothering the gentleman,¡± she said in a strained voice. ¡°The gentleman should go back to your business. Read books about morals such as The Way1 so that you won¡¯t ever do something disgraceful.¡±


    Nan Guyue stormed away with her entourage in tow. Once she was gone, Nan Xun walked out of the room he had been staying in, his brows furrowed. His bad mood was obvious from his expression.


    Nan Xun had noticed something unusual when Nan Guyue demanded to know if there was anyone noteworthy by Qi Chen¡¯s side. The rest of the conversation proved his spection right. He wasn¡¯t going to tell Jun Huang though. It was an added burden on her shoulders, and he didn¡¯t want her to be upset for someone irrelevant.


    Nan Xun scowled at the teacup Nan Guyue had used. He quickly schooled his expression and ordered a servant to clean up the table. Then he turned to Jun Huang. ¡°Have you found something about Eastern Wu?¡±


    Nan Guyue¡¯s visit had caused Jun Huang to forget about what was important. Nan Xun¡¯s words jogged her memories. She cleared her throat and said, ¡°I have. There¡¯s an organization called Water Cloud in Eastern Wu. The man I sent out came back with the news that Water Cloud was behind the assassination attempts against you. After some deliberation, I came to the conclusion that we have to go to Eastern Wu to have a look. We must get to the bottom of this to avoid future dangers.¡±


    Nan Xun had heard of the organization. He frowned. Jun Huang was right. Moreover, Eastern Wu had been making moves against Northern Qitely. He had to do something now. A trip to Eastern Wu was a must.


    ¡°How about Qi Chen?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    ¡°He¡¯s too busy to pay attention to me. I¡¯ll go talk to him this evening. The rest we¡¯ll leave to Mister Ji Bo. The third prince is under his control. They only had to slowly take out Qi Chen¡¯s supporters. Then Qi Chen¡¯s influence would be destroyed little by little.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes were calm even when her words turned cruel. Nan Xun, though, didn¡¯t see it in a negative light. He admired her for her careful attitude and her ability to keep things under control.


    In the evening, Jun Huang left for Prince Chen Manor. This was the best time for a conversation with Qi Chen. In the morning Qi Chen often had a lot of work to do. Jun Huang knew enough about him to know when he was free.


    When she arrived, Qi Chen was drinking wine outside. He must have been in a bad mood due to recent incidents. The housekeeper went up to Jun Huang when he saw her and said, ¡°The gentleman hase at the right time. The prince has been drinking for a while. No matter what other people said, he wouldn¡¯t be convinced. The gentleman is close to the prince. Please try to stop him.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and walked toward Qi Chen. Hearing the footsteps, Qi Chen thought that it was the housekeepering to preach him again. He was startled by Jun Huang¡¯s appearance.


    ¡°Brother Feng is here,¡± he said with a chuckle, pointing at the spot next to him. ¡°Don¡¯t be formal with me. Have a seat.¡±


    Jun Huang sat down and gave Qi Chen a once over. She could tell that Qi Chen hadn¡¯t had enough to be drunk. He must have spent more time thinking than drinking. She rxed and said, ¡°This gentleman hase to the conclusion that I should go to Eastern Wu myself. They have spies among our ranks who can send them information about Northern Qi, and yet we know nothing about Eastern Wu. This gentleman believe that we have to venture into the tiger den to catch a cub. We must find out how powerful their army is.¡±


    Qi Chen thought that Jun Huang had noticed the odd atmosphere around the manortely; that was why she wanted to get away. Gathering information was merely an added bonus. It wasn¡¯t a bad thing. Jun Huang was right to think ahead. He approved of her taking her role as his confidante seriously. He nodded. ¡°If so, safe journey. Do you need me to assign some guards to help you?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°This is too important a task; things should be kept to a need to know basis. Besides, I¡¯m going to investigate in secret. Too big a group will be easy to spot. This gentleman can go on my own.¡±


    Qi Chen epted her exnation readily. He told her to be careful and to retreat when dangers struck.


    Jun Huang made assenting noises at the right time. Before she left, she looked down at Qi Chen¡¯s cup and sighed. ¡°Drinking is bad for health. Your Highness should stop indulging in alcohol.¡±


    Qi Chen blinked and put down the cup. He then got to his feet, intending to walk Jun Huang out. Jun Huang turned him down and left on her own.


    Qi Chen sat there for a while before waving a servant over to clean up the mess. He stood up and walked away.


    From the hallway, Nan Guyue had witnessed everything. Since she was a little far from Qi Chen, she didn¡¯t hear his conversation with Jun Huang, but she could tell it was a pleasant one. He had wanted to walk Jun Huang out! Moreover, even the housekeeper had been scolded for advising the prince, and yet as soon as Jun Huang left, Qi Chen stopped drinking. Anyone with an eye could see that it must be Jun Huang who had convinced Qi Chen.


    Nan Guyue ground her teeth together as she looked at the direction Jun Huang had left in. There was a fire burning in her chest, and yet she was helpless against it. She knew how talented Jun Huang was. Qi Chen could not gain the throne without Jun Huang¡¯s assistance. For now, Nan Guyue could only tolerate Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun had sent a message to the emperor before riding a horse out of the city gate. He didn¡¯t wait for long before Jun Huang came. They shared a silent look before riding toward Eastern Wu.


    At the border, they stayed for two days and disguised themselves as peopleing to visit their family before entering the gate to the border city. Nan Xun was well-known among Eastern Wu soldiers, and Jun Huang was the princess of Western Que; many soldiers had seen her too. They had to be careful to avoid detection.


    The picture of Eastern Wu in Jun Huang¡¯s mind came from what her old teacher told her when she was a princess. Now, seeing Eastern Wu for herself, she realized that what she pictured might not be urate.


    Eastern Wu had arge territory, but a small poption. There was a serious drought within the country, which affected the harvest. Thatpelled Eastern Wu to invade other countries to solve their food shortage.


    Jun Huang thought that there were only barrennds within Eastern Wu. She didn¡¯t expect there to be cities as prosperous as those in other countries.


    ¡°This is not how I imagine Eastern Wu to be.¡± Jun Huang dragged her eyes along the spacious main street. It was covered in yellow soil rather than bluestone like the major roads in Northern Qi and Western Que were, and dust would be brought up whenever a coach passed; still, what she saw came as a shock to her.


    The road was lined with vendors crying out to attract customers. The wares they sold were fine and delicate. Within the city, tall buildings rose up into the sky. There were also a good number of taverns and ry stations. She felt a little excited.


    ¡°It¡¯s because we¡¯ve picked the right gate,¡± Nan Xun whispered. ¡°If we entered through one of the other gates, the only living thing we would see were crows flying above the desert.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun with a raised eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯ve been here before?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. Jun Huang hummed. The two countries had engaged in battles before. It was said that one must know his enemies in order to ensure victory. Eastern Wu knew to nt spies in Northern Qi. Northern Qi must have tried something simr as well. Those were confidential information about the military, though. Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to ask for details. She knew Nan Xun would tell her if she asked, but that was exactly why she shouldn¡¯t pry.


    She had been turning a blind eye to Nan Xun¡¯s feelings for her, but she wanted to keep their rtionship pure. Otherwise she wouldn¡¯t be able to stay at his side without feeling guilty.


    Nan Xun was preupied as well. Originally he had nned to confess to Jun Huang when they were alone, but they had been busy riding. They barely had the time to eat, let alone have a proper conversation. He almost told her his feelings anyway, but he managed to stop himself. It didn¡¯t feel right for him to just blurt it out. In the end, he didn¡¯t manage to tell her even after they had reached Eastern Wu.


    Nan Xun sighed. Well, he still had time. They were both exhausted. He and Jun Huang walked along the street trying to locate an inn.

 Chapter 211

    Chapter 211: Water Cloud


    Both Jun Huang and Nan Xun believed that it was better safe than sorry, so they picked an unassuming but clean inn to stay in. They dressed themselves in in clothes and tried their best to be discreet, but still they stood out. The clerk noticed them immediately and came up to them with a smile. ¡°Are the two esteemed guests here for a meal or amodation?¡±


    Nan Xun handed a tael of silver to the clerk. ¡°We¡¯d like to book two premium rooms.¡±


    The clerk¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw the silver, and his smile deepened. He took care of booking the rooms for them, thinking about how much bonus he¡¯d receive at the end of the month. The thought filled him with joy.


    The clerk led them upstairs. Their rooms were right next to each other. Once the clerk left, Nan Xun first checked over the room Jun Huang was going to stay in. Only after making sure it wasn¡¯tpromised did he go to his.


    They were told that lunch was ready. Jun Huang and Nan Xun were here to investigate, so they went to the first floor to eat. They didn¡¯t wait long before the food was here.


    Jun Huang¡¯s attention was caught by one of the dishes on the table. Nan Xun frowned at her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    She looked at Nan Xun, then at the dish. In the end she started eating without saying anything. Nan Xun didn¡¯t probe, but he took note of her reaction.


    After Jun Huang had left for her room, Nan Xun pulled a server to the side. His sharp eyes and severe brows terrified the server. He gaped at Nan Xun fearfully, too afraid to say anything. It felt as if Nan Xun would be able to kill him with nothing but his cold stare.


    Nan Xun realized that he had scared the server. He let him go and pointed at the leftover of the dish. ¡°What is this dish? Where is it from?¡±


    Nan Xun had reeled in his intimidating aura. The server visibly rxed. He looked at the table and said proudly, ¡°This is a specialty of our boss. You can only have it here. No other restaurant knows how to make it. The boss is ¨C ¡±


    Nan Xun knew he couldn¡¯t get anything of value from the server¡¯s bbering mouth. He walked away. The server gave him an odd look, scratching his head with a puzzled expression. He was still in a state of confusion when he returned to the backyard.


    Jun Hao brought out a te from the kitchen ¨C it was the same dish that had stunned Jun Huang. He noticed server looking up at the nest in a tree. He pursed his lips and yelled, ¡°You¡¯re diddling about again, you brat! Come serve the food. What are you staying outside for? And let me tell you, don¡¯t think about taking those eggs. If I see you going after the eggs again, I¡¯ll ¨C I¡¯ll tell big brother to not prepare your dinner.¡±


    Jun Hao handed the dish to the server with the other hand on his waist. There was a scowl on his face.


    The server pouted. When he first came to the inn, there were only two people working here. He was told that they were brothers. At the time, Jun Hao was a mild-mannered boy. It seemed obvious that he must be from a rich family. Once they got to know each other, however, Jun Hao had turned mischievous. He would even y tricks on the server, who was an honest worker.


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± the server muttered as he went off to bring the dish to the customer. ¡°You¡¯re bing a bully, Yin Er1. Don¡¯t forget I¡¯m the one who taught you how to get bird eggs from a tree. Now you¡¯re reserving them all to yourself...¡±


    Jun Haoughed. When he turned around, Yin Yun was right behind him. He gulped awkwardly.


    Overtime, Jun Hao had changed. He was a kid after all. It was natural for him to seek out fun. When he was a prince in the pce, he didn¡¯t dare to indulge himself. He didn¡¯t even have a friend. Now, in Eastern Wu, he hade to forget his identity as the prince of Western Que.


    Yin Yun didn¡¯t me Jun Hao. He was worried that Jun Hao would developed aplex after losing his country and family. It was a relief that he was able to still smile.


    Yin Yun¡¯s endulgent, however, had caused Jun Hao to lose theposure a man of the royal family should possess. Sometimes, Yin Yun would agonize over how he should exin to Jun Huang when he saw her. Whenever he saw the bright smile on Jun Hao¡¯s face, though, he couldn¡¯t do anything to take that away.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never scolded you, but you really should know to control yourself,¡± said Yin Yun.


    Jun Hao pouted. ¡°You¡¯re no fun.¡±


    He ran away, leaving Yin Yun on his own. Yin Yun sighed. This was giving him a headache.


    When he was about to return to the kitchen, the server ran back in. After some hesitation, he told Yin Yun about the weird man he had encountered. Yin Yun sighed inwardly, but didn¡¯t say much.


    The dish was his specialty. Not a lot of people knew how to make it. He included it in the menu because he wanted Jun Huang to have it one day. Since then, however, people had only asked him about the dish because it was too delicious, and they would like to learn how to make it. Yin Yun had given up on using it as a way to send a message to Jun Huang.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Go do your job.¡± Yin Yun waved the clerk away and returned to the kitchen.


    Eastern Wu was chilly at night. Since the city was located in a desert, there was no natural barrier to block the chilling winds. Dust was brought into the air. The cold burrowed into one¡¯s bones.


    When it was time for dinner, Nan Xun went back to his room to put on something warmer. Jun Huang, meanwhile, leaned against the railing and looked down at the main hall.


    Her eyes settled on two people in the main hall. Even though Jun Hao and Yin Yun had disguised themselves, Jun Huang was able to recognize them at first nce. She suddenly broke into tears, startling Nan Xun, who had just walked out of the door.


    Yin Yun looked up. Jun Huang hurriedly pulled Nan Xun back into his room. Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what was happening, but he didn¡¯t ask.


    It took some time for Jun Huang to calm down. She wiped away her tears and met Nan Xun¡¯s questioning eyes. She took a deep breath. There was no need for her to hide this from him. ¡°I saw my brother and Yin Yun. They were in disguise, but I recognized them.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    Nan Xun was no less excited than Jun Huang was. He knew how much time and efforts Jun Huang had spent on looking for Jun Hao and Yin Yun. She fought so hard. Even illnesses could not keep her down.


    Now the one who worked hard had received her reward. Nan Xun could tell, though, that Jun Huang was struggling. He thought back to how Jun Huang had ordered the House of Heavenly Fiends to stop searching. With a sigh, he took Jun Huang¡¯s trembling hands. ¡°What do you n to do?¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him. After a long stretch of silence, she shook her head and pulled back, her eyes focusing on the floor. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this to happen. I knew they were safe, but I thought they would be staying in Northern Qi. Why would theye to Eastern Wu? This is not a safe ce. What¡¯s going to happen if they are recognized? This meeting came too suddenly. I don¡¯t know what I should do.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to let them see you, do you?¡± Nan Xun asked gently.


    Jun Huang smiled in response. The smile was so bitter it hit Nan Xun where he was most tender. ¡°The poison in my body is going to take my life sooner rather thanter,¡± she said slowly. ¡°Like we¡¯ve talked about before, the hope I can give them is imperfect, broken. It is a miracle to discover what you¡¯ve lost. Who among us can stand losing something we¡¯ve just recovered? It¡¯s better that I let them be. Even from a distance, I can see the carefree smile on my brother¡¯s face. He¡¯s grown confident. That¡¯s good. They deserve a peaceful life. I¡¯ll take care of getting revenge. Years after, they¡¯ll be able to forget about me. That¡¯s as good an ending as I can wish for.¡±


    Every word she uttered left a cut on Nan Xun¡¯s heart. He wanted tofort her, but he couldn¡¯t do anything but to stay at her side and helped her get revenge. Words failed at time like this.


    Even a sigh seemed cheap.


    They stopped talking. Nan Xun went out to take a look. He only called for Jun Huang toe out after he made sure that Yin Yun and Jun Hao weren¡¯t anywhere to be seen. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help trying to look for Jun Hao, but at the same time she was afraid. She was able to recognize Jun Hao, she believed that Jun Hao, who had always been close to her, would be able to recognize her readily as well. She must hide from them.


    Jun Huang had lost her appetite. Meeting Jun Hao told her that she had to be quick. The longer she and Nan Xun stayed in Eastern Wu, the more dangerous it was for them. Jun Hao¡¯s and Yin Yun¡¯s presence furtherplicated the issue. She didn¡¯t want to drag them down with her.


    Jun Huang told Nan Xun about her concerns. They had gathered enough information. They decided to go to Water Cloud with the night as their cover.


    Water Cloud was located under a casino. They would have to pass the casino, where people from all walks of life gathered, in order to reach their destination. They disguised themselves as gamblers.


    The outside of the casino looked impressive. Water Cloud must have built it to serve as a front.


    Inside, it was noisy. Many gamblers were in circles calling out their bets. Some had lost all their money, but refused to leave. Others were beat up for not being able to pay their debt. The staff at the casino would make a y at breaking up the fight, but they didn¡¯t really care.


    This seemed like the most typical casino. Jun Huang had never been to one, but she had heard stories.


    When she and Nan Xun arrived, there was a table with an empty seat. Nan Xun gave Jun Huang a look, who gave him a nod in response. She followed him to the table. There were nine yers at the table of ten, so only one of them could join in.


    Jun Huang had never been to a casino, but she had yed simr games with the servants when she was in the pce. She had always been lucky, and she had the brain to y well. She decided to y for them both.

 Chapter 212

    Chapter 212: Mutually-beneficial


    Jun Huang was good-looking. Even when disguised as a gambler, she looked more like a schrly man here to have some fun. Most of the other yers at the table were burly men with unkempt hair. They guffawed when they saw Jun Huang, but fell silent when their eyes met Nan Xun¡¯s.


    ¡°Does the gentleman know how to y big and small?¡± the man next to Jun Huang taunted. ¡°It doesn¡¯t require you to think like dominoes or other games. This is simple. The banker will shake three dices with this cup. The yers will bet on whether the total of the numbers is bigger than eleven. And that¡¯s it. Does the gentleman understand? This is a casino. You can¡¯t withdraw your bet, and you aren¡¯t allowed to bargain, which must be different from what the gentleman is used to. If you don¡¯t feelfortable with that, you should get out of here and use that money to buy a book.¡±


    The man broke intoughter. His friends followed suit.


    Jun Huang threw him a cool nce. ¡°Of course I understand something this simple. Still, thank you for exining the rules.¡±


    Her generous attitude was a stark contrast with the man¡¯s behavior. He shut his mouth. That marked the end of the farce.


    To every yer¡¯s surprise, Jun Huang had be the biggest winner at the table after only a few rounds.


    She truly was lucky. Nan Xun, on the other hand, had a keen hearing that allowed him to determine the total of the face numbers after the banker shook the dice. They got into a winning streak, which pushed them into the spotlight.


    Jun Huang was getting bored with ying dice. She turned her attention to the dominoes. Nan Xun kept an eye on Jun Huang while gathering information discreetly. He could tell that Jun Huang¡¯s heart was elsewhere. With a chuckle, he led Jun Huang to another table. A smart-looking man stood up to let them take the seat and joined the group of betters.


    The dominoes yed differently from the dices. There were four yers at the square table. The audience would put their bets in before the game started. If the yer they bet on won, the betters won as well.


    In the beginning no one knew how lucky Jun Huang was. Only the one who yielded his seat to her put his bet on her. He won big.


    Afterwards, many flocked to betting on Jun Huang. From an elevated tform, the manager of the casino noticed the situation. He hesitated before joining the game. He cheated.


    That didn¡¯t escape Nan Xun¡¯s eyes. He caught the man¡¯s hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s dishonorable to do that at the gambling table.¡±


    The manager stilled, trying to pull his hand back with his jaw tightened. Nan Xun was too strong for him to break out of the grip. The domino in his hand fell to the table. He red at Nan Xun with veins popping out his neck. ¡°What ¨C what do you think I¡¯ve done?¡±


    ¡°Cheating,¡± Nan Xun said. Everyone turned to the manager and Nan Xun in shock. Jun Huang took the opportunity to look over the table. She had found something.


    ¡°You need evidence to use me of cheating.¡± The manager refused to tell the truth. He struggled against Nan Xun¡¯s hold, but Nan Xun tightened his grip, causing the manager to gasp in pain.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t waste his time arguing with the owner. He picked up the domino the manager put on the table and handed it to Jun Huang. He made quick work locating the domino he was looking for. There was another identical one on the table.


    The onlookers booed. The manager was too mortified from being exposed in public to say anything.


    The tension was thick in the air. Suddenly, the onlookers made way for a middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes. The manager¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw the man. Jun Huang could tell that the man was not of themon sorts.


    The middle-aged man stopped before Jun Huang and Nan Xun with an earnest smile. ¡°I¡¯m the owner of the casino. Let us talk upstairs. I happened to have something to talk to the two gentlemen.¡±


    Neither of them knew what the owner wanted, but they weren¡¯t going to lose the opportunity to find out more information. They shared a look before giving the owner a nod. They followed him upstairs.


    The architecture was old. Every step they took caused the floor to squeak. It sounded as if there was a bottomless pit right below. If they took one wrong step, they would fall to their death.


    Nan Xun took the lead and kept an eye on Jun Huang. She followed him with her breath held. On both sides were wavering candlelight. It was difficult to see where they were going. They had to be careful to not slip.


    The noisesing from below faded as they ascended. Once they entered the room, it becamepletely silent.


    The owner took a seat and turned to Nan Xun. With deliberate slowness, he said, ¡°I know you¡¯re Prince Nan Xun of Northern Qi.¡±


    Nan Xun froze. Jun Huang too widened her eyes. They were here to investigate, and yet this man had recognized Nan Xun. Nan Xun could not allow him to live.


    With his eyes cold, Nan Xun wrapped his hand around the hilt of his sword. He drew it out for a few inches. The owner, however, continued to calmly drink his tea.


    Nan Xun scoffed. His mind was made up. The owner¡¯s calm attitude stemmed from his belief that Nan Xun had something to ask of him. Nan Xun, though, was a prince. He would not let other people influence his decisions. He drew his sword and held it against the owner¡¯s neck.


    Even though the owner had some leverage, he didn¡¯t dare to risk his life just to test Nan Xun. His hand shook, spilling tea out of the cup. Color drained from his face. ¡°Please calm down, Your Highness. I¡¯d like to make a deal with you. Let us talk like civil men.¡±


    ¡°What do you have to say?¡± Nan Xun scoffed. He had never considered letting the man live. ¡°Why don¡¯t I just kill you and be done with it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the owner of Water Cloud,¡± the man rushed out. He didn¡¯t dare to beat around the bush. Nan Xun could kill him if he did. He might be the owner of Water Cloud, but there was no one around to help him now. ¡°I only sent out the assassins to test if Your Highness is going to be a worthy ally.¡±


    He took a deep breath. ¡°Would Your Highness mind putting your sword away? Let me exin myself. Besides, there¡¯s no one else around. Your Highness is weed to kill me if you don¡¯t like my exnation. I¡¯m sure you can take my life easily enough.¡±


    After some contemtion, Nan Xun sheathed his sword. It wasn¡¯t that he would like to listen to the owner¡¯s offer. He had simply recognized that the owner would not be able to expose Nan Xun at the moment.


    Jun Huang scoffed, angry with the owner¡¯s words. ¡°You sure make it sound simple, but how do we know if you¡¯re telling the truth? You can make whatever ims that are beneficial to you.¡±


    ¡°The gentleman has asked something I cannot answer.¡± The owner didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be this aggressive. He could tell that Jun Huang was important to Nan Xun. If he wanted to do business with Nan Xun, he must not get on Jun Huang¡¯s bad side.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t care how diplomatic the owner was trying to be. She leveled the owner with a cold stare. ¡°It¡¯s not that you don¡¯t know how to answer me. You just don¡¯t dare to be honest with us. If everyone tried to find an ally the way you do, all of them would be working in silos.¡± She scoffed. ¡°You know who Nan Xun is. Who gives you the right to decide if he¡¯s worthy? Are you to be the final judge? He¡¯ll work with you just because you think he¡¯s the right candidate? Don¡¯t forget who this man before you is. He¡¯s not someone a lowly man such as you can match up to.¡±


    Jun Huang thought back to the assassination attempts. If Nan Xun had not been as strong as he was, he would have died. She knew the assassins had not pulled their punches. And yet this man dared to say it was only a test ¨C she would not let that slide.


    The owner scowled. He wasn¡¯t going to let an unknown schr insult him like this. He growled, ¡°What does this have to do with you? If you hadn¡¯te with the prince, I wouldn¡¯t have let you in here.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes turned cold, her smile sharp. ¡°Oh yeah, everyone in the world wears different masks. You, the owner of Water Cloud, are no different. Ha, of course you¡¯ll change your tune ording to who you¡¯re talking to. You think I¡¯m beneath you, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°You, though, is willing to sacrifice others for your own gain. In my opinion, people like you make poor allies. Since your offer to be his ally is not genuine, why went through the troubles to get us here? How ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think of me as aggressive. You have given us an infuriating exnation. You have your way of finding allies. We have our standards for a partner. I¡¯m afraid you are no friend to us. Even though we¡¯re not going to be enemies, you should think before you act, lest you sabotage your own chance of sess.¡±


    Nan Xun had been listening without a word. It was the first time he witnessed Jun Huang engage in such intense argument with someone else. It was also the first time he saw Jun Huang be this angry. In the past, Jun Huang would at least keep up the pretense of diplomacy. She must have been furious to lose herposure like that.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help being pleased that Jun Huang was angry on his behalf, It warmed his heart.


    He was d that the woman he loved was acting this way for him. Everyone would have been moved by such a gesture. Jun Huang being the one he loved only made him more affected.


    She and the owner were close to being at each other¡¯s throat, though. Nan Xun knew this wasn¡¯t the time for such argument. He got between Jun Huang and the owner. ¡°Alright, since you¡¯ll like to bargain, let¡¯s talk.¡±


    The owner fell silent. Jun Huang too realized that she had been overreacting. She turned away without a word.


    ¡°You have an offer to make,¡± said Nan Xun. He didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. ¡°Now talk.¡±

 Chapter 213

    Chapter 213: Suicide Troop


    The owner¡¯s eyes flicked to Jun Huang. He took a deep breath to calm himself and said, ¡°Your Highness and I share amon goal. I¡¯ll be up front with you. I¡¯d like to ask for Your Highness¡¯s help in making me the emperor of Eastern Wu. Afterwards, I will pay you back. Whatever Your Highness asks for, I¡¯ll give.¡±


    ¡°This is a mutually beneficial deal. If Your Highness says yes, I promise it¡¯s going to make it worthwhile.¡±


    Jun Huang scoffed silently. How naive could this man be? Nan Xun too shared her thoughts, but there were things they could not talk about when they were in enemy¡¯s territory.


    Nan Xun pretended to give it some thoughts. ¡°Neither of us is a fool. Don¡¯t try to butter me up with pretty words. We can talk, but determination alone doesn¡¯t guarantee sess. I was wondering what your ultimate goal was. Your answer came as a surprise. That is an ambition difficult to achieve. It makes me uneasy.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness is too humble,¡± the owner insisted. ¡°If Your Highness is willing to help, there¡¯s nothing we cannot achieve.¡±


    Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang, who shook her head. Nan Xun knew that there were both risks and benefits involved. He debated over what to do.


    The owner¡¯s eyes darted down. ¡°Your Highness didn¡¯te to Eastern Wu only to look into the assassins, did you?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nan Xun asked in feign ignorance.


    The owner¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°The emperor of Eastern Wu is watching Northern Qi like a predator, looking for an opening. He must have sent someone to Northern Qi. That was why Your Highness came to Eastern Wu to investigate. Am I right?¡±


    Jun Huang knew the necessity of diplomacy, but she couldn¡¯t stand it from this man. She scoffed. ¡°What if you¡¯re right?¡± she said mockingly. ¡°You should stop beating around the bush. Tell us what you want before our patience runs out. Once that happens, we won¡¯t be sitting here listening to you talk.¡±


    The owner didn¡¯t get angry. ¡°If Your Highness helps me gain the throne, I will surrender to Northern Qi the cities that are located at the border. And I will pledge my loyalty to Northern Qi so that this constant war between the two countries can cease to happen.¡±


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun didn¡¯t expect him to make such a generous offer. They paused. The owner continued to talk about his ns for the future. He seemed unwilling to stop unless Nan Xun epted his offer.


    Nan Xun met his eyes and admitted, ¡°This is a serious issue. We have to discuss it among ourselves. I hope you understand.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Please do. I¡¯ll go get some tea for you.¡±


    The owner took Nan Xun¡¯s response as a sign of eptance. He wasn¡¯t worried that Jun Huang and Nan Xun would make troubles for him. He didn¡¯t have any guards on this floor, but everyone on the first floor was his. Besides, he had made enoughpromises. Only a fool would not turn him down.


    Nan Xun looked out of the door to make sure they were alone before returning to Jun Huang. ¡°What should we do?¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her head and thought for a moment. ¡°He¡¯s obviously not a nobody, but he didn¡¯t seem willing to tell us his identity. Perhaps he will only open up once we agree to his offer. His conditions are very attractive. You might as well ept the deal. He¡¯s going to damage the foundation of Eastern Wu in his pursuit of the throne. Then we can be the fisherman benefitting from the infighting.¡±


    Nan Xun agreed with Jun Huang, but he had to find a way to ept the offer without making the owner suspicious.


    Soon, the owner came back with a pot of tea. He turned to Nan Xun and asked, ¡°Have you made a decision?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we can help you,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°But how do we know that you¡¯ll make good of your words once you gain the throne?¡±


    ¡°As someone who set out to be the emperor of Eastern Wu, I must act like a leader. Your Highness can trust my words.¡± He paused for a good moment. In an earnest tone, he continued, ¡°I¡¯m the third prince of Eastern Wu. I¡¯m neither the oldest son, nor the son of the principal wife. No matter howpetent I am, it means nothing. My two older brothers have cultivated their own forces already. I only turned to you as ast resort.¡±


    Jun Huang considered him without a word. She could tell that this man wasn¡¯t lying, but her judgement of him did not change. Neither of the three princes of Eastern Wu was man of integrity. This would be a chance to provoke an unrest within Eastern Wu to her benefit.


    Nan Xun came to the same conclusion after some contemtion. His silence, however, made the owner think that Nan Xun was still not convinced of his identity. He quickly took out a token that could prove who he was. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to hide my identity from Your Highness, but it is a risk to say it out loud. Since Your Highness has agreed to offer your support, I should be honest with you. Please forgive me for my undue caution.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°What¡¯s your n at the time being? What do you need from me?¡±


    ¡°I need some time,¡± said the owner. ¡°Your Highness is going to stay in Eastern Wu for a while, are you not? I¡¯lle up with some ns as soon as possible. Then we can talk in detail. What does Your Highness think?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it in your hand. It¡¯s getting dark. We¡¯ll take our leave.¡±


    The owner stood up to walk them out, but stopped at the top of the stairs to avoid drawing too much attention. Jun Huang and Nan Xun walked away.


    They realized that they were followed as soon as they left the casino. They shared a knowing look. Jun Huang had progressed considerably in her martial arts training. She was capable of protecting herself. Nan Xun therefore wasn¡¯t as worried that Jun Huang would get hurt as he used to be, and he no longer considered retreating their best option. They were now in Eastern Wu. It would be a blow to Northern Qi¡¯s pride if they kept running away.


    Jun Huang took a step closer to Nan Xun and muttered under her breath, ¡°There¡¯s an alleyway right ahead. If we don¡¯t deal with these people now, they wille at us again. We might as well give them a memorable wee.¡±


    Nan Xun threw a nce at the men behind them. ¡°Alright. But be careful. Stick close to me.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. They quickend their pace. The men following them thought that Jun Huang and Nan Xun were going to escape. They chased after them.


    When they reached the alleyway, however, Jun Huang and Nan Xun came to a halt. The leader of the group didn¡¯t want to wait, lest something happen to disrupt their mission. He ordered his men to surround Jun Huang and Nan Xun to stop them from fleeing.


    Nan Xun looked around at their enemies with dark eyes. There were a lot of them. If they came at him with reckless abandon, he couldn¡¯t say for sure that they wouldn¡¯t win.


    Jun Huang believed it was right to show your enemies manners before a fight broke out. Before she could say anything, however, a hidden weapon came at her face fast enough to split the air. Her pupils contracted as she dodged the hidden weapon. She called out for Nan Xun and drew out her sword to attack the man nearest to her.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t hesitate before unsheathing his weapon and joined in the fight.


    He soon realized that he and Jun Huang had overestimated these men. These men did have a good level of mastery in martial arts, but they were inexperienced. If there had not been so many of them, they would lose immediately.


    The group of men didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang and Nan Xun to be so strong. They backed away again and again, but none of them was willing to retreat. It made Jun Huang and Nan Xun wary of possible ambush.


    Jun Huang had improved considerably since thest time she and Nan Xun were attacked. Her movement was swift as she charged. Before her foe could react, her de had cut into his flesh and taken his life. He copsed to the ground after taking hisst breath.


    Nan Xun was like a demigod from hell. His eyes were as cold as those of a poltergeist. Anyone would be transfixed by the sh of blood in his eyes as soon as they met Nan Xun¡¯s gaze. Before they realized it, Nan Xun¡¯s long sword would have punctured their body. Blood gushed out of the wound as the heart stopped beating. The reflection of the de illuminated the rain of blood Nan Xun brought about. His ck iron long sword was terrifying under the silver moon. It was chilling to think about the lives the de had taken.


    Nan Xun¡¯s expression was calm. The only thing different from his usual look were his colder eyes. The ck robe he wore made him look taller and stronger. The difference in power between him and the men surrounding him was akin to the distance between the sky and the earth. Jun Huang snuck nces at him as she fought. Nan Xun¡¯s robe danced and fluttered in the wind as he moved. He was still as awe-inspiring as a god. Her heart fluttered.


    The moment of distraction caused a fracture in her guard. Before her foe¡¯s de could cut open her wrist, Nan Xun flew to her side and kicked the man away. He pulled her behind him.


    ¡°You good?¡± Nan Xun asked worriedly. The reflection of the de was blinding. He could not stand seeing Jun Huang get hurt. He would hate it if Jun Huang got hurt because of him.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and nodded. Another man came at them with his long sword. Jun Huang was going to push Nan Xun away, but Nan Xun had felt the force of the attack before she did. He grabbed Jun Huang¡¯s hand to stop her from pushing him away and turned around to parry the attack. He then kicked the man in his torso, sending him flying.


    Nan Xun was hypervignt. He must not let his guard down. He would take care of these men as quickly as he could. This was Eastern Wu after all. If their fight attracted the attention of the guards, it would be a mess. He had to keep his track hidden. He started attacking the men with all he could.


    Jun Huang could tell what he was thinking. She pushed aside her hesitation and focused on killing the enemies with fatal hits.


    The men in ck had felt the change. They whispered among themselves and decided to retreat. Jun Huang, however, would not let them go. She huffed and stepped on the wall to leap to the other side of the alley, blocking the men¡¯s escape route. She stared at the men. There was a sh of panic in their eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯vee all this way. We¡¯re not letting you go easily.¡±

 Chapter 214

    Chapter 214: Patience is a Virtue


    Jun Huang was trained by Nan Xun. The two of them made a great team. In no time, they defeated the men in ck. Some had been killed. The remaining ones curled up in pain on the ground.


    Once the leader copsed, Jun Huang stepped on his torso and said, ¡°Who sent you? Tell me and we will spare you. If you insist on keeping your mouth shut, I¡¯ll give you a painful death.¡±


    The man red at Jun Huang in lieu of an answer. The next moment, his eyes rolled back into his skull. Jun Huang startled. Nan Xun pulled her to his side.


    One by one, the remaining assassins fell to the ground. It was unsettling.


    ¡°What... what happened?¡± Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun and asked nervously.


    Nan Xun shook his head. He yanked off the mask covering the man¡¯s face ¨C it had been distorted by poison. Jun Huang frowned. She knelt before the man and reached out to feel his breath. ¡°He¡¯s dead. He must have hidden poison under his tongue. Once his mission failed, he killed himself.¡±


    ¡°Must have been a suicide troop cultivated by some rich family,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°They exist to do the dirty works.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyebrows remained closely knitted. She stared at the man for a long time before breaking the silence. ¡°This is not a simple matter. We¡¯ve juste to Eastern Wu. They couldn¡¯t have noticed us so quickly. Of course, we have to consider the possibility that whoever is behind this knew about our existence as soon as we arrived. The owner of the casino is a good example. The person behind this must be someone with great influence.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Nan Xun said calmly. ¡°This is how suicide troops operate. If they fail toplete their mission, they¡¯re going to be killed when they return. We caught them. They had no choice but to take their own lives. Now that they are dead, we won¡¯t be able to find anything useful no matter how thoroughly we inspect them. I do agree that our tracks have been discovered. These men must have been watching the casino. We¡¯ve stayed there for a long time, and we followed the owner upstairs. That was more than enough for someone to suspect us. I believe that these assassins were sent by the owner¡¯s brother.¡±


    Jun Huang made a nomittal sound. The incident had happened suddenly. Without any proof, whatever they said was merely spection. They couldn¡¯te to a conclusion.


    Noticing faint footstepsing their way, Nan Xun hurried to Jun Huang¡¯s side and whispered, ¡°Someone¡¯s here.¡±


    Before Jun Huang could react, Nan Xun pulled her into another alleyway.


    Another group of men showed up at the spot the two of them had been at only seconds ago. The leader of the group bent down to make sure that the assassins on the ground were dead. He then took out a tiny bottle from his clothes.


    A strange fragrance came out from within the bottle. The man put the powder over the men on the ground. In an instant, the bodies melted. Jun Huang¡¯s eyes widened. She bit into her lip to stop any sound from escaping her mouth. Once the bodies were taken care of, the group of men vanished into the darkness like ghosts.


    ¡°That¡¯s bone-melting powder,¡± Jun Huang said cooly. She couldn¡¯t stop trembling. ¡°It can render human bodies into water.¡±


    Nan Xun was affected by what he witnessed as well. He held onto her cold fingers to offerfort. It took some time for Jun Huang to recover. She pulled her hand away.


    ¡°It¡¯s likely that they serve the same master,¡± Jun Huang said, turning to Nan Xun. ¡°We must be on our guard. This isn¡¯t Northern Qi. If we¡¯re discovered, troubles will follow. We should return now.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Nan Xun agreed easily. He walked shoulder to shoulder with Jun Huang. They soon reached the inn. Their hearts finally settled.


    Back to her room, Jun Huang immediately realized that someone else had been here. She narrowed her eyes at the way her things were rearranged. She went to the room next to hers. Inside, Nan Xun had a severe expression on his face.


    Nan Xun turned around and saw that it was Jun Huang. Without a word, he went up to close the door.


    ¡°Someone was in my room,¡± he finally said.


    ¡°Mine too,¡± said Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun frowned. He didn¡¯t immediately respond. ¡°Can it be the clerk?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°That can¡¯t be. The clerk isn¡¯t allowed to enter our rooms without our permission. And he wasn¡¯t going to go through my belongings. The bottles of medicine in my bag have been toppled. Someone was trying to find something.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything missing?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang thought back to what she saw. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I¡¯ve checked through my stuff. What I remember having are all there. Nothing is missing.¡±


    They couldn¡¯t figure out an answer. Whoever it was hade prepared. He entered their rooms after they had left. The inn might not be the most high-ss one, but there were quite a lot of customers. It would be next to impossible to investigate everyone.


    Both Jun Huang and Nan Xun agreed that the assassins and the theft didn¡¯t belong to the same organization, but they might have been sent out by the same person. With that in mind, they knew that they had to exercise the highest level of caution. They must not give the mastermind any opportunity to gain an upper hand.


    The nightwatchman hit his gong. It was midnight. Exhaustion suddenly caught up with Jun Huang. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t bear seeing her like this. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll talk tomorrow morning. You should go to bed. There are a lot of things waiting for us to do. You mustn¡¯t run yourself to the ground like you used to.¡±


    ¡°Okay. You should rest as well.¡± The long-distance travel and the trip to the casino had tired Jun Huang. She could barely keep herself upright. Without another word, she went back to her room.


    Jun Huang soon fell asleep. Nan Xun, on the other hand, was wide awake. What happened in the morning made him too tense to rx. He sat up and contemted what to do. In the end, he decided to take a seat at the desk. He fell asleep with his hand supporting his head.


    Too many things had happened for him to let his guard down. He was worried that something would happen at night. His ears were taking in any minute sounds from the surrounding, and his body was ready to take action should danger struck.


    The next morning, Nan Xun woke up at the crack of dawn. Before he could go to Jun Huang¡¯s room, she came knocking on his door. He let her in without a word.


    ¡°We should go to Water Cloud today,¡± Jun Huang said without ceremony. ¡°The owner of the casino may not be trying to kill us, but that¡¯s because he needs your help in gaining the throne. If he realizes that we don¡¯t mean to be his ally, he¡¯lle after us. Then it¡¯s going to be difficult for us to leave this ce.¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head. ¡°That being said, we can¡¯t afford to be reckless. There are too many unwanted eyes in the morning. Since we¡¯re sure that Water Cloud is beneath the casino, we¡¯ll go in the evening.¡±


    Jun Huang admitted that she had been hasty. She nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll do as you said and visit Water Cloud in the evening. If we don¡¯t find anything today, I won¡¯t be able to rest easy.¡±


    ¡°Patience is a virtue,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried. You have to believe in yourself and me. How about we go on a walk during daytime to rx?¡±


    ¡°No, that won¡¯t be necessary. We should conserve our strength for the evening.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. She wasn¡¯t in the mood for a walk. Nan Xun could tell what she was thinking. He didn¡¯t push.


    Night fell. Jun Huang and Nan Xun put on a ck robe to cover their faces before going to the casino.


    There were less people herepared to yesterday. The air felt different as well. Nan Xun and Jun Huang exchanged a look. Something was wrong.


    They didn¡¯t enter immediately. The security was a lot tighter today. The door was guarded by two men, each taking a side. Everyone must be checked before entering. They made sure the two guards hadn¡¯t been in the casino yesterday before walking toward the entrance.


    The guards didn¡¯t notice anything wrong. After a routine checkup, Jun Huang and Nan Xun were let inside. They exchanged a smile and followed a finely-dressed man straight into the casino. They then found their way to a hidden stairs leading to the basement.


    Down here, it was quiet enough for one to hear a needle fall. It was in stark contrast with the cacophony of noises in the casino. The architecture was simr in style to the homebase of House of Heavenly Fiends, but it was far less intricately designed.


    A page boy ran up to them while Jun Huang was looking around. She put on a calm face to mask her emotions, her breath hitched. Between her fingers was a silver needle. If the page boy noticed anything, she would be able to kill him silently.


    ¡°The event is going to start. Are you lost?¡± The page boy didn¡¯t realize that they didn¡¯t belong here. He assumed that they were guests who had lost their way.


    Jun Huang gave Nan Xun a look. Everything seemed too good to be true, but this was an opportunity they could not let slip. Jun Huang put on a smile and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s our first time here. We don¡¯t know the way. Fortunately you¡¯ve found us.¡±

 Chapter 215

    Chapter 215: Bartering


    The page boy nodded without thinking. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you to the event. Follow me closely. It¡¯ll be bad if you end up in the wrong ce.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Jun Huang and Nan Xun followed the page boy to a more brightly lit room. They were stunned by what they saw.


    There were a great many people here, including important officials and theirpanions. Everyone had something of great value with them.


    This was the annual trading market. Only bartering was allowed. Money was as useless as a piece of paper here.


    None of the participants were regr peasants. Jun Huang realized how lucky they had been. If they had not followed the finely-dressed man and were thought of as his servants, the guards watching the door wouldn¡¯t have let them in.


    To enter the market, however, they had to go through another round of checkup. The guard frowned when he saw that they were empty-handed. ¡°Where are the valuables you¡¯ll use to barter?¡±


    Nan Xun took out a fine piece of antique jade. It was from the chief of the tribe he had conquered at the border. Of course, the chief¡¯s attempt to bribe Nan Xun failed. He still took out the tribe in the end.


    He found the jade when he was cleaning up the battlefield. He took it on a whim. After meeting Jun Huang and knowing that she was a jade lover, he had been thinking about giving her the jade, but s, he couldn¡¯t find a good excuse. He didn¡¯t expect it to be of use today.


    The guard checked over the jade and concluded that it was a rare piece of great quality. He let them in without another word.


    Jun Huang had never seen this piece of jade. She raised an eyebrow at Nan Xun. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to hide this from me.¡±


    ¡°I... I wanted to give it to you as a gift, but haven¡¯t had the chance,¡± exined Nan Xu. ¡°If I didn¡¯t have to care about what other people thought, I would have given it to you already.¡±


    Jun Huang curved her lips and chuckled, smoothing away the uncertainties in Nan Xun¡¯s heart. He stayed closely at Jun Huang¡¯s side.


    Once they entered the market, they realized that their imagination paled inparison to the real thing. They had assumed that the market would be simr to the other ones, only that people traded with items rather than currencies. They were wrong.


    Jun Huang had thought that Nan Xun¡¯s jade was a rare enough items. Inside, though, almost all the items being traded were more valuable than the jade. Luminous pearl from the South Sea, jade scepter from Mount Peni... The varieties of items here was beyond anyone¡¯s imagination.


    Their entrance attracted a couple people¡¯s attention. One of them set his eyes on the jade in Nan Xun¡¯s hand. He came up to them with a smile. ¡°Is the gentleman interested in a trade?¡±


    Nan Xun looked over at him. It was a middle-aged man holding a bracelet of Buddhist prayer beads. Behind him were two page boys. He looked like a wealthy man.


    Before Nan Xun could say anything, Jun Huang spoke up, ¡°What are you offering?¡±


    The middle-aged man turned to Jun Huang. Appreciation shed through his eyes after he got a good look at Jun Huang¡¯s handsome face. Nan Xun narrowed his eyes and stepped in between them. His sharp gaze settled on the man.


    Even though Nan Xun didn¡¯t take any obvious action, the man, who had built his own business in thisrge city, noticed Nan Xun¡¯s protectiveness. He smiled awkwardly. ¡°The gentleman seems like an extraordinary man, and you sound like an honest sort. I¡¯ll dly make acquaintance with someone like you.¡±


    The man¡¯s words got on Nan Xun¡¯s nerves. He took Jun Huang¡¯s hand and led her away. The man stopped him with a servile smile. No one knew if he wanted a trade for the piece of jade, or for Jun Huang. ¡°Why don¡¯t the gentlemen hear me out?¡±


    ¡°I think we can give him an opportunity,¡± Jun Huang said calmly. ¡°We have the time.¡±


    Nan Xun thought for a moment before nodding. ¡°As you said.¡±


    They entered a room in the corner. This served as a negotiation space for visitors of the market. The middle-aged man sat on one side, while Jun Huang and Nan Xun sat shoulder to shoulder on the other side.


    For a moment, none of them talked. The man poured each of them a cup of tea, drafting a speech in his head.


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang didn¡¯t intend to start the conversation. Jun Huang yed with Nan Xun¡¯s jade with her head lowered, while Nan Xun drank his tea and threw nces at Jun Huang every once in a while. Finally, the middle-aged man couldn¡¯t stand the silence. He said, ¡°The piece of jade looks pure and refined. Is the gentleman willing to part with it?¡±


    ¡°What are you offering in return?¡± Nan Xun asked directly. He didn¡¯t want to waste his time.


    With a smile, the man took out a small box. Inside was a tiny token ¨C intricate, but the use was unknown.


    ¡°This is the token of my organization. Anyone with this token can ask my men to do something for them. It¡¯s of great value. Many have tried and failed to acquire one.¡±


    The man boasted. Jun Huang and Nan Xun shared an odd look.


    Jun Huang huffed silently. She might not know all the gangs and organizations in the martial arts world, but the House of Heavenly Fiends, she knew, ranked among the top. There was no need for them to rely on anyone else. The name written on the token was unknown to her. The man must have been trying to exploit them, thinking that they were regr visitors.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s no deal. Excuse us.¡± Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to get involved with this man in the first ce. He pulled Jun Huang away. The man, failing to read the room, grabbed at Jun Huang¡¯s other hand.


    Nan Xun drew his sword and hit the back of the man¡¯s hand with the dull side. The man let go in pain, whining. Nan Xun almost killed the man then and there, but Jun Huang stopped him.


    ¡°Keep your dirty hands to yourself,¡± Jun Huang snapped, staring at the man with cold eyes. ¡°You¡¯re no fool. We¡¯ll pretend this never happened. You hear?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. I¡¯ve crossed a line.¡± The man scrambled away, muttering apologies. He¡¯d been scared witless by Nan Xun¡¯s show of force.


    Even after the man had left, the scowl remained firmly in ce on Nan Xun¡¯s face. Jun Huang sighed. She knew what Nan Xun was angry about, but there were things she couldn¡¯t bring up. She slowly exhaled, pretending to not notice his furrowed brows.


    It took some time for Nan Xun to calm himself. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Have you heard something?¡± Jun Huang said suddenly.


    Nan Xun focused on listening and heard the noisesing from the room next to them. Without a word, they both put their ears to the wall.


    The conversation was faint and difficult to follow, but Jun Huang was sure that it was about Water Cloud and the current political situation in Eastern Wu.


    Those people were cautious enough to keep their words vague. Jun Huang and Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to stay too long and risk attracting troubles. They walked out of the room without needing to talk to each other.


    They had thought that the middle-aged man was exploiting them, but it turned out there were people trading favors here. No one knew if the others would honor their promises. Those who knew one another had to rely on their mutual understanding to make a deal.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun wandered around the market. It was an eye-opening experience. If the House of Heavenly Fiends holds a trading market such as this, Jun Huang thought, it¡¯ll be a much better event than this one. Jun Huang shared her thoughts with Nan Xun, who gave her a nod and a smile.


    ¡°Perhaps we¡¯ll be able to do that one day,¡± Jun Huang said, her eyes crinkling. She believed that it would be a good idea. ¡°Then we can get to know the different factions. And the House of Heavenly Fiends will be known in all parts of the world.¡±


    Nan Xun smiled indulgently as Jun Huang enthused about her vision. Neither he nor Jun Huang noticed how tender he looked. They walked among the stands, surrounded by items of great value. They looked like both brothers and friends. Some people were drawn to them by their strong presence, but none found anything strange about them.


    After some time, Jun Huang sighed and said, ¡°We should go. We¡¯ve gathered enough information. I¡¯m worried that something will happen if we stay. Let¡¯s leave.¡±


    Nan Xun agreed. This was Eastern Wu after all. They had to be careful and stay discreet.


    No one was looking at them. They could leave without drawing any attention.


    As soon as they reached the door, though, a merchant cried out, ¡°Come! Take a look! This is a sacred fig tree sculpted from the finest jade stone of thest ten centuries. The craftsmanship is out of the world. This is the national treasure of the fallen Western Que! It¡¯s said that the emperor of Western Que used to pray to this jade tree. Come take a look at this priceless treasure. If you don¡¯t check it out today, you¡¯ll never have the opportunity!¡±


    Jun Huang froze. Her head snapped to the source of the voice. A big crowd swarmed toward the merchant. The pir keeping herself upright fractured and wavered. She stood there, motionless. Her chest contracted painfully like she had lost the ability to breathe.


    Nan Xun tightened his grip on Jun Huang¡¯s hand reflexively. He was worried that Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t be able to control herself. Under the circumstances, he wouldn¡¯t me her.


    No matter how calm and collected she appeared to be, no matter how steely her eyes usually were, at time like this,posure was thest thing on her mind. She couldn¡¯t possibly care less about how other people saw her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything special about it,¡± a young man said. ¡°What¡¯s so valuable about this tree? Besides, Western Que is no more. Their national treasure can¡¯t be anything special.¡± He affected a scared expression. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s this thing that caused the destruction of Western Que. It¡¯s a bad omen!¡±

 Chapter 216

    Chapter 216: Fireflies in the Summer


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes grew cold and deadly. She could barely stop herself from going after the man for insulting Western Que. Nan Xun calmly held onto her cold fingers.


    ¡°This gentleman doesn¡¯t know what to say. Everyone knows even though Western Que has been destroyed, their jade is still widely sought after for its quality. Many people have been searching for their national treasure, but very few have gotten a look at it in person. I only took it to the market because my master is looking for something different. I¡¯m not going to let you spread rumors about it.¡±


    The servant holding the jade tree had a sharp tongue. He looked down on the others like he was better than all of them.


    Another man said, ¡°Who knows if the jade tree really is the national treasure of Western Que? You¡¯ve said yourself that very few people have seen it with their own eyes. How do we know if this tree isn¡¯t some random object you¡¯re using to cheat us? How do we know you¡¯re telling the truth?¡±


    The man had voiced the doubt many people shared. The crowd went silent. Everyone turned to the servant, waiting for him to answer the question.


    The servant hade prepared. He handed the jade tree to another man before taking a scroll painting out from his clothes.


    The art was beautiful. Jun Huang immediately recognized the royal garden of Western Que pce. The couple in the painting looked at each other with adoring eyes, the man dressed in dragon robe and the woman wearing a phoenix cap. Next to the woman stood a pretty little girl who deserved all the praises in the world. Jun Huang remembered someone said that she must be a pupil of the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord. No other child would be born with such a good look.


    The man dressed in dragon robe was holding a baby in his arms. The endearing boy swung his chubby hands around as he babbled. Between the couple stood the national treasure of Western Que. The jade tree gained a translucent quality under the sun, enabling one to look into the past and the future.


    The edges of the painting were yellowed by time. And yet the people and the animals depicted were so lifelike it was difficult to look away.


    A thunderstorm rose within Jun Huang¡¯s head. Her temples throbbed painfully. The ce was brightly lit, and yet her vision was going dark. Her anger tranted into trembling hands and quickened breaths. Her eyes were brimming with tears.


    The servant pointed at the jade tree in the painting. ¡°See? It¡¯s right here!¡±


    A man jokingly said, ¡°I find this painting more captivating than the tree itself!¡±


    He broke intoughter. As if being infected, the crowd started tough as well. No one noticed the dark look on Jun Huang¡¯s face. Nan Xun frowned. He could tell Jun Huang was struggling to control herself. He had to keep a level head at time like this. It was natural for Jun Huang to lose her calm faced with an artifact of the home she had lost. He had to find a solution.


    ¡°Listen to me, we have to stay calm,¡± Nan Xun tried. ¡°We¡¯ll find a way.¡±


    Jun Huang scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s easy for you to say. You don¡¯t understand my pain. You can¡¯t empathize with my feelings.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun with red eyes. Nan Xun¡¯s heart clenched. He barely suppressed his urge to pull Jun Huang into his arms. He took a deep breath and said, ¡°Don¡¯t use me ofcking in empathy. You¡¯re smart enough to know what we can and can¡¯t do in Eastern Wu. We have to keep our identities secret. Otherwise troubles wille knocking. We¡¯ll do our best to get your national treasure regardless of the price we¡¯ll have to pay; I promise I won¡¯t judge or intervene. However, we have to consider the situation we¡¯re in.¡±


    His words helped Jun Huang recovered her calm. She stared at him for a while before muttering a faint thanks.


    ¡°What are you trading it for?¡± asked a bystander.


    The servant called out to get everyone¡¯s attention and unfolded a list his master had given him. ¡°My master said it has to be jadeware of simr value...¡± The servant listed out the requirements. Some had been deterred by the strict standards, but many were still interested in a trade.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun hade to Eastern Wu in a rush. They didn¡¯t think of taking valuable items with them. She deted. Nan Xun looked down at the ancient jade in his hand. This might do.


    Before he could get close to the servant, another man offered his ware.


    There was a thirty centimeters tall box in his hand. The onlookers looked at him in confusion until the man opened the box. Confusion quickly gave way to awe.


    Inside was a turquoise jade scepter big enough to fit the box. Its glow outshone even the lighting in the room. One didn¡¯t have to get close to see how valuable it was. The onlookers gasped in shock and began calcting the value of the scepter.


    The servant¡¯s eyes lit up. His prideful expression turned servile. He approached the man and said, ¡°This is a fine piece of jadeware. If you¡¯re interested in a trade, we¡¯re happy to oblige. We can make the exchange now.¡±


    The servant did everything short of shoving the jade tree into the man¡¯s arms. The man decisively signed the contract and made the exchange.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun watched the trade y out from the fringe of the crowd. Fire burned through her heart as she witnessed the treasure of her country fall into the hand of a stranger. She kept a perfectly calm mask on her face. Only Nan Xun was able to tell how angry she was.


    Once the crowd had dispersed, Jun Huang let out the breath she had been holding. She staggered back and fell onto a chair, lowering her head into her hands.


    Nan Xun tightened his jaw in sympathy. He took a deep breath and knelt before Jun Huang. ¡°Trust me,¡± he whispered, taking her wrist gently. ¡°I will bring the jade tree back to you.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him with misty eyes. There were undried tears on her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away and stared at Nan Xun without a word. Her silence unsettled Nan Xun..


    Is she angry that I¡¯ve promised her but still let another man take the jade tree? Nan Xun opened his mouth to exin, but Jun Huang waved a hand to stop him as she got to her feet. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything. I get it. There¡¯s no need for you to dwell on it. I¡¯m tired. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Jun Huang made her way to the exit without looking back. Nan Xun hesitated. He wanted to find the man who had bought the jade tree, but he didn¡¯t see him.


    Nan Xun took a few steps toward Jun Huang, intending to catch up with her. She was in a bad mood. He worried that something would happen to her, leaving him a lifetime of regret.


    From the corner of his eye, Nan Xun spotted the man and his servants suddenly. He was going to tell Jun Huang, but there was some distance between them. It was now or never, Nan Xun trailed after the man and followed him into the darkness.


    They went into an alley, away from Water Cloud¡¯s control. Nan Xun took a few quick steps toward the group and knocked the servants out with knifehand strikes. The man leading the servants turned around to see what had happened, but before he could get a good look at Nan Xun, he was hit in the nape of his neck and his vision went dark.


    Nan Xun caught the box in his hand. Inside was the jade tree. He took a few steps away before his conscience stopped him. He put the ancient jade in the man¡¯s clothes before rushing away.


    Jun Huang¡¯s mood hadn¡¯t recovered even after she returned to the inn. Frustration was a heavy weight on her chest. The national treasure of Western Que had been right within her reach! But she couldn¡¯t close the distance.


    She fell into a slump of self hatred. It was her fault. Western Que¡¯s destruction, losing Jun Hao, the national treasure ending up be a mere decor... it was all her fault.


    She sat bonelessly on the chair. Her mood had hit rock bottom, but it didn¡¯t rebound. After some time, she poured herself a cup of tea. It was bitter, but she could barely taste it.


    Someone knocked on the door. She jerked up like she was woken up from a nightmare. She put away her frustration and put on a forced smile. It was Nan Xun at the door.


    There was a wide smile on Nan Xun¡¯s face. Jun Huang frowned. What was with him now? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I have a surprise for you. Come with me.¡± There was a lilt to Nan Xun¡¯s tone. He took Jun Huang¡¯s hand in his.


    Jun Huang nodded after a long pause. ¡°Alright.¡± She closed the door behind her.


    They went out of town together. Jun Huang had thought the prosperous city was the most remarkable sight in the area, but here, there was a vast grasnd. The night winds carrassed the grass, making a gentle rustle. A sea of stars scattered the dark blue sky with the full moon hung low at the horizon. The turquoise grass rolled and rippled, blurring the line between the earth and the heaven.


    Not far from them stood a few tall trees. Their branches shook gently in the breeze of summertime. With an outer robe over her shoulders, Jun Huang didn¡¯t feel cold. From a distance, she could see flickering fireflies dancing in the dark. It captivated her more than any colorful butterflies could.

 Chapter 217

    Chapter 217: Assassination Attempt


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun in surprise. ¡°How did you find this ce?¡±


    Nan Xun rxed when he saw her eyes light up. With a smile, he tucked a strand of her hair to the back of her ear. They were close enough to hear each other¡¯s breathing. The faint moonlight illuminated their faces.


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes when she noticed Nan Xun¡¯s gaze. What was he trying to do? She was both nervous and excited. In the end, she took a step back instead of facing him.


    That hurt a little for Nan Xun, but he quickly pushed it aside. He took a deep breath and whispered, ¡°Stay here and close your eyes.¡±


    His earnest tone prompted Jun Huang to close her eyes without hesitation. Her eyshes trembled in the wind, and her sleeves fluttered. She could hear the cacophony of sounds surrounding her, including the faint chitters of toads and cicadas.


    Nan Xun¡¯s footsteps went away from her. It was unsettling to keep her eyes close, but she trusted Nan Xun. She tightened her hands around her sleeves and rxed them slowly.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t let her wait for long. After about the time for a pot of tea to brew, she heard him say, ¡°Open your eyes.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes fluttered open. She gaped at the item in Nan Xun¡¯s hand. It was the jade tree! She looked up to meet Nan Xun¡¯s gaze. With a smile, he pointed at the jade tree and said, ¡°I got it back for you.¡±


    Jun Huang felt a sting in her eyes. Her heated gaze fixed on the glittering jade tree and her hands reached out to take it. She lowered her head to look at the tree before meeting Nan Xun¡¯s eyes. She was too overwhelmed to say anything.


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you, Nan Xun,¡± Jun Huang suppressed her emotions enough to said. ¡°If not for you, this will be in other people¡¯s hands, and I¡¯ll never get to see it again.¡±


    Nan Xun smiled without a word and wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes. Jun Huang only realized then that she was crying. Her embarrassment was short-lived before she regained herposure.


    She hummed. ¡°I couldn¡¯t have done this without you. I had wrongfully med you for not letting me take the jade tree at the market, but you were right to be careful. I don¡¯t know what I can do to repay you. I can¡¯t just take this without giving you something in return.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s breath hitched. There was a whole new world within Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. She looked even more captivating under the moonlight. He barely stopped himself from getting closer. He didn¡¯t want to stay as her friend. He wanted her to ept his love.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need anything material from you. You may as well pay me back with yourself.¡± Nan Xun¡¯s tone was light and teasing. He didn¡¯t want to pressure Jun Huang. She was free to take his words as a mere jest, and they could be like they¡¯d always been.


    Jun Huang met his eyes. He was waiting for her answer. Before she could say anything, Nan Xun heard a suspicious sound from a distance. Jun Huang straightened her back and held tight to the jade tree before looking around warily.


    A group of men dressed in ck came out of the waist tall grass with long swords in their hands. Their faces were masked, revealing only their sharp eyes.


    ¡°Be careful,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°We must eliminate all of them, or troubles may follow.¡±


    Jun Huang agreed with him. She unsheathed her sword. The jade tree felt awkward in her other hand. She found a spot toy it down.


    Nan Xun nodded in approval, silently telling her to not get distracted. He would keep an eye on the jade tree.


    The men in ck didn¡¯t give them much time tomunicate. They charged at them with weapons raised. Jun Huang stood her ground and blocked the attack with her sword. Her hand shuddered when the des shed. The man was strong. Jun Huang was pushed back by the sheer force he¡¯d put into this attack. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes turned cold. He leapt toward them and kicked the man away. The man¡¯s sword dropped at their feet.


    Nan Xun frowned. ¡°You good?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to show her vulnerability. Even though there was a prickling pain in her fingers, she tightened her jaw and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll protect myself.¡±


    ¡°This is a suicide troop that has been through professional training,¡± said Nan Xun. He was still concerned. ¡°You can¡¯t win by fighting them head on. Find their weaknesses. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°I get it.¡± Jun Huang nodded. Nan Xun allowed himself to rx. He didn¡¯t want her to risk her life fighting these men. He knew Jun Huang was a person of her words. He raised his sword at the other men.


    Nan Xun had reminded her to fight smartly, and she did. Still, her guard wasn¡¯t perfect. Just when her arm was going to be cut by a long sword, she hurriedly threw her silver needle at the attacker from his blindspot. The man froze and copsed to the ground. The sword cut only the tail of her robe.


    Jun Huang exhaled slowly. She must keep her guard up and focused solely on the fight, or she¡¯d be a burden to Nan Xun. With that in mind, she grew even more careful.


    The men had sensed her change. They didn¡¯t dare to be reckless. Both parties tried and failed to find an opening. They came to a standstill.


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang stood back to back facing off the men circling them. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were as calm as a frozen pond as he considered them. He tilted his head and whispered, ¡°They¡¯re getting wary. Give them all you¡¯ve got. We might not be able to kill all of them, but this can¡¯t go on. Understand?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll take the outside. We¡¯ll do this together.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. Jun Huang charged at the enemies with reckless abandon, aiming for instant kills. The men was caught off guard by her unpredictable moves. They suffered some casualties before they regained theirposure.


    Without giving them a moment to regroup, however, Nan Xun came at them as well. He kicked one of the man in the stomach, sending him flying into a tree. The man coughed out a mouthful of blood.


    Jun Huang gave Nan Xun a smile. Nan Xun didn¡¯t show any obvious reaction, but his eyes softened.


    The men closed in on them again. Nan Xun lifted Jun Huang by her shoulders and let her step on his knees. She leapt into the air and twirled her sword in one swift movement. The men surrounding them blocked the attack with their swords. Neither them nor Jun Huang was hurt. The gridlock remained.


    These bastards interrupted Nan Xun when the mood was just right. Nan Xun had been harboring the anger. His re was deadly enough to kill. One of the men shuddered when he met Nan Xun¡¯s gaze. In an instant, Nan Xun¡¯s sword had sped through the air and buried into his chest. He died before he could register the pain.


    Nan Xun was getting ferocious. Jun Huang gave him a side eye every once in a while, but she didn¡¯t consider him cruel. In her opinion, these men deserved to die. There was no need to show them any mercy.


    They made a great team. The men could not break through the line of defense Jun Huang and Nan Xun held up. After about the time for an incense stick to burn, the two of them were still unhurt. The men in ck, on the other hand, had suffered great casualties. Originally there were more than twenty of them. Now there were only a little more than ten.


    The leader of the group was still trying to find an opening. Time was ticking. Jun Huang and Nan Xun, however, did not give him any opportunity to attack. He knew it was over. There was nothing more they could do toplete the mission.


    The men in ck took a step back in unison. Jun Huang and Nan Xun kept their eyes on them, wary of any sudden attacks.


    Jun Huang stared at the men with her breath held. Suddenly, all of the remaining attackers copsed and died. Their weapons clinked as they dropped to the ground. Jun Huang widened her eyes in shock.


    This was just like the group of men they had encountered in the city. Jun Huang exchanged a look with Nan Xun. Nan Xun took a deep breath and approached the bodies. He tore one of the man¡¯s mask off and waved Jun Huang over once he made sure the men were dead.


    Jun Huang knelt down next to him. She smelled the same fragrance again. She asked Nan Xun to open the man¡¯s mouth and, as expected, his mouth was filled with tainted blood. Under the moonlight, they could see that the man¡¯s tongued had been cut from the root. It was eerily to see an empty cavity in his mouth.


    ¡°This is unusual. Something is wrong. It doesn¡¯t seem like they were sent out to kill us. Rather, their mission seems to be keeping us here and dying before us.¡±


    Jun Huang shuddered in the night winds. She was covered in sweat from the fight. Her clothes now stuck ufortably to her body.

 Chapter 218

    Chapter 218: Thief


    Nan Xun contemted Jun Huang¡¯s words silently. He checked over each of the men¡¯s mouth to make sure that they were all dead from swallowing poison, and that their tongues were all cut off. He stood up and nodded at Jun Huang. ¡°We should leave.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. From a distance there were torchesing their way. Realization struck both of them. So this was what the trap was.


    They knew someone wanted to catch them. Even though they didn¡¯t know who that person was, the person was no doubt their enemy, and a cunning one at that. Jun Huang looked away from the source of the torchlight. Nan Xun put the jade tree back into the box and wrapped up the box with a handkerchief. He held it in his arms before turning to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang knew that she wouldn¡¯t be able to run fast enough to get rid of their tails. She resigned to her fate and went up to Nan Xun. With a chuckle, he put an arm around her waist. She held onto his shoulder reflexively as he leapt into the air.


    The sensation was different from when Jun Huang jumped into the air herself. She knew Nan Xun had used light body technique. The whoosh of the wind filled her ears. She looked at Nan Xun¡¯s stoic profile. He stared straight ahead in deep thoughts, oblivious to her attention.


    Soon, they reached the alleyway next to the inn. Jun Huang had been worried that Nan Xun would make a noise and alert the residents when hended on their roof, but he was even better at martial arts than she imagined. He didn¡¯t make a sound as he moved even with her as the added weight.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nan Xun looked down at her once they were on level ground. She suddenly realized that she hadn¡¯t let go of him. Heat flushed into her cheeks. She jerked back like she was burned and put some distance between them.


    Once her heart had finally stopped pounding, she looked up at Nan Xun and whispered, ¡°We should go back to the inn.¡±


    Nan Xun knew she was feeling embarrassed. He chuckled and nodded in response. They walked out of the alley and entered the inn through the front door.


    It had been an eventful day. There were almost too much excitement than her heart could take. All in all, it was a good day. What pleased her the most was that Nan Xun had recovered the national treasure of Western Que for her.


    Contrary to her good mood, Nan Xun was brooding. He had wanted to confess to Jun Huang, but those bastards in ck clothing had interrupted him. He turned to Jun Huang and saw her watching the jade tree at the desk. Frustration refused to let him go. The words were right at his tongue. He might as well ask her now if she would be willing to marry him one day...


    His mind was made up. Without hesitation, he went up to Jun Huang and took her hands. She looked up at him, her brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there an emergency?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something I must tell you. Are you willing to ¨C ¡±


    A series of knocks cut him off. They whirled towards the door and saw the silhouette of several men outside. rm bells rang through their heads.


    Nan Xun gave Jun Huang a questioning look. She nodded. As Nan Xun went to get the door, Jun Huang put the jade tree back to the box and closed it, watching the door warily.


    ¡°There¡¯s a thief in the city who stole something valuable from the city lord, honored guests,¡± the clerk said gently. ¡°Everyone has to undergo a routine check. I hope the guests would let us do our job.¡±


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang both turned to the box on the desk. They quickly figured out what had happened. Nan Xun was unusually calm. He remembered there was a pond in the backyard. As the clerk was about to open the door, he threw the box out of the window. He had used some technique to make sure that the box didn¡¯t make a sound as it fell into the water. There wasn¡¯t even much of a ripple.


    The clerk was followed by a group of soldiers. Without a word, the soldiers searched through the room with weapons drawn. Jun Huang and Nan Xun watched them calmly.


    The soldiers did not leave a thing undamaged. They shed open the nket and the wardrobe as they searched for the jade tree, making a mess out of the beds and the furniture. The cups on the table were shattered, spilling tea everywhere. The room was silent saved for the clinking sound of the des and the drip drops of the tea.


    The leader of the soldiers turned to Jun Huang. His gazended heavily on her. She had changed into a blue robe after returning from Water Cloud. Under the candlelight, she looked alluring. Even a man would be seduced by her.


    He approached Jun Huang slowly. She frowned, but looked up at him without moving. She didn¡¯t want any troubles. She put on a faint smile to greet the man.


    ¡°The thing we¡¯re trying to find is valuable. Perhaps someone has hidden it on himself. I have to search you as well. You won¡¯t mind, will you?¡± The man arched an eyebrow at her, his tone perfectly neutral.


    Jun Huang threw Nan Xun a nce before nodding. ¡°We peasants should abide by the official¡¯s words. Of course I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    The man¡¯s smile widened. He reached out for Jun Huang. Her inaction emboldened him. He glided his hand along Jun Huang¡¯s arm and lingered on her waist. Nan Xun ground his teeth together. He wanted nothing but to cut the man¡¯s hand right off, but Jun Huang stopped him with a shake of her head.


    Jun Huang stayed silent throughout. The man took the opportunity to caressed her fair fingers, whistling under his breath. He then came up from behind and reached for her cors. Jun Huang stilled. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes turned murderous. Before he could do anything, Jun Huang took a deep breath and caught the man¡¯s wrist. ¡°Has the official finished searching?¡±


    Nan Xun cut in before the man could say a word, ¡°It¡¯s my turn for the search, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    They left him no choice but to stop harassing Jun Huang. He threw Nan Xun a re before turning to her. ¡°I¡¯ve searched thoroughly without finding anything. Please forgive me for any difort I¡¯ve caused.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. The official is merely doing your job.¡± Jun Huang smiled like nothing had happened. The man was again filled with desires. He had work to do, however. He could only tamp down his arousal and called for his men to search Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang kept a smile on her face, which pleased the lead soldier. He didn¡¯t give them any more troubles before letting them off the hook. Before they left, the man patted Jun Huang on the shoulder suggestively.


    Finally, the soldiers had left. Jun Huang barely showed her disgust before she went to the window and jumped into the water. The sound jerked Nan Xun out of his thoughts. He rushed to the window and saw no one. He panicked when he saw the empty pond illuminated by the moonlight.


    When he was about to follow Jun Huang down, she finally surfaced the water. He rxed once he saw her climbing out of the pond. He jumped off and took the box from Jun Huang. ¡°Why were you in such a rush? The box isn¡¯t going to run away.¡±


    ¡°I feel easier with it in my hand,¡± Jun Huang said with a stilted smile.


    Jun Huang stood under the silver moon with her clothespletely drenched. The wind made her shudder. Nan Xun quickly took off his outer robe and drape it over Jun Huang¡¯s shoulders. He looked up at the windows. The soldiers had entered another room, making a ruckus.


    Jun Huang sneezed. Nan Xun worried that she might catch a cold. He picked Jun Huang up and jumped back into her room. He sighed at her tired face and wet clothes. ¡°A lot have happened today,¡± he said in a resigned tone. ¡°You must be tired. Get changed and go to bed. I¡¯ll go back to my room and leave you alone. If there¡¯s anything you need,e to me.¡±


    ¡°You should rest as well.¡± Jun Huang gave him a smile. Tension drained out of her body as she watched Nan Xun leave. She put the box on the desk and opened it to make sure the jade tree was intact. She sat on the bed for a good while before standing up to take off her wet clothes. After getting changed, she went back to bed.


    Exhaustion set in. She fell asleep soon after. Nan Xun, on the other hand, was unable to sleep. He had missed several opportunities to confess today. It was infuriating. He twisted and turned til the sun came up before falling asleep.


    Morning came. Jun Huang opened her eyes and saw a ray of sunlighte through the window she had forgotten to closest night. She exhaled deeply and stood up to stretch her legs. She then put on an outer robe and checked the jade tree in the box.


    Nan Xun came to knock on her door not long after. Jun Huang let him in. ¡±What is it?¡±


    ¡°Words got out that the mayor has lost something valuable. The man who traded for the jade tree at the marketst night was arrested. They would not give up until they recover the jade tree. We must not stay here for too long. Who knows what¡¯s going to happen? It¡¯s best that we leave now. Then we¡¯ll talk about what we¡¯re going to do next.¡±


    Nan Xun calmly exined the situation in the city.

 Chapter 219

    Chapter 219: Urgent Summon


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t immediately respond. She thought for a moment and concluded that Nan Xun was right. She nodded. ¡°We have to leave. We can¡¯t predict what they¡¯ll do if they can¡¯t find the jade tree. It¡¯s going to be difficult to leave the city, though.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know the situation yet. You should pack and take a look at the city gate. Then we¡¯ll talk about what to do.¡±


    Nan Xun walked out of the room. Jun Huang agreed that they didn¡¯t have any other choices. She packed up and put the box containing the jade tree into her bag.


    They left the inn without having breakfast. They intended to exit the city immediately. Once they reached the city gate, however, they realized that things weren¡¯t as simple as it appeared to be. No one would put in so much efforts just because the city lord lost something. Besides, the authority didn¡¯t say what the missing item was. Weren¡¯t they worried that people would panic?


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t have an answer. She handed her bag to Nan Xun and walked into the crowd. She knocked into a kind-looking woman on purpose. The woman dropped the package in her hands. Jun Huang quickly picked it up and said apologetically, ¡°Sorry, sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it. I hope you can forgive me.¡±


    The woman was kind and friendly. She smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±


    Noticing Jun Huang¡¯s magnanimous attitude and handsome face, the woman got into a conversation with her. Jun Huang pretended to not know why the security at the city gate had suddenly grown tighter. The woman said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t you know? The city lord lost something. He insisted that the thief had an aplice, and that he hadn¡¯t recovered the lost item. He worried that it would be taken out of the city, so he tightened up the control at the gate this morning. Everyoneing and going has to be checked thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that count as an abuse of power?¡± asked Jun Huang. ¡°What if the emperor knows of it?¡±


    The woman patted Jun Huang¡¯s shouldermiseratingly. ¡°Do you know why he¡¯s known as the city lord? The city is under his rule. Generals may ignore the emperor¡¯s words while they¡¯re on battlefields. It¡¯s the same in this case. No one dares to oppose him here, so he¡¯s free to do whatever he wants.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded, chewing over this new found information. She slowly made her way out of the crowd. Nan Xun rushed to her. She told him everything she knew while he listened, his brows furrowed in bemusement.


    Nan Xun was reminded of something. He pped himself on the back of his head and looked around before dragging Jun Huang to a ce without unwanted ears. He whispered, ¡°Before we came to Eastern Wu, I met with someone from the House of Heavenly Fiends. He mentioned that we hadrades in Eastern Wu as well. We can seek them out for help.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him and asked, ¡°How do we contact them?¡±


    Nan Xun silently led her away from the city gate. Jun Huang followed without asking any questions. They came to a teahouse. The sign looked familiar to her. She realized that the icon appeared on the sign of the teahouse in Yun Town as well. It belonged to the House of Heavenly Fiends. No one would notice if they didn¡¯t know what they were looking for.


    The clerk¡¯s eyes darted between these two graceful and good-looking men. ¡°Have the gentlemen made an appointment?¡±


    Nan Xun looked around to make sure that no one was watching. He made a gesture at the clerk. The clerk nodded. ¡°Come with me, gentlemen.¡±


    The clerk took them upstairs and asked for the owner of the tea house. The owner was on high alert seeing two unfamiliar faces. ¡°What do the gentleman want from me?¡±


    Nan Xun knew the owner was a member of the organization. He took out his token without hesitation. Stunned, the owner dropped down to the floor and bowed to Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun helped him up. ¡°The city is on high alert. We cannot leave through the gate, but we must. I hope you may be able to solve this problem for us.¡±


    The owner didn¡¯t ask any more questions. He nodded. ¡°I can help, but we have to wait until the afternoon. This teahouse sends people to the neighboring city to buy tea leaves every day. You can just go out with our staff.¡±


    Jun Huang took out the box in her bag and met the owner¡¯s surprised gaze. ¡°This is what the city lord is looking for. We are leaving with it.¡±


    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll make the arrangements.¡± The owner left. A few servants were ordered to bring them some snacks. The sight of the osmanthus cakes made Jun Huang stomach rumble. Her hunger was somewhat sated after a few bites..


    Nan Xun poured her a cup of water and sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll leave safely. You should trust the ability of the House of Heavenly Fiends.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust them; I just have a bad feeling.¡± Jun Huang let her concerns shown. Nan Xun wondered if she was still reeling from what happened the past couple of days. He didn¡¯t respond.


    The owner knocked on the door some timeter. He handed some clothes to the two of them. ¡°Change into these and follow our workerster. They¡¯ll tell you where to put the box.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    The owner waved a hand in lieu of a response and walked away. Jun Huang threw a nce at Nan Xun. She coughed and walked behind the screen. Nan Xun turned away and quickly changed into the costume, waiting for her toe out.


    They went downstairs to the backyard together. There was a coach waiting for them. The workers approached them and pointed at the hiddenpartment between the horse and the carriage. Only someone familiar with the coach would be able to spot it. Jun Huang put the box inside and followed after the coach with Nan Xun.


    They soon reached the city gate. Jun Huang¡¯s heart was in her throat. She was wearing a straw hat to cover her face, but she was still nervous. Her palms were covered in sweat as she clutched tightly to her clothes. They couldn¡¯t afford to attract any attention.


    She had always been bold even in face of death, but now, she had the treasure of her country in her possession. She must keep it safe from Eastern Wu. That was her duty. She would not allow any idents.


    The teahouse seemed to have an arrangement with the authority. The soldiers let them go after a simple check. Jun Huang sighed in relief. Before she could go far, however, a soldier grabbed her arm. She frowned. The others stopped to wait for her as well.


    ¡°You look familiar,¡± the man holding her arm said. He couldn¡¯t quite recall where he had seen the face.


    Jun Huang nced up at him. He was the leading soldier fromst night. She frowned. This could end badly.


    Sensing her nervousness, one of the workers came up to her and patted her on the shoulder. ¡°This is a recent addition to our staff,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°He¡¯s a wild one who can¡¯t sit tight in the tea house. The official may have run into him in the past.¡±


    The soldier cocked his head. That was a possibility. He let go of her arm and waved them away. ¡°You can go now.¡±


    Jun Huang only let herself rx after they left the city gate. She took off the straw hat, revealing her sweat-covered forehead. Nan Xun walked up to her. ¡°Were you afraid?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°Not for myself, but I worried that I would expose the House of Heavenly Fiends. They had gone through many hardships to gain a foothold in Eastern Wu. I won¡¯t forgive myself if their cover is blown because of me. I¡¯m not a coward. If deathes, I¡¯ll face it without fear. This is nothing inparison.¡±


    Nan Xun let out a long sigh. He took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat for her. ¡°If you can put aside your own safety, why must you put all this pressure on yourself?¡± he said after a moment of silence. ¡°I know you¡¯re a capable person, but I hope you won¡¯t make everything your responsibility. You¡¯re getting weaker. You should value yourself more.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have all the time in the world after getting my revenge,¡± Jun Huang said coldly. ¡°If I let myself rx, all my hard work will be for nothing. If you know me at all, you should know I won¡¯t let that happen.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re being unfair,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Of course I know you. You¡¯re trying to make me feel bad on purpose...¡±


    Do you know that you¡¯ll always be my priority? Nan Xun didn¡¯t ask. This wasn¡¯t the right time. It¡¯d only be an added pressure on Jun Huang.


    The man who had helped Jun Huang said that two horses had been prepared for them. It was time for them to depart. Jun Huang and Nan Xun bid the workers farewell. They then silently mounted their horses.


    Eastern Wu was no ce for them to linger. At night, they arrived at an inn. Nan Xun¡¯s shadowguard appeared with a message.


    They could tell immediately that something must have happened in the imperial city. The shadowguard was sent here on the emperor¡¯s order. Something was wrong.


    The shadowguard didn¡¯t try to hide from Jun Huang. ¡°The emperor put in an emergency order for you to return immediately, Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°Do you know the reason why?¡± Jun Huang asked bluntly.


    The shadowguard deferred to Nan Xun, who gave him a nod. He thought for a moment before saying, ¡°This subordinate doesn¡¯t know the details, but the emperor seems to have gotten sick. That¡¯s why he wants the prince to return at once.¡±


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun exchanged a look. She fell silent. Nan Xun was in deep thoughts as well. After the guard had left, Nan Xun asked, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s true?¡±

 Chapter 220

    Chapter 220: n of Attack


    ¡°Something must have happened in the pce,¡± Jun Huang said, meeting Nan Xun¡¯s gaze. ¡°If the illness imed the emperor¡¯s life, all we¡¯ve worked for will be for nothing. We must return as soon as we can. We can¡¯t let this affect our n.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll depart tomorrow and rushed back.¡±


    The next morning, Jun Huang and Nan Xun hurried toward the imperial city of Northern Qi. They dared not even stop to rest. When they arrived at the city, they were again informed of the emperor¡¯s condition.


    Nan Xun told Jun Huang to wait at his manor before going to the pce to check the validity of the news. He was stopped by a eunuch at the door.


    The eunuch was the one the emperor trusted the most, and he was friendly with Nan Xun. Nan Xun frowned. ¡°What happened? Wasn¡¯t the emperor hale and hearty when I left? How did he suddenly fall ill?¡±


    The eunuch made sure there were no unwanted eyes before whispering, ¡°It¡¯s not a simple disease. The emperor was poisoned. He almost didn¡¯t make it.¡±


    Nan Xun stilled. It took a moment for him to recover. He rushed into the room. Qi Yun was at the emperor¡¯s side attending to his needs. Nan Xun rxed a little. At least Qi Yun knew what should be done at time like this.


    Qi Yun helped the emperor sit up. The emperor¡¯s face was pale, and he had lost a lot of weight. The dragon robe hang loosely over his slight frame. He coughed with his hands on the bed to keep himself upright. Slowly, he said, ¡°I order you to find the one who poisoned me, Nan Xun.¡±


    Nan Xun knelt on the floor and cupped his hands in obedience. The emperor told him to be at ease before beckoning him over. He didn¡¯t know what the emperor wanted, but he obliged anyway.


    The emperor pointed at Qi Yun. ¡°Qi Yun¡¯s still too inexperienced. Let him assist you in your investigation. Offer him some guidance during the process.¡±


    Surprised, Nan Xun nced up at the emperor. Realization dawned on him when he saw the way the emperor looked at Qi Yun. The emperor had grown more and more fond of Qi Yun for hispany. It bode well for their n. Nan Xun nodded agreeably. ¡°With the fourth prince¡¯s help, the truth will be revealed soon enough.¡±


    The emperor was prone to exhaustion after being poisoned. The brief conversation was enough to drain him. Qi Yun hurriedly help him lie down.


    The emperor waved a hand at Nan Xun to dismiss him. ¡°You must be tired from traveling nonstop. You¡¯re free to go now. The investigation can start tomorrow.¡±


    Nan Xun bid them farewell. Before he left, he snuck a few nces at the father and son. Qi Yun patiently smoothed a hand over the emperor¡¯s back to help him breathe. He poured water for the emperor upon request, and massaged the emperor¡¯s legs to rx the muscles. It was clear that he took his role as the emperor¡¯s caretaker seriously.


    Nan Xun walked out of the room, leaving the father and son their privacy.


    As soon as he arrived at the manor, Jun Huang came up to him, asking him how the emperor was. Nan Xun told her everything in details, including how the emperor treated Qi Yun. Jun Huang nodded, her brows drawn closely in deep thoughts.


    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang mapped out the interrtionship between different factions in her head. ¡°Originally, I nned to deal with Qi Chen first. He couldn¡¯t be allowed to remain as the crown prince even if we were to let him live. Unfortunately, the emperor has fallen ill. If we took Qi Chen down now, Northern Qi would fall into chaos. A country must not be without a leader. Now that the emperor is ill, no idents should befall Qi Chen.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we put Qi Yun on the throne now?¡± suggested Nan Xun.


    ¡°No, we can¡¯t,¡± she said without hesitation. ¡°Qi Chen is the crown prince. We need the emperor to take the title away from him. If we push for Qi Yun to be the crown prince without the emperor¡¯s support, the trust and affection Qi Yun has worked hard to earn will vanish immediately, and we¡¯ll risk exposing ourselves That¡¯s not a trade off we should take. We must not do anything reckless until the day Qi Chen¡¯s title is taken away.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded in agreement to her analysis. ¡°Then are we to do nothing?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s time that we make a move against Eastern Wu. If we let them do whatever they want, they won¡¯t even realize how many deaths they¡¯re responsible for.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s tone was frigid. Even the sun shining on her face couldn¡¯t melt the ice encasing her heart. Nan Xun silently took her hand in his, trying to offerfort.


    She took a deep breath to suppress her resentment and managed a small smile. ¡°Qi Chen must know about my return,¡± she said as she stood up. ¡°If I don¡¯t go to him, he¡¯s going to get suspicious again. I¡¯m paying the crown prince a visit. We¡¯ll talk about the rest once I¡¯m back.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t say anything to stop her. Once she¡¯d left, he went to his study for a meeting with his subordinates. They discussed the situation in the city, and how they were going to investigate the poisoning.


    Qi Chen did get wind of Jun Huang¡¯s return as soon as she set foot in the city. He¡¯d been waiting for her. The housekeeper led Jun Huang to the study. When she entered the door, Qi Chen turned to look at her with a frown. ¡°I heard that you¡¯ve been back for a while. Why haven¡¯t youe to me until now?¡±


    ¡°I was waiting for Prince Nan Xun to return from the pce. Moreover, the journey took a lot out of me. I needed a short rest.¡±


    Jun Huang had not uttered a word of lie. She knew Qi Chen must have put his men to watch both her and Nan Xun. He must know Nan Xun had gone to the pce right after their return.


    Qi Chen¡¯s expression rxed a little. He took a seat at the table and poured Jun Huang a cup of tea. ¡°Then you must know that Royal Father has been poisoned.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded in response.


    Qi Chen motioned at her to take a seat before handing her the cup of tea.


    ¡°What have you found out during your trip to Eastern Wu?¡± asked Qi Chen.


    ¡°There¡¯s going to be a civil unrest within Eastern Wu,¡± Jun Huang said after a moment of silence. ¡°This gentleman believes that our troop will be able to catch Eastern Wu off guard if we deploy them now. If we can defeat Eastern Wu and sign a treaty, Your Highness will be able to earn your glory and the emperor¡¯s approval.¡±


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t immediately respond. He agonized over what he should do. This was a great opportunity for him. The third prince had stolen his thunder thest time in discovering the spies, which caused the emperor to give him the cold shoulders. He heard that Qi Yun was the one who had been taking care of the emperor since he was poisoned. Qi Chen had wanted to go, but the emperor turned him down and told him to take care of the affairs in the court. Qi Chen could feel the emperor getting more and more aloof to him.


    Jun Huang saw right through him. She scoffed inwardly and said, ¡°This gentleman believes Your Highness should give it some consideration. If you continue to do nothing, this gentleman doesn¡¯t know what the officials will think.¡±


    She was using Qi Chen¡¯s pride against him. If he didn¡¯t care so much about his face, he wouldn¡¯t have second guessed himself even after he had a n in mind, and he wouldn¡¯t have kept Nan Guyue around even after they had a falling out.


    Jun Huang knew him well enough to exploit his weakness, making it so that he was unable to think with a clear head.


    Even if Jun Huang had not reminded him, Qi Chen knew a war between Northern Qi and Eastern Wu was inevitable. He had to earned his glory on battlefields in order to build a solid foundation in the court. He vehemently agreed with Jun Huang¡¯s words.


    ¡°Even so, we need a justification for our invasion,¡± said Qi Chen. He looked to Jun Huang for a suggestion.


    Her expression turned thoughtful. ¡°This gentleman believes that Eastern Wu must have been behind the use of poison on the emperor. I¡¯ve heard their spies talk about it myself as well. There¡¯s little chance that it was someone else. They must have nted someone at the emperor¡¯s side, but there¡¯s something else we have to take care of first.¡±


    ¡°No matter what Your Highness has nned, we must not interfere with the investigation led by Prince Nan Xun and the fourth prince. If they find evidence proving that Eastern Wu was responsible, we¡¯ll be justified to march into Eastern Wu.¡±


    Qi Chen coughed awkwardly. He knew before Jun Huang visited that the emperor had put Nan Xun and Qi Yun in charge of the investigation. He¡¯d been wondering how he could undermine their efforts. Originally he had wanted to ask for her advice, but she rejected the idea before he even brought it up.


    He knew that he could not afford to make any mistakes at this critical juncture. He nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you, Brother Feng. I won¡¯t be reckless. Brother Feng can tell Nan Xun for me that if there¡¯s anything he needs, he may ask me. I¡¯ll do all I can to help him. We must make Eastern Wu¡¯s atrocities known to the world this time.¡±


    Jun Huang let out a sigh of relief. At least Qi Chen knew when to back away. That was one less thing for her to worry about.


    ¡°If it was Eastern Wu, though, this gentleman believes that Your Highness should take the initiative to propose an attack.¡±


    ¡°I know what you mean. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve made the necessary arrangements. As soon as the investigation proved Eastern Wu¡¯s guilt, my people will propose an invasion and nominate me as the candidate.¡±

 Chapter 221 - The Army Deployed

    Chapter 221: The Army Deployed


    Jun Huang sighed and nodded in silent agreement with Qi Chen¡¯s decision.


    After days of sleepless investigation, Nan Xun finally found something. All evidence pointed to a young eunuch at the emperor¡¯s side. He entered the pce not long ago. He was assigned to serve the emperor because of his honest appearance.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t going to judge a book by its cover. The eunuch turned out to be from Eastern Wu! A few months ago he infiltrated the pce on his master¡¯s order. The emperor happened to see him when he was being punished for making a trivial mistake. His young age won him the emperor¡¯s pity, and the emperor took him under his wing, unaware of the fact that the eunuch was a hidden threat.


    Nan Xun thought it would take some time to get information out of the eunuch¡¯s mouth, but before he could interrogate him, the eunuch spilled out everything he knew out of fear. Nan Xun ordered some men to go through the eunuch¡¯s bedroom and found the poison. The royal doctors stayed up analyzing the poison and concluded that it was from Eastern Wu.


    Nan Xun was going to ask the eunuch who his master was, but the hemitted suicide before another round of questioning. That was the end of the ordeal.


    Instinct told Jun Huang that things were moreplicated than they appeared to be, but she couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was that triggered her concern. Something was wrong; that much she was sure of. But they could still continue their ns.


    ¡°The royal doctors said that the poison wasn¡¯t potent enough to make the emperor copse so quickly, but upon further checkup, they didn¡¯t find anything else wrong with his body.¡±


    Nan Xun thought back to what the royal doctors had told him. He couldn¡¯t wrap his head around the situation.


    Jun Huang was wondering why a cowardly eunuch would suddenly muster enough courage to take his own life when Nan Xun interrupted her thoughts. She turned to Nan Xun and asked what the poison was.


    He knew that Jun Huang was trained in medicine. He told her everything the royal doctors told him. She frowned. She knew why the emperor fell ill suddenly.


    The answer was the drug she gave Consort Zhen. The drug was of cold property. The effect would only present after months or even a year. The poison Eastern Wu used on the emperor was of hot property. The two substances together caused an unforeseen reaction, elerating the effects of the poison.


    She kept it from Nan Xun. After all, he didn¡¯t know she had colluded with the honored consort to drug the emperor. She was afraid that Nan Xun might find her insidious, but she didn¡¯t have a choice. It wouldn¡¯t help for her to admit her guilt now.


    The investigation found Eastern Wu to be the perpetrator. The honored consort finally could breathe easily. She had thought the drug Jun Huang gave her had unintended effects. Qi Chen too rxed considerably. He took a group of officials into the pce.


    He made such a bigmotion that the emperor went red in rage. He stopped anyone but Qi Chen from entering his room. Qi Chen went inside, pushing aside his lingering concerns.


    He ran into Qi Yun at the door. Qi Yun gracefully greeted him and walked away. The doubt in Qi Chen¡¯s heart intensified, but he couldn¡¯t afford to make the emperor wait. He went inside and knelt down.


    ¡°This son is here to make a proposal,¡± Qi Chen said bowing down.


    The emperor had received the reports submitted by a group of officials. Seeing Qi Chen kneeling before him filled his chest with anger. He huffed and threw the reports at Qi Chen.


    ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know about the crimes you¡¯vemitted?¡± yelled the emperor. ¡°Now you dare to pressure me by colluding with the officials? What are you trying to do? Staging a coup?¡±


    He got into a coughing fit. Qi Chen¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°This son will never! I dare not even think of it! It¡¯s just that Eastern Wu has crossed a line this time. I cannot tolerate what they¡¯ve done. So I ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Enough! This is out of your hands now. Do your job and nothing more. Get out.¡±


    The emperor wasn¡¯t willing to say another word. Qi Chen knew his father would only be angrier if he stayed. He bid him farewell and slowly walked out.


    The eunuch who had served the emperor for decades had never witnessed such a strong reaction from the emperor. He hurriedly poured the emperor a cup of water and sighed. ¡°Your Majesty should treat yourself better. The prince may simply want to shoulder your burden. Your copse has scared the royal princes.¡±


    The emperor threw him a nce and scoffed. ¡°I won¡¯t let Eastern Wu off the hook, but he¡¯s not going to lead the army.¡±


    The eunuch was an expert at reading people. He put on a smile and said, ¡°Your Majesty turned the crown prince down because you have someone in mind.¡±


    ¡°Originally I thought he could be a good candidate,¡± the emperor exined. ¡°However, I¡¯ve turned a blind eye to his collusion with the courtiers long enough. He hasn¡¯t showed any restraint. The third prince is ipetent and put what little intelligence he possesses into pleasing other people. He¡¯s not even on the same ying field as the crown prince. That leaves Qi Yun. His loyalty ismendable. If he holds some influence over the army, he would be able to protect himself even after the crown prince takes the throne.¡±


    The eunuch agreed with the emperor. Qi Yun had been visiting the emperor frequently. His loyalty and care to the emperor were evident. ¡°Your Majesty makes a good point. The fourth prince may be interested in only literature and arts, but he respects and cares about his father. He¡¯ll need some forces on his side even if he never ns to engage in politics. Your Majesty is right to worry for him.¡±


    The emperor nodded. ¡°Qi Yun is humble and disciplined, which made him a good candidate for the throne,¡± he said with a sigh. ¡°But he has no one to support him, and he doesn¡¯t care for power himself. Naturally I should give him a helping hand.¡±


    The master and servant conversed about the past. The emperor¡¯s thoughts went back to the march toward Eastern Wu. He ordered a servant to retrieve Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun knew the emperor wanted to deploy the army, but he was surprised by the emperor¡¯s n.


    Even with most of the poison cleansed, the emperor appeared to be frail and pale. He invited Nan Xun to sit at his side and patted him on the back of his hand. ¡°You¡¯ll lead the charge against Eastern Wu. Let Qi Yun assist you. Deaths spared no one on battlefields. Qi Yun wasn¡¯t a soldier. You¡¯ll have to keep an eye on him.¡±


    Nan Xun could read between the lines. He cupped his hands and nodded. ¡°Rest assured, Your Majesty, this official will bring the prince back safely.¡±


    ¡°He still needs to fight his own fight,¡± added the emperor. ¡°Northern Qi¡¯s territory was established by our ancestors in battles. A man born into this country must not forget about our origin.¡±


    ¡°Worry not, Your Majesty. This official knows what to do.¡±


    Qi Chen soon heard that the emperor put Nan Xun in charge of the army with Qi Yun aiding him. He was convinced that Qi Yun must have talked behind his back for the emperor to grow distant to him and choose Qi Yun over him.


    When Jun Huang arrived at Prince Chen Manor, Qi Chen was throwing a tantrum, shattering everything within his reach. The servants knelt on the floor, breathing shallowly in fear.


    Jun Huang stayed outside, wondering why the emperor would make such a decision. She knew the battlefields weredened with dangers. If it was Qi Chen who apanied the army, no one would suspect anything should he die in battle. Unexpectedly, the emperor appointed Qi Yun. That warranted a rethinking of her n.


    Qi Chen did his best to suppress his anger and approached Jun Huang with a deep breath. ¡°You¡¯re close to Nan Xun. He¡¯ll let you follow him to battle. I order you to keep an eye on him and Qi Yun to determine if they¡¯ve be allies. If not, you should try recruiting Nan Xun.¡±


    She had been wondering how she should talk to Qi Chen about this. It was convenient that he wanted her to follow the army. She agreed to apany the army, but ignored the other parts.


    Jun Huang told Nan Xun about it once she was back at his manor. Nan Xun turned her down without thinking.


    ¡°Death is the great equalizer in war. Who¡¯s going to protect you in battle? This is not something to be taken lightly.¡±


    Nan Xun tried reasoning with her. She huffed, gazing at him with cold eyes. ¡°You know that I won¡¯t listen to you. I have to go. I don¡¯t need you to protect me. I¡¯m capable enough to protect myself.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re a good fighter, but don¡¯t forget that there are going to be thousands of enemies. You may be able to take on ten people, but how about a hundred? This is no time for you to be stubborn.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind.¡± Jun Huang fell silent and stared at him with clear eyes. Nan Xun resigned himself to surrendering to her will again.


    He sighed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not going to argue with you. If you want toe with me, so be it. It¡¯s going to be difficult, however. You must listen to my orders. Understand?¡±


    Jun Huang epted all his conditions, her expression softening into a smile. Nan Xun snorted.


    He knew that there would not be a full-blown war. Eastern Wu wasn¡¯t prepared for that. Still, he had to do his job.


    Jun Huang had agreed to listen to him before they departed, so she obediently got into the coach with Qi Yun when they left the city. She used the time to catch up with Qi Yun.

 Chapter 222 - Showing Weakness

    Chapter 222: Showing Weakness


    Jun Huang and Qi Yun engaged in a pleasant conversation. Her days were numbered She would take this opportunity to teach Qi Yun about ruling a country before she lost the ability to talk.


    Nan Xun rode at the front of the troop. Hearing the bits and pieces of their conversation prompted him to turn back and get into the coach. Inside, Qi Yun held a teacupzily in one hand and supported his head with the other.


    ¡°Remember, you must prioritize the people once you be the emperor,¡± Jun Huang said seriously, her expression solemn. ¡°Let their wellbeing guide your decisions. Do not let your selfish desires take over.¡±


    Qi Yun asked some questions every once in a while. ¡°Northern Qi may appear to be a powerful and prosperous country, but underneath the surfacey a slowly rotting core. What does the gentleman think we should do?¡±


    He had brought up an important issue. She straightened up and nced at Nan Xun before putting her half-full cup on the table. ¡°That¡¯s why our efforts to eliminate corruption has to be restrained so as to conserve the foundation of the state. Even if you take the throne, you mustn¡¯t rule with an iron grip. Some of the problems you¡¯ll face exist in the very structure of the country. It requires a delicate approach topletely weed out the ailment. The issue didn¡¯te into existence overnight; naturally, the resolution will take more than a day. You have to take one step at a time.¡±


    ¡°Now let¡¯s talk about the people. It may seem like they are leading a good life, but if you take a closer look, you¡¯ll realize that there are still many people who can¡¯t afford to feed themselves in this country, and some officials are creating disorder and chaos with no regard for human lives. Once you be the emperor, you have to change this culture of exploitation. If you turn a blind eye to the growing corruption like the current emperor, it¡¯s going to eat Northern Qi from inside out.¡±


    Jun Huang was blunt. She didn¡¯t care if her words would make Qi Yun ufortable.


    He did find herments a little offensive. She had boldly criticized the emperor like it was nothing! But he couldn¡¯t deny the truth in her words.


    He nodded after a pause. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled. She could tell he was unhappy with her criticism, but he was willing to listen. That was how an emperor should be. ¡°Good advice is often difficult to listen to. You have to remember that. Judge the officials in the court carefully and don¡¯t let people with malicious intentions deceive you.¡±


    He nodded agreeably.


    She sighed and continued, ¡°There are still pure-hearted officials in the court. You have to learn to identify them. That¡¯s crucial to being a good leader.¡±


    ¡°Then you have to keep people¡¯s interests in mind. Droughts aremon in the north, which often lead to unrests. People there riot because they don¡¯t have a choice. You have to pay attention and prepare enough food for the north to prevent an uproar. The locals will be grateful to you and consider you a great leader.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not a solution to the root cause, though. The yearly ie of Northern Qi isn¡¯t that high. If we continue to support the north out of our pocket, the treasury is going to be depleted.¡±


    Qi Yun thought back to the times where there¡¯s a shortage of funds. It was an urgent issue that needed to be addressed.


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible to solve the issue once and for all. First, the pce must cut down unnecessary expenses and avoid promoting a culture of excessive consumption. Second... In regions suitable for agriculture, the ownership of thends should be transferred to the people. Then there will be more harvest, creating more tax revenue.¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s easier said than done. If you want to achieve any of what I said, it¡¯ll take decades.¡± Jun Huang turned to Qi Yun. ¡°The emperor must look beyond the present and consider the wellbeing of future generations. Do you understand?¡±


    Qi Yun chewed over her words and nodded seriously. ¡°I understand. I won¡¯t disappoint you. I¡¯m going to create a prosperous country for the people.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled. She turned to Nan Xun, who had been watching her since he came in, and got a smile in return.


    Her conversation with Qi Yun made Nan Xun even more impressed by her. He knew she was someone with great talent, but he didn¡¯t expect to hear about such well thought-out policies from her mouth. Regarding issues that officials had debated for decades, she was able to provide satisfactory solutions with only a few words. It was impossible to not be impressed by her. It was a shame that Western Que had been destroyed, making it so that she couldn¡¯t fulfil her potential.


    If Western Que still stood, though, perhaps she wouldn¡¯t have grown so quickly. There were two sides to everything He knew that Jun Huang would rather be born into a regr family living a regr life. What she had ever wanted was for her family to be safe and happy.


    While they were marching towards Eastern Wu, the enemy state got wind of Northern Qi¡¯s invasion. Eastern Wu¡¯s court fell into chaos once they acquired the evidence and eyewitness statements. The schr and military officials argued among themselves.


    The emperorshed out at the officials for not proposing a solution when he asked for one. The third prince scoffed at the silent room. Before the emperor lost his temper, he took a step forward and knelt down with his hands cupped. ¡°We have to admit we were the one who provoked this conflict. They¡¯re justified to fight back in retribution. It¡¯s only natural that they¡¯ll deploy their army. That said, we can¡¯t let them step all over us.¡±


    The prince did make a lot of sense. The emperor nodded and let him continue.


    ¡°This son volunteers to negotiate with Northern Qi,¡± said the third prince. ¡°But I hope Royal Father can give me the full authority to make decisions.¡±


    That got a reaction from the officials. They looked up at the emperor, expecting him to deny the prince¡¯s request. But to their surprise, the emperor nodded after a brief pause.


    ¡°We aren¡¯t ready for a war yet,¡± the emperor said once he was alone with the prince. ¡°We have to wait until autumn. That¡¯s when we¡¯ll strike. Keep themx andcent at the moment. Submit to their will for the time being so that they won¡¯t consider us a threat. Then we¡¯ll be able to catch them off guard.¡±


    The third prince knew the reasoning behind the emperor¡¯s words. Eastern Wu had invaded Western Que not too long ago. If they fought Northern Qi headon, they would suffer a bitter defeat. It was better to feign weakness to rx Northern Qi¡¯s guard. Then they could strike back and triumph over Northern Qi.


    ¡°Rest assured, Royal Father, this son will put Eastern Wu as my top priority. I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡°


    The emperor nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll let you take full charge,¡± he added. ¡°Do whatever you need to do. You may use materialpensation as a leverage. Don¡¯t surrender immediately. Those from Northern Qi are no fool. You have to convince them that we¡¯re truly helpless against their invasion. Understand?¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    The emperor was still worried. ¡°I¡¯ll have the state preceptor apany you. If there¡¯s anything you¡¯re not certain about, ask him for advice. Don¡¯t let your pride get to you.¡±


    Jun Huang and the troop arrived at the border. To be on the safe side, they made camp on Northern Qi ground and didn¡¯t immediately crossed into Eastern Wu¡¯s territory. The atmosphere in the camp was rxed.


    Qi Chen had ordered Jun Huang to report to him about the current situation. Therefore, once her tent was set up, she asked for a set of writing instruments and started writing the letter with Qi Yun and Nan Xun present.


    ¡°Prince Nan Xun and the fourth prince have been polite but distant with each other. They seem to be mere acquaintance. On our way, we haven¡¯t run into any troubles. Eastern Wu must have been in a state of panic.¡±


    She put down the writing brush. Once the ink was dry, she handed the letter to Qi Yun like she had nothing to hide. Qi Yun had been peeking at the letter while she was writing. Her openness made him hesitant to take the letter.


    Nan Xun nced at him with a smirk and took the letter from Jun Huang. After a brief examination, he folded it and handed it back to her.


    Qi Yun stood up to exin. ¡°It¡¯s not that I doubt the gentleman. I¡¯m just...¡±


    Jun Huang put the letter into an envelope, ncing at Qi Yun with cool eyes. She nodded after a pause. ¡°This gentleman understands. It¡¯s a good thing for Your Highness to be careful. This gentleman isn¡¯t angry.¡®


    She soon found the messenger Qi Chen had assigned her. He¡¯d assumed the identity of a regr soldier. He therefore couldn¡¯t get close enough to her tent to see Qi Yun and Nan Xun. He didn¡¯t know Jun Huang had written the letter with the two of them present. Besides, Qi Chen had put a lot of trust in her; his people naturally would follow his lead.


    She handed the letter to the messenger while the others weren¡¯t looking. He snuck a nce at her before rushing away and disappearing. She let out a sigh and made her way back to the camp.


    Before she could reach the camp, Nan Xun showed up to stop her.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jun Huang asked.

 Chapter 223 - One against Many

    Chapter 223: One against Many


    ording to Nan Xun¡¯s shadow guards, the third prince of Eastern Wu had brought thirty thousand soldiers to face off Northern Qi. Jun Huang frowned. ¡°Thirty thousand? Are you sure?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve double-checked. Thirty thousand, no more, no less.¡±


    ¡°That couldn¡¯t be all the soldiers they could deploy,¡± she said calmly. ¡°And if that¡¯s all of their avable soldiers, they wouldn¡¯t have sent them out just like that. They must be nning something.¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°We¡¯ve deployed an army of a hundred thousand, and yet they sent only thirty thousand. It¡¯s akin to hitting a stone with an egg. However, our information has been validated. I¡¯m at a loss as to what they¡¯re plotting.¡±


    Jun Huang mused. She didn¡¯t voice her suspicion since she didn¡¯t have any evidence. She only told Nan Xun to be on guard. Once Eastern Wu¡¯s army reached the border, they would see for themselves how many soldiers there were.


    Nan Xun could understand her concerns. He told his soldiers to keep their eyes open.


    Days passed. The Eastern Wu¡¯s army emerged. There were indeed only thirty thousands soldiers on horseback. It wasn¡¯t a lot, but it wasn¡¯t that little. Northern Qi had deployed forty thousand cavalry units and sixty thousand infantry units. Mounted soldiers were key to any battles. The fact that all thirty thousand soldiers of Eastern Wu were on horseback lessened her suspicion somewhat, but she still had a feeling that this was a ploy.


    ¡°Do you think this is all they¡¯ve got now?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re missing something here. It¡¯s impossible for them to defeat Northern Qi at the moment, and yet they sent out soldiers instead of admitting defeat. I wonder what they want.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t have an answer. Perhaps they would have a better clue after a few battles with Eastern Wu. He directed the conversation to another topic. ¡°Your letter to Qi Chen is appropriately written, but he¡¯s bound to see this battle as an opportunity rather than a crisis. He¡¯ll think that the emperor had assigned Qi Yun to this post to let him prove himself. Aren¡¯t you worried that Qi Chen will conclude that the emperor now favors Qi Yun?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    He frowned, looking at her with puzzled eyes. She smiled and didn¡¯t volunteer an exnation.


    Eastern Wu had made camp near the border as well. The state preceptor shuddered at the sight of Northern Qi¡¯s army. He couldn¡¯t stand doing nothing. He rushed into the third prince¡¯s tent.


    ¡°Northern Qi has an army of a hundred thousand, while we have only thirty thousand,¡± he said without preamble. ¡°Aren¡¯t we just marching to our doom?¡±


    The third prince flicked him a nce and smiled coldly. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m aiming for.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to surrender without a fight?¡±


    ¡°No, no. That¡¯s not in our nature. We have to engage them in a few battles to rx their guard. Even if they have doubts, they won¡¯t be able to find anything concrete. They¡¯ll think they¡¯ve overestimated us. When autumn came, we¡¯ll destroy them once and for all.¡± His eyes were chilling, and his tone dripping with malice.


    The state preceptor gave him a considering look before walking out of the tent.


    A few dayster saw the first full-blown battle between the two countries. Before that, they had been testing the waters. Northern Qi pulled back before a real fight broke out, and Eastern Wu retreated before they suffered great casualties. Today, both countries sent out their armies for a real fight.


    Qi Yun was here to gain experience. This was a learning opportunity he couldn¡¯t let slip. He volunteered to join the troop. Nan Xun didn¡¯t argue. In his opinion, it was a good thing for Qi Yun to fight alongside the soldiers. If they won, he would win the approval of the soldiers and make a name for himself. That would help him in his pursuit of the throne.


    Jun Huang was unwilling to stay behind on her own. She insisted on fighting as well.


    Nan Xun looked around to make sure there wasn¡¯t anyone watching them. ¡°Anyone can die on a battlefield. This isn¡¯t a game. I don¡¯t think you should join the troop.¡±


    Her hatred for Eastern Wu had overpowered her reasons. She ignored Nan Xun¡¯s objection, staring at him with steely gaze. ¡°Everyone has their goal,¡± she said, wrapping her lips around every word. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s Your Highness¡¯, but you know mine. And you know I won¡¯t be swayed in this matter. I hope Your Highness can grant me my wish.¡±


    Qi Yun cut in before Nan Xun could say anything. He had heard their conversation. Jun Huang¡¯s determined eyes caught his attention. ¡°If the gentleman wants to fight, Royal Brother should let him. The battlefield is dangerous, but to my knowledge, the gentleman is apetent fighter. He should be able to protect himself.¡±


    Nan Xun wanted to argue, but he knew it wouldn¡¯t help. Jun Huang had made up her mind. He would only make the two of them mad by turning her down.


    With a resigned sigh, he looked up at her. ¡°Since you¡¯ve decided, I¡¯m not going to try changing your mind. You must not be reckless on battlefield, however. Obey the orders. We don¡¯t know what Eastern Wu is nning. If they retreat, don¡¯t make chase.¡±


    Jun Huang knew that Nan Xun was telling rules every soldier would have to follow. She nodded in acknowledgement. Tomorrow, they¡¯d fight.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help being worried after their conversation. He came to a decision. He summoned his shadow guards and ordered them to protect her at all cost tomorrow. Nothing was to happen to her.


    Early in the morning, everyone in the camp rose to prepare for the fight. The soldiers were driven and vigorous. There was no trace of fear on their faces.


    Jun Huang put on the armor Nan Xun had given her before walking out of her tent. From a distance, she spotted Qi Yun, who was training with a sword.


    She didn¡¯t know Qi Yun was this good with a sword. Every move he made was perfectly controlled. Of course, there were soldiers who thought his moves were merely parlor tricks. Only when he entered the battle would they see if he truly was a good fighter.


    Qi Yun smiled in response to their doubts. His silence spoke volumes.


    Nan Xun approached Jun Huang. ¡°Remember to protect yourself.¡±


    ¡°Same with you,¡± she responded with a smile, looking at the strong frame under his armor.


    He turned away. It was time for them to set out. He left in big strides, leaving Jun Huang staring after him. She lowered her head and chuckled ruefully.


    Her mncholy vanished as soon as she rode towards the enemy force. She gritted her teeth, her eyes fixed on the Eastern Wu soldiers. She was suddenly transported back in time to the day Western Que was destroyed. The weight of the whole world had been on her shoulders, but she must not fall. She wouldn¡¯t be satisfied until she killed everyst one of the Eastern Wu soldiers.


    The shadow guards cursed under their breaths. They had to keep an eye on Jun Huang in the chaos of the battlefields. Nan Xun had ordered them to protect her even at the risk of their own lives. The dozen of men dared not let their attention stray.


    Jun Huang fought ferociously. Her eyes seemed to have turned red. Blood geysered out of the enemies¡¯ wounds with every of her strikes. She was fearless against the soldiers. The warm blood and the metallic taste didn¡¯t deter her. She didn¡¯t even flinch when blood sttered onto her face, into her eyes. She blinked it out and continued fighting.


    The shadow guards started. They didn¡¯t know this frail-looking man could be this fierce a fighter. She didn¡¯t hesitate at all before she struck, and with every sh, an enemy soldier fell to his death.


    Soon, she had carved out a bloody path for herself into the center of the enemy¡¯s formation. The shadow guards were the only ones still at her side. She had strayed from the main army. Still, she was as fearless as she¡¯d been.


    ¡°We can¡¯t rush further ahead, Gentleman Feng.¡± One of the shadow guards finally decided to intervene. ¡°Otherwise the Eastern Wu army will easily trap us here.¡±


    She paused to look at him. She soon figured out what was happening. After a moment of silence, she nodded and turned back. There was no point in making it difficult for Nan Xun¡¯s subordinates.


    Even though hatred had pushed her to reach her full potential, she was but one person. Exhaustion caught up with her. She ducked down to dodge a swording her way. Before she could straighten up, her horses tripped and fell, throwing her onto the ground. She rolled, dodging both the enemies¡¯ spears and the horse¡¯s hooves.


    She backed away, steadying herself. When several riders came at her with their spears, she leapt into the air with a push of her hand andnded some distance away.


    Her horse was nowhere to be seen. She stood out as a target even though she was standing among a swarm of soldiers with her hair unkempt and her armor dirtied.


    She felt the force of the hit when a burly man ambushed her from behind before itnded. The shadow guards couldn¡¯t make it in time. Their hearts jumped to their throats, worried that she would be hurt. Fortunately, she quickly whirled around and blocked the attack with her sword. She was knocked back by the sheer force of the attack. She darted to the man¡¯s back when his attention faltered and, without hesitation, stabbed through the man¡¯s neck and slit his throat. Blood gushed out of the cut and sttered all over her.

 Chapter 224 - The Imperial Court

    Chapter 224: The Imperial Court


    The burly man had been taken down, but Jun Huang was far from unharmed when the shadow guards finally got to her. In the chaos she got hit in her arms twice. Fortunately the cuts were shallow. She looked vulnerable with her torn sleeves and the dried blood all over her armor and clothes..


    ¡°Get on, Gentleman Feng.¡± One of the shadow guards who was closer to Nan Xun jumped off his horse and led it to her. She gave him a nce and, without another word, nodded and mounted the horse.


    All the shadow guards knew about Nan Xun and Jun Huang¡¯s rtionship. Even though they¡¯d only heard rumors, they dared not take her safety lightly. The shadow guard jumped onto another guard¡¯s horse, and they turned back to join the troop.


    Jun Huang had taken enough lives to quench her hatred, but her attention was caught by the noises behind her. She looked over and saw Qi Yun getting intercepted by a group of Eastern Wu soldiers. Qi Yun had been trained in martial arts, but mostly in hand-to-handbat. If he hadn¡¯t been apanied by shadow guards Nan Xun assigned him, he would have been taken.


    Jun Huang rode to him without hesitation. The shadow guards sighed in resignation and chased after her.


    The group of shadow guards fought off the soldiers under hermand. The soldiers of Eastern Wu had refrained from surrendering themselves because they were close to taking Qi Yun alive, but their effort were hindered by Jun Huang. They pulled back and retreated.


    Nan Xun was the chiefmander. He witnessed everything from on top of the border city wall rather than from within the midst of the battle himself. Cold sweat broke out when he saw Jun Huang falling off her horse. Once the battle concluded, he rushed toward the troop without pause.


    He let out a sigh of relief when he made sure that Jun Huang was alright, but his expression was steely and hard. She looked back at him with cool eyes without a word.


    Awkwardness filled the air. Qi Yun knew what Nan Xun was angry about. In his opinion, this was between Nan Xun and Jun Huang. He was in no ce to intervene.


    His waist was sore from a day of riding. He went back to his tent with the help of a guard. The other soldiers dispersed as well.


    Once the two of them were alone, Nan Xun let out a long breath and pulled Jun Huang into his arms. After a good moment, he said in a quiet tone, ¡°I¡¯m not going to let you be stubborn again.¡±


    She could hear his strong heartbeats with her face pressed to his chest. She slowly closed her eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t get into fights I didn¡¯t know I could win. Don¡¯t worry too much. You know that I can¡¯t let Qi Yun be taken in that moment.¡±


    A soft ¡°I know¡± was all he said. He could only take her words for it.


    After that battle, the soldiers under Nan Xun had changed their attitudes towards Jun Huang and Qi Yun. Jun Huang, especially, had won their genuine affection. She always treated the soldiers like equals. Sometimes she would sit among them at the campfire and chatted with them. They shared their war stories and hatred toward Eastern Wu. Since that day, the soldiers often boasted about fighting alongside the brave and decisive young man named Feng Baiyu.


    Eastern Wu could no longer stand against the pressure Nan Xun put on them. After their attempt to take Qi Yun, Nan Xun stopped holding back. Every engagement left Eastern Wu with great casualties. In the end, they had no choice but to report to the imperial court and sought a peaceful surrender.


    It was Nan Xun who met with the diplomat from Eastern Wu. The diplomat had nned to maintain Eastern Wu¡¯s pride, but he could barely stop himself from kneeling down when he saw the stoic war god Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun scoffed at the way the diplomat froze in the middle of the tent. His unreserved disdain upset the diplomat. However, Nan Xun wasn¡¯t someone he could afford to offend. He was a representative of Eastern Wu, and he was now in Northern Qi¡¯s territory. A wrong move could mean a painful death.


    He took a deep breath. He had to do something to break the ice. Finally, he mustered enough courage to say, ¡°Eastern Wu is genuine in our intention to surrender. We¡¯re willing to makepromises. What does Northern Qi n to do?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to consult the imperial court,¡± Nan Xun responded coolly. He got to his feet, unwilling to waste another word on the diplomat. The diplomat was immediately blocked when he tried to make chase.


    Sweat popped out of his forehead. He was in the enemy¡¯s camp. If Northern Qi didn¡¯t give him a response, he¡¯d have to stay here.


    Qi Yun had reported to the court. The emperor soon gave the order to grant Qi Yun full authority to negotiate with Eastern Wu.


    Qi Yun knew this was a demonstration of the emperor¡¯s goodwill for him. His chest was filled with warmth, giving him strength to persist in this barrennd.


    At night, he went into Jun Huang¡¯s tent with Nan Xun to discuss what treaty they should sign with Eastern Wu. She simply said that they should use this opportunity to take advantage of Eastern Wu. Nan Xun echoed her sentiments.


    Qi Yun knew the emperor would approve of him if he could gain morepensation from Eastern Wu. However, the diplomat knew what he was doing. He was too inexperienced to gain an upper hand. After several rounds of negotiations, the diplomat refused to budge. Qi Yun could only turn to Jun Huang for help.


    Jun Huang sat on his side, staring at the diplomat with steely eyes. The scrutiny sent a chill down his spine. He put on a calm face and snuck nces at her. She wasn¡¯t even trying to hide the fact that she was staring.


    That enraged the diplomat. He knew she was merely Qi Yun¡¯s strategist despite her graceful appearance. He turned to her and scoffed. ¡°What is the gentleman staring at me for?¡±


    She calmly took a sip of tea and said, ¡°It¡¯s said that those from Eastern Wu are often shameless. I didn¡¯t take that as the truth, but you serve as a convincing example.¡±


    ¡°You... do you know what we¡¯re doing here? A mere strategist should know his ce!¡± The diplomat flew into rage and pointed an using finger at her.


    Jun Huang covered a smile. Her calm attitude made the diplomat look pathetic. She let out a dramatic sigh and said, ¡°This gentleman was told that it was Eastern Wu who was surrendering to Northern Qi. In our territory, do you still think of yourself as superior? Ha, don¡¯t you know how little respect the soldiers here have for you?¡±


    The diplomat went pale. He turned to Qi Yun and said through clenched teeth, ¡°Eastern Wu is surrendering, but we have our pride. From the way Northern Qi treats us, am I right to conclude that you don¡¯t really want a deal with us?¡±


    Qi Yun frowned. He did find Jun Huang¡¯s words a little inappropriate, but he couldn¡¯t undermine her in public. He threw her a pointed look, urging her to get to business.


    ¡°This is a conflict between our countries,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°Since you¡¯re surrendering, tell us what you¡¯re willing to give.¡±


    The diplomat paused. He didn¡¯t expect her to be this blunt. He had been leading Qi Yun on a merry chase, knowing the prince¡¯sck of experience. Jun Huang, though, was cunning and cautious. A slip of his tongue would be used against him. He didn¡¯t dare treat her the way he did Qi Yun.


    ¡°Eastern Wu will not submit to Northern Qi, but every year, we¡¯ll contribute a hundred scrolls of silk, ten horses, and a hundred taels of gold and silver to you.¡±


    Jun Huang snorted, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. The diplomat turned to her and gritted out, ¡°What¡¯s with the gentleman again?¡±


    Jun Huang slowly turned to him and leveled him with a cold stare. ¡°Are you here to surrender, or are you fishing for insults? Everyone knows Eastern Wu yielded because you couldn¡¯t rival Northern Qi, and yet you treat us like beggars. Are you trying to make a joke out of Eastern Wu? You refused to submit to Northern Qi to preserve your pride, and yet you offer things of little value and expect us to ept them. What are you trying to do?¡±


    The diplomat¡¯s expression turned dark. He tightened his jaw and red at Jun Huang. His heartbeats grew erratic in nervousness. He knew Jun Huang wasn¡¯t easy to deceive, but he didn¡¯t expect her to be this difficult.


    He breathed in deeply and stared at her. ¡°What does the gentleman propose?¡±


    She threw a nce at Qi Yun and pretended to consider the question. ¡°Northern Qi is magnanimous. We can allow Eastern Wu to preserve what little pride you have. Since you¡¯re unwilling to submit to Northern Qi¡¯s rule, you¡¯ll have to pay the price. What about you offer yearly five hundred scrolls of silk, a hundred horses, a thousand taels of gold and silver, and fifty fine women to us?¡±


    She put on a polite smile. Everyone knew her friendly appearance was merely a front, but the diplomat couldn¡¯t fault her. He rolled his eyes and almost fainted. Jun Huang stood up and smiled at him. ¡°There¡¯s always another option: Eastern Wu can submit to Northern Qi as our subsidiary and turn over three border cities to us. You may take some time to think about it. This gentleman will take my leave.¡±


    The diplomat cked out in rage, leaving the room shocked and bbergasted.

 Chapter 225 - Confession

    Chapter 225: Confession


    Eastern Wu sent another diplomat to Northern Qi the next day and epted Jun Huang¡¯s conditions. However, there weren¡¯t a lot of beautiful women in Eastern Wu, so the condition was changed from fifty women to thirty. Qi Yun considered it a good enough oue; he signed the treaty without further argument.


    He returned to the imperial city triumphant. The sheer amount of spoils he won from Eastern Wu was impressive. Qi Chen and the third prince couldn¡¯t be more jealous. They used to think of Qi Yun as a useless prince who lived in his own world. The task the emperor assigned him and the sess he achieved prompted the two brothers to reconsider Qi Yun¡¯s importance. He was someone both of them would like to ally with.


    The third prince was the first to invite Qi Yun. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer. The day after Qi Yun returned, the third prince held a banquet to celebrate the sess. Qi Yun didn¡¯t want to go at all, but he had to show some respect for his brother.


    The third prince was never a tactful person. He bluntly told Qi Yun that he wanted his support. Qi Yun appeared to be a little drunk. He red at the third prince and said, ¡°Royal Father is still alive and healthy, and second brother is assisting him in ruling the country. Who told the third prince that a country needed more than a couple rulers? Even by himself, Royal Father would be able to take care of all the state affairs. He¡¯s not yet impeded by his age.¡±


    Qi Yun¡¯s argument was valid and to the point. The third prince¡¯s ears flushed red in mortification. His words were spread to outside the walls. Qi Yun came to be known and respected as a royalist.


    Qi Yun had made sure to speak up for Qi Chen in his retort. Qi Chen couldn¡¯t be more pleased when he heard the news. His informant had described to him how the third prince¡¯s face contort that day. He was stillughing about it even in his sleep.


    Qi Yun¡¯s protectiveness reached the emperor¡¯s ear. Delighted, the emperor awarded him a jade scepter. Qi Yun was garnering more and more respect. Teaming up with him would win Qi Chen considerable support from the court.


    Qi Chen went to Jun Huang with his idea, asking her to introduce them. She pretended to be hesitant, saying that she was unfamiliar with Qi Yun, and that Qi Yun might not listen to her.


    However, Qi Chen was sure that Qi Yun would agree to her invitation. He heard that she¡¯d heroically saved Qi Yun during the battle. Qi Yun was a sentimental one. He wouldn¡¯t say no to someone who¡¯d saved his life.


    Jun Huang scoffed inwardly, but kept up a respectful expression. She nodded in agreement.


    Back to Nan Xun¡¯s manor, she told Nan Xun about Qi Chen¡¯s request. He nodded. He¡¯d anticipated the reaction from Qi Chen. He asked her what she was going to do.


    She lowered her eyes in contemtion. In the end, she shook her head. ¡°This is out of our hand. Qi Yun has rejected the third prince openly and gotmended as a result. Since Qi Chen intended to gain his support, we should see what Qi Yun thinks himself. It may not be a bad thing to let him take charge this time.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll let them meet,¡± said Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang nodded.


    The next day, Qi Yun, Qi Chen, and Jun Huang went to the most luxurious tavern in the city. Jun Huang remained quiet as Qi Chen poured wine for Qi Yun with a fake smile. Qi Yun was perfectly polite and calm.


    ¡°I heard that third brother has invited you to a banquet,¡± Qi Chen said, ying ignorant.


    Qi Yun looked up at him and nodded with a smile.


    ¡°What does fourth brother think of third brother?¡± asked Qi Chen, his neutral tone betraying none of his thoughts.


    Qi Yun snuck a nce at Jun Huang, who had been drinking tea without a word. After a brief pause, he said, ¡°This brother is a nobody. I¡¯ll obey anything the emperor says. I have no intention to infringe upon the emperor¡¯s authority.¡±


    Qi Chen was the crown prince. He would be the emperor one day. He therefore assumed that Qi Yun was pledging his loyalty to him, the future emperor. Satisfied, he exchanged a few more words with Qi Yun.


    When half of the jug of wine had been finished, Qi Yun stood up and imed to have business to attend to. Qi Chen didn¡¯t stop him from leaving.


    Once Qi Yun was out of earshot, Qi Chen turned to Jun Huang and asked, ¡°Do you believe what he said?¡±


    She looked up at him and chuckled. ¡°Your Highness already knows the answer. Why are you asking me?¡±


    Qi Chen nodded. ¡°Qi Yun is a clever one. He¡¯s epted our offer to form an alliance. The third prince is a nuisance. We should get rid of him as soon as possible.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s problem aligned with hers. She silently considered him and hid a smile behind the teacup.


    Qi Chen was drunk when she took her leave. She told the servants to take good care of him and had her people spread news about their earlier conversation. She then returned to Nan Xun¡¯s manor.


    The third prince flew into rage when he heard about Qi Yun¡¯s response. He wondered what Qi Yun meant. Ji Bo knew what Jun Huang was trying to do. But before he could stoke the prince¡¯s anger himself, another strategist spoke up.


    ¡°Does Your Highness not see what the fourth prince meant?¡± an honored guest with a moustache said. ¡°He¡¯s going to support the crown prince.¡±


    The third prince turned to him with a frown. ¡°What does the gentleman mean?¡±


    The honored guest said after a pause, ¡°The fourth prince said to the crown prince that he listened to only the emperor. There are no signs showing that the current emperor is going to take away the crown prince¡¯s title. Isn¡¯t it clear who the future emperor will be? Does Mister Ji Bo agree?¡±


    Ji Bo paused. He knew he was far from the most popr person in the manor, and yet this man had involved him in order to convince the prince. He scoffed.


    ¡°This gentleman agrees with what he said,¡± Ji Bo said matter-of-factly. ¡°The fourth prince has been staying at the emperor¡¯s side, though. I heard that the emperor has been close to him. He¡¯s not easy to take down.¡±


    The third prince understood their points. It was a shame that Qi Yun had not moved into his own manor. Instead, he¡¯d been staying in the pce with the emperor most of the time. Even though the third prince was angry, there wasn¡¯t much he could do.


    Jun Huang was stopped by Nan Xun as soon as she reached the manor. She looked at him curiously. He dragged her inside without a word.


    She assumed that he wanted to know what had happened today, so she stayed silent and followed him to the garden.


    They came to a stop in the pavilion. She rubbed at her wrist where Nan Xun¡¯s grip had left a mark. ¡°Why are you in such a rush?¡±


    Nan Xun stared deeply at her. To hell with consequences. His head had been filled with thoughts about Jun Huang the past couple of days. He needed an answer from her now.


    He took a deep breath, his gazending heavily on Jun Huang. The tenderness in his eyes made her nervous, but she was unwilling to just run away. She let her emotions ripple through her heart and met his gaze.


    ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for a while,¡± he said slowly, lovingly. ¡°You must know about my feelings. You¡¯re too observant to not to. Even so, I don¡¯t want the unspoken words to remain unspoken, and our rtionship to remain vague. Do you know what I mean?¡±


    Jun Huang stilled, her eyes fixed on Nan Xun. Then she lowered her eyes without a word. Just when Nan Xun was going to be driven mad by the tense silence, she opened her mouth and said, ¡°This gentleman knows about Your Highness¡¯s feelings, and I¡¯m deeply moved. Your consideration exceeds my expectation. I feel guilty for being the subject of the affection of a fierce fighter like Your Highness. I know why you¡¯d want a clear answer. Please forgive this gentleman for not being able to return your feelings. I hope Your Highness will find the right person soon.¡±


    Nan Xun stared dumbly at her. He didn¡¯t expect her to reject him so decisively. A heavy weight settled on his chest. He took a step forward and grabbed her shoulders. ¡°What are you worried about? Do you know that I¡¯ve been falling for you slowly ever since I discovered your identity ¨C no, since I met you? Do you really think it¡¯s going to be easy to give my heart to someone else? It¡¯s just as you said, Jun Huang, I don¡¯t have a big heart. You¡¯ve taken up all my capacity to love someone. How can I possibly find another person to love?¡±


    Surprise shed through her eyes. She stared at him, unable to utter a word. Nan Xun fell silent after realizing what he had admitted to in the heat of the moment.


    Silence stretched. She took a deep breath and pulled away from him.


    She waved a hand to stop him from talking. ¡°Please don¡¯t say another word, Nan Xun. Give me some time to myself.¡±


    He knew she meant it, so he didn¡¯t insist on keeping her. He nodded. ¡°Please give it some consideration. I can take whatever answer you give me, but remember to put yourself first. I¡¯ll leave you alone. Don¡¯t stay here for too long. It¡¯s a little chilly.¡±


    He walked away from the pavilion, giving her some space.


    Jun Huang knew he had kept his feelings bottled up. It couldn¡¯t be easy for him to walk away. However, she needed some time to sort through her messy thoughts.


    Even though summer hade, the shade provided by the pavilion kept the air cool, and the wind swept freely through her. After staying seated for two hours, she started to feel cold and a little dizzy.

 Chapter 226 - Nature’s Comforts

    Chapter 226: Nature¡¯s Comforts


    Jun Huang¡¯s mind had quieted down. She got to her feet and steadied herself with a hand on the pir. Once the wave of dizziness passed, she walked away from the pavilion.


    Nan Xun ran up to her when he ran into her and reached out for her hands. Her fingers were cold. He frowned without him realizing it.


    Before he could say anything, Jun Huang looked up at him and asked, ¡°Who else know about my identity other than you and Mister Ji Bo?¡±


    Nan Xun thought for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°No one else.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± she asked worriedly.


    He nodded. Only then did she let out the breath she¡¯d been holding. She rubbed at her forehead and said, ¡°I¡¯m a little tired. I¡¯ll go back to my room first. Please excuse me.¡± She broke out of his hold and walked away.


    He watched her go. He could still feel the texture of her skin at his fingertips. He stood in the garden for a good while before letting out a sigh.


    They hadn¡¯t talked about his confession. Nan Xun knew it would take a long time for Jun Huang to ept him. He had to first encourage her to acknowledge her own feelings and to allow herself the freedom to think about things other than revenge.


    The fight between Northern Qi and Eastern Wu had ended for the time being. Eastern Wu dared not make a move at the moment. Qi Chen wouldn¡¯t do anything to sabotage his opportunity to get on Nan Xun¡¯s good side. He must be looking for an opening still.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t going to stand idle and let Jun Huang run away from him. He left for the pce and ask the emperor for a day off before going straight to the crown prince¡¯s manor.


    Qi Chen was surprised by his visit. He hurriedly told a servant to walk Nan Xun in.


    He walked up to Nan Xun and cupped his hands in greeting. ¡°I didn¡¯t know royal brother woulde. Please forgive me for not giving you a formal wee.¡±


    Nan Xun threw him a nce. He cupped his hands politely and exined what he was here for. ¡°The battle with Eastern Wu had kept us busy. Now there¡¯s finally some free time. I¡¯ll like to take a short trip. Are you willing to let Gentleman Fenge with me?¡±


    Qi Chen paused, listing the pros and cons in his head. Nan Xun had visited him personally as a show of respect. With all the rumors floating around, he himself was convinced that Nan Xun and Jun Huang were involved. This would be a good opportunity for him to earn a favor from Nan Xun. There was no reason for him to say no.


    He smiled. ¡°Of course. However, Brother Feng is prone to illness. Please take care of him, royal brother.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s lips quirked up. ¡°Of course. We aren¡¯t going anywhere too far. I¡¯m only taking him to regions around the imperial city. Now, please excuse me.¡± He rose and walked away without stopping.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t try to keep him. He walked Nan Xun to the door and watched him go. A coy smile tugged at Qi Chen¡¯s lips. He sent a message to Jun Huang telling her to use the opportunity to get closer to Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang got the message before Nan Xun returned to his manor. She was exasperated, but also moved. She didn¡¯t know how to describe this feeling filling her chest. Her lips curved into a smile without her noticing.


    She simply nodded when Nan Xun told her about the trip. He knew what she was thinking. He didn¡¯t care if Qi Chen had given her any orders. He arranged this trip to let her rx and get used to his care. There was nothing to worry about.


    ¡°We¡¯re just relieving some stress. Don¡¯t feel pressured and don¡¯t think too much. You¡¯ve worked too hard recently. I¡¯m worried about your health. That¡¯s why...¡±


    ¡°I know your concerns,¡± she cut in, her lips curved into a smile and her calm eyes darted to him. ¡°I won¡¯t think too much. You don¡¯t have to exin. Thank you.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms, but he managed to stop himself. Before his confession, he would just do it. The worst that could happen was for Jun Huang to call him shameless. Now it was different. He¡¯d confessed his feelings. If he crossed the line between friendship and love, he didn¡¯t know what she would do.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t read his mind. She cleared her throat and turned away, feeling awkward because of his attention. Nan Xun turned away in embarrassment too. It was inappropriate for him to stare at her.


    They remained silent for a good while, filling the room with an awkward air.


    ¡°When are we leaving?¡± Jun Huang finally asked.


    ¡°Tomorrow morning,¡± Nan Xun rushed out. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared the coach. You only have to bring some clothes.¡±


    She pretended to not notice his mortification and nodded. ¡°If so, we should go rest. It¡¯s gettingte now. We don¡¯t want to leave with a tired body.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and left.


    The next morning, Nan Xun rose early and had servants prepare the coach. When Jun Huang woke up, he had already finished with the preparation. After having breakfast, they left the imperial city.


    They didn¡¯t have a set destination in mind. This was a vacation. Nan Xun took with him only two shadow guards to ensure their safety. Jun Huang leaned against the window of the coach, watching the green mountain and turquoise river. Her heart settled down gradually.


    Northern Qi was home to many magnificentndscapes. She had been too busy to appreciate the nature since she came to the country; seeing thendmarks with her own eyes made her heart pound.


    Nan Xun sat on her side and watched her. The tender expression on his face was pr opposite to his usual stoic face.


    ¡°How long are we staying for?¡± Feeling his gaze on her, she coughed and turned around.


    Nan Xun thought for a moment and shook his head. ¡°This is a break for you. I don¡¯t have a n as to how long we¡¯ll stay out. I¡¯ve made the arrangements in imperial city so that my people will notify me should something happen. Don¡¯t worry too much. We¡¯ll go through the different spots before we return.¡±


    Jun Huang curled her lips and chuckled. ¡°That¡¯ll be good.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. Noticing that her cup was empty, he quickly refilled it. She readily took the cup from him and took a sip before going back to staring outside the window.


    Nan Xun sighed in relief. Thank god she didn¡¯t cut ties with him like he imagined she would. He counted that as a win.


    The coach moved slowly. Nan Xun knew she wasn¡¯t used to the feeling, so he told the rider to be slow and try to minimize the shaking. She was therefore able to put her focus on the scenery. Many things she saw piqued her interests.


    When she was in Western Que, she had to sneak out if she wanted to leave the pce. There was very little thing for her to do. She had only wandered around the imperial city of Western Que and never gone far from home.


    After she came to Northern Qi, she had no time for anything other than manipting the political order to her advantage. She couldn¡¯t help being transfixed by the scenery now.


    Three hours passed. Jun Huang¡¯s eyes lit up suddenly and she told the rider to stop. Before anyone could react, she got off the coach. Nan Xun quickly followed her.


    A sea of flowers bloomed before her as butterflies danced in the air. There was a clear river with pebbles covering the bottom. People often said that the clearest water is no home to fish, but she saw fish of different sizes swimming about in the water. A gentle smile appeared on her face.


    Nan Xun turned to her. The sun poured gold onto her turquoise robe. Her dark hair dropped down to her side as she bent down. He could see her reflection in the water. At that moment, Jun Huang was no different from any other woman at her age.


    She stared at the water, fascinated. Nan Xun wondered how long she was going to keep staring. He walked up to her, intending to call out for her.


    Deep in trance, she failed to notice his approach. Only when he put his hand on her shoulder did shee to her senses. She stumbled and almost fell into the water. Fortunately Nan Xun was there to catch her. His arms circled around her waist.


    ¡°You...¡±


    ¡°We should keep going,¡± Nan Xun said with a smile, imprinting her embarrassed look into his memory.


    Jun Huang nodded and walked away from the creek with his help. She pulled away. Her expression reverted back to her usual calmness, as if all that had happened had been an illusion.


    She turned back to look at him after a few steps. Nan Xun was standing as still as a statue. ¡°Aren¡¯t we in a hurry?¡±


    Nan Xun jerked awake and joined her. They went back to the coach side by side.


    They left for a city not far from the imperial city. It was known for its architecture and ake within the woods.


    The sun was setting when they arrived at the city. Nan Xun took Jun Huang to an unassuming but clean inn. They ate and went back to their respective room. He told her to have a good rest. They would go out tomorrow.


    The travel had exhausted her. She nodded and returned to her room. However, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep no matter what.


    Every little gesture Nan Xun made revealed his feelings for her. His care and attention had be part of her daily life without her realizing. They had a good time today, but she felt a little uneasy.


    She didn¡¯t know where the feeling came from.


    She fell asleep after midnight.


    The next few days, she walked around the city with Nan Xun. The city was close to the imperial city, but it had its own unique charm. She¡¯d gotten used to the luxurious imperial city. It was a good change of pace to appreciate the nature here.


    Nan Xun¡¯s attentiveness won over her trust little by little. Before she realized it, she had gotten used to hispany. She sighed. Could she even live without him now?

 Chapter 227 - Mixed Feelings

    Chapter 227: Mixed Feelings


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes fluttered open. The sun had only just risen from the horizon. She stared at the distance for a good moment before sitting up. She put on a robe and walked to the window.


    It was still early. The vendors hadn¡¯te out to attract customers yet. Only a few people walked the bluestone-paved street. It looked serene outside. Feeling a little chilled, she wrapped her robe around her body and cleaned up. When she opened the door, Nan Xun was nowhere to be seen.


    Over the past few days, Nan Xun had been the first thing she saw when she opened the door. It made her feel a little off-bnce not seeing him outside. She walked out of the room with a frown, looking for Nan Xun, but it was one of the shadow guards that she ran into first.


    ¡°Morning, Gentleman Feng,¡± greeted the guard. ¡°Are you going to have breakfast?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. The guard took her to the first floor and ordered the clerk to bring breakfast to her. ¡°Our master ordered the cook to prepare some lotus seed soup for you early in the morning. He said that it was one of Gentleman Feng¡¯s favorites.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and chuckled softly. A warm feeling filled her chest to the brim. She looked up at the guard and asked, ¡°Where is he?¡±


    ¡°He wanted to take you to theke today,¡± answered the guard. ¡°There are a lot of people here this time of year, though. We may not be able to get shantyboat even though we have the money. Therefore Gentleman Nan went to get a boat early. He told me to take you to the port after you finish breakfast.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. The lotus seed soup was brought to the table. She finished it quickly and followed the guard to the port.


    There were indeed a sizeable crowd at theke. From their extravagant clothes it was clear that most of them were of high status or great wealth. Jun Huang followed the guard through the crowd with an eyebrow raised. The strong smell of cosmetics made her feel lightheaded.


    When she finally made it out of the crowd, she stumbled and lost her bnce.


    A pair of hands caught her. Without lifting her head to look, she cupped her hands and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± She was surprised and a little embarrassed when she saw who it was.


    ¡°Princess Wan¡¯er, young official Zhang Yuan, what a coincidence.¡± She quickly recovered and gave them a gentle smile.


    Wan¡¯er¡¯s delicate brows rose slightly and her bright eyes darted to Jun Huang. For a moment, she simply stared at Jun Huang. Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t notice didn¡¯t seem to notice her unusual reaction.


    Nan Xun was informed of Jun Huang¡¯s arrival and wasing their way. He smiled and greeted Wan¡¯er and Zhang Yuan.


    ¡°It¡¯s my day off,¡± Zhang Yuan said with a smile. ¡°I heard that the view is beautiful, so I took Wan¡¯er here. What a coincidence to run into the gentlemen here.¡±


    ¡°How have you been, princess Wan¡¯er?¡± Wan¡¯er hadn¡¯t said anything, so Jun Huang took the initiative to ask.


    Breaking out of her trance, Wan¡¯er lowered her head and chuckled. She could feel Zhang Yuan¡¯s attention on her. She shifted her gaze to him with a hint of shyness in her expression. ¡°I¡¯m good. Gentleman Feng doesn¡¯t have to worry about me.¡±


    Jun Huang could tell that their marriage was a happy one. Wan¡¯er had be even more stunning. They exchanged a few polite words. It was still a little awkward for them to talk.


    Zhang Yuan¡¯s boat had been led to the port. He turned to Nan Xun and said, ¡°Our boat¡¯s here. Please excuse us.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded, watching them get on board and leave. He turned to Jun Huang. ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    She smiled. ¡°They look happy.¡±


    Without a word, he took her hand and led her to the port, shielding her from the bustling crowd. She followed him quietly.


    It was close to noon when they finally got on the boat. Summer had only just announced its arrival, and it was windy in the area. The temperature wasfortably warm. They ordered some food as soon as they got onboard. Nan Xun broke the silence, saying, ¡°This is a river rather than ake. In two hours, we¡¯ll reach a royal garden. Would you like toe with me?¡±


    ¡°Why are you going?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    ¡°That¡¯s where the empress dowager resides. She treated me kindly when I was little. It¡¯s been a while since Ist saw her. Since we have the time, I¡¯ll like to pay her a visit.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded without a word, a trace of nervousness crept into her heart, unbidden. She took a deep breath and looked out at the rippling water. The blooming lotuses caught her fancy.


    There were fish swimming in the water, including some umon koi fish. Nan Xun told her that they were raised by different people before being put in the river. She listened quietly and nced at him every once in a while, the smile at her lips growing wider and wider.


    Nan Xun finally noticed the amused look she was trying to cover. He paused and asked curiously, ¡°What is it? Have I said something wrong?¡±


    She shook her head and sighed. ¡°I know about all that.¡±


    Realization dawned on him. He snorted at his own expense. He¡¯d forgotten for a moment that she had been a princess herself. Of course she¡¯d know about the customs of the royal family. It was said that Western Que was once a country partial to luxurious habits. Things like this used to be part of her everyday life.


    As if reading his mind, Jun Huang smiled and said, ¡°My mother loved the nature. She was as tender as the scenery in Jiangnan. Royal Father loved her deeply and gifted her with a replica of Jiangnan he built himself. Many people criticized him for being wasteful, but who knew that he did it out of love?¡±


    She chuckled, her expression soft and rxed.


    Nan Xun looked at her quietly. He wanted to tell her that he would give her a peaceful world, that he would build her a new Western Que.


    But he didn¡¯t. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t do it, but he shouldn¡¯t. He knew her. Even though she was envious of her mother, she would never let the walls of a city trap her for a lifetime.


    They moved slowly along the river. Jun Huang felt a little bored staying inside, so she walked out to the deck. The air she breathed in was cool and refreshing. A strong gale swished past her ears. She closed her eyes. She could hear the koi fish leaping out of and falling back into the water.


    ¡°Do you like Jiangnan?¡± Nan Xun asked.


    She slowly opened her eyes and tilted her head towards him. ¡°I heard Jiangnan was known for their dew-treated turquoise fabric. Li Yu of Southern Tang was obsessed with the color. It must have been something special.¡±


    ¡°Jiangnan¡¯s humid and rainy,¡± he murmured. ¡°It¡¯s not a good ce to live in. The climate is conducive to dampness-induced illnesses. However, it¡¯s a good ce for a short travel. If you like it, we¡¯ll go there after the world finally bes a peaceful one.¡±


    She was silent for a moment. In the end, she shook her head and looked over at the distance. ¡°We both know that there¡¯s no telling when the war between Northern Qi and Eastern Wu wille to an end. I only hope that Northern Qi will remain strong and the people will be safe and sound.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s chest tightened. He wanted to pat her on the shoulder and offer her words offort, but she was too clear-headed. titudes didn¡¯t work on her. They both knew the situation Northern Qi was in.


    They silently watched the scenery from the head of the boat. Jun Huang looked around with calm eyes while Nan Xun watched her quietly. His heart beat steadily, slowly. He was content to just look at her.


    They reached the royal garden. It was built on water. The construction took a lot of time and resources. It was one of the few ces in Northern Qi where a fortune had been invested. Jun Huang often heard people mention the garden. She was curious about it as well.


    Seeing Nan Xun¡¯s boat approaching, a eunuch ordered some servants toe help. They let Nan Xun in without hesitation. The boat went straight to the port of the garden.


    Jun Huang only realized then that the boat they boarded wasn¡¯t a regr one. She shook her head, a little embarrassed.


    She must have been distracted because of the chance meeting with Princess Wan¡¯er.


    The eunuch led them through a winding hallway. Jun Huang looked around. This looked like a utopia. What a rare sight in all of Northern Qi.


    ¡°Follow me and don¡¯t think too much,¡± Nan Xun said when they came to a red brown door.


    Jun Huang nced at him without a word. He wanted to take her hands, but this wasn¡¯t the right ce. They walked into the room one after the other when the eunuch opened the door.


    The empress dowager wasn¡¯t the only one inside. Both Wan¡¯er and Zhang Yuan were here. And the woman Jun Huang had run into a few times ¨C Shangguan Yue.


    She was surprised to see Nan Xun and Jun Huang. A sh of hate flicked through her eyes. Jun Huang ignored her and followed after Nan Xun.


    Time left its marks on the empress dowager. Her wrinkled face transformed into a smile when she saw Nan Xun. She patted the seat next to her, inviting him to sit down. Nan Xun threw a nce at Jun Huang before obliging.


    ¡°Yue¡¯er has been talking about you,¡± the emperor dowager said with a smile. She narrowed her eyes, oblivious to the fact that Jun Huang was here.


    Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang without thinking. She didn¡¯t show any reactions. Noticing his gaze, she turned away with a frown.


    They talked for a while. Nan Xun could sense Jun Huang¡¯s boredom. He made an excuse to leave and got to his feet.


    Shangguan Yue was upset enough when she saw Nan Xun and Jun Huang being together. She couldn¡¯t ept defeat. If she hadn¡¯te to visit the empress dowager, with whom she shared a familial bond, she wouldn¡¯t be able to even see Nan Xun. Jun Huang, on the other hand, was allowed to follow him around every day. It made her heart burn.


    She shot to her feet, attracting everyone¡¯s attention. She put on a forced smile and said, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out.¡®


    She stormed out. Nan Xun and Jun Huang bid the others farewell before following after her. She was waiting in the hallway. She ran up to Nan Xun as soon as they emerged, ignoring Jun Huangpletely.

 Chapter 228 - Tolerance

    Chapter 228: Tolerance


    ¡°Why did you turn me down, Nan Xun?¡± Shangguan Yue choked out.


    Nan Xun frowned and put some distance between them. ¡°I have no feelings for you.¡±


    She lowered her eyes and clutched at her shirt, gritting her teeth. She blocked his way without a word. After a long stretch of silence, she looked up at him with adoring eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve expressed my love for you, and yet you cruelly turned me down. I won¡¯t do this if I don¡¯t love you. Nan Xun, I¡¯m willing to turn a blind eye to the affair between you and another man...¡±


    Annoyance shed through Jun Huang¡¯s expression. Nan Xun knew she was displeased. He had never wanted to be involved with Shangguan Yue. He only maintained a polite appearance because she was a woman. Now, though, he didn¡¯t care anymore.


    He took a deep breath and said slowly, ¡°I hope Lady Shangguan won¡¯t forget about your shame and virtue as a woman. I¡¯ve been patient with you only because what happened to your family. Since the empress dowager is willing to take you under her wing, you should stop chasing after an empty dream and take care of her.¡±


    He took Jun Huang¡¯s wrist and pushed past Shangguan Yue. They walked away without a nce back.


    Shangguan Yue stared after him, her eyes brimming with tears and her heart throbbing in pain. She never expected a man to be this harsh to her.


    Nan Xun led Jun Huang onto a decorated boat. The sun had set. The view on the river was even more beautiful now than during daytime.


    The boat moved forward, making ripples over the surface of the water. The river opened up as they moved away from the royal garden and turned into another fork, which led to theke.


    In the evening, there were many more decorated boats on theke. A few smaller shantyboats roamed through the open space between the bigger decorated boats. Performance of songs and dances were held on a few of them. The bright moon hung low in the sky. Its reflection dyed the dark river white.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun stayed on the deck of the boat where two divans were ced as their seats. Between them was a low table. Shey on the divan and looked up at the moon, her lips curved into a small smile.


    ¡°Is it the fifteenth of the month?¡± she asked.


    Nan Xun looked up at the full moon and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s the sixteenth.¡±


    ¡°Ah, is that so?¡± She sat up and looked away, reaching out for the wine jug to pour herself a cup. Nan Xun wanted to stop her, but her unblinking gaze made him pause. His hand froze in mid air helplessly.


    She smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful evening. The moon is silver like the frost, and the view is nice. Wouldn¡¯t it be a waste of the scenery if we don¡¯t have a few drinks?¡±


    He thought for a moment and decided that she was right. It might also help lighten up her mood. He nodded and didn¡¯t argue.


    She filled two cups with wine and handed one to Nan Xun. She picked up the other one and had a sip. The wine was strong enough to make her tongue tingle, but it mellowed out once it went down her throat. It was a quality brand of wine.


    Her sleeves fluttered in the wind as she finished another cup. It was a good day. She was starting to enjoy herself. She kept drinking until she drank almost half of the jug. Nan Xun had a few more drinks as well in a moment of weakness.


    They were both a little drunk when the jug of wine was emptied, but Nan Xun was more sober than Jun Huang. He was used to having hard liquor when marching with the army. The wine they had tonight was more mellow, but the effect crept up on you. The moonlit night made them lose a little of their self-control.


    She threw caution out of the window and walked up to the edge of the boat. Nan Xun shook the haziness in his head away and followed after her, worried that she might slip and fall off.


    ¡°Careful,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s not safe in the evening.¡±


    She looked back at him, her cheeks tinted with red and her eyes as misty as the foggyke. Nan Xun¡¯s heart fluttered. He wanted to get close to her, but he didn¡¯t want to scare her away. He stood as still as a statue, his eyes fixed on her.


    Nan Xun had a high tolerance for alcohol. The strong wind over theke was enough to clear his head. Jun Huang, though, was still inebriated. She was somewhat of a lightweight, and she rarely drank ever since she was hit with the poison. All the doctors told her that she shouldn¡¯t drink in this state.


    She stood there for a long time with Nan Xun providing silentpany. The chilling wind made her skin sting. The boat had reached the port when she finally sobered up.


    It waste. There weren¡¯t a lot of people around the area. Nan Xun¡¯s shadow guards were the only group waiting at the port.


    They got off the boat and went straight back to the inn. Nan Xun watched Jun Huang enter her room before returning to his. She was tired. She plopped down on her bed immediately and fell asleep.


    The next day, she woke up early in the morning. The sun shone through the window, casting the entire room in gold. It was a beautiful sight.


    She propped herself up. Her head hurt so badly that she gasped in pain. Hangover wasn¡¯t a good feeling. She hugged her knees to herself and stayed unmoving on the bed.


    Someone knocked on the door. She looked up and saw Nan Xun walking in with a ceramic bowl. He ced it on the table and touched her forehead. ¡°Headache?¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°I brought some hangover tea for you. You¡¯ll feel better after drinking it. I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d drink more than you could handle. I¡¯ll remember to stop you next time.¡±


    Nan Xun med himself for her difort. Her heart soften as she looked at his dejected expression.


    ¡°Drinking can¡¯t solve anything,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not going to drink again.¡±


    Nan Xun rxed visibly. After he helped her have some tea, a member of the House of Heavenly Fiends came knocking. He handed her a letter.


    She frowned when she read the news about Yin Yun and Jun Hao. Ever since she knew that they were staying in Eastern Wu, she had put people on stake out duty to keep them safe. If they encountered a danger or made a move, she would be notified immediately.


    She did it just to be on the safe side, but it turned out her worries were not unfounded.


    Nan Xun took the letter from her. His brows drew closer as he read it.


    The House of Heavenly Fiends found out that Yin Yun had been trying to gather information on Eastern Wu. He met up with some locals several times.


    Jun Huang knew what Yin Yun was trying to do. She was both moved and scared. She wanted only for him and Jun Hao to be safe and happy. She would take care of the rest.


    Revenge was too heavy a burden. Not everyone should have to shoulder it. She thought back to how happy Jun Hao was when shest saw him. She couldn¡¯t bear seeing him weighed down by revenge. She might not be strong enough to protect everyone, but she wanted at least to protect those she cared about.


    Nan Xun could sympathized with her. He sighed and tried to find the right words to reassure her, but he couldn¡¯t. He shook his head and fell silent.


    Jun Huang closed her eyes and said quietly, ¡°I¡¯m tired, Nan Xun. I want to be alone for a while.¡±


    He knew she had a lot on her mind. He put the letter on the table and patted her shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s a cause to every effect. When you¡¯re worried about them, they¡¯re worried about you as well. You should be happy that they are doing all they can to help you. Don¡¯t think yourself into a corner. Treat yourself better.¡±


    She looked up at him and managed a weak smile. With a nod, she saw him off. The moment the door closed, all her strength and courage seemed to drain out of her body. She stumbled backward and fell onto the divan, staring up at the ceiling.


    Her head was a mess. She couldn¡¯t find a clear throughline out of her tangled thoughts. The only concrete thing was her memory of the time when she and her brother had been happy.


    She had just woken up, and yet she felt exhausted. Shey on the divan bonelessly, unwilling to get up. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to be a mindless doll. Then none of the tragedies would have happened to her, and she wouldn¡¯t be weighed down by her worries all the time.


    She was tired, but she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. Shey there for a long time with her eyes open. Finally, she got off the divan and walked up to the window. She could hear the cacophony of vendors¡¯ cries and crowd¡¯s chatter.


    She stood alone above the bustling activities. The cool air chilled her to the bone. She felt lost all of a sudden. What was she going to do next?


    Nan Xun was waiting at the door, listening to any unusual soundsing from the room. He worried that she would do something dangerous on impulse. The only thing he cared about was her safety.


    The door opened, breaking him out of his trance. Jun Huang¡¯s eyes widened slightly when she saw him. She smiled a little. ¡°I want to go back.¡±


    ¡°Go back?¡±


    ¡°Back to the imperial city,¡± she said calmly, her expression free of any hesitation and confusion. ¡°I have business to take care of. The mountains and rivers won¡¯t disappear. We can alwayse back in the future. I want to go back and do what I must do.¡±

 Chapter 229 - Forced Smile Phoenix Ascending

    Chapter 229: Forced Smile Phoenix Ascending


    Nan Xun nodded after some hesitation. Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t be happy if he forced her to stay. He had wanted to let her take a good rest, but that wasn¡¯t on the table now.


    He sighed. Jun Huang gave him a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about my health. I¡¯m better now. I want only to destroy Eastern Wu and take Jun Hao back. Even though our time together will be a short one, I won¡¯t let him live a life with no home to return to. I¡¯ll stay with him.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± He took her hands in his, his tone earnest. ¡°The House of Heavenly Fiends is looking for a cure. Maybe they¡¯ll find one and save you.¡±


    Jun Huangughed bitterly. They both knew the chance for them to find a cure was slim. Even if they did, there was no telling if her condition would still be treatable then.


    He felt a pang in his heart seeing her resigned look. He took a deep breath and pulled her into his arms, consequences be damned. ¡°No matter what your future entails, don¡¯t lose hope. It¡¯s good that you¡¯re now willing to think about a shared future with Jun Hao. Stop worrying about other issues. Once you¡¯re back to the imperial city, do whatever you need to do. I¡¯ll always stand by you.¡±


    She nodded slightly against his chest. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for formality between us,¡± he insisted. He let go of her for fear of offending her and cleared his throat. ¡°We¡¯ll return after having breakfast. It won¡¯t take long.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t argue. She was a little hungry. She nodded and walked downstairs with him.


    During the meal, Nan Xun was as attentive to her as he¡¯d always been. He knew her preferences. He always prioritized getting food on her te, and left little time for himself to eat.


    Jun Huang nced at him every now and then. She lowered her eyes and thought about the past couple of days. She had felt at peace and content.


    Once they returned to the imperial city, Nan Xun had his guards take Jun Huang back to his manor straightaway. The travel was taxing. Even a general like him felt tired, let alone Jun Huang, who had been gued with illnesses. She obliged reluctantly.


    He had to go to the pce to take care of some business. He promised to take Ji Bo back with him afterwards. Jun Huang acquiesced and let the coach take her away. Exhaustion set in once she reached the manor. She fell asleep sitting on the empress chair.


    When Nan Xun took Ji Bo back to the manor, Jun Huang was nowhere to be seen. When asked, a servant told Nan Xun that she had been in her room the whole day. He left Ji Bo in the garden with some tea before making his way to her room.


    The sun had just set. Themps in the manor weren¡¯t lit yet. It was a little dark, but years of training had given him a keen eyesight. He saw her on the empress chair as soon as he entered the building. He quietly approached her and looked down at her face.


    Her breathing was shallow. Her moonlit face was softer than usual. Her eyshes fluttered slightly in the wind. Her broad sleeves hung loosely over her arms and dropped to the floor. She looked unguarded.


    He watched her quietly. He could never get enough of her. She was so close to him. He could touch her if he reached out. Once he took her into his arms, he could just refuse to let go.


    But then she would grow to resent him. He couldn¡¯t bear seeing the light in her eyes dim. He could wait. He¡¯d wait until she epted him, until she let go of her burden. No matter how long and arduous this path would be, he was willing to brave through the challenges.


    While he got lost staring at her, she suddenly opened her eyes. Her eyes were as bright as the moon. Ayer of ice spread through them before her gaze settled on Nan Xun. Her expression softened.


    She watched him quietly. The moon cast a silver glow on his face, hardening the line of his cheekbones and the sharpening the glint in his eyes. She smiled at him openly.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± He was startled when she woke up, worried that his staring would offend her. He rxed when he saw the gentle smile on her face. She wasn¡¯t mad at him for that.


    She covered up her eyes. Her temples were throbbing. The pain faded after a while. She dropped her hand and nodded at him with a smile. ¡°Is Mister Ji Bo here?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded, pointing at the outside. ¡°He¡¯s in the garden.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡± She jumped off the chair and leaned outside the window. She could see Ji Bo¡¯s profile in a distance. She sighed in relief. Good thing he was still here.


    When she and Nan Xun reached the garden, Ji Bo was drinking tea with falling flowers as hispanion. They walked towards him side by side. The fallen petals added a sense of ethereal beauty to them. They looked like a match made in heaven ¨C a couple that should exist only in paintings.


    Jun Huang gave Ji Bo a smile and awkwardly said, ¡°I fell asleep earlier. Sorry for making the gentleman wait.¡±


    Ji Bo waved a hand casually. He didn¡¯t care about formalities. Heplimented the view in the garden at night. Jun Huang and Nan Xun shared a smile and sat down, listening to him talk. They poured some tea for themselves and didn¡¯t interrupt him.


    They exchanged some small talk. Jun Huang tried to find the right words to express her thoughts. Ji Bo and Nan Xun waited patiently. After a good moment, she looked up at Ji Bo and said, ¡°I¡¯ll like to elerate our n. What do you say?¡±


    Ji Bo nced at Nan Xun, who turned to Jun Huang without a word. That was enough indication that Nan Xun knew about her n already. He thought for a moment. ¡°What changed?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and said honestly, ¡°I found my brother. He and his guard are in Eastern Wu. Even though they are living under disguise, it¡¯s dangerous for them. I heard today that they were investigating Eastern Wu discreetly, most likely to create an opportunity for me. I should feel happy about it, but I¡¯m not. Eastern Wu will devour them alive. If they are exposed, they will die. How can I let their blood pave my path to revenge? I came to the conclusion that I must take action as soon as I can. Once Eastern Wu¡¯s destroyed, I¡¯ll finally reunite with my brother.¡±


    Her tone was genuine, leaving him no room to argue. He knew how her health was. It was difficult enough for her to think about what woulde after the revenge. Even so, they had to be cautious. Instead of giving her an answer, he asked what her n was.


    Jun Huang told him. He knew she had made up her mind, and her n was solid. He nodded in agreement. ¡°We¡¯ll do as you¡¯ve nned.¡± He added as a reminder, ¡°But remember, don¡¯t be hasty. You¡¯ve waited this long, you can afford to be a little patient. Alright?¡±


    She lowered her eyes. Themplight cast shadows under her eyshes, like two butterflies resting on her cheeks, obscuring the brilliance of her eyes.


    Nan Xun knew there was a block in her mind that she could never ovee. She was usually more level-headed than anyone, but not now. He echoed Ji Bo¡¯s words, ¡°The gentleman is right. You mustn¡¯t be reckless. It¡¯s exactly because this is the critical juncture that you should be patient.¡±


    She had been suppressing her frustration. His words were ones of a man watching someone else¡¯s home burn down. She scoffed and red at him. ¡°Your Highness doesn¡¯t understand my pain from your vantage point. You can offer me the advice, but do you know how difficult it is for me? What you consider asforting words are merely titudes. Ha, of course Your Highness doesn¡¯t understand.¡±


    Her harsh words hit him hard. He knew she had simply been keeping too much stress within herself, but he was of flesh and blood. He couldn¡¯t help feeling hurt. ¡°Is this how you think of me? I know you¡¯re upset, but it¡¯s not exactly easy for us either. You have to be calm at time like this...¡±


    ¡°Your Highness is always calm and collected. This is my personal affair. If you don¡¯t like how I do things, I can leave and disappear from your life.¡± She turned to Ji Bo. ¡°This gentleman knows I¡¯m not smart enough. That was why I invited you to assist me. If you disapprove of what I said as well, you may go and leave me alone.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t listening, not really. Her frigid words were as cutting as des made of ice. Even Ji Bo became one of her targets.


    Silence fell. Jun Huang turned around and took a deep breath to calm herself. She knew she was overreacting. She knew Nan Xun and Ji Bo were only trying to protect her. But she couldn¡¯t help it. Whenever she thought about the possibility that Jun Hao would fall into Eastern Wu¡¯s hand, she could think of nothing but going to Jun Hao¡¯s side as quickly as possible.


    She turned to them with difficulty and whispered, ¡°This gentleman has crossed a line. I apologize. I hope you¡¯ll be able to forgive me.¡± She turned back and walked towards the pavilion.


    Nan Xun and Ji Bo exchanged a look. Ji Bo shook his head at him, but Nan Xun couldn¡¯t stop himself from worrying. He could see how forced her smile was. Her outburst made him even more concerned.


    The uncertainty was torture. He decided to go check on her. He muttered an apology to Ji Bo and rushed towards the pavilion.


    Ji Bo sat down on the stone stool and took out his foldable fan. He shook his head. Perhaps this was how people were when they were in love.


    From a distance, Nan Xun saw Jun Huang standing at the edge of the pavilion. It sat atop a smallke in the garden, but the water was deep enough to drown a man. He thought that she was under so much pressure that she was going to jump into theke. He flew to her side and wrapped his arms around her.

 Chapter 230 - Secret Benefactor Phoenix Ascending

    Chapter 230: Secret Benefactor Phoenix Ascending


    Jun Huang was startled when strong arms suddenly wrapped around her. She turned around and met Nan Xun¡¯s worried eyes. She felt a little embarrassed when she realized what he was worried about. She coughed. ¡°I¡¯m just here to cool off.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you standing here?¡± Nan Xun demanded.


    She chuckled after a brief pause and pointed at the koi fish in the pond. ¡°I saw how at ease they were swimming in the pond, and was wondering how it would feel to be one of them.¡±


    He looked at her doubtfully. Under the moonlight, her cool eyes looked free of any impurities. She met his considering gaze headon.


    He let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that she hadn¡¯t intended to hurt herself.


    He looked at where she had been staring at. The koi fish did seem carefree as they swimmed. ¡°Even so, I don¡¯t believe you¡¯re someone who¡¯d be happy confined to a little pond. You have a big heart that care about the world. You belong to a prosperous city, not a little pond.¡±


    She chuckled. ¡°If I were a koi fish, I wouldn¡¯t care about the world or about getting revenge. My memory would be short-lived, and all that matter is thest moment and the present.¡± She sat down on a chair nearby, her expression impassive.


    He didn¡¯t like seeing her sorrowful look. He never wanted to see her frown.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you think about your future rather than dwelling on the past? Once you find Yin Yun and Jun Hao, you don¡¯t have to worry about anything but leading a peaceful life. Then you can marry a man who loves you... like me. Won¡¯t that be a happy ending?¡±


    She stilled, transfixed by the picture he painted. That was something she had never considered. She didn¡¯t need to be sessful and shape the future of the world; she wanted only to spend her life with thepany of someone she loved.


    She woke herself from the dream and reminded herself of her illness-riddled body. She lowered her head and snorted. She had let emotions get the better of her. She nodded at Nan Xun with a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. She didn¡¯t want to worry him.


    He looked at her silently. He knew better than anyone why her smile looked so forced and pale.


    The picture he painted with his hopeful words was akin to the reflection of a beautiful flower. Others might be able to take it easily, but she couldn¡¯t even touch it. It was merely a pale imitation of the real thing.


    Ji Bo got to his feet and stretched his legs. He was getting bored sitting on his own. He wondered how Nan Xun and Jun Huang were. He decided to go find them. Perhaps there were things he could help with.


    He got close to the pavilion and saw them staring into the distance without a word. He frowned. He figured out quickly what their disagreement must be. It was between the two of them. An outsider like him was in no ce to intervene.


    As for the current political climate, there wasn¡¯t much he could do. Jun Huang¡¯s n was valid. His responsibility was to push the third prince to self-destruct. The rest was out of his hand.


    When Ji Bo returned to the third prince¡¯s manor, the prince was arguing with his honored guests in the main hall. Ji Bo¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly. He thought for a few moments before entering.


    ¡°Where has the gentleman been?¡± The third prince closed their distance with a few big strides.


    Ji Bo could feel the tension in the air, but he pretended to not notice. ¡°I went to a new tea house,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s a nice ce. This gentleman will take Your Highness there when you have the time.¡±


    The third prince pursed his lips in displeasure. Ji Bo was his greatest asset, though. It would be to his detriment to lose Ji Bo¡¯s help. He kept his irritation to himself and managed a smile. ¡°I have things to discuss with the gentleman.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Ji Bo raised an eyebrow and looked over at the other men in the room, hiding the calcting glint in his eyes.


    The third prince never doubted Ji Bo. He told him everything, including their earlier discussion. ¡°Second brother is the crown prince. Our actions so far are too trivial to harm his foundation. That is unless he makes a huge mistake. What¡¯s worse, fourth brother has pledged himself to second brother. Things aren¡¯t looking good for us.¡±


    Ji Bo nodded after a pause. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°So we mustn¡¯t sit idle and do nothing,¡± said the third prince. ¡°I summon you today to brainstorm a good solution. We can¡¯t wait until second brother take the throne, can we? I¡¯ve offended him already. He won¡¯t go easy on me then.¡±


    His concerns weren¡¯t unfounded. Ji Bo scoffed inwardly. The prince reacted exactly as he expected. He frowned as he thought about the current situation. ¡°What were you talking about earlier?¡±


    ¡°They think that our side doesn¡¯t have as much influence as second brother, and we should find a way to change that.¡±


    Ji Bo nodded. He had an idea. He looked at everyone in the room with a mysterious smile tugging his lips. ¡°There¡¯s not much we can do but to expand our force. Your Highness has control over only the soldiers guarding your manor. If you fight the crown prince headon, you¡¯ll lose. We alsock good weapons. Even worse is ourck of money.¡±


    The third prince looked at him curiously. ¡°Money?¡±


    Ji Bo nodded seriously. ¡°Your Highness must know that the crown prince isn¡¯t aw-abiding man. He¡¯ll do anything for a quick money. It¡¯s not unlikely that he¡¯s umted a great number of weapons and suicide troops. Maybe he¡¯s even hiding a dragon robe somewhere for the day he ims the throne.¡±


    The third prince widened his eyes. Every possible crime Ji Bo listed was a capital offense, any one of which was enough to prompt the emperor to send Qi Chen to the gallow. The third prince was a cowardly man. He shuddered as he gaped at Ji Bo, drenched in cold sweat and unable to say a word.


    His finger trembled as he pointed at Ji Bo. On the contrary, the other men in the room were perfectly calm. It took some time for the third prince to recover. He took a deep breath. ¡°What are you basing your spection on?¡±


    ¡°Does Your Highness think that the crown prince is aw-abiding man?¡± Ji Bo answered with a question of his own.


    The third prince shook his head. ¡°Of course not. He¡¯s not one to sit idle. He¡¯s an ambitious man whose modus operandi is to plot against others.¡±


    ¡°If so, does Your Highness think the crown prince would act perfectly within the boundaries?¡± he asked with a smile.


    The third prince stared at him owlishly. Ji Bo had a point. Of course Qi Chen would dare to do things like that. He¡¯s the crown prince, the future emperor. He can be forgiven for getting above his station to some degree.


    ¡°What does the gentleman propose we do?¡±


    Ji Bo thought for a moment. ¡°Counterbnce¡± was all he said before walking away without stopping. The third prince and his group of advisors strayed further and further away from the moral route after his little nudge.


    He went back to his bedroom andy down. The third prince and his men were foolish. Once Qi Chen noticed his brother¡¯s wrongdoings, the two would be at each other¡¯s throat again.


    Having witnessed how the two princes fought endlessly, Ji Bo grew more and more appreciative of Qi Yun. He agreed with Jun Huang that Qi Yun was the right one for the throne.


    Within the vastnd of Northern Qi, very few men could be as patient as Qi Yun. Nothing seemed to faze him. It was as if he was unrted to all that happened in the imperial court.


    Anyone who knew where to look would know that Qi Yun wasn¡¯t ignorant; he simply had a broader perspective and didn¡¯t care about petty conflicts.


    Ji Bo fell into deep slumber. A storm was brewing at the horizon. Once everything was exposed under the sunlight, they would get the oue they wanted.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun went back to how they had been before. Both had put their argument that day out of their minds. Jun Huang returned to Qi Chen¡¯s side, while Nan Xun continued to train the soldiers.


    Today, Qi Chen was waiting for her when she reached the crown prince¡¯s manor. She didn¡¯t know what he needed her for, but she followed him to the study without a question.


    Qi Chen handed her a letter with a dark expression. She opened it and gave it a quick nce. It said that the third prince was nning to upturn the emperor¡¯s rule. He had crafted weapons without permission and cultivated an army of his own. He even hid a dragon robe and sold positions in the court for quick money. His crimes were listed on paper clearly. There was no way he would be able to get out of it.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know about any of these beforehand. Ji Bo had merely said a few words to the third prince. He couldn¡¯t predict if the third prince would follow his implicit directions. It turned out that the third prince was indeed a man possessed by his greed. He foolishlymitted offenses that could doom him for life.


    Ji Bo was the one who sent the letter to Qi Chen, intending to push him to act. That was also why he hadn¡¯t informed Jun Huang of the situation.


    She frowned deeply. It boggled her mind that the throne would be enough to make so many men so greedy. She didn¡¯t expect the third prince to go to such distance for power. He was even worse than Qi Chen.


    Qi Chen kept an eye on her and saw her expression turn from shock to disgust. It didn¡¯t seem like a pretense. He rxed and said, ¡°He¡¯s getting bold. I won¡¯t let him get away with this. The letter alone isn¡¯t enough to convict him, however. I want you to investigate this matter. Find evidence of his n to stage a coup.¡±


    Jun Huang agreed that the third prince couldn¡¯t be left unchecked, or Northern Qi would fall into chaos. She nodded and epted the task.


    Qi Chen fell in deep contemtion. Perhaps he should let Jun Huang meet his secret benefactor. She always provided strategies for him loyally. Even though he had doubted her before, the fact that she was willing to personally investigate Eastern Wu¡¯s operation base for him proved her loyalty to him. Besides, Qi Yun hade to his side because of her. One day Nan Xun might be brought into his fold as well for Jun Huang. He worried that Jun Huang might leave before that happened. Then he would lose a valuable asset.

 Chapter 231 - Counterbalance Phoenix Ascending

    Chapter 231: Counterbnce Phoenix Ascending


    In the end, Qi Chen concluded that Jun Huang should be informed, but not about the whole truth. He told her toe to the manor the next day. He had something important to tell her.


    Jun Huang was still reeling from the fact that the third prince was able to go to such distance when he put his mind to it. Qi Chen¡¯s voice jerked her out of her trance. She nodded.


    He patted her on the shoulder and told her to rest well. She nodded again and took her leave. She had things to take care of.


    She knew Qi Chen was going to reveal something to her, but she wasn¡¯t sure what that something was. The possibility that Qi Chen¡¯d tell her about his secret benefactor didn¡¯t even cross her mind. He was mistrustful. Even though she had served him for quite some time, he didn¡¯t consider her part of his inner circle yet.


    The next day, she went to the crown prince¡¯s manor. When Qi Chen told her that he had a secret force supporting him, she was dumbfounded.


    She widened her eyes, unable to process his sudden honesty. He looked at her and told her that the force supporting him had great power.


    Jun Huang listened without a word. The fact that Qi Chen was willing to tell her this indicated that he had rxed his guard towards her. She risked attracting his suspicion if she asked any questions. She¡¯d rather investigate afterwards than to try finding out from him.


    She made her way to Prince Nan Manor in a daze. Nan Xun had just returned from the training ground. He spotted her from afar. In her contemtion, she failed to notice a coach rushing her way. He dashed to her and pulled her into his arms, avoiding the coach by a hair.


    The coach came to a stop on the side of the road. The page boy came up to them and asked if they had been hurt. Jun Huang stared at the coach with her brows furrowed. It looked familiar. She must have seen it somewhere.


    Nan Xun noticed her gaze after sending the page boy away. He whispered, ¡°That¡¯s Prince Duan¡¯s coach. He should be the one inside.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s gaze snapped to Nan Xun before she turned to the coach again. A wind brought up the curtain before the coach sped away, revealing Prince Duan¡¯s profile.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What are you thinking about?¡± Her thoughtful look worried Nan Xun. He didn¡¯t want her to think herself into a corner again.


    She looked at the pedestrians walking the street. ¡°This is not a good ce for us to talk. Let¡¯s go back first.¡±


    Her expression told him that this was not a trivial matter. He nodded and returned to his manor with her. Once he¡¯d dismissed all the servants, he turned to her, awaiting her exnation.


    She told him about what Qi Chen had said and concluded, ¡°I suspect Prince Duan to be his secret benefactor.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Xun asked curiously.


    ¡°It¡¯s my gut instinct,¡± she said. ¡°Also, Qi Chen and his rtionship are unusual. All signs point to something big, but I can¡¯t find the evidence.¡±


    Nan Xun sighed. ¡°Qi Chen asked you to look into the third prince¡¯s treacherous actions, didn¡¯t he? You should take care of that first. Then you can worry about the rest.¡±


    Jun Huang agreed. Prince Duan had hidden himself well. She wouldn¡¯t be able to find evidence anytime soon. She might as well deal with the third prince first.


    She asked Ji Bo to meet her in a tea house. She was doubtful about the content in the letter. She had to get confirmation from him first.


    Ji Bo bluntly told her that everything in the letter was true, which shocked her. Her eyes turned cold as she said frigidly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect a cowardly man like him to be bold enough tomit treason.¡±


    Ji Bo snorted. ¡°He only did so because he had no other choice. Even I didn¡¯t expect him to go that far. It¡¯s uncharacteristic of him. I thought he¡¯d do something serious enough for Qi Chen to set him up and put him down, but he went further than that.¡±


    She scoffed. ¡°These men truly are willing to do anything for the throne, consequences be damned.¡®


    Ji Bo knew she despised people like the the third prince, so he didn¡¯tment on that. He told her to make her move now. The third prince believed he was going to seed, so he had pushed Ji Bo aside and refused to listen to him. It was imperative for them to take out the third prince now to avoid future troubles.


    If the third prince was left to his own devices, there would be a civil unrest in Northern Qi before Eastern Wu fell into chaos. Then it would be difficult for Northern Qi to fight back when Eastern Wu struck.


    She also wanted to convert those Qi Chen had assigned her for the investigation. She nned to use Qi Chen¡¯s men and funds to help Qi Yun. Qi Yun held the least influence in the imperial court at the time being. If she didn¡¯t do anything, he would end up being a puppet ruler even with the third prince and Qi Chen out of the picture. She didn¡¯t want that to happen.


    ¡°Qi Chen told you to get to the bottom of this,¡± said Ji Bo. ¡°You should seize this opportunity. I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°That¡¯ll be ideal. We want them to fight each other. Even better if both sides end up harmed to the point of no recovery.¡±


    Qi Chen nned to take action against the third prince after Jun Huang gained the evidence, but the third prince was getting out of control. He mocked and insulted Qi Chen openly during meetings. Qi Chen wasn¡¯t someone who could swallow such treatment. He got into an argument with the third prince in public.


    ¡°Everyone knows that second brother has been recruiting courtiers to his side. I didn¡¯t say anything when you insult me in public, but how dare second brother do whatever you want just because you¡¯re the crown prince? Royal Father is healthy. You¡¯re tantly challenging his authority. Or perhaps second brother is nning to force him to abdicate?¡±


    The third prince lost control after being subjected to humiliation from Qi Chen. His thoughtless usations caused a ripple of shock in the room.


    Qi Chen narrowed his eyes at the crown prince and huffed. ¡°Third brother is merely trying to change the subject. I don¡¯t know I¡¯ve ever recruited any officials to my side. Where has third brother heard the rumor?¡±


    It didn¡¯t seem like they¡¯d stop anytime soon. The emperor¡¯s temples were throbbing painfully. He mmed the desk with great force, making the two princes jump. They fell silent in face of the emperor¡¯s rage.


    ¡°Enough!¡± the emperor growled. ¡°Do you know where you are? This is no ce for you to quarrel!¡±


    His health had been bad ever since he was poisoned. Anger pushed him into a coughing fit, turning his face pale.


    Qi Yun frowned. It seemed like Qi Chen and the third prince were going to start arguing again. He was worried about the emperor¡¯s health. He decided that this couldn¡¯t go on. He took a step forward. ¡°Please don¡¯t be mad, Royal Father. Second brother and third brother were simply trying to shoulder your burden. You should put your health first.¡±


    The emperor shot a re at Qi Chen and the third prince before beckoning Qi Yun over. With Qi Yun¡¯s help, he walked away.


    Qi Chen calmly watched them go, while the third prince gritted his teeth and stomped as the meeting concluded.


    Outside the pce, the third prince stopped Qi Chen from leaving and said, ¡°Is Royal Brother¡¯s dark mood a result of me exposing your n?¡±


    Qi Chen looked at him coldly and huffed. ¡°You¡¯ll get what you deserve one day, brother.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?!¡± The third prince felt exposed. He had done what he thought Qi Chen had done. He was unable to respond with a forcefuleback. He tightened his jaw and red at him.


    ¡°Third brother should know better.¡± Qi Chen pushed past him and walked away. The third prince felt unease sprout in his heart as he watched Qi Chen go.


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t found anything even after days of investigation. The third prince must have grown cautious. He hadn¡¯t made an obvious mistake.


    Ji Bo noticed how she hadn¡¯t been eating and sleeping well. He was worried about her health. She would drive herself to the ground if she continued. He decided to offer her some advice.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do everything on your own,¡± he said after drinking some tea.


    Jun Huang looked up at him with a frown, puzzled. ¡°Does the gentleman have a better way? I was going to ask you for help, but as you said, the third prince has gotten out of control. He¡¯s been keeping things from you.¡±


    Ji Bo ced his tea cup on the table. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that there¡¯s nothing the House of Heavenly Fiends can¡¯t find.¡±


    His words were a wake up call. She shot up to her feet and nodded in agreement. ¡°The gentleman is right. How can I forget about them? I¡¯ve been so busy that my head hasn¡¯t been clear.¡±


    She smiled awkwardly. Ji Bo didn¡¯t say anything.


    With the help of the House of Heavenly Fiends, she stopped doing everything on her own. Those Qi Chen had assigned her didn¡¯t dare question her.


    Nan Xun was pleased that she had stopped running herself to exhaustion. He bought Ji Bo a drink to show him his gratitude.


    The House of Heavenly Fiends had many sources of information. They quickly found evidence proving that the third prince had secretly bought iron ores to craft weapons and cultivated his own army, which led to the discovery that he had sold positions and titles in exchange for money and support.


    Qi Chen couldn¡¯t stop smiling when she gave him the evidence. He wanted to show the emperor, but he worried that the emperor, being the mistrustful man he was, would question the validity of the evidence. He had to find something even more convincing.


    Qi Chen hadn¡¯t turned in the evidence to the emperor, but the court was already in shambles because of the feud between the two princes. The emperor had fallen ill in his rage because of them. He hadn¡¯t attended the morning meetings for a while. But even when he was resting, the news that the two princes had been attacking each other openly and under the table still reached his ears. His health continued to deteriorate.

 Chapter 232 - Mind Game Phoenix Ascending

    Chapter 232: Mind Game Phoenix Ascending


    Qi Yun stayed with the emperor every morning. It pained him to see his father¡¯s health deteriorate day by day. Even though the emperor had been absent from his childhood, they were connected by blood. He couldn¡¯t bear seeing the traces time left on the emperor.


    The more intense Qi Chen and the third emperor¡¯s conflict became, the more the emperor¡¯s hands shook when he read reports.


    A scroll was thrown across the room when Qi Yun entered the emperor¡¯s study. He stood silently for a moment before cing the ceramic bowl on the table and picking up the report. There wasn¡¯t anything new written in it. Another official was getting tired of the sh between Qi Chen and the third prince. He hoped the emperor would address the issue.


    Qi Yun put the report away with a sigh and approached the emperor. ¡°Please don¡¯t be angry, Royal Father.¡±


    ¡°How can I not be? Look at these two sons of mine. What have they been doingtely?!¡± The emperor broke into a coughing fit. Qi Yun hurriedly went up to him and smoothed a hand over his back. Helplessness made Qi Yun¡¯s movement rigid.


    ¡°Royal Father has to take care of yourself,¡± Qi Yun said worriedly, his brows furrowed.


    After a lifetime of being in the royal family, the emperor had honed his observation skill. He could tell immediately who among his sons truly cared about him. Qi Yun had been patiently attending to him since he fell ill. Genuine familial love was umon in the royal family. He was deeply moved by Qi Yun¡¯s gesture.


    With a sigh, he took Qi Yun¡¯s hand and patted the back of his hand. ¡°You are the purest man in this imperial court.¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t say that, Royal Father. This son can¡¯t be the only one who cares about Royal Father¡¯s health. There are loyal officials in the court still. Royal Father doesn¡¯t have to be so pessimistic. The most important thing now is for you to recover. The rest will fall into ce on its own.¡± Qi Yun was genuinely trying tofort his father. He added, ¡°Besides, second brother and third brother would like to share Royal Father¡¯s burden as well. They just want to improve themselves in hope that one day ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Ha, it¡¯ll be best if they can behave themselves,¡± the emperor cut in. The more he thought about how Qi Chen and the third prince plotted against each other in the court, the angrier he became. His eyebrows drew closer and closer. ¡°In the beginning their arguments were trivial. Now, though, they¡¯re openly attacking each other with no consideration to their familial bond.¡±


    Qi Yun responded with silence. The court was now a chaotic ce. However, Jun Huang had told him to not intervene and stay at the emperor¡¯s side. He¡¯d let the two princes fight it out.


    The emperor paused. ¡°It¡¯s good for men to be bold and ambitious. It¡¯s good for the two of them to work hard for the throne. However, what they¡¯re doing now isn¡¯t so much working for the throne as treading over their brother¡¯s body for their goal. It¡¯s disheartening.¡±


    ¡°Royal Father¡¯s... concern must have reached them.¡± Qi Yun wasn¡¯t sure how he could reassure the emperor. There were many things he had to keep to himself. He knew the more he talked, the more he risked making a mistake.


    He wondered if Jun Huang and Ji Bo had been facilitating the copse of order in the court. This wasn¡¯t the way the imperial court should be. It made him feel chilled to the bone thinking of the mastermind pulling the strings.


    The emperor got tired after taking the medicine. Qi Yun left once he fell asleep and walked out of the emperor¡¯s bedroom. He went back to his ce.


    The man he¡¯d sent out to investigate his mother¡¯s death came. Surprised, he ordered the others to leave and took the man to his study.


    ¡°This subordinate has found some clues, Your Highness.¡± The man handed a letter to Qi Yun.


    Qi Yun unfolded the letter. The more he read, the darker his expression became. Veins popped out from his forehead as he gritted his teeth, his hand clutching the sheet of paper. He took a deep breath and forced himself to let go. The letter fell onto the floor, making a soft rustle.


    He knew he must control his emotions, but he couldn¡¯t stop himself from shaking. He tightened his jaw without a word. The guard didn¡¯t know what to do, but he didn¡¯t dare to leave.


    A long stretch of time passed before Qi Yun waved a hand tiredly to dismiss the guard. He struggled to maintain his bnce before he fell to the ground like all his strength had drain out of his body. The letter was within his reach, but he couldn¡¯t muster the courage to pick it up again.


    He¡¯d never stopped investigating his mother¡¯s death. He never expected the emperor to be a part of it. It felt like someone had stabbed him in the heart and twisted the knife. He would never forgive the emperor. He swore he¡¯d do whatever it took to take everything the emperor owed his mother back.


    The conflict in the imperial court was building to a crescendo. Jun Huang and her allies stayed at a safe distance, calmly watching the two factions fight each other.


    The two princes had not gone easy on the other. They criticized and made put undue attention on every mistake the other had made. In response, the emperor calmly reced officials who were on the two princes¡¯ side. Many of the new officials were loyal and headstrong men who cared nothing about taking sides.


    The emperor would consult Qi Yun about who should be assigned to what position. Even though Qi Yun now harbored hatred for his father for getting his mother killed, he knew he must not let it show. He¡¯d worked hard to win the emperor¡¯s affection. He would not let his and other people¡¯s hard work be in vain.


    He was debating if he should build a faction of his own using this opportunity, but Jun Huang shot him down as soon as he brought it up. She told him to be objective, to putpetent men to important tasks and give those who could improve an opportunity to learn.


    As a result, Qi Yun would learn about an official¡¯s strength and other information before suggesting a position that was most suitable to the official.


    The emperor was happy with his pragmatic method. Qi Yun had a keen eye for character and talent. People rmended by him respected him, and they treated their jobs seriously. It didn¡¯t take long before they showed others why they were right for the job.


    Qi Yun never got involved in the conflicts between different factions. He stood alone in the court, untainted by corruption and infighting. It was admirable. Many officials had approved of him.


    Some volunteered their assistance to Qi Yun, but he wasn¡¯t someone who¡¯d lose hisposure because of this. He was calm and collected when the officials invited him to talk. He didn¡¯t talk about garnering their support in their conversation. His responses to their discussion on political matters impressed the officials.


    Qi Yun continued to stay at the emperor¡¯s side. Whenever he had the time, he¡¯d picked a topic and discussed with someone from the field.


    The emperor was pleased. Qi Yun was the only son he didn¡¯t have to worry about.


    When Nan Xun returned to his manor, Jun Huang and Ji Bo were arguing ¨C it wasn¡¯t really an argument. They were simply stubbornly holding on to their opinions. They often had debate such as this. Afterwards, they¡¯d each think about if they had said something inappropriate. If they had, they¡¯d apologize.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s wise,¡± Jun Huang said. ¡°Qi Yun has finally managed to stand out from the princes. If he recruits courtiers like Qi Chen does, he may lose himself in the process.¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± responded Ji Bo. ¡°This is an opportunity for us to see if he¡¯s the real deal. If he can¡¯t stay true to himself, he¡¯ll never be a good leader no matter how much effort we put in him. We might as well part ways.¡±


    Their conversation was sensitive. Nan Xun made sure there was no one around before he let himself rx. He approached them with a smile. ¡°What are you arguing about now?¡±


    Jun Huang waited a moment before she answered, ¡°There are courtiers who are willing to follow Qi Yun, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the right time for him to approach them. It¡¯ll be unwise for Qi Yun to try talking the officials into helping him. They value Qi Yun for his wisdom. They aren¡¯t trying to get on his good side because he¡¯s favored by the emperor. I believe we can just let the officials be and let others know that Qi Yun doesn¡¯t care about sides.¡±


    ¡°This gentleman believes that Qi Yun should get to know the officials,¡± said Ji Bo. ¡°If nothing¡¯s done, they may think that Qi Yun is incapable of judging the situation, and that he¡¯s not sensitive to the political climate enough to be a good leader. It¡¯ll be our loss if the officials throw themselves under our enemies¡¯ banners.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled at him. ¡°Then it¡¯s the perfect time to test if those courtiers truly want to assist Qi Yun.¡±


    It didn¡¯t seem like they¡¯d stop arguing anytime soon. Nan Xun interrupted them. ¡°Why waste time debating among yourselves? You should talk to Qi Yun. You shouldn¡¯t be making every decision for him. If he¡¯s to be a good emperor, he must learn how to make judgement himself. If you¡¯re going to take on all the responsibilities, anyone can be an emperor.¡±


    Jun Huang and Ji Bo fell silent. Nan Xun was right. They felt a little embarrassed letting go of the issue after debating for so long. Before Ji Bo could say anything, Nan Xun ordered a servant to send him back.


    Now they could finally have some peace and quiet. When Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang, she was looking at him as well. He could see the tired lines on her face. It made his heart ache.


    She had been busy plotting recently, trying to predict how Qi Chen and the others would act when she made a move. She thought through every action of hers and didn¡¯t dare rx her guard. She was more and more exhausted from the mental effort required to y the game. However, she refused to take a rest. If only there were replicates of her. Then she could mold the country to her will day and night.

 Chapter 233 - Dreamless Nigh Phoenix Ascending

    Chapter 233: Dreamless Nigh Phoenix Ascending


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯tmented on her refusal to rest, but it pained him to see her work on her nste into the night and attend to business early in the morning. She radiated exhaustion.


    Before he could urge her to rest, she got to her feet and said, ¡°I have unfinished business to take care of. Please excuse me.¡±


    She made her way to Nan Xun¡¯s study. Lately, she¡¯d run into some tricky problems. She asked Nan Xun for permission to use his study, and he readily granted her ess. He regretted his decision dearly when he saw the way she threw herself into work with no regard for her health.


    He sighed, sitting in the garden. When he came out of his trance, his body was numb from staying seated for too long. He stood up and stretched his limbs. After some hesitation, he made his way to the study.


    The setting sun covered the study in an orange glow. Jun Huang had fallen asleep sitting at the desk. Nan Xun walked up to her and sighed at the documents scattered on the desk. Gently, carefully, he picked her up and carried her to her bedroom.


    The servants dared not say a word or even cast a nce. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were sharp enough to kill. One of the shadow guards opened the door gingerly to let Nan Xun and Jun Huang in and then closed the door behind them.


    Nan Xun put her on the bed and tucked her in. Now she could finally take some rest.


    His handsome face was the first thing Jun Huang saw when she woke up. She was surprised to see him at bedside, watching her quietly. She sat up and looked around, her eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Wasn¡¯t I in the study? How did I get here?¡±


    Nan Xun covered her with the nket and said, ¡°You fell asleep. The study is a little cold. You¡¯d get sick if you spent the night there, so I carried you here.¡±


    She blushed when she imagined him carrying her from the study to the bedroom. It wasn¡¯t a short walk. The study was located in the front building, while her bedroom was in the back. She didn¡¯t want to even think about how the servants must have reacted.


    She took a deep breath to suppress her mortification, schooling her expression into one of indifference. ¡°You should just wake me up next time.¡±


    She propped herself up. Nan Xun stopped her from getting off the bed with a hand on her shoulder.


    She looked up at him questioningly.


    Nan Xun sighed. ¡°Stop working for a moment.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to rest as well, but at this stage, I mustn¡¯t get distracted for even one second. I know you¡¯re worried. I know what I¡¯m doing. I won¡¯t ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Nan Xun said severely, his expression hard and his eyebrows knitted. ¡°I¡¯m not letting you work a moment longer today. If you refuse to rest, I¡¯ll have you stay in the manor for the next few days as well. I know you¡¯re worried about the House of Heavenly Fiends, but don¡¯t forget I¡¯m in charge of half of the organization as well. I can take on the tasks you¡¯re dealing with. You¡¯re borrowing time from your future by overworking yourself. Do you see my point?¡±


    Jun Huang knew he wouldn¡¯t budge. She nodded. ¡°I know you¡¯re concerned. I¡¯ve been careless with myself. I won¡¯t do it again.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s expression rxed a little. He stood up when he heard someone knocking and walked away to get the door. Jun Huang used the opportunity to rub at her forehead. It¡¯d been a while since shest slept so long. She had a slight headache.


    She dropped her hands when she heard Nan Xun approach and put on a smile. He handed a bowl of supplementary medicine to her. ¡°I ordered the servants to make this in the afternoon. It can soothe your nerves. I noticed that you weren¡¯t sleeping well. You must have been too exhausted. You¡¯ll feel better after drinking this and having a good night sleep.¡±


    She nodded. Without a word, she finished the medicine in one go. Supplementary medicine tasted even more bitter than other types of medicine. The taste lingered at the tip of her tongue. She didn¡¯t let it show.


    She handed the empty bowl to Nan Xun andy down on the bed. She didn¡¯t feel like sleeping at all. She¡¯d slept for too long during daytime.


    After about the time for a pot of tea to brew, she still didn¡¯t feel at all tired. She opened her eyes and looked up at Nan Xun. ¡°I slept too long earlier and now I can¡¯t fall asleep. I¡¯m a little bored.¡±


    Nan Xun was thoughtful. ¡°Do you want to chat for a while?¡±


    That would be better than lying on the bed doing nothing. She nodded and started talking to him about anything and everything.


    ¡°What was your life in the military like in the past, Nan Xun?¡±


    She was curious what had made Nan Xun who he was today. She could remember how stoic and untouchable he had been when they first met. Although he was now gentle with her, she knew he¡¯d given her all the tenderness he could muster from his steely heart.


    He thought for a moment. ¡°It wasn¡¯t particrly difficult, but it was a lonely life. I was often left to my own devices while the others were busy with their duties. The border was a far cry from the imperial city. All I could see was sand. I think I ate more sand than meat during that time.¡±


    He chuckled. He had led a luxurious life as he grew up in the imperial city. Once he got to the border, however, no one cared about his princehood. If he hadn¡¯t been strong-willed enough, he¡¯d have died there.


    His tone was light, but her heart ached for him. She¡¯d been to the border with Qi Chen before. She had a good enough understanding of how life was there. Nan Xun had been so young when he first followed the army to the battlefield. She shuddered to think what may have happened to him.


    They were both preupied with their thoughts. After a long stretch of silence, Nan Xun asked about her past.


    She had a richer childhood than he did. She told him how she¡¯d snuck out of the pce with Qi Yun to antern festival and saved a street performer, and how she¡¯d learned a few tricks and yed pranks on the older servants in the pce. She was quite a troublemaker.


    Nan Xunughed quietly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be that mischievous.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t one to follow rules. Now I have more self-control.¡±


    There were things she left unsaid. There was no point in bringing up her pain. Perhaps Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t think too much of her words, but talking about her childhood was suffocating to her.


    She took a deep breath. She couldn¡¯t help thinking of the family she¡¯d lost. ¡°One time, I was punished for a prank I pulled,¡± she said with a hint of mncholy in her voice. ¡°My punishment was to transcribe the Book of Odes. I didn¡¯t have anything to drink for three hours. Afterwards, I threw a tantrum and refused to sleep even though I was exhausted. I didn¡¯t think I deserved the punishment. Royal Mother hurried to my room when she heard. She took me into her arms and sang a luby to put me to sleep. For a long time since then, I couldn¡¯t sleep without her singing voice.¡±


    She lowered her head and chuckled, her sorrow was clear in her eyes. ¡°That was a long time ago. How embarrassing I¡¯ve been.¡±


    Nan Xun looked at her without a word. There were tears in her eyes. He wanted to wipe them away for her, but she turned around and did it herself. ¡°Maybe I just need someone to sing to me to fall asleep,¡± she said jokingly. ¡°Will you do me the favor?¡±


    Nan Xun paused. He didn¡¯t want to say no. Her show of weakness was painful to witness. He hesitated for a moment and started singing the song soldiers sang as they marched to boost morale.


    Jun Huang snorted and looked at Nan Xun exasperatedly. ¡°It¡¯ll be good if I can fall asleep listening to that, but it¡¯s a little too stimting. I¡¯m even more awake now.¡±


    He awkwardly scratched his head and looked at her without a word. She thought for a moment. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sing me a luby?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know any,¡± he admitted.


    She didn¡¯t insist. ¡°Any songs you know will do. But no military songs.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. After some deliberation, he settled on a nursery rhyme. He wasn¡¯t the best singer, but there was a unique charm to his cool singing voice. She was captivated.


    Unexpectedly, she fell into a dreamless slumber.


    The sun was out when she woke up. The servants had already risen and were busy at work. She heard their hurried footsteps despite their attempt to tread lightly. She turned around and saw Nan Xun¡¯s side profile.


    He was still asleep. His usually stoic face looked softer with his eyes closed, the lines of his features further softened by sunlight. Jun Huang was overwhelmed with a warm feeling. There was somethingforting about waking up to his presence. If only he could be the first thing she saw every morning.


    She was startled by her thoughts. She¡¯d been too busy to think about their rtionshiptely, but she had to admit it was more and more difficult for her to live without Nan Xun. Her feelings threatened to burst out of her chest, but she stubbornly kept it bottled up.


    She was so lost in her thoughts she didn¡¯t realize Nan Xun had opened his eyes. Noticing his deep and mesmerizing eyes, she jumped and looked away.


    Nan Xun pretended to not notice her reddened ears. It was enough for him to be the center of her attention. He knew he had to give her more time. He mustn¡¯t get hasty and scare her away.

 Chapter 234 - Empty Phoenix Ascending

    Chapter 234: Empty Phoenix Ascending


    Nan Xun believed that he¡¯d be able to melt the ice encasing Jun Huang¡¯s heart as time went by. As long as he continued to care for her and protect her, she¡¯d one day stop denying her own feelings.


    ¡°Last night...¡± she muttered hesitantly. Her expression remained calm, but she could feel her heart in her throat.


    Nan Xun thought back to what happenedst night. He¡¯d sung a nursery rhyme for her. Once she fell asleep, he intended to leave the room. She, however, caught his wrist to stop him from leaving. Their conversation about her past had led to a nightmare. He could see tears streaming down her face.


    He didn¡¯t intend to bring it up. He didn¡¯t want her to remember the pain she¡¯d been through in her sleep. ¡°I fell asleepst night due to exhaustion... If I¡¯ve made you ufortable, let me know...¡±


    She shook her head. Images from the nightmare were still fresh in her mind. She hadn¡¯t forgotten about her moment of weakness. She just wondered why she¡¯d grown so dependent on Nan Xun. Perhaps it was always difficult to know yourself.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said with a sigh and sat up. ¡°I¡¯ve had a good night sleep. I¡¯d like to continue work on what I¡¯ve left unfinished yesterday.¡±


    She did sleep pretty well. He knew she couldn¡¯t rest easy until she took care of her business herself. Even if he stopped her, she¡¯d be thinking about work. There was nothing he could do to stop her mind from focusing on work if she didn¡¯t want to.


    He nodded and gave up on arguing with her. ¡°Do as you must, but you have to take care of yourself. Don¡¯t stay up working. Otherwise I¡¯ll force you to rest like I did yesterday.¡±


    She knew he had her best interest in mind, and was merely trying to take care of her. She chuckled in response.


    They had breakfast together. Nan Xun was worried that she¡¯d forgo a meal due to her busy schedule, so he stayed with her until she finished eating. Afterwards, he went to the training ground to train his soldiers.


    Jun Huang had a discussion with the man Qi Chen assigned her. She had ordered him to tail the third prince and watch his every move. The third prince had been cautious these days. The man didn¡¯t have anything to report until today. He realized that the third prince had gone to the same location alone several times.


    The man hurriedly came to Jun Huang and briefed her. She contemted the information with a pensive expression. Her instinct told her to remain vignt. ¡°Go back to following him and don¡¯t let him spot you. I¡¯ll talk to the prince immediately.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I think as well,¡± said the man. ¡°Since the gentleman agrees, we¡¯ll split up. I¡¯m going to keep watch on the location with a few men, and the gentleman should take the prince to meet us. We¡¯ll catch the third prince off guard.¡±


    Jun Huang appreciated the man for hispetence, but s, he was Qi Chen¡¯s man. She wanted to make Qi Chen¡¯s people hers, but she wasn¡¯t sure if these men were dependable, and if they would be loyal to her.


    Once the man left, she got to her feet and fixed her sleeves before making her way to the crown prince¡¯s manor.


    Qi Chen was delighted that Jun Huang and the men he assigned her had found the third prince¡¯s secret base. He shot up from the chair and patted her on the shoulder. ¡°With Brother Feng¡¯s help, there¡¯s nothing we cannot solve. I¡¯ve heard about the third prince¡¯s change in behavior. Brother Feng is indeed my best helper to be able to find his secret despite his caution.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t say anything. It wasn¡¯t the first time Qi Chenplimented her. He was used to herck of reaction.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give him what he deserves,¡± Qi Chen said through gritted teeth. ¡°He¡¯s set me up and taken out many of my supporters. What a despicable man he is!¡±


    Jun Huang was silent for a brief moment. ¡°What does Your Highness n to do?¡±


    Qi Chen had made up his mind. He scoffed and said, ¡°We won¡¯t let him slip this time. No matter what arrangements he¡¯s made, we mustn¡¯t give him a chance to react. I¡¯ll recruit the help of a troop and raid the location immediately.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned but didn¡¯t say anything. It was good that Qi Chen had lost his calmpletely. She wanted him to make mistakes. Besides, he¡¯d made up his mind. It¡¯d be bad to waste time arguing with him. She might as well let him be.


    Qi Chen noticed her thoughtful look. ¡°Is there something wrong, Brother Feng?¡±


    Jun Huang remained calm and expressionless. ¡°Nothing. I just want to ask if Your Highness is going to report to the emperor first.¡±


    Qi Chen shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no need. I don¡¯t want the information to be leaked. I¡¯m going to the training ground now. Are youing with me?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. They went to the training ground together. She spotted Nan Xun with a group of soldiers from afar. The weather was getting hotter. Everyone was sweating profusely, but none of them stopped what they were doing. She felt a little bad for Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t notice them. Qi Chen was able to easily borrow a group of soldiers by talking to one of his supporters. He was the crown prince. As long as his purpose was legitimate, only a fool would try to stop him from asking for help. Everything went smoothly.


    The two of them took a small troop to the third prince¡¯s secret base. Qi Chen didn¡¯t immediately rush in. He looked at the door with a cold expression.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t like how he looked now. He resembled someone from Eastern Wu with his venomous re.


    She took a deep breath. Before she could urge him to make a move, Qi Chen charged in with the soldiers. She waited until everyone had entered before walking inside. She widened her eyes in shock when she got a good look at the room. Qi Chen couldn¡¯t believe his eyes either.


    ¡°What the hell happened?¡± Jun Huang asked with a frown.


    Qi Chen narrowed his eyes and shook his head. ¡°There must be a traitor among us. The third prince was forewarned and moved everything out beforehand.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond. They¡¯de quickly, and she¡¯d had someone keeping watch the whole time. She didn¡¯t think the third prince would be capable of moving everything out under their scrutiny. Something was wrong. She didn¡¯t know what she could say, so she stayed silent. Talking would only attract unwanted attention and suspicion.


    Qi Chen flew into rage. He summoned the men keeping watch on the ce and made them his punching bags. Still, he was angry.


    Someone told the emperor that Qi Chen had called upon a group of soldiers without asking for permission. He summoned Qi Chen to the pce. There was nothing Qi Chen could do despite his fury. He took a deep breath and told Jun Huang to find the one who spoiled their n. She epted the order readily.


    This was a warning. She didn¡¯t think it had been the third prince. From her observation, this wasn¡¯t something the prince would be capable of. There must be someone else pulling the strings in the dark.


    Qi Chen rushed into the pce and knelt down at the center of the main hall. The emperor coughed and unsteadily got to his feet. He walked up to Qi Chen and pped him.


    The emperor was in a bad condition, but he¡¯d put all his force behind the p. Qi Chen felt a ring in his head. He gritted his teeth and said nothing to defend himself.


    The emperor was so angry he started trembling. He pointed a finger at Qi Chen and snapped, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Are you going tomit treason?¡±


    ¡°This son wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Qi Chen rushed out.


    The emperor scoffed, leveling him with a cold stare. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare? Is there anything you don¡¯t dare to do? You¡¯ve used the army without permission today. Are you going to force me to hand you the throne next time? Is there anything you wouldn¡¯t do?¡±


    Qi Chen was rendered speechless. He¡¯d been reckless, but he was merely worried that the third prince would get wind of his n and fled. He was also worried that the emperor might stop him from investigating.


    The emperor had calmed down after his outburst. He sat back on his seat and asked, ¡°Give me a good reason for your action.¡®


    Qi Chen looked up at him. ¡°This son received information that someone was secretly making weapons. It¡¯s too serious an issue for us to wait. I had my men look into it and got the result today. I worried that the perpetrators wouldn¡¯t surrender willingly if I went there with only my people. That¡¯s why I asked the army for help. That¡¯s reckless of me. Please punish me, Royal Father.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s mood recovered a little. ¡°How did it go?¡±


    Qi Chen lowered his head further in embarrassment. ¡°This son has failed. The perpetrators ran away.¡®


    The emperor snorted. After a long stretch of silence, he said, ¡°You¡¯ve failed to think before you took actions, but what was done was done. Since nothing of consequence has happened, I¡¯m not going to give you a serious punishment. You¡¯ll be deprived of a year of stipends. If there¡¯s a next time, I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡±


    Qi Chen was frustrated, but he didn¡¯t dare say anything. He epted the punishment and walked out of the pce.

 Chapter 235 - Laying Low Phoenix Ascending

    Chapter 235: Laying Low Phoenix Ascending


    Qi Chen ran into the third prince when he was about to return to his manor. The third prince threw him a re and left with a huff. Qi Chen¡¯s expression went dark. He¡¯d just been scolded by the emperor. And now the third prince came all the way to mock him.


    Jun Huang met up with Ji Bo and said without ceremony, ¡°Has the third prince truly been tipped off by someone and cleaned up his trace?¡±


    Ji Bo was caught off guard. He shook his head after a pause. ¡°No, he hasn¡¯t. The third prince thinks it was Qi Chen who took away his weapons. Are you saying it wasn¡¯t?¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. What was going on here? She told Ji Bo about what had happened earlier. He fell into a contemtive silence.


    Something was wrong. Where had the weapons gone? Who was the one behind everything? Why did he do this?


    ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing,¡± Jun Huang said calmly. ¡°Now they suspect each other to be responsible for their situation. The third prince believes it was Qi Chen who stole his things and set him up. Qi Chen believes that the third prince has erased his tracks to embarrass him. It¡¯s beneficial to us for them to keep fighting with no regard for their familial bond. What¡¯s more problematic is the mastermind behind everything. We have to investigate as soon as we can, or we¡¯ll all be the pawns on his chessboard.¡±


    Her analysis made sense. Known enemies such as Qi Chen and the the third prince were easy to deal with. The biggest threat was those hiding in the dark. Hidden arrows were difficult to avoid. They had to find those potential threats now.


    ¡°The conflict between the two parties would only be more and more serious,¡± Ji Bo added as a reminder. ¡°No one can predict what will happen. You must take care of yourself.¡±


    Jun Huang knew the situation she was put in. Qi Chen had introduced her to the other courtiers. Everyone knew she was Qi Chen¡¯s strategist. The third prince would target her after what happened. She could only deal with the threats as they came.


    She nodded to reassure Ji Bo and reminded him to be careful as well.


    As they predicted, the fight between Qi Chen and the third prince had be more and more intense. Many officials lost their positions before they even got settled, while those Qi Yun rmended had already embedded themselves in the court. Very little effort was required for Jun Huang to find out that those who lost their jobs had bought their titles from the third prince. The third prince was put in a difficult position between people he¡¯d made promises to.


    The conflict between two factions had be a full blown war. Nan Xun was worried that Jun Huang would get hurt in the crossfire. In the past, she was used to walking to the crown prince¡¯s manor on her own. Now Nan Xun had arranged a coach to take her around the city out of concern.


    Today, she went to Prince Chen Manor as usual. Nan Xun reminded the guards he assigned her to keep her safe. Recently, he¡¯d been doing this every day. He was as fussy as a mother, but she had to admit it warmed her heart every time he gave the guards the rundown.


    The coach came to a halt on the main street. Jun Huang didn¡¯t need to part the curtains to figure out what was happening. She ran into open arguments between the two factions a lottely. She was used to it. However, she was in a hurry today. She asked one of the guards Nan Xun assigned her to go mediate the fight.


    She stayed in the coach calmly. The two men had a personal feud beforehand. They refused to leave the street and insisted on getting a result.


    Jun Huang was exasperated when the guard briefed her. She parted the curtain and nced at the two group of men, then at the bystanders here for the drama. She sighed. She didn¡¯t have a choice but to get off the coach and take a detour.


    She was immediately spotted by the two men in argument. The one represented the third prince was a knowledgeable but condescending official. He blocked her way.


    Jun Huang looked up at him. The face didn¡¯t ring a bell. The man, though, remembered her well.


    ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this the men-loving strategist from the crown prince manor?¡± he called out in a loud voice. His intention to humiliate Jun Huang was clear.


    She didn¡¯t react the way he expected. Instead of getting angry, she chuckled with her foldable fan in her hand. ¡°What does that have to do with you?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t stand seeing Jun Huang¡¯sposed and graceful look. His words grew more and more unsavoury.


    ¡°It has nothing to do with me, but it disgusts me to see a filthy man like you in broad daylight. It¡¯s said that you willingly open yourself to the crown prince¡¯s intrusion to gain his favor. Tsk, does it feel good for you?¡±


    Jun Huang frowned at him in displeasure. She didn¡¯t want to start a trouble. She took a deep breath and said, ¡°The official works for the state. It¡¯s unbing of you to insult a nobody like me in public.¡±


    The official took that as she feeling hurt by his words. His smile widened and turned leery. ¡°Why would a man like you willingly open up for another man? Why can¡¯t I point out the truth? It¡¯s said that insidious viins and women are pests you can never get rid of. You must be the insidious ones in this case.¡±


    She¡¯d like to avoid a conflict, but the man refused to cooperate. He insisted on stirring up troubles and spout off insults without thinking twice. Jun Huang was furious, but she had to stay calm so as to not lower herself to his level.


    She took a deep breath and gave the man a stilted smile. ¡°You¡¯ve been unnecessarily harsh, sir. Weren¡¯t you born and raised by a woman? As for being insidious... This gentleman has always been honest and open. That¡¯s far from an apt description.¡±


    The crowd erupted into discussion. The official didn¡¯t expect her to have such a silver tongue. She¡¯d easily shift the focus to him. His face fell.


    Nan Xun was training soldiers in the courtyard. The guard following Jun Huang had left to notify Nan Xun when the argument started. After all it wasn¡¯t a simple matter. Guards like them were in no ce to intervene when an official was involved. Nan Xun would have to step in himself.


    Nan Xun saw the guard when he was on break. He had a bad feeling about this. Without hesitation, he walked up to the guard and asked what had happened.


    ¡°Your Highness...¡± The guard told him everything without overstating or understating anything. Nan Xun¡¯s face went red in rage. He said a few words to his second inmand before leaving with the guard.


    When he got to the main street, the official was still arguing with Jun Huang.


    ¡°You must have pleased a lot of people with that mouth of yours. Ha, you¡¯re a poor excuse of a man. How dare someone like you shamelessly show your face in public? If I were you, I¡¯d have jumped down a well to kill myself.¡±


    The official hurled insults at her with abandon. He was a schrly official after all, though. He didn¡¯t have a great repository of offending words. Jun Huang looked at him like he was a clown.


    She could take the verbal abuse, but Nan Xun couldn¡¯t. He kicked the official in the stomach. The official lost his bnce and face-nted into the ground. He yelped in pain and pushed himself up, intending tosh out at his attacker, but he was met with Nan Xun¡¯s furious face. Fear seized his throat and rendered him silent.


    ¡°Your... Your Highness... you...¡±


    Nan Xun paid no attention to the official and addressed the crowd, ¡°Do you know where you are? You¡¯re viting the state¡¯sw.¡±


    The crowd dispersed immediately. The man who had been arguing with the official was going to leave as well, but Nan Xun stopped him.


    He stared at the two opposing officials coldly and sent a guard to the Court of Judicial Review. He silently stayed at Jun Huang¡¯s side. The two men recognized the severity of the situation btedly and knelt down to beg Nan Xun for forgiveness. Nan Xun didn¡¯t even spare them a nce.


    A few runners from the Court of Judicial Review came not long after and took the two men away. Jun Huang asked, ¡°What do you send them to the court for?¡±


    ¡°Since they love arguing so much, they can argue in the court to their heart¡¯s content.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled after a brief pause.


    The housekeeper of the crown prince¡¯s manor came. Qi Chen had heard about the incident and sent him to deliver her a message. She didn¡¯t have to go to the manor for the next few days. She was told to stay at home andy low for a while.


    Nan Xun agreed that she should avoid the public for the time being. Jun Huang didn¡¯t argue. She told the housekeeper that she¡¯d be staying at Nan Xun¡¯s ce and asked him to tell Qi Chen for her. That was one less thing for them to worry about.


    Jun Huang was quiet on their way to Nan Xun¡¯s manor. She realized that he was still wearing his armors. He must havee straight from the training ground.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have toe in such a hurry,¡± she whispered. ¡°The man was just barking nonsense. He couldn¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    Nan Xun scowled. Jun Huang was too calm. That was why the man didn¡¯t think twice before insulting her. ¡°You can¡¯t just take the abuse without fighting back. Do you know how much his words would damaged your reputation? I was able to intervene this time. You mustn¡¯t let them off the hook easily next time. You have to teach them a lesson.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s lips quirked up. She didn¡¯t care about the insults. What angered her was the fact that a schrly man like the official would stoop so low as topare women to pests.


    She didn¡¯t voice her thoughts. Thinking back to what had happened, she recognized that there was a need for her toy low. The fight between the third prince and Qi Chen was getting intense. She¡¯d be caught in crossfire if she didn¡¯t stay away from the conflict. She didn¡¯t want to be defamed because of Qi Chen.


    Nan Xun¡¯s words irked her a little. She was the victim here, and yet he med her for her inaction. She fumed, thinking her home a better ce to be. ¡°You¡¯re right. That reminds me, I¡¯ve stayed at your ce long enough. If I don¡¯t leave, your reputation will be damaged along with mine. I should go back to my ce.¡±


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 Chapter 236 - Silence Phoenix Ascending

    Chapter 236: Silence Phoenix Ascending


    Nan Xun frowned. He was bothered by Jun Huang¡¯s response, but she seemed set on her decision. He knew there was nothing he could say to change that. He¡¯d have to try something else in order to stay with her.


    Jun Huang rxed when Nan Xun didn¡¯t say anything. She made her way to the bedroom she¡¯d been staying in and packed up. Once she was done and opened the door, though, Nan Xun was right outside with a pack of his own. She looked at him questioningly.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Nan Xun smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it. Your manor isn¡¯t safe, but it¡¯ll be troublesome to put a group of soldiers to guard it. I¡¯ve talked to my second inmand. I don¡¯t have to go to the training ground these couple of days. I¡¯ll go home with you.¡±


    His reasoning was solid. She didn¡¯t have a goodeback. It was unexpected of him to corner her. This was the most shameless he¡¯d been with her, but she found him endearing nheless.


    She stood there helplessly, unsure of what to do. In the end, she surrendered. It¡¯d be unproductive to keep pushing him away. Since he wouldn¡¯t give up on staying with her, she might as well let him be.


    Nan Xun¡¯s smile widened, melting away the coldness in his eyes. Jun Huang took the lead on their way to her manor. They encountered a few familiar faces. Those who were loyal to Qi Chen came up to her to greet her. Those in the third prince¡¯s circle abandoned their n to mock her when they saw Nan Xun. His status in the court was undeniable.


    Jun Huang rxed when they reached her manor. There was an odd tension in the air on their way here. Nan Xun thought differently. He enjoyed the walk with her. It was something they hadn¡¯t done often.


    Little Girl was excited to hear that Jun Huang wasing back. She ordered the servants to clean up the rooms and had the cooks prepare Jun Huang¡¯s favorite food. She herself brewed a pot of fine tea for Jun Huang.


    Her hard work was interrupted when someone announced that Jun Huang had returned. She stopped what she was doing and rushed to the door to wee her.


    Jun Huang was happy to see Little Girl, who¡¯d grown more and more beautiful. The girl had been with her for a while, and she was easy to like. Jun Huang had been too busy toe check on hertely. It made her feel a little nostalgic to see how much the girl had changed. She entered the manor with Little Girl on her side.


    She was amazed by how much her manor had changed. The fake mountain in the garden between the east wing and the west wing was now connected to a water source. Clear stream rushed down from on top of the mountain. It was a refreshing sight in summertime.


    The winding hallway was now hung with a great number of ssmps. The paintings on themps were finely drawn. Jun Huang kept looking up in fascination. She was moved by Little Girl¡¯s gesture.


    ¡°You¡¯ve be more mature,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Your consideration is endearing.¡±


    Little Girl blushed and threw a nce at Nan Xun, who had been trailing after them silently. ¡°The gentleman has been too kind. I can¡¯t find those items on my own. The prince was the one who bought them. He said that the gentleman likedmps like those, and it turns out you do. The prince indeed knows you well.¡±


    Jun Huang turned around to look at Nan Xun, who coughed and averted his gaze a little bashfully. A soft smile found its ce to her face. She looked at him with gentle eyes. Her turquoise robe fluttered in the wind, entuating her grace.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Your Highness was this good at pleasing people,¡± she said teasingly.


    Nan Xun blushed slightly. Under the sun, no one noticed anything unusual about him. The servants thought he was merely feeling warm. They led Nan Xun and Jun Huang to a pavilion for some tea with flowers as theirpany.


    Evening came. Themps were lit and the sight captivated her even more. She walked along the hallway, looking up at the colorfulmps. She could drown in the vibrant colors.


    Nan Xun walked out of the west wing, watching her from a distance. Lamplight covered her in a warm, fuzzy glow. Everything else fell away in contrast to her beauty.


    Jun Huang had felt his heated gaze. She lowered her head and turned to him. Her cool eyes sent a thrill down Nan Xun¡¯s spine. He could almost feel it in his bones. He couldn¡¯t let go of that feeling.


    ¡°Have the servants prepared a room for you?¡± Jun Huang asked as she walked up to him.


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°They have.¡±


    They quietly walked in the dark with Jun Huang taking the lead, and Nan Xun a silent shadow behind her.


    Little Girl announced that dinner was ready. She asked if they¡¯d like to eat now.


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun and nodded. They made their way to the main hall and took their seats. Jun Huang had her head and eyes lowered when she ate. She didn¡¯t eat much. Her movement was elegant and mesmerizing. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help sneaking nces at her. He quickly looked away when she looked up at him.


    Afterwards, they walked toward their bedrooms to rest. Nan Xun grabbed her hand and said seriously, ¡°I... hope you aren¡¯t mad at me for what happened in the morning.¡±


    She looked up at him. Under the moonlight, he looked cold and frigid. His tender eyes weren¡¯t enough to soften his forceful presence. She chuckled quietly. ¡°Do you still remember that you¡¯re a general?¡±


    Nan Xun pursed his lips and let go of her hand. ¡°You should go to bed early,¡± he said wryly. ¡°It¡¯s been some time since youst trained in martial arts. I¡¯ll wake you up tomorrow.¡±


    Jun Huang knew she was pushing everyone away. If Nan Xun hadn¡¯t taken the first step, they¡¯d have been nothing but strangers. He was the war god everyone feared on battlefields, and yet he met her with gentle smiles and surrendered to her will again and again. She would be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t moved. And yet...


    She had things she had to do, and her health was getting worse. She didn¡¯t want to be the stumbling block on his path to happiness.


    She shook her head and went to her bedroom.


    It was summertime. The south wing was adjacent to the garden. The cacophony of frogs chirping and cicadas singing should have been rxing, but it kept her up at night. She didn¡¯t fall asleep until the nightwatcher hit the gong.


    Early in the morning, Nan Xun woke up and went to the south wing. He knocked on the door and pushed it open after he heard the soundsing from inside. Jun Huang had gotten changed and was washing her face.


    ¡°You¡¯re up,¡± he said with a chuckle. ¡°I thought you¡¯d still be sleeping.¡±


    Jun Huang had woken up properly after sshing water over her face. She turned to him. ¡°You train every morning, and you¡¯ve saidst night that we¡¯d train today. I can¡¯t turn you down.¡±


    Her words put an invisible wall between them. He didn¡¯t know what to say when her points were perfectly valid. He looked at her without a word.


    Jun Huang realized the problem. She smiled a little and didn¡¯t say anything.


    They came to the garden. It wasn¡¯t big, but it was spacious enough for them to train in. The morning training regime wasn¡¯t as intense as that of other time periods. It was for them to warm up their muscles and stretch their tendons. They had done this before. Normally she didn¡¯t require much supervising.


    Today, though, Nan Xun noticed that she wasn¡¯t looking so good. He kept a close eye on her, worried that something would happen and go unnoticed by him.


    They trained in silence. Jun Huang started practicing with a sword after warming up. Nan Xun trained in hand-to-handbat next to her. They left each other with their own space, but asionally they would exchange a nce.


    Days had passed without idents. The two of them trained in the garden every morning when the day only just broke, unbothered by anyone else.


    Jun Huang had be weaker and weaker. It was getting more and more difficult for her to keep up with the training regime. She managed fine in the beginning, but now she was barely hanging on. She didn¡¯t sleep well at night, and she was drowsy when she trained. Nan Xun was nervous for her.


    Now, she was practicing a few moves under the tree in the garden. She hit the tree trunk with a knifehand strike, splitting through cold air and shaking the tree slightly. Birds perching on the tree took to air, startled, and leaves fell down from the branches due to the impact.


    A shock of pain shot through her head. She cked out and fell over. Nan Xun was startled into action and caught her just in time.


    He felt her pulse. Her breathing was steady, like she was simply sleeping. He didn¡¯t dare rx. He was going to carry her back to her room and send for a doctor, but she came to before he did anything.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked worriedly. ¡°How do you feel?¡±


    Jun Huang rubbed at her forehead and pulled away. She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just a little tired. I¡¯ll be alright after sitting down for a bit.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Nan Xun was still worried. He helped Jun Huang to a stone stool.


    She smiled. ¡°I know my condition. Don¡¯t worry. If something¡¯s wrong, I¡¯ll tell you immediately.¡±


    He let out a sigh of relief. He was going to stay with Jun Huang for a while, but she didn¡¯t want to bother him. She told him to go back to his training. She¡¯d continue after a short rest.


    A trace of concern lingered in his heart, but he couldn¡¯t say no to Jun Huang. He nodded and continued training not far from her. He looked over at her every once in a while. His heart settled gradually when she remained awake and well.


    She recovered some of her strength after resting. She didn¡¯t know what was going on. She med her sudden copse on herck of sleep recently.

 Chapter 237 - Proven righ Phoenix Ascending

    Chapter 237: Proven righ Phoenix Ascending


    Jun Huang was getting antsy watching Nan Xun train. After a short break, she stood up and resumed her sword practice. She executed every move perfectly and smoothly. Nan Xun allowed himself to rx.


    After a while, though, Jun Huang¡¯s wrists gone weak and the sword flew out of her hand. She copsed to the ground before she could call out a warning. Nan Xun had been keeping an eye on her; he noticed the sword immediately. With a frown, he took a side step and caught the sword by its hilt. He then rushed to her side and picked her up, carrying her to her bedroom.


    Jun Huang woke up after some time. When she opened her eyes, Nan Xun was looking at her with worried eyes. Warmth bloomed within her chest. She¡¯d grown to love the peace and serenity of a life with him. Her heart went soft every time she woke up to him by her side.


    Nan Xun loved being able to see her every day. It warmed his heart to imagine spending his life with her.


    The moment of peace didn¡¯tst. Nan Xun sighed in relief once she woke up and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on with your health?¡±


    Jun Huang felt embarrassed when she thought about what had happened during the morning training. She looked away with her head lowered.


    Nan Xun refused to let it go. He repeated his question again.


    He wouldn¡¯t give up until he got an answer. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t stay silent forever. She told him that she hadn¡¯t been sleeping well, but she wasn¡¯t sure if that was the source of the problem.


    She wasn¡¯t too worried about herself, but Nan Xun thought otherwise. He wanted to send for a doctor. She didn¡¯t let him.


    ¡°This is a critical time. Everything we do is under scrutiny. I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll recover after a few days of resting. Our effort will be in vain if something go wrong on our side. That¡¯s thest thing I want.¡±


    Her tone was distant and her eyes were cool as they settled on Nan Xun. There was something about her gaze thatpelled him to do as she said.


    He sighed and stopped arguing with her.


    They spent the next few days together day and night. Since Jun Huang¡¯s wasn¡¯t in a good condition, Nan Xun stopped asking her to train with him at dawn. He told her to get more rest.


    Every morning after training, he¡¯d told the cooks to make a bowl of in congee and put supplementary medicine in it.


    Time passed slowly, but Nan Xun didn¡¯t find such a life boring. Living together with Jun Huang made him feel as if they had been married for a long time. It filled his heart with uncharacteristic glee. This was the kind of life he yearned for. He didn¡¯t want to go back to the cold and monotonous life he had been living.


    Jun Huang could see that his eyes had gone even softer when he looked at her. She didn¡¯t point it out. She was often quiet when they were together, but there was usually a smile tugging at her lips. They read books in the garden together and appreciated the flowers together. Life couldn¡¯t be better.


    She recovered under Nan Xun¡¯s attentive care. She got more clear-headed as well. He rxed somewhat.


    There was a storm brewing in the imperial court. Jun Huang¡¯s manor was the only patch of peacefulnd in the city. There were people who came to seek out Nan Xun, but they were turned away by his subordinates. His subordinates would tell him what those people were here for after Nan Xun retired to his room.


    Nan Xun would give the people who sought him out some consideration, but he never paid them too much attention. This was a rare chance for him to stay with Jun Huang. He didn¡¯t want it to go to waste.


    Today, Jun Huang and Nan Xun were again in the garden enjoying the sight of the flowers. Many of them had bloomed recently. The warm weather was perfect for the butterflies toe out and dance around the flowers.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes were soft, and her lips curved into a faint smile. Nan Xun watched her quietly with a loving expression.


    The housekeeper of Prince Chen Manor spotted them from afar. He didn¡¯t want to interrupt their peace, but he had a message for Jun Huang. He reluctantly approached them.


    ¡°Gentleman Feng,¡± he called out with an apologetic smile.


    Jun Huang turned around and saw him. She nced at Nan Xun before giving the housekeeper a smile and asked quietly, ¡°What is the housekeeper here for?¡±


    The housekeeper snuck a nce at Nan Xun before answering, ¡°The prince has invited the gentleman to the manor for a talk.¡±


    Jun Huang arched an eyebrow. There must be something more to it. She had a feeling this was a conversation she shouldn¡¯t miss. She turned to Nan Xun and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    Nan Xun was worried that something might happen if she went alone. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no need. You should do what you need to do.¡±


    She followed the housekeeper to the crown prince¡¯s manor. She had a lot of questions, but she knew she shouldn¡¯t ask the housekeeper. They were outside, and the housekeeper hade to get her personally. This was bigger than she thought.


    They made their way to the crown prince¡¯s manor in silence. There were a lot more guards outside than usual. That gave her some ideas about what was happening.


    Someone important must havee to the manor. She wondered if it was the one she expected it to be.


    They walked through the winding hallway to the study. Qi Chen was the only one inside. She looked at him curiously and wondered what Qi Chen was nning. She knew it¡¯d be unwise for her to voice her questions. She greeted him with a smile. ¡°What has Your Highness summoned me on such short notice for?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard about what happenedst time,¡± Qi Chen said worriedly, not responding to her question. ¡°What a hateful man he is! Don¡¯t worry, Brother Feng. I¡¯ve talked to those in the Court of Judicial Review. We¡¯ll give him the punishment he deserves.¡±


    Jun Huang snorted silently, keeping up a calm face as she looked up at him. ¡°Thank you, Your Highness.¡±


    Noticing her sickly look, Qi Chen invited her to sit down and poured her a cup of tea. ¡°Those loyal to the third prince have been getting more and more infuriating. They went against me in the court openly. Royal Father insisted on staying neutral and never intervened. I believe that it¡¯s high time we get rid of the third prince. He¡¯s crossed a line. I ask you here to discuss how we should take him out.¡±


    Jun Huang had an idea about what Qi Chen was going to do, but she didn¡¯t expect him to be this impatient. The third prince did have to be taken care of. Even if Qi Chen hadn¡¯t brought it up, she¡¯d do it herself. Now that Qi Chen had brought it up, she could just follow his lead.


    She nodded. ¡°Your Highness is right. However, the third prince isn¡¯t as easy to deal with as we expected. We should be cautious ande up with a n first.¡®


    ¡°The gentleman is overly cautious,¡± another man said. Jun Huang widened her eyes slightly. Qi Chen calmly walked behind the screen and led the man ¨C Prince Duan ¨C out.


    Jun Huang stood up and came up to Prince Duan with her hands cupped. She didn¡¯t even have the time to be shocked. ¡°This gentleman Feng Baiyu greets Your Highness Prince Duan.¡±


    Prince Duan waved a hand in the air, indicating her to stop with the formalities. He took a seat and continued, ¡°The third prince possessed courage but not intellect. He was able to get to this point only because there was a wise man helping him.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness is right,¡± Jun Huang said, considering Prince Duan from the corner of her eye. ¡°Many people in the imperial city invite guests to their manor to make ns for them. It¡¯s no surprise that the third prince has done the same.¡±


    Prince Duan scoffed. ¡°It¡¯d be a woeful underestimation to call him a guest.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart sank. She knew she must stay calm. She yed ignorant and asked in a surprised tone, ¡°Does Your Highness know who the person assisting the third prince is?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Ji Bo.¡±


    ¡°The wise Ji Bo?¡± Qi Chen asked with a shocked expression.


    Prince Duan nodded without a word and let Qi Chen digest the information. Qi Chen too thought that someone reckless like the third prince shouldn¡¯t be able to stir up such a big trouble. There must be something or someone that gave the third prince the confidence to go against him. He was hesitant to ept Ji Bo as the answer. Ji Bo was someone who never got involved in conflicts in the court.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how the third prince recruited Ji Bo, but I¡¯m sure that Ji Bo is living in his manor,¡± Prince Duan said cooly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if we take out the third prince. As long as mister Ji Bo is out of the picture, so will the prince.¡±


    Qi Chen nodded in agreement.


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart jumped to her throat. Her expression didn¡¯t betray her emotions, but her palms were covered in sweat.


    After the discussion, Prince Duan turned to Jun Huang with sharp eyes. Jun Huang averted her gaze.


    ¡°What do you think, Gentleman Feng?¡± asked Prince Duan.


    ¡°Well...¡± She took a deep breath to calm herself and put on a smile. ¡°Your Highness may not know that many strategists consider Mister Ji Bo a role model. He¡¯s one of the most talented man of this generation. This gentleman naturally admires him greatly as well, and would like to make his acquaintance. I didn¡¯t expect him toe to the imperial city. Your Highness and the crown prince are right, but this gentleman believes that it¡¯ll be even better if we can get Mister Ji Bo to join our side.¡±


    Her arguments were solid, but her heart refused to settle down. There was something odd about the way Prince Duan was looking at her.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t notice anything wrong. He introduced her to Prince Duan with great seriousness and told Prince Duan how much she¡¯d helped him.


    Prince Duan nodded. ¡°It¡¯s natural to appreciate a great talent. However, Gentleman Feng should give up on convincing us. Ji Bo joined the wrong side in the beginning, which tells us he¡¯s not that good of a judge of character. Why would we recruit him? Gentleman Feng is a smart man. You should know what the right thing to do is.¡±


    Cold sweat streamed down the side of her face. She inhaled deeply and smiled. ¡°Your Highness is right. This gentleman knows what needs to be done.¡±


    Her robe was drenched by her sweat. She could tell that Prince Duan wasn¡¯t someone easily cheated. She musty low for the time being.


    She returned to her manor. Nan Xun noticed how drained she looked. He went up to her and asked, ¡°What happened?¡®


    ¡°As we predicted, Prince Duan is the one who¡¯s been supporting Qi Chen,¡± she said after making sure they were alone.


    Nan Xun widened his eyes slightly. ¡°Are you certain?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and told him everything that had happened in the crown prince¡¯s manor. Nan Xun was silent for a moment.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to be careful,¡± he said. ¡°Prince Duan isn¡¯t our usual enemy.¡±


    Jun Huang made a sound of assent.

 Chapter 238 - Gaining Power Phoenix Ascending

    Chapter 238: Gaining Power Phoenix Ascending


    Jun Huang¡¯s spection took shape in her head, but she didn¡¯t have any evidence to support it. She kept quiet.


    Prince Duan had found out that Ji Bo was in the imperial city, but he didn¡¯t know about the rtionship between her and Ji Bo, at least not yet. The way Prince Duan treated her could be interpreted in many ways. She didn¡¯t know what he was thinking. It was better for her to exercise the utmost caution.


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Nan Xun said, looking at her furrowed eyebrows. ¡°What about you write a letter now, and I¡¯ll hand it to him when I can?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the only thing we can do. You must be careful. I have a feeling that Prince Duan¡¯s been watching me. You¡¯re now living in my manor. He must be watching you as well.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t really need the reminder. He patted her head with a smile and said reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m a general after all. If I don¡¯t want anyone to follow me, no one can. To be on the safe side, I¡¯ll have someone else send the letter for me.¡±


    Jun Huang rxed somewhat. She sat at the desk and thought for a moment before penning the letter. Her handwriting was delicate, the strokes thin but sharp. Nan Xun watched her from next to her. When she was done, he browsed through the letter and carefully folded it.


    It was a few dayster that Ji Bo received the letter. He broke into cold sweat. He did have a feeling that something big was going to happen, but this he hadn¡¯t expected.


    Jun Huang briefly described her meeting with Prince Duan and the conversation between him and Qi Chen. She told him to find a safe ce to stay at and don¡¯t show his face for the time being. If there was anything he wanted to tell her, he could send a message through the House of Heavenly Fiends.


    Ji Bo¡¯s expression turned dark. He¡¯d thought he¡¯d been hiding himself well, but Prince Duan spotted him. Perhaps it was for the best. He could stay away for some time and avoid getting involved in the conflict. When the time was right, he¡¯d make his return.


    Ji Bo took a deep breath and held the letter over a candle. The fire consumed the sheet of paper, leaving only ashes that floated in the air.


    He brushed ashes off his robe and put out the candle. He made his way to the main hall for the third prince.


    The third prince had not been doing well. He¡¯d spent a lot of money on the weapons. It bothered him to lose them so suddenly. He wanted nothing more than to tear Qi Chen to pieces.


    ¡°This gentleman has something to report, Your Highness.¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s voice jerked the third prince out of his trance. He looked up at him with a frown. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Ji Bo knew the third prince wouldn¡¯t let him go without an exnation. He had an idea. He asked the prince to dismiss the servants before proposing a few more ns that could make Qi Chen¡¯s life difficult. The third prince was delighted. In his good mood, he readily agreed to let Ji Bo take some days off after asking only a couple questions.


    It helped that Ji Bo had been a hermit who stayed in the mountain away from temptations of the material world. The third prince assumed that it was Ji Bo¡¯s choice of lifestyle. He therefore didn¡¯t suspect anything.


    Ji Bo packed up and left for the home base of the House of Heavenly Fiends with their help. He¡¯d wait and see how everything yed out.


    Qi Chen was a little surprised when he was told that Ji Bo had left the imperial city, but all in all, it was a good thing. Without Ji Bo, the third prince was a fangless snake that couldn¡¯t do much but intimidate. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity he must not miss.


    He invited both Prince Duan and Jun Huang to discuss their future n. Jun Huang gingerlyid out her analysis, careful not to let her tongue slip. Only then did Prince Duan stop staring at her and joined in the conversation. She let out a silent sigh of relief and wiped her sweat away.


    They agreed that it was time for them to submit the evidence to the emperor. Prince Duan, however, thought that the evidence Jun Huang had collected wasn¡¯tplete enough. After all, they never found the weapons the third prince had been hiding. The third prince might turn their usation against them.


    Qi Chen agreed. They made up some more evidence before Qi Chen took everything to the pce. The emperor was furious. He sent for the third prince to question him.


    The third prince ran into Qi Chen at the entrance of the pce. rm bells rang in his head. He stopped Qi Chen and demanded, ¡°What has second brother told Royal Father?¡±


    ¡°Ha, it doesn¡¯t matter. What matters is if third brother hasmitted the crimes.¡± Qi Chen cackled maniacally. The third prince gritted his teeth. He couldn¡¯t do anything but to watch Qi Chen go with his fists clenched. He gathered his thoughts once Qi Chen was out of his sight. This was going to be a difficult fight, but he must persevere.


    He opened the door and was met with a teacup flying his way. He shuddered and dropped down to his knees. The teacup shattered on the wall, sshing tea all over him. Some tea leaves got stuck in his hair, but he didn¡¯t dare wipe it off.


    He took a deep breath to control his emotions and crawled towards the emperor. ¡°Royal Father.¡±


    ¡°Useless thing,¡± the emperor said coldly. What an embarrassment his son was to be terrified by a teacup.


    The third prince remained silent. He knew he might make mistakes by speaking more.


    The third prince¡¯s timid behavior perturbed the emperor. He threw all the evidence Qi Chen had handed him at the third prince. The third prince snuck the emperor a nce before picking the documents up. The more he read, the harder he scowled. He thought back to his encounter with Qi Chen. His brother must be behind all this.


    ¡°This son is innocent, Royal Father,¡± the third prince cried out.


    The emperor had been convinced of the third prince¡¯s guilt. He believed that the third prince simply didn¡¯t want to admit his guilt. He looked at his son coldly.


    The third prince¡¯s hackles raised. The emperor¡¯s eyes were frosty. He lowered his head guiltily.


    ¡°Exin!¡± The emperor couldn¡¯t stand seeing the third prince curling into himself like a turtle hiding in its own shell. He kicked the third prince, causing him to lose bnce and fall onto the floor. The prince didn¡¯t dare make a sound.


    His eyes darted around in bemusement before he said, ¡°Royal Father, second brother¡¯s setting me up. I¡¯ve never done any of these things. I wouldn¡¯t dare cheat you ever. Please believe me, Royal Father.¡±


    The emperor scoffed. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you dare? Do you think I don¡¯t know how the two of you have been recruiting courtiers to your side? The evidence is clear, and yet your try to weasel yourself out of it. Do you think this is awlessnd? Do you know princes receive the same sentence as peasants?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m innocent, Royal Father. This son won¡¯t dare colluding with the enemies. I¡¯ve only crafted weapons in secret ¨C ¡±


    He knew he¡¯d made a grave mistake as soon as the words left his mouth. He held his tongue, petrified, his eyes downcast at the floor. He was a damn fool.


    The emperor trembled in fury. He kicked the third prince a few more times. The prince took the abuse with his jaw tightened. The sharp pain caused cold sweat to pop out of his forehead. His face went pale.


    ¡°Tell me everything you¡¯ve done so far, or I¡¯ll have you executed.¡±


    The third prince knew his father wasn¡¯t joking. He could get killed. He fearfully listed out his treacherous deeds. The emperor threw another teacup at him in rage, hitting him in the head. Blood streamed down his face. He lost consciousness at the sight of his own blood.


    The emperor ordered a few men to take the third prince to the prison before wobbling back to the throne. His temples throbbed painfully.


    Qi Yun had reached the main hall with the emperor¡¯s medicine while the emperor was still arguing with the third prince. This wasn¡¯t the right time for him to make an entrance, so he stayed outside with the eunuchs.


    He heard the sound of something shattering. Then the emperor called out for a few guards to enter.


    He followed the royal guards inside and immediately saw the third prince¡¯s prone form. He frowned but quickly smoothed his expression out. The emperor sat on the throne with a dark expression as he called out for the third prince to be thrown into prison.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t want to intervene, but the third prince was still bleeding from his head. That was his brother after all. Even though they were fighting for the throne, he could never be as cold-blooded as Qi Chen. He ced the bowl of medicine on the table and knelt down at the center of the room. ¡°This son doesn¡¯t know how third brother has angered Royal Father, but he¡¯s hurt. Even if Royal Father is to punish him, he should receive treatment from the royal doctor first.¡±


    The emperor looked at Qi Yun. He knew how the third prince had stirred up troubles for Qi Yun after he failed to get his brother on his side. Qi Yun neverined. He solved the problem himself and put it out of his mind. It was remarkable that he was still willing to plead for mercy for the third prince.


    The emperor motioned at a eunuch to take care of the issue before helping Qi Yun straighten up. He patted Qi Yun on the back of his hand. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who still cares about the family among all my children.¡±


    ¡°Royal Father is too kind,¡± Qi Yun said with his eyes lowered. He helped the emperor take the medicine.


    The emperor seemed to have aged overnight because of his burst of fury. He stayed on the bed and struggled to even sit up. It worried Qi Yun. He attended to the emperor day and night.


    The emperor ordered Qi Chen to take care of affairs of the state for the time being while Qi Yun cared for him.


    Qi Chen had been helping with the court affairs, but the emperor never granted him real power to be more than a prince in training until now. He wasn¡¯t used to having full authority to make real decisions.

 Chapter 239 - Kill with a borrowed Knife

    <h4> Chapter 239: Kill with a borrowed Knife</h4>


    Qi Chen was excited to be granted the power, but he knew this was a double-edged sword. He must not make any mistakes now, or the emperor would deem him unfit for the throne. He dealt with state affairs with fastidious care and made sure to consult the emperor when a tricky problem arose.


    The emperor rxed when he saw that Qi Chen was doing a decent job. He reminded his son to be patient and take things slow. Qi Chen took his advice and told him to not worry too much. What he had to do now was to rest and recover.


    Qi Chen was steadily building his foundation. As a result, Prince Duan had gained a strong voice in the court before anyone realized it. Qi Chen often consulted Prince Duan, and during meetings, no one dared argue against the decisions Qi Chen and Prince Duan made together. Even though a few pure-hearted officials refused to abandon their principles, they couldn¡¯t possibly go against Prince Duan openly. Qi Yun told them to focus on their duty. The rest was out of their hands.


    The officials understood him. Qi Chen was the one the emperor put in charge of the state affairs. It would only do them harm to go against him and Prince Duan. They could could do nothing butin to Qi Yun every once in a while, who listened quietly and offerforts.


    The climate in the court was ever-changing. While Qi Chen and Prince Duan were expanding their influence, it was time for Jun Huang to take the next step.


    The third prince, who was imprisoned, couldn¡¯t have admitted defeat yet. Jun Huang had been suspecting that Qi Chen was actually Prince Duan¡¯s son. She decided to take care of the two princes in one swift attempt.


    Jun Huang sat in the garden with Qi Yun and Nan Xun. Qi Yun had been staying at the emperor¡¯s sidetely, which touched the emperor¡¯s heart. Nan Xun had gone back to training with his soldiers every day. Life had been simple for him.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve never told you,¡± said Jun Huang. She came to the conclusion that she should open up to them and discuss with them how the information should be spread.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Qi Yun asked.


    Nan Xun waited for her to continue with rapt attention.


    She paused before telling them her suspicion and what led her to her spection. She expressed herself clearly and logically. Her words prompted Qi Yun and Nan Xun to contemte the validity of her theory.


    Qi Yun agreed with Jun Huang. Given the circumstances, there was a good possibility that Qi Chen was Prince Duan¡¯s son.


    Qi Chen was now in power. If they did nothing, he¡¯d be the emperor in no time. Then it¡¯d be toote for them. ¡°We should tell the emperor about it and turn things to our advantage.¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head with a half smile. ¡°That said, Your Highness must not forget that it¡¯ll be difficult to get any of their blood for paternity testing. If we tell the emperor without evidence, he won¡¯t believe us. Then Qi Chen may turn things against us and destroy our chance to make aeback. We must be patient. A lot of factors are involved..¡±


    Qi Yun wanted to say something, but it was as Jun Huang had said, Qi Chen was the crown prince. If they told the emperor about the spection themselves, the emperor woulde to suspect them.


    Nan Xun broke his silence. ¡°What do you think we should do?¡±


    Jun Huang curved her lips and narrowed her eyes. ¡°We direct the suspicion to someone else and kill with a borrowed knife.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. ¡°You¡¯re going to expose the secret through other people.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said confidently. ¡°We should stay clear of the matter as much as possible, but we can¡¯t just do nothing. It¡¯s time that we spread the news. Don¡¯t worry. I have a n.¡±


    Qi Yun looked at Nan Xun, then at Jun Huang. It was better to let Jun Huang take care of it. He nodded. ¡°Since the gentleman has a n already, I¡¯ll leave the matter in your hands. If there¡¯s anything you need from me, let me know.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Jun Huang said without hesitation.


    After Qi Yun had left, Nan Xun stopped Jun Huang from walking away with a frown. He led her to the garden. There was no one around to listen in on them.


    She had an idea what he wanted to talk about. She took a deep breath and smiled faintly. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Do you n to use the banished empress?¡± Nan Xun asked bluntly.


    Surprise shed through Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. She didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to figure out her n so quickly. She hadn¡¯t intended to hide the information from him though. Since he¡¯d already made the right guess, she admitted to her n with a nod.


    ¡°I want the third prince to be the one to tell the emperor, but we are on the surface loyal to Qi Chen. If we give the third prince the information, we risk exposing ourselves. The banished empress is the next best option.¡±


    Jun Huang exined calmly, trying to convince Nan Xun. He kept his eyebrows knitted. He believed it was too risky. No one knew for sure whose side the empress was on.


    Jun Huang knew he wouldn¡¯t stop worrying if she didn¡¯t do anything to assure him. She patted his arm. ¡°You know that I don¡¯t do anything without thinking it through. I¡¯m not meeting the empress personally. I just want to prompt her into spreading the information. I promise you I¡¯ll never show myself.¡±


    He was still concerned, but he was weak to Jun Huang¡¯s bright eyes. He nodded in the end and asked her to be careful.


    Jun Huang thought about how she should go about her n. She didn¡¯t need to visit the empress herself.


    It waste at night when Rou¡¯er received Jun Huang¡¯s message. Qi Chen had said that he was going toe to her room to listen to her perform, but he hadn¡¯t showed up even after the sky was filled with stars.


    The House of Heavenly Fiends sent in the letter secretly. Fortunately her building was now stationed with only her own people. She checked the letter when she was alone.


    The letter said that Jun Huang had something important to talk to her about. Rou¡¯er worried that it was an urgent matter. She didn¡¯t want to make Jun Huang wait. There was no telling if Qi Chen woulde visit, though. After agonizing for some time, she ordered a man to stay at the door and changed into ck clothes. She vaulted over the wall and made her way to Jun Huang¡¯s manor.


    Jun Huang had been waiting. Without spending the time to greet her, Jun Huang led her into the manor. Jun Huang only rxed after they reached the study.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter,¡± Rou¡¯er asked worriedly. ¡°Is there an emergency? Or has something happened to the prince?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head with a smile at Rou¡¯er¡¯s worried expression. ¡°The prince is fine. You know that.¡±


    Rou¡¯er blushed. She did pay extra attention to everything about Qi Yun. She knew he was safe. But Jun Huang¡¯s sudden invitation had made her worry that perhaps Qi Yun was in danger without her knowing.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t waste her time chatting with Rou¡¯er. ¡°You must know what had happened in the court. If Qi Chen solidifies his presence, it¡¯ll be difficult to knock him down. You¡¯re the one candidate I settled on after careful deliberation. Please find your way to the pce tomorrow with a few maids...¡±


    Rou¡¯er listened quietly to Jun Huang¡¯s instructions and memorized them. Once Jun Huang was done, she asked, ¡°How does the gentleman know the empress will make a move after hearing the conversation we stage?¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled and looked up at the sky. ¡°The empress doesn¡¯t have any power now, but she¡¯s not to be underestimated. After all, she¡¯d been the emperor¡¯s favorite for many years, and she¡¯d be his principal wife. For her son, She¡¯ll do anything to set Qi Chen up for failure.¡±


    Rou¡¯er was still puzzled. ¡°What if she tells the emperor directly?¡±


    ¡°She won¡¯t. She¡¯s careful, and as a banished empress, she no longer has the same influence. Even though she hates Qi Chen, she knows that setting Qi Chen up is only revenge for herself and her son. She¡¯ll still be stuck in the Cold Pce. She needs help, which will be the third prince.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s tone was confident. She had always been persuasive. Rou¡¯er agreed with her analysis. She nodded without asking any more questions and left in a hurry.


    When Rou¡¯er returned to the manor, Qi Chen was drinking tea in the garden. Her heart skipped a beat. Before she could go up to him, her personal maid stopped her.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± asked Rou¡¯er.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lady Rou¡¯er,¡± said the maid. ¡°The prince thought that you were taking a bath.¡±


    Rou¡¯er sighed in relief. She entered the room through the rear window. The maid had retrieved some petals. She entered the smoke-filled room under Qi Chen¡¯s gaze and saw Rou¡¯er sitting naked in the wooden bathtub. The maid put the petals into the water and looked outside. ¡°The prince came not long ago. He didn¡¯t know you¡¯ve been outside. Lady Rou¡¯er should stick to that story.¡±

 Chapter 240 - Paternity Testing

    <h4>Chapter 240: Paternity Testing</h4>


    Rou¡¯er had grown up with the maid. She knew she could trust her. She nodded and bathed herself properly before putting on a robe and walking out.


    Qi Chen was in a good mood from being praised by the emperor for his work. Seeing the tender look in Rou¡¯er¡¯s eyes, he pulled her into his arms.


    Rou¡¯er lowered her eyes bashfully. ¡°Your Highness? There are still other people here.¡±


    Qi Chenughed heartily and patted her hand in reassurance. He waved a hand to dismiss everyone before sitting down on a stone stool with Rou¡¯er by his side. ¡°It¡¯s a good day.¡±


    ¡°If so, let me y something for you. It¡¯s been a while since thest time Your Highness came. I¡¯ve learned a new song. Your Highness would like it.¡±


    She stood up to go get her zither, but Qi Chen caught her wrist.


    Rou¡¯er had snuck out earlier. She panicked a little when Qi Chen stopped her, worried that he¡¯d noticed something. When she turned to him, though, she was met with a smile. She rxed a little. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Are you mad at me for not visiting youtely?¡±


    Rou¡¯er paused but quickly figured out what Qi Chen was talking about. She sat on hisp with a smile and murmured, ¡°Your Highness has asked Rou¡¯er a difficult question. Even though I¡¯m a woman, I know Your Highness is facing a lot of challenges outside the manor. I¡¯ll be satisfied as long as Your Highness thinks of me every once in a while. I don¡¯t dare ask for more.¡±


    She looked meek and obedient with her eyes lowered and her brows rxed. Her long hair ran down her back and flew in the breeze.


    Qi Chen was pleased by her consideration. His smile deepened. He let Rou¡¯er go after nting a few kisses on her.


    Her smile dropped as soon as she entered her room, but she quickly adjusted herself. She walked out with her zither in her arms.


    ¡°Your Highness, if you¡¯re satisfied with my performance, may I ask for a favor?¡± Rou¡¯er said, cing the zither before her.


    Qi Chen raised an eyebrow at her and nodded. Rou¡¯er ced her hands on the strings and started ying a pleasant melody. Afterwards, she came to Qi Chen¡¯s side and poured him a cup of tea. ¡°I want to visit your mother in the pce tomorrow, Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯ll be good,¡± he agreed readily. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since mother saw you. She¡¯s mentioned youtely.¡±


    Rou¡¯er pretended to be hesitant and cast her eyes downward, her fingers clutching her robe. ¡°Will the princess go as well?¡±


    Qi Chen blinked at her. Now he knew why Rou¡¯er was so unlike her usual self. After Nan Guyue lost her child, her personality had changed drastically. She often humiliated his other spouses. Rou¡¯er must have be scared of her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll be the only one.¡± He picked Rou¡¯er up and carried her into the building.


    The next day, Rou¡¯er entered the pce with two maids. She¡¯d given them the instructions beforehand. As soon as they entered the pce, the two maids disappeared. When asked, she said that it was the first time the young maids entered the pce, so she let them go for a walk.


    The two maids went to the royal garden and hid behind a fake mountain to change into the clothes of pce maids. They made their way to the Cold Pce.


    The Cold Pce was almost free of any activities. The empress was alone in the garden, enjoying the sunlight. The two maids shared a look and sauntered inside through the front door, attracting the empress¡¯s attention.


    She saw something fall off one of the maids. Curiosity got the better of her. She got closer to them. Their conversation reached her ear in snippets. She closed their distance again.


    ¡°I heard that Honored Consort Zhen and Prince Duan grew up together.¡±


    ¡°I heard that too. It¡¯s said that the crown prince may be Prince Duan¡¯s child! After all, the honored consort and Prince Duan used to be madly in love. She got pregnant not long after entering the pce. Anyone would suspect her of bearing his child. I also heard from a maid stationed in the honored consort¡¯s pce that the consort has met up with Prince Duan in private. He¡¯s also unusually close to the crown prince.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense. No matter how tolerant Prince Duan may be, he can¡¯t possibly help the son of the man who robbed him of his lover be an emperor.¡±


    The two maids talked animatedly, as if they¡¯d witnessed Prince Duan and the honored consort¡¯s love story themselves.


    The sound of a twig breaking told the two maids that the empress had been hooked. They put on a fearful expression and turned to the empress in unison.


    The empress had been deprived of her title. Therefore the two maids didn¡¯t kneel down to her. She didn¡¯t dwell on that and instead stared at the two maids. ¡°Is what you just said true?¡±


    The two maids shared a look. One of the maids walked to the empress¡¯s side and bent down to pick up the hairpin she¡¯d just lost. ¡°We servants can¡¯t validate if the rumors are true, but that¡¯s what everyone says. Maybe there¡¯s some truth to it. Maybe not.¡±


    The empress watched them walk away, stunned. She¡¯d entered the pce before the honored consort. She knew the woman had been in love with Prince Duan and was forcefully taken away by the emperor. As the two maids had said, the honored consort got pregnant not long after, and Prince Duan never seem even slightly angry with the emperor for taking his lover from him. She hadn¡¯t considered the situation carefully before, but now that she thought about it, it did seem suspicious.


    This was no simple matter. She considered telling the emperor directly, but in the end decided against it. She was reminded that Jun Huang had left her with a way to contact her. It seemed like she¡¯d need Jun Huang¡¯s help.


    Jun Huang smiled widely when she received the message from the empress. It went all ording to her n. As a woman, she was able to get a good grasp on the empress¡¯s thought process during their meetings. She¡¯d made the right move.


    ¡°Does it go as you¡¯ve predicted?¡± Nan Xun asked, standing next to her.


    She turned to him and handed him the letter. He raised an eyebrow after reading it. ¡°She wants to meet with the third prince. What are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°Since she¡¯s asked us for help, we will,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°The third prince¡¯s in the prison. I can¡¯t do this on my own as a peasant. I¡¯ll need your help, general.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded without thinking. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±


    Nan Xun made the necessary arrangements. He smuggled an imposter to the Cold Pce in the empress¡¯s stead and had his men take the empress to the prison.


    The empress was smart enough to know what she could and couldn¡¯t say. When the third prince asked how she left the Cold Pce, she said her brother had helped her.


    The third prince calmed down from his surprise. He knew the empress must havee for a reason. ¡°What is the empress here for?¡±


    The empress told him what she¡¯d heard. He gaped at her as he listened to her exnation. He didn¡¯t dare even think about the possibility. After the empress swore that the information was legitimate, he knew it was his chance to make aeback.


    He fell in deep thought in the prison infested with cockroaches and mice. He might be reckless, but he knew the way politics worked. He was confident that he¡¯d be able to execute his n. He knocked on the cell door.


    When all was said and done, he was a prince. The prison guards didn¡¯t know what he was jailed for. They didn¡¯t dare treat him with contempt, lest he make them pay after he was released. They rushed to the cell when they heard the third prince knocking.


    ¡°Tell Royal Father that I have something important to tell him,¡± the third prince said, stretching his neck.


    The guards were puzzled, but they worried it might be an emergency. One of them rushed out to notify the emperor, who came to the prison after some hesitation. He¡¯d like to hear what the third prince had to say.


    The other guards were shocked when the emperor came. They knelt on the ground, terrified of offending the emperor. The third prince assumed that his father would take him to the court; it surprised him that his father hade personally. It made no difference to him though. He bowed to the emperor in greeting.


    The emperor stood before the cell door, frowning at the rundown ce. ¡°Talk. What do you want to tell me?¡±


    The third prince took a deep breath and ryed what the empress had said to the emperor. The emperor flew into rage, scaring the guards into further lowering their heads. The third prince met his eyes with resolution, silently showing the emperor his earnestness.


    ¡°Are you telling the truth?¡± the emperor asked, suppressing his anger.


    ¡°This son isn¡¯t the only person who knows,¡± said the prince. ¡°If Royal Father doesn¡¯t believe me, you may investigate yourself. There are many people who know about it in the pce. Besides, has Royal Father never suspected them? After all, the honored consort and Prince Duan have grown up together. It¡¯s better safe than sorry.¡±


    Doubt festered in the emperor¡¯s heart. He¡¯d never questioned Qi Chen¡¯s origin before, but now he had to investigate. He asked the third prince where the information came from. He frowned when he heard it had been the banished empress. Without another word, he left with his entourage of servants.

 Chapter 241 - Rare Opportunity

    <h4> Chapter 241: Rare Opportunity</h4>


    The third prince slumped onto the floor once the emperor was out of eyeshot. A smile tugged at his lips. The day the truth was discovered would be the day he was released.


    The prison suddenly seemed a little brighter. He fell asleep lying on the floor.


    The honored consort had nted an informant at the emperor¡¯s side. The young eunuch recognized the gravity of the news. He snuck to her pce while the others weren¡¯t paying attention and told her what had happened in the prison. The consort broke into cold sweat in reaction.


    ¡°What should we do, Consort Zhen?¡± asked the consort¡¯s personal maid.


    The honored consort took a deep breath to calm herself. She didn¡¯t expect her secret to be exposed. She felt an intense resentment for the one responsible. She, however, didn¡¯t have time to think about getting back at whoever it was; her top priority was to survive the storm. ¡°The emperor¡¯s going to do a paternity test through blood[1]. The emperor is a careful and mistrustful man. He won¡¯t sit idle and do nothing after getting the news. Take this to the royal doctor and buy his cooperation.¡±


    ¡°Honored Consort, the paternity test can¡¯t be faked. What if ¨C ¡±


    Sweat streamed down the consort¡¯s face. She knew she must remain calm. ¡°Take Prince Duan here. We¡¯ll deal with it.¡±


    As she thought, the emperor summoned Qi Chen immediately and had the royal doctor take both his and Qi Chen¡¯s blood. The royal doctor secretly swapped out the emperor¡¯s blood with Prince Duan¡¯s as the honored consort instructed. The swapped sample mixed with Qi Chen¡¯s blood easily.


    The emperor stormed into the Cold Pce and beat the banished empress up. She almost died from the injury. The emperor ordered the royal doctor to treat her. He didn¡¯t want her dead despite his fury.


    The crisis was sessfully averted, but the seed of suspicion had been nted in the emperor¡¯s heart. The honored consort and Prince Duan had grown up together; that always gued him. The memory faded over the years, but now the history was brought to the table again. He felt like he¡¯d been pped in the face.


    As a result, he wasn¡¯t able to treat Qi Chen as he¡¯d done before, which frustrated Qi Chen. However, he could only work harder in taking care of the state affairs, hoping that one day he¡¯d be able to gain the emperor¡¯s approval.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun had thought that they would be able to get Qi Chen with their n, but the honored consort had gotten herself out of trouble. If Nan Xun¡¯s men hadn¡¯t found out afterwards that the consort had bought the royal doctor, they¡¯d have doubted their spection that Qi Chen wasn¡¯t the emperor¡¯s son.


    They couldn¡¯t ry the information to the emperor, however. He was in an easily-triggered state. If they kept trying to make him see the truth, he¡¯d grow irritated. What was more, Prince Duan had been alerted after the incident. If they made another move, Prince Duan would discover them.


    They pretended nothing had happened and stayed in Jun Huang¡¯s manor every day. They seemed like they weren¡¯t doing anything, but in secret, they had been plotting.


    Ji Bo secretly went back to the imperial city when he heard the news. He hid in Jun Huang¡¯s manor, his presence known to only a few of her confidantes.


    Ji Bo thought differently from Jun Huang and Nan Xun. The two of them believed that they should wait for their enemies to rx their guard, while Ji Bo believed that they should strike again while the wind was at their back.


    ¡°We risk exposing ourselves if we make another move,¡± Jun Huang said disapprovingly. ¡°Prince Duan would be even more alert after the incident.¡±


    Ji Bo thought for a moment. ¡°You can¡¯t achieve anything if you don¡¯t dare take any risks. Be bold. Prince Duan may have be vignt, but the emperor is now suspicious of Qi Chen. It¡¯s a once in a lifetime opportunity. Prince Duan doesn¡¯t dare do anything big now. We should take the chance to take out those officials who haven¡¯t been doing their jobs.¡±


    Jun Huang thought deeply. He had a point. The emperor was suspicious of not only Qi Chen, but also Prince Duan. Qi Chen had a lot of supporters in the court. If they didn¡¯t do anything now, the courtiers would be a great threat. It was too risky, however. They were likely to expose themselves in the process. Jun Huang and Qi Yun, who had been invited here for the discussion, were put in a dilemma.


    Qi Yun looked up at Ji Bo. ¡°I¡¯m as doubtful as Gentleman Feng. This is a sensitive time. Does Mister Ji Bo have a n?¡±


    Ji Bo nodded with a smile. ¡°We don¡¯t have to do anything ourselves. The emperor is vtile. Your Highness may hand the evidence to the emperor, and he¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t second brother and Prince Duan going to find out it¡¯s me?¡±


    ¡°Qi Chen has lost the emperor¡¯s favor. He¡¯s going to work hard to garner more support from the courtiers. The emperor¡¯s suspicious of him. If he noticed what his son was doing, he¡¯d be furious. Those should be killed will be killed, and those should be exiled will be exiled. No one is going to suspect Your Highness. What¡¯s more, the emperor has lost his trust for Qi Chen, and the third prince is imprisoned. You are the only one he cares about now. He must be moved that you¡¯ve been attending to him day and night. He¡¯ll protect you for nothing if not for your devotion.¡±


    Jun Huang contemted Ji Bo¡¯s words. He¡¯d made some good points. The emperor didn¡¯t trust easily, but Qi Yun had been taking care of him for a long time. He wouldn¡¯t let the son who¡¯d prioritized his needs be harmed without doing anything.


    The emperor knew better than anyone how dangerous a ce the court could be. He wouldn¡¯t hesitate to offer Qi Yun protection.


    ¡°Mister Ji Bo is right. Your Highness may give it a try.¡±


    Qi Yun had been doubtful, but he rxed once Jun Huang gave the n her approval. He nodded and did as Ji Bo said.


    The emperor¡¯s mood took a downturn as he read the evidence Qi Yun had collected. He sighed and stared at Qi Yun. ¡°Pretend that this has nothing to do with you. Understand?¡±


    Qi Yun¡¯s breath hitched. Both Ji Bo and Jun Huang had said that the emperor would protect him, but he was still a little moved to hear it himself. The emotion faded quickly once he was reminded that the emperor had gotten his mother killed.


    When Qi Yun failed to respond, the emperor helped Qi Yun up. ¡°Remember, the court is not a yground. You¡¯ve seen yourself how your second brother and third brother fight for the throne. Your second brother is especially cold-blooded. If they know you¡¯ve collected all this information in secret, there¡¯s no telling what they¡¯ll do to you. Your Royal Father...¡±


    ¡°This son understands Royal Father¡¯s consideration,¡± Qi Yun spoke up.


    The emperor had aged a lottely. His hair was turning grey, and his stoic appearance melted away. He seemed more like an old fatherforting his own son than an emperor.


    The emperor sighed and patted him on the back of his hand, telling Qi Yun to leave first. The rest he¡¯d take care of himself. Qi Yun turned around without a word. He gave the emperor ast nce before he walked away, his heart filled with a mess of pain and emotions. He decided against saying anything in the end.


    Once he had left, the emperor¡¯s expression went dark. He looked at the evidence in his hand. He¡¯d turned a blind eye to what Qi Chen had been doing in the court and pushed it to an unseen corner in his mind. His son had grown disrespectful of him. It bothered him to see the evidence presented to him.


    After all, he never fully trusted Qi Chen.


    The emperor summoned Qi Chen through a eunuch. The eunuch didn¡¯t dare cause a dy. He immediately went to the crown prince¡¯s manor and ryed the order to Qi Chen, who was on his day off.


    Qi Chen was observant enough to know that there must be a reason for him to be summoned to the pce on such short notice. He wanted to get the information out from the eunuch, but the eunuch was the emperor¡¯s confidante and remained silent on their way to the pce. He had no choice but to brave his way into the door. His stomach dropped when he saw the dark look on the emperor¡¯s face.


    ¡°This son greets Royal Father.¡± Qi Chen took a deep breath and bowed to the emperor respectfully. He didn¡¯t dare make another mistake. He thought back to what he¡¯d done recently. Had he failed to clean up his mess?


    The emperor shot him a re and walked up to him without a word. The frigid anger radiated from him was intense enough to stop one¡¯s breathing.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gotten bold,¡± he said gravely. ¡°There¡¯s nothing you don¡¯t dare do, is there? Do you think I¡¯ll let you do whatever you want just because my health is in a bad condition?¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s heart did a flip. He wasn¡¯t sure what the emperor was talking about. His robe was drenched by his sweat and his fingers started trembling. He took a deep breath and swallowed down the lump in his throat before looking up at the emperor. ¡°What does Royal Father mean?¡±


    The emperor scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ve turned a blind eye to the fact that you¡¯ve been colluding with the officials. Now, however, you dare sell positions in the court to bribe people? What else are you going to do?¡±


    Now Qi Chen knew why he was here. He had been exposed.


    ¡°Are you going to rece me next time? I was the one who made you the crown prince, Qi Chen, and I can take the title away as well. Do you really think you¡¯re irreceable?¡±


    In rage, the emperor¡¯s words grew harsher and harsher. Qi Chen¡¯s face fell, but he didn¡¯t dare talk back. He remained on his knees and let the emperor vent.


    The emperor kicked him a few times. He suspected that Qi Chen was nning to take the throne through force. He was even more convinced he should take his title as the crown prince away.


    Qi Chen¡¯s muscles grew tense as he spected the emperor¡¯s thoughts. He gritted his teeth and stared at the floor with his head lowered without a word.


    1. In ancient China, people would drip their blood into a bowl of water and see if the dropletse together. If they do, it¡¯s interpreted as the two people being rted. Of course we know now it¡¯s not how it works.

 Chapter 242 - Turn things around

    <h4>Chapter 242: Turn things around</h4>


    The emperor calmed down somewhat after venting his anger, the sight of Qi Chen still dampened his mood. He waved a hand to dismiss him. ¡°Go. I won¡¯t let you off the hook if this happens again.¡±


    ¡°This son will take my leave.¡± Qi Chen walked away with his eyes lowered, frustration soaring in his heart. What bad luck he was gued withtely!


    He returned to his manor in rage and was met with the housekeeper¡¯s nervous face. His eyes twitched. What was it again? He went up to the housekeeper.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Qi Chen.


    The housekeeper was clutching a letter in his hand, his expression hesitant. Qi Chen seized the letter impatiently. His expression turned sour when he recognized the handwriting.


    He looked around to make sure they were alone and took a deep breath to keep his rage from bursting out. He stormed inside with the housekeeper at his tail and demanded, ¡°What the hell is this?¡±


    The housekeeper was upset by the news as well. His mood took a further downturn when Qi Chen vented his anger on him. ¡°The servants found it when they were cleaning.¡±


    Qi Chen narrowed his eyes and carefully read the letter. It was written by Nan Guyue. The usations she made turned his face a furious red. He growled.


    ¡°What does Your Highness n to do? The princess has put us in a difficult ce. There¡¯s no precedent for women to divorce their husbands! If the news get out, Your Highness¡¯ reputation will be damaged...¡±


    ¡°I know already¡± Qi Chen said coldly. ¡°But what else can I do? She told me that she was going to the templest light. She must have departed for her home country already. It¡¯s toote for us to do anything.¡±


    The housekeeper fell silent. This was a tricky issue. Nan Guyue had left a divorce letter and went away, which was an insult to Qi Chen, but there wasn¡¯t anything they could do to her. She was the princess of Southern Mu after all. It wasn¡¯t a good time to sh with the neighboring country. They could only swallow the bitter taste in their mouths.


    ¡°Should we try intercepting the princess?¡± suggested the housekeeper. ¡°Perhaps she¡¯s still within Northern Qi.¡±


    Qi Chen scoffed and threw the housekeeper a nce. The housekeeper shut his mouth.


    ¡°What do we do after we stop her? Do you want her to announce to the world she¡¯s divorcing me?¡±


    The housekeeper didn¡¯t dare make a sound. Even his breaths sounded too offensive in the silent room. Qi Chen narrowed his eyes. He¡¯d just been scolded by the emperor, and now this.


    Malicious thoughts took root in his mind. He wanted to make her regret her decision. ¡°Since she thinks I¡¯m ipetent, I¡¯ll do something to make her regret her action.¡±


    ¡°What does Your Highness n to do?¡± the housekeeper asked with his brows furrowed.


    Qi Chen sneered and told the housekeeper to inform Prince Duan and ask him toe. Qi Chen himself wouldn¡¯t be able to exin what¡¯d happened. He was still reeling from the princess¡¯s sudden departure.


    The housekeeper wanted to offer himfort, but Qi Chen¡¯s eyes were too cold. He worried that he might anger Qi Chen with a careless remark. He went off to find Prince Duan immediately.


    Prince Duan was surprised to hear what happened. He went to the manor without dy and saw Qi Chen staring into the distance with a scowl, his thoughts indiscernible. Prince Duan sat before him with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve heard. Don¡¯t dwell on it too much. There are many women in the world. Nan Guyue isn¡¯t anyone special. If Southern Mu weren¡¯t her support, she¡¯d be of no value for you. Let her leave.¡±


    Qi Chenughed coldly and looked up at Prince Duan. ¡°That¡¯s not why I ask you toe,¡± he said through gritted teeth. ¡°I have a n.¡±


    ¡°What n?¡±


    ¡°To take a sword to the throne.¡±


    Prince Duan widened his eyes. He didn¡¯t expect that. Qi Chen was the crown prince. The throne was right within his reach. It¡¯d be unwise for him to force the the emperor to surrender his power. But he knew Qi Chen must have a reason. He waited for him to exin.


    ¡°His Majesty¡¯s thinking about evoking my title. If I do nothing, he¡¯ll make someone else the crown prince once he recovers. Why should I care about our rtionship then? What I have to consider is how likely I¡¯m going to seed if I stage a coup now.¡±


    Prince Duan was quiet for a moment. Qi Chen did make some good points. ¡°What do you think? What¡¯s your chance of sess?¡±


    ¡°Nan Xun is close to Feng Baiyu, who is my confidante. Even if Nan Xun isn¡¯t going to help, he won¡¯t intervene either. I have my own people in the royal army. They can easily let me into the pce.¡±


    ¡°The third prince is useless, and he¡¯s imprisoned. Qi Yun hasn¡¯t made a name for himself. He¡¯ll be begging me to let him live. The other princes are all gutless. No one can stop me.¡±


    Qi Chen had gone through all the potential threats and concluded that he had nothing to fear.


    Prince Duan remained silent. He was still contemting if there were other people they should watch out for. Although Qi Chen made some good points, staging a coup was a drastic measure they must think long and hard about.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t want to wait. He believed that Prince Duan was overly cautious. However, it¡¯d be inappropriate to dismiss his biggest supporter. He thought for a moment and nodded, promising Prince Duan that he¡¯d wait.


    As soon as Prince Duan left, though, Qi Chen scoffed and went off to make the necessary arrangements. He sent for the leader of the royal guard.


    When Jun Huang arrived at the manor, the captain of the royal guard was talking to Qi Chen. She had a feeling that something big was going to happen.


    ¡°What¡¯s troubling Your Highness?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    Qi Chen hadn¡¯t nned to tell Jun Huang. Not because he didn¡¯t trust her, no. He just didn¡¯t deem it necessary. He might need Nan Xun¡¯s help when the time came, though, he realized suddenly. He told her his n.


    She kept her expression calm while her brain went into overdrive. She didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen to go to such distance, but it wasn¡¯t that surprising when she thought about it. She nodded. ¡°If so, I¡¯ll talk to Nan Xun and have him give us some leeway. Even if he isn¡¯t going to help, he should stay out of Your Highness¡¯s n.¡±


    Qi Chen sighed in relief. With Nan Xun out of the picture, his victory was a guarantee.


    Jun Huang was preupied on her way back to her manor. Nan Xun spotted her from afar when he returned from the training ground. He frowned when she didn¡¯t notice him. Something was wrong. He grabbed her arm.


    She reflexively attacked with her other hand, but her heart was elsewhere. Her arm was easily seized. She tried and failed to break out of his hold.


    She turned around and rxed when she saw that it was Nan Xun. ¡°What is Your Highness doing? This isn¡¯t appropriate behavior in public. If someone sees us, it¡¯ll be bad for your image.¡±


    Nan Xun chuckled. He could tell she was teasing him, which alleviated his concern. He let go of her and looked around. ¡°You didn¡¯t hear me when I called out for you, and you reacted slowly when I grabbed you. What happened?¡±


    ¡°I need to talk to you,¡± she said seriously. Nan Xun knew she must have something serious to tell him. He nodded and went to her manor quickly.


    Once inside, Jun Huang dismissed the servants and said bluntly, ¡°Qi Chen¡¯s staging a coup.¡±


    Nan Xun almost spat out the tea he¡¯d just drunk. He steadied himself and met her eyes. She wasn¡¯t joking, not at all. He realized the gravity of the matter.


    ¡°I¡¯ll enter the pce and tell the emperor.¡± Nan Xun shot up to his feet.


    Jun Huang grabbed his hand and shook her head. ¡°You can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Qi Chen said he was staging a coup, but he hasn¡¯t done anything yet. What do you think the emperor will think if we tell him now? There must be someone loyal to Qi Chen at the emperor¡¯s side. What if Qi Chen changes his n because of that? The emperor will suspect you of trying to drive a wedge between him and his son, and I¡¯ll be exposed as well. That¡¯ll be detrimental to our cause. We might as well let his n y out. You should prepare for the day in secret. Don¡¯t let anyone know. Let Qi Chen enter the pce and approach the emperor himself.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°No but,¡± Jun Huang said after taking a deep breath. ¡°That¡¯s the only way. The emperor is mistrustful. If we tell him now, he may order to have Qi Chen arrested. Qi Chen will im to be innocent and turn things against us. We¡¯ll be making him a bigger threat rather than taking him out. We must let him expose himself.¡±


    Nan Xun understood her point. He found the n to be risky, but it was the best option they had. All the alternatives could alert their enemies. He took his leave and went off to make the necessary arrangements.


    Qi Chen believed that he was ready. He and his confidantes had formted a detailed n in his study and decided on a time. They¡¯d get what they wanted on the fifteenth of the month.


    The fateful day came. Full moon hung in the sky. Everyone gathered inside the crown prince¡¯s manor. Qi Chen was drinking in his garden. His future would be determined today. There was a whirlwind of emotions under his calm facade.


    Rou¡¯er frowned slightly and left when no one was watching.


    She went straight to Jun Huang¡¯s ce. They didn¡¯t do unannounced visits. She¡¯d caught Jun Huang off guard bying without warning. Jun Huang frowned and took her straight to the study. Rou¡¯er must have something important to tell her.

 Chapter 243 - Coup

    <h4>Chapter 243: Coup</h4>


    ¡°Qi Chen¡¯s storming the pce tonight,¡± said Rou¡¯er.


    Jun Huang paused. ¡°Tonight?¡±


    Rou¡¯er nodded. ¡°Qi Chen has told you of his n, but he hasn¡¯t told you when. To my knowledge, it¡¯s not because he doesn¡¯t trust you. He just worries that Prince Nan will break his promise.¡±


    Jun Huang scoffed. ¡°Even if they storm the pce today, Nan Xun is prepared. It¡¯ll be more worrying if he doesn¡¯t do anything.¡±


    ¡°The gentleman should inform the prince all the same,¡± Rou¡¯er said worriedly. ¡°This is a serious matter. Nothing can go wrong.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. After a pause, she continued, ¡°Have you seen Prince Duan in their rank?¡±


    Rou¡¯er thought carefully and shook her head. ¡°No.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She ordered someone to take Rou¡¯er back before going to Nan Xun. They went to the pce together.


    Qi Chen¡¯s men were in high spirit after having some wine. Satisfied, Qi Chen led the soldiers towards the pce with great confidence.


    He¡¯d arranged for those loyal to him to guard the entrance today. They entered the pce without troubles. Qi Chen took a deep breath standing before the door to the emperor¡¯s bedroom and unsheathed his sword with a frosty smile. He charged inside with his men in tow.


    The royal guards guarding the pce were his, but the guards stationed outside the emperor¡¯s chamber were loyal to the emperor. Met with arge group of intruders, the guards drew their weapons and fought them head on, but it was akin to knocking an egg against a stone.


    Qi Chen killed his way to the emperor. The emperor jerked awake by the noises and propped himself up. He coughed and called out, ¡°Guards! What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Who is Royal Father summoning?¡± Qi Chen approached his father with a smile, his sword dripping blood as he walked. The emperor froze. Even the densest man would have figured out what was happening.


    He pointed at Qi Chen with shaky finger, his voice seized by anger and his face flushed. He swallowed down the lump of blood threatening toe up his throat.


    Qi Chen smiled as he approached him, unperturbed by his fury. The young eunuch assigned to guard the emperor couldn¡¯t possibly let his master be harmed. He tackled Qi Chen.


    Qi Chen slit his throat easily, his eyes cold. The eunuch fell to the floor with wide eyes, his blood sttered all over the emperor¡¯s face. The metallic smell assaulted his sense. During the decades he spent sitting on the throne, he¡¯d never experienced anything like this. He almost lost conscious, and was only prevented from falling by the old eunuch at his side.


    ¡°Do... Do you know what you¡¯re doing?¡± the emperor demanded, pointing a finger at Qi Chen.


    Qi Chenughed mockingly. ¡°Royal Father doesn¡¯t change the way you treat me even in this state. How hurtful.¡±


    ¡°This son knows exactly what I¡¯m doing, but what other choices do I have?¡± he said softly, his tone gentle as if he didn¡¯t want to disturb the souls lingering in this pce. His eyes, however, were icy. His gaze was not one of a son looking at his father, but of a man looking at his worst enemy. ¡°Royal Father should remember that I am the crown prince. The throne is meant to be mine. I just want to let Royal Father retire earlier. I¡¯ll take care of the mundane affairs.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s heart seized up in fury, his face going red. Qi Chen continuedughing like he hadn¡¯t noticed.


    The other people in the room dared not make a move recklessly. The trouble storm couldn¡¯t have passed soon enough.


    ¡°You should surrender, Royal Father,¡± Qi Chen said as he approached, grinding his teeth together. ¡°Haven¡¯t you sat on the throne for long enough? Or are you waiting for someone to save you?¡± An unhinged series ofughter escaped his mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t think about it, Royal Father. No one ising. We should end this ordeal sooner rather thanter. I won¡¯t be so patient tomorrow.¡±


    The guards couldn¡¯t wait anymore seeing the emperor in danger. Their duty was to protect the emperor. They couldn¡¯t possibly stay on the sideline while the emperor was threatened by a viin. They exchanged a look and drew their swords, intending to fight to their death.


    Qi Chen was prepared for that. His men drew their bows and shot the guards in the hearts before they could react. They fell to the floor, their eyes wide.


    ¡°Fools,¡± Qi Chen spat, ncing at the dead guards.


    The emperor sat frozen on his bed, his fingers cold. He was the emperor, but he¡¯d led a luxurious and peaceful life so far. He¡¯d never been subjected to such cruelty. Trapped in the web of his son¡¯s making, he slumped down in resignation and sighed. ¡°Fine. If you want the throne so much, take it.¡±


    Qi Chen could no longer suppress his smile. He ordered a man to prepare ink and a writing brush and helped the emperor to the desk. ¡°This son admires Royal Father for your decisiveness. Rest assured, Royal Father, this son won¡¯t make your life difficult. After I take the throne, you¡¯ll be the emperor emeritus. Your life will be as easy as it is now, and I¡¯ll make sure you live in a residence even more extravagant than the pce.¡±


    The emperor red at Qi Chen. Qi Chen didn¡¯t mind. He held onto the emperor¡¯s trembling fingers with so much force, one could almost hear the joints grinding together. The emperor broke into cold sweat in pain, but he was helpless against the vise grip. He sat on the throne and pushed Qi Chen away. ¡°Let go. I don¡¯t need your help.¡±


    Qi Chen shrugged and motioned at his man to hand the empty decree to the emperor. ¡°As Royal Father wishes. This son knows Royal Father is fond of fourth brother. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯ty a finger on him. Once you retire, I¡¯ll send him to the royal garden with Royal Father. You can live the life of a celestial together.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°What have you done to Qi Yun? What do you want? He¡¯s your younger brother!¡±


    Qi Chen chuckled. ¡°Royal Father is indeed fond of fourth brother. You don¡¯t have to look at me like that. I didn¡¯t hurt him.¡±


    The emperor rxed somewhat. He knew Qi Chen brought Qi Yun up as a threat, and he recognized he had already lost. Qi Chen hade prepared. There wasn¡¯t anything he could do.


    With a sigh, he took the brush with trembling hand and started writing. Qi Chen was pleased. Things went more smoothly than he expected.


    No matter how slowly the emperor was writing, he couldn¡¯t drag on forever. He stared at the decree he¡¯d written against his will, his heart filled with sorrow and helplessness.


    Qi Chen¡¯s men had found the imperial seal. They ced it on the desk.


    Qi Chen raised an eyebrow when the emperor failed to react. ¡°Does Royal Father need me to hold your hand?¡±


    The emperor pushed Qi Chen away in rage and broke into a coughing fit, his face getting pale. Qi Chen had a trace of sympathy left in him. He knew there wasn¡¯t anything his father could do. He quietly watched his father pick up the seal.


    The sound of weapons shing came from the outside. Qi Chen immediately knew that something was wrong. He had to get the decree now.


    The emperor had heard the noises as well. As if reading Qi Chen¡¯s mind, he poured the ink all over the decree. The yellow fabric was dyed ck. Qi Chen pushed his father sideway in rage. Caught off guard, the emperor fell off the throne and knocked his head against the floor.


    Qi Chen nervously bent down to help him up. He¡¯d treated the emperor like a father for many years. Even now, he never wanted the man to get hurt. The emperor shoved him away, denying his offer to help.


    Qi Chen took a deep breath and looked down at the emperor calmly. He sighed. ¡°This son is going out to check the situation. Weapons don¡¯t know mercy. Royal Father should stay here.¡±


    Once he was out of the door, he finally realized that he was the mantis unaware of the oriole behind while he stalked the cicada. With gritted teeth, he stared at Nan Xun, who was standing among the soldiers in battle. He realized how naive he¡¯d been when he saw Jun Huang behind Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang looked at him calmly. She¡¯d been waiting for this day, but when the day came, she felt nothing but pity for the man before her.


    Qi Chen tightened his hand around his sword. He wanted to tear Jun Huang to pieces, but he knew this was a fight he couldn¡¯t win. He snorted and shouted, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to be waiting for me here!¡±


    Nan Xun nced at him, his presence strong and unwavered. ¡°Do you see your crime, Qi Chen?¡±


    ¡°My crime? What does Royal Brother mean?¡± Qi Chen bit out. He wasn¡¯t going to make it easy for Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun frowned. ¡°How obstinate of you.¡±


    He raised his spear and charged at Qi Chen, who gave as good as he got.


    Qi Chen had made all the preparations he could make . Whatever happened, happened. The worst fate he could suffer was death. There was nothing for him and his men to be concerned about.


    Qi Chen calmed all of a sudden. He joined the fight between his men and Nan Xun¡¯s. It was arge-scale and thrilling battle.


    Qi Chen could only be considered a mediocre fighter. If he hadn¡¯t been guarded by his guards, he¡¯d be dead already. Nan Xun and Jun Huang, on the other hand, fought like they were born to fight together. Their concerted dance under the moon made Qi Chen¡¯s eyes turn red.

 Chapter 244 - Prison Break

    <h4>Chapter 244: Prison Break</h4>


    In rage, Qi Chen forgot about all the advice his people had given him, telling him to be patient. The smart thing to do now was to retreat, but he couldn¡¯t stand running away like that. The throne had been right within his reach, but it was taken away from him by Jun Huang and Nan Xun. He refused to ept that all his work had been for nothing.


    He wanted to kill his way out, but Nan Xun¡¯s soldiers were all masterful fighters. Jun Huang had also recruited a few men from the House of Heavenly Fiends to be on the safe side. There was no way for Qi Chen and his men to escape. They were forced to engage Nan Xun headon.


    Nan Xun had been observing Qi Chen and came to the conclusion that he was not much better than an amateur. He wasn¡¯t a threat to Nan Xun. Nan Xun threw his sword to Jun Huang and took Qi Chen¡¯s attack with bare hands.


    Sweat broke out of Qi Chen¡¯s forehead. His dominant hand was getting weak, while Nan Xun¡¯s movement remained fluid. His reserve of stamina seemed almost bottomless. Gradually, Qi Chen¡¯s moves started to slow down.


    Nan Xun seized his wrist. He struggled to break out of the iron grip, but Nan Xun¡¯s fingers were on his pulse point. Pain shot through his body whenever he tried to exert force. His face went blue.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to waste any time on Qi Chen. He huffed and kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying into a stonemp, knocking it down. It was evident how much force Nan Xun had put into his kick.


    Qi Chen¡¯s men¡¯s resolve had been swaying as soon as Nan Xun showed up. Seeing their leader defeated, their will crumbled. Their moment of weakness didn¡¯t escape Jun Huang¡¯s attention. She scoffed and dered, ¡°Anyone who surrenders will be spared. Those who struggle will be killed on sight.¡±


    The soldiers muttered among themselves, their gaze shifting between Qi Chen and Jun Huang.


    One of them dropped his weapon, then another. Like an epidemic spreading through the troop, they threw away their weapons in submission one by one. In the end, eighty percent of the soldiers surrendered.


    The seemingly unstoppable force was broken up by a few simple words. Qi Chen bared his teeth at Jun Huang and got to his feet with his subordinate¡¯s help. His man advised him to conserve his strength and run. Nan Xun, though, had no intention of letting anyone go. He motioned at his soldiers to surround the treacherous prince.


    Qi Chen was captivated and held in ce at the bottom of the stairs. The emperor walked out of the pce with a eunuch¡¯s help, his clothes unkempt and rumpled, but his presence strong and untouchable. He stared at Qi Chen coldly, his eyes tinted with disappointment.


    ¡°Please forgive this official for noting to Your Majesty¡¯s aid earlier,¡± Nan Xun said with a knee on the ground and his head lowered.


    The emperor looked at him and waved a hand in the air. ¡°The crown prince hasmitted treason. I hereby take away his title and sentence him to imprisonment.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Once Qi Chen was taken away, the emperor¡¯s gazended on Jun Huang, who had been quiet. He didn¡¯t know Jun Huang well. He¡¯d only heard Qi Chen mentioned her a few times, and he was told that she was the one Nan Xun was in love with. This was the first time they came face to face.


    After a moment of silence, the emperor walked up to Nan Xun and helped him up. ¡°You deserve to be rewarded for your sessful rescue. Come with me.¡±


    Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang and gave her a reassuring nod before following the emperor into the main pce. The remaining soldiers dispersed after their general¡¯s departure. Jun Huang helped them clean up the mess, idly wondering what the emperor wanted to talk to Nan Xun about.


    Inside the pce, the emperor got straight to the point and said, ¡°You deserve to be rewarded foring to my rescue today. I¡¯ll grant you a gold-ted banner, three iron armors, several weapons, and five boxes of silk and jewelry. What do you say?¡±


    Nan Xun knelt on the floor and said earnestly, ¡°This official wishes for Your Majesty to take the rewards back.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°This official wants nothing but for Your Majesty to issue a decree for marriage,¡± Nan Xun said seriously, meeting the emperor¡¯s gaze.


    The emperor¡¯s smile dropped, his brows furrowed. ¡°Ridiculous. How ridiculous. You should be thinking about strengthening yourself, not something that goes against the morals...¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, marrying him has always been this official¡¯s goal. It¡¯s not an impulsive decision. I hope Your Majesty can grant me my wish.¡± Nan Xun remained dignified, his tone as steely as his presence.


    Nan Xun had saved his life after all. The emperor sighed and gave in. ¡°Fine, as you wish. Tell him toe inside.¡±


    Jun Huang was met with Nan Xun¡¯s soft smile when she was done with her task. She frowned. What was with him now? It took a moment for her to figure it out. She teased, ¡°The emperor must have given you something good.¡±


    ¡°Naturally,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°He¡¯s going to reward you, too. Come with me.¡±


    Jun Huang sucked in a breath. She didn¡¯t expect the emperor to ask for her presence as well. She stood motionless and helpless. Nan Xun chuckled and led her in.


    She took a deep breath to calm herself before following after Nan Xun to the main pce. She bowed to the emperor respectfully.


    Under the candlelight, the emperor was able to better see Jun Huang. He was startled by how good-looking she was. No wonder Nan Xun was so obsessed with her.


    ¡°How can this gentleman help Your Majesty?¡± Jun Huang looked up and asked, bothered by the way the emperor stared at her.


    The emperor came to his senses and realized that he¡¯d been staring. He cleared his throat and said. ¡°You and Nan Xun are to bemended for your help today, but I don¡¯t know what you need. Will you be willing to ept an arranged marriage?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s head snapped up. She panicked when she thought about who exactly the emperor would like her to marry. She had been able to turn Qi Chen down when he tried arranging a marriage for her, but the emperor was the supreme leader of the state. Once he issued the decree, there would be no way out.


    ¡°Thank you for your kind offer, Your Majesty, but this gentleman is used to being alone and wouldn¡¯t want to be tied down.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s tone was calm, but final.


    The emperor looked at Nan Xun, then back at her. He realized his mistake suddenly and chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t answer so fast. I haven¡¯t made myself clear. I meant a marriage with Nan Xun. What do you think?¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes and turned to Nan Xun, her ears red but her expression calm. Before she could say anything, the emperor spoke up again.


    ¡°I was going to reward Nan Xun with something material, but he turned me down out of his deep love for you. He wanted only for me to issue a decree. Even though there is no precedent for two men to get married, you two have done the state a great favor. No one¡¯s going to say anything about a marriage I arrange...¡±


    Jun Huang had thought the emperor was the one who made the offer, but it was a deal Nan Xun got by giving up his rewards! She was angry at Nan Xun for making the decision himself. She took a deep breath and said to the emperor with as much respect as she could, ¡°This peasant is grateful for Your Majesty¡¯s kindness, but as Your Majesty¡¯s said, it¡¯s against the mainstream values for two men to get married. I hope Your Majesty won¡¯t do something you¡¯ll regret. Please excuse me.¡±


    She stormed outside. She knew her action was unwise, but she couldn¡¯t control herself. Nan Xun apologized to the emperor on her behalf and ran after her, catching her wrist.


    Jun Huang shoved him away and demanded, ¡°What the hell are you thinking, Nan Xun?¡±


    Nan Xun was upset being scolded before he could even say anything. His expression hardened. ¡°I should be the one to ask you that. I¡¯m willing to give up everything for you. Why must you push me away?¡±


    Jun Huang scoffed. ¡°Can you not make the decision for me? We¡¯re nothing! What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too stubborn, Jun Huang. You have feelings for me. Why do you refuse to be with me? This is a great opportunity for us, and yet you turn the emperor down openly. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s unreasonable of you?¡±


    Nan Xun was provoked into saying things he¡¯d never said by her frigid response.


    Jun Huang gave him a sharp smile. ¡°In your mind, my opinion doesn¡¯t matter as much as your pride, does it? Please excuse me. I¡¯m not going to stay and be an eyesore.¡±


    She stormed away, her robe tainted with blood stains. There was a macabre beauty to the way the red contrasted with the turquoise fabric. Nan Xun let her go without a word.


    The next morning, the pce had been repaired and cleaned up. The fightst night seemed like a bad dream, but everyone in the pce had witnessed the killings. The memory was burned into their mind forever.

 Chapter 245 - Disapproval

    <h4>Chapter 245: Disapproval</h4>


    After breakfast, the emperor had Qi Chen brought to him. He sat on the throne looking down at the dejected man on his knees. His heart ached a little. He¡¯d seen Qi Chen grow up. He wasn¡¯t willing to ept that Qi Chen would be capable of such atrocity.


    ¡°Tell me, Qi Chen,¡± the emperor said severely. ¡°Who pushed you intomitting such treacherous act?¡±


    Qi Chen looked up at him and scoffed. ¡°No one. It¡¯s all me.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what you did is a capital offense?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do. If Nan Xun hadn¡¯t arrived in time, I¡¯d be the one sentencing you to death. If I had been a little crueler, I wouldn¡¯t have been stopped! Do you know that? It¡¯s your fault. It¡¯s your fault from the very beginning.¡±


    Qi Chen broke intoughter. Heughed so hard that tears burst out from his eyes. He curled into himself and held his hands over his abdomen.


    He¡¯d always been a proud man. He wasn¡¯t going to submit to other people anymore. He stayed on the floor, motionless, a whirlwind of thoughts filling his head.


    The emperor gave up. Qi Chen was no longer the obedient boy he remembered. He took a deep breath and motioned at the guards to take Qi Chen away. The way Qi Chen bared his teeth at him made his heart spasm.


    Qi Chen was put back into the wet and dark cell. It was cold, but he refused to get up. He fell asleep lying on the floor.


    It was dark outside when he woke up. He could hear noises of mice grinding their teeth. His face contorted into a scowl. He¡¯d been used to living in luxury. He took a deep breath and stood up.


    He stomped on the mouse, killing it in an instant. It was cathartic to imagine himself stepping on those who betrayed him.


    ¡°Your Highness.¡±


    There were noisesing from the outside. Qi Chen had thought he was imagining things. The man called out for him again when there was no response. Qi Chen turned to the door and saw a familiar face. He frowned. Where had he seen this man before?


    ¡°I¡¯m here to rescue Your Highness,¡± whispered the man. He took the key to the cell from an unconscious warden and unlocked the door, urging Qi Chen to leave with him.


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t hesitate for too long. If he stayed, the only thing he¡¯d receive was the poisonous wine gifted by the emperor. There was no way back for him. He must leave if he didn¡¯t want to die. He¡¯d wait for a chance to make hiseback.


    He approached the man and let him unlock the chains on his hands before walking out.


    He hadn¡¯t been paying attention. Now he saw for himself how much trouble the man had gone through to rescue him. The prison was littered with dead wardens. They must have been weakened by incense first for them to suffer such great casualties.


    It had nothing to do with him now. He left without a nce back.


    There were a few men waiting for them outside. Qi Chen and his rescuer got into the coach, setting for the city gate. Qi Chen didn¡¯t ask where they were going.


    Nan Xun and Jun Huan hadn¡¯t seen each other since their argument. He wasn¡¯t mad at her now, but he didn¡¯t know how to apologize to her. He debated over what to do as he paced his garden.


    He was panicking a little. He knew what kind of a person Jun Huang was. He should have anticipated Jun Huang¡¯s reaction. He¡¯d been too forceful. He was to me for their fight.


    ¡°Your Highness,¡± a shadow guard muttered into Nan Xun¡¯s ear. ¡°Someone broke the second prince out of prison.¡±


    Nan Xun stilled. The fact that someone broke Qi Chen out wasn¡¯t surprising, but he didn¡¯t expect them to act so quickly.


    Someone else was involved. He told the shadow guard to describe what had happened in the cell. He came to the conclusion that Prince Duan was the one who did it. He shot to his feet, ignoring the shadow guard¡¯s confused expression.


    ¡°Follow me to Gentleman Feng¡¯s manor.¡± He rushed outside. The guard quickly caught up with him.


    Qi Chen was close to falling asleep in the shaky coach. It came to a halt before a small residence. Disgust shed through his expression, but he didn¡¯t say anything. He jumped off the coach and followed the servants inside.


    The building was as small as a regr house. He¡¯d never been in a ce like this. It got on his nerves. He was a tiger fallen from his grace. Even a dog could bully him.


    He shook his head tiredly. Prince Duan was the one who weed him when he reached the backyard. Prince Duan frowned at his unkempt look. ¡°See what you¡¯ve done to yourself.¡±


    Qi Chen scrunched up his nose and growled, ¡°I would have seeded! If Feng Baiyu hadn¡¯t betrayed me, I wouldn¡¯t be here!¡±


    Prince Duan frowned deeply and hit Qi Chen¡¯s forehead with his fan. Qi Chen sucked in a breath, looking up at Prince Duan, and muttered, ¡°What was that for?¡±


    ¡°To remind you to learn from this experience,¡± Prince Duan said coolly. ¡°Think about how foolish you¡¯ve been.¡±


    Qi Chen pouted and took a seat. Prince Duan sat down next to him. ¡°What do you n to do next?¡±


    Qi Chen turned to Prince Duan, his heart filled with resentment for Jun Huang. He would explode if he didn¡¯t do anything. ¡°I¡¯m going to take revenge on Feng Baiyu and let him have a taste of failure. Then I¡¯ll storm the pce and kill the emperor straight away. I¡¯m not going to be merciful ever again.¡±


    Surprised by Qi Chen¡¯s impassioned deration, Prince Duan stared at him without blinking. Qi Chen cleared his throat and looked away, his face flushed and his muscles tense. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I meant what I said.¡±


    ¡°Then you must listen to me no matter what you do next,¡± said Prince Duan, waving his fan. ¡°Don¡¯t be so reckless again.¡±


    Qi Chen knew he¡¯d been hasty. Prince Duan had told him to be patient, but he got careless and ended up falling into Jun Huang¡¯s trap. He nodded without a word.


    Prince Duan sighed in relief. His son wasn¡¯t too helpless yet, at least.


    Some time into their conversation, Prince Duan realized that Qi Chen was still dressed in the same clothes he¡¯d worn in prison. He looked pitiful. Prince Duan ordered a few servants to prepare a hot bath and help him clean up. Qi Chen followed the servants obediently. He knew how terrible he looked now.


    When Nan Xun reached Jun Huang¡¯s manor, she¡¯d already gotten the news. She sat in the garden in deep thought.


    She turned around when she heard footsteps and was surprised to find Nan Xun staring back at her. She quickly schooled her expression and got to her feet. ¡°Do you know that Qi Chen¡¯s been rescued?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m here for.¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s Prince Duan.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t immediately respond. ¡°No one will believe us if we say so. I¡¯ve heard about the emperor¡¯s interrogation. Qi Chen insisted that it was his idea all along. Prince Duan is known for being a man of integrity. People may still stand behind him even if we¡¯ve collected all the evidence, let alone when we don¡¯t have any.¡±


    Jun Huang knew he was right. That was their biggest challenge now. She thought for a moment with her head lowered before looking up at Nan Xun. ¡°I¡¯m sure it was Prince Duan. Do you believe me?¡±


    ¡°Or course,¡± Nan Xun said without hesitation, his eyes serious. The answer made Jun Huang feel a little better. Neither of them brought up their argument, but their strained rtionship recovered somewhat.


    ¡°Prince Duan has taken Qi Chen away, and you¡¯re exposed,¡± Nan Xun said. ¡°They aren¡¯t going to let you off the hook. Your manor isn¡¯t safe. Come to my ce. I¡¯m a general and a prince. No matter how bold they are, they won¡¯t barge into my territory. The world is still the emperor¡¯s, after all.¡±


    Jun Huang had thought of the same thing. Although they had been fighting, this wasn¡¯t the right time to let their personal affair get to the big picture. She nodded readily.


    A few officials gathered in the biggest tavern in the imperial city, their expressions serious. They made sure several times that they were alone before talking about the political situation in the court.


    ¡°The first prince is gone, and the second prince had his title taken away for staging a coup,¡± said a second grade official. ¡°The third prince is still locked in prison. The fourth prince is our only candidate. The rest of the princes are too young to be taken into consideration.¡±


    The others shared a look. Their eyes widened when they figured out what the official was implying. ¡°Do you mean we should assist the fourth prince in bing the crown prince?¡±


    The official nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the reality now. That¡¯s our only choice.¡±


    A man sitting in the corner shook his head disapprovingly. ¡°You may think the fourth prince seem free of desires. I suspect that he¡¯s actually a shrewd man. Perhaps this is all part of his n.¡±


    The officialughed. ¡°Do you think the fourth prince is a god? That he could force the second prince tomit treason?¡±

 Chapter 246 - Transfer of Power in Southern Mu

    <h4> Chapter 246: Transfer of Power in Southern Mu</h4>


    The other officialsughed. ¡°That¡¯s right. The fourth prince seems like a good candidate. He¡¯s polite and friendly to others. While the second prince and the third prince were at each other¡¯s throat, he stayed loyally at the emperor¡¯s side, attending to his needs as he recovered. Never has the young prince done anything untowards. Besides, no one knows exactly what happened during the second prince¡¯s coup. Whatever we say does nothing but to challenge the authority.¡±


    Another man who believed that Qi Yun had been pulling the strings spoke up, ¡°The rule of thumb is to ask who¡¯s the one who benefits. Think about it. The fourth prince must be the one behind everything. He just managed to hide from us until now. It¡¯s chilling to think of the possibility, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    The room fell silent. No one coulde to an agreement, but the points brought up were worthy of consideration. As the man had said, Qi Yun was the one who ended up benefitting. He seemed to have done nothing, and yet he became the biggest winner. That shouldn¡¯t happen to a young man obsessed with arts and literature. Perhaps he truly was the shrewdest of all the princes.


    The officials broke into sweat. A trace of doubt snuck into their hearts. They feared that they might suffer the same fate as Qi Chen if they got on Qi Yun¡¯s bad side.


    The officials had agreed to stay put until the emperor decided on the crown prince. They¡¯d see where the currents go. The one thing they mustn¡¯t do was to offend Qi Yun. Even those who had been friendly with Qi Yun started dreading him.

 Chapter 247 - Turbulence

    <h4>Chapter 247: Turbulence</h4>


    Just when Jun Huang was starting to wonder if Prince Duan would ever talk, he looked up at her and said, ¡°I know your true purpose, Feng Baiyu. You think you¡¯ve hidden that well, but you made a lot of mistakes.¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes, her heart pounding. She didn¡¯t know how much he knew. Apprehension rose in her heart. She held her breath as she silently stared at him.


    Prince Duan scoffed and continued, ¡°I don¡¯t know your true identity, but I¡¯m sure that you are someone of higher status. You help Qi Yun not because he could promise you glory and future. You have a history together. Whatever your rtionship is, I don¡¯t know for sure, but you¡¯re not merely his strategist. Otherwise you wouldn¡¯t have gone undercover for him.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s chest felt tight as she listened to Prince Duan¡¯s analysis. He¡¯d made a lot of right guesses. She must treat him like the threat he was. What hidden force was there supporting him?


    After a long, silent moment, Jun Huang chuckled. Prince Duan frowned at her.


    She had recovered herposure when she said, ¡°Many called you a well-mannered but cunning man. Now I know they were telling the truth. Your shrewdness is admirable, but your imagination is indeed wild. I should thank you forbeling me a man of high status.¡±


    She kept an eye on Prince Duan¡¯s expression as she spoke. As she predicted, doubt shed through his eyes after she responded. Prince Duan had only been specting. He didn¡¯t have any concrete evidence.


    The fact that he could maintain his status in the court was enough to prove hispetence. He wasn¡¯t going to let Jun Huang fool him so easily. Their conversation seemed meandering and diplomatic, but underneath the calm illusion was an intense duel of wit.


    ¡°Ha, do you think I¡¯ll believe you?¡± Prince Duan demanded.


    Jun Huang had figured out what Prince Duan was doing. Her safety was no longer on her mind. She knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy for her to escape the moment Prince Duan walked into the room. She stayed silent in face of his questioning.


    Although she was frustrated, she recognized her own mistake. There was nothing for her to say.


    Prince Duan didn¡¯t expect her to be so bold as to ignore him. In anger, he seized her cor and forced her to look at him.


    Jun Huang held onto her remaining strand of dignity and sneered, ¡°So easily triggered. I thought Prince Duan was a patient man who didn¡¯t know anger. Didn¡¯t expect you to lose your calm so quickly. What are you nning, I wonder. Do you think you¡¯ll be able to manipte Northern Qi as you wish?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business,¡± snapped Prince Duan. ¡°I¡¯m not going to kill you, for now. You betrayed Qi Chen, but I still have some use for you. You¡¯ll be the tool to file away Qi Chen¡¯s sharp edges. Once I deem him mature enough, it¡¯ll be your doom.¡±


    Prince Duan¡¯s face contorted in fury and his tone dripped with menace. Before Jun Huang could make a retort, she was knocked unconscious again.


    The one who knocked her out looked down at her, then at Prince Duan. ¡°Is Your Highness going to let him live?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s still useful to us,¡± said Prince Duan. ¡°No need to kill him just yet. Leave him at Nan Xun¡¯s doorstep. Don¡¯t do anything unnecessary.¡±


    The man nodded. He still had some doubt, but he wasn¡¯t going to question his master. Once Prince Duan left, he bent down and picked Jun Huang up. With the night as his cover, he dropped her at the entrance to Nan Xun¡¯s manor.


    He was going to just leave, but he thought better of it. He knocked on the door and quickly went into hiding.


    Nan Xun had been panicking ever since Jun Huang¡¯s sudden disappearance. He¡¯d taken almost everyone out to search for her, leaving only the old housekeeper and the page boy watching the door.


    The page boy thought it was Nan Xun when he heard the knock. He rushed to get the door. There was, however, no one but Jun Huang, whoy unconscious on the ground. He hurriedly took her into the manor.


    The man in hiding left to report back to Prince Duan.


    The housekeeper heard themotion at the door and walked outside the building. Noticing the person the page boy was holding, he rushed towards him. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I heard someone knock. When I opened the door, Gentleman Feng was right outside. I¡¯ve checked his breathing. He¡¯s just unconscious.¡±


    The housekeeper looked at Jun Huang, then at the darkening sky. He helped the page boy carry Jun Huang to the bedroom. ¡°Go find the prince. I¡¯ll stay with him.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± The page boy ran outside at full speed and quickly found Nan Xun. He panted as he exined what had happened. Without waiting for other people to react, Nan Xun rushed straight back to the manor.


    He went to the bedroom without dy. Jun Huangy peacefully on the bed with her eyes closed. He hurriedly took her pulse and let out a sigh of relief when he felt the steady beats. He told the housekeeper to go rest. He¡¯d stay here with her.


    The housekeeper knew how much Nan Xun cared about Jun Huang. He sighed and wobbled out of the room without a word, leaving Nan Xun and Jun Huang alone.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± Nan Xun asked with a frown, holding Jun Huang¡¯s hand, still recovering from his panic.


    Shey there, motionless. His grip tightened around her cool fingers, his heart pounding painfully.


    He almost lost his mind when he heard that Jun Huang had gone missing. He ran around the city looking for her like a mad man in despair. He suddenly realized just how deep his feelings for her were. She could single-handedly destroyed his sanity.


    He only went back to normal after seeing her with his own eyes. He was unwilling to let her go. He feared that she¡¯d disappear again.


    It was morning when Jun Huang came to. She opened her eyes slowly, her neck sore. She was going to rub at her muscle when she realized her arm was caught. She turned to the side and saw Nan Xun holding onto her arm in his sleep.


    Nan Xun had always been a light sleeper. He woke up as soon as Jun Huang moved her hand. Tension drained out of his body. He¡¯d kept watch throughout the night and only fell asleep when the sun rose from the horizon. The short sleep wasn¡¯t enough to alleviate his exhaustion.


    Jun Huang looked at him, opening her mouth to say something, but her throat too sore for her to utter a word. Nan Xun hurriedly let go of her hand and poured her a cup of water.


    She felt a little better after drinking the water. She cleared her throat. ¡°How did I get here?¡±


    Nan Xun told her how the page boy had found her unconscious at the door. She frowned without a word, the gears in her head turning. Nan Xun waited for her to exin.


    She admitted that she¡¯d been caught by Prince Duan and told him what Prince Duan had said. Nan Xun felt as if someone had shoved a hand into his chest and seized his heart.


    He knew Qi Chen must hate Jun Huang with his entire being and wouldn¡¯t have let Jun Huang go easily. It was fortunate that Qi Chen hadn¡¯t been present yesterday. Prince Duan took her because he was suspicious of her identity. That might also be the reason he hadn¡¯t killed her.


    ¡°He¡¯s hidden himself well,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Indeed a cunning man.¡±


    Jun Huang took a deep breath. She didn¡¯t enjoy thinking about what happened yesterday. She rubbed at her aching neck. ¡°I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re nning, but they will eventually make a move. Prince Duan must be the one who took Qi Chen away.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°But there¡¯s a silver lining ¨C Prince Duan¡¯s showed his true nature now. We¡¯ll get rid of him when the opportunity presents itself.¡±


    Jun Huangughed quietly. ¡°That¡¯ll be ideal. What¡¯s been happening in the pce?¡±


    ¡°After Qi Chen vanished without a trace, the emperor¡¯s tried and failed to locate him,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°He was now trying to cultivate another prince to take the throne one day. Because of Qi Chen¡¯s attempt, though, he isn¡¯t going to make anyone a crown prince just yet.¡±


    Jun Huang mused. The emperor had gotten apprehensive. The only candidate he could consider, however, was Qi Yun, who was also the most talented among the remaining princes. Qi Yun was bound to be the crown prince if nothing went wrong. They just had to worry about Qi Chen.


    Nan Xun knew what she was concerned about. He patted her on the back of her hand. ¡°Qi Chen won¡¯t make his move anytime soon. Don¡¯t worry too much. Besides, the emperor has lost all hope in him after what happened. He won¡¯t be able to do much even after he returns. Qi Yun, on the other hand, has loyally stayed by the emperor, earning his trust.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t voice her unease. She was still reeling from what happened yesterday.


    They both knew there was an underlying turbulence beneath the superficial peace in the court. One wrong move could mean the difference between life and death.


    Ever since Prince Duan took Jun Huang, Nan Xun had been extra careful about keeping her safe. Every time she left the manor, he¡¯d either apany her himself, or order a few shadow guards to follow her.

 Chapter 248 - Revenge

    <h4>Chapter 248: Revenge</h4>


    Jun Huang thought he was overreacting, but Nan Xun disagreed. She knew he was afraid that something simr would happen again. To assure him, she let him do as he wished withoutin.


    However, she still ended up falling into a trap.


    That day, Nan Xun had apany Jun Huang on a walk. Under the summer sun, the city was even more beautiful. Jun Huang looked around, enjoying the view. He followed her with a faint smile at his lips.


    Just when they were enjoying themselves, a shadow guard showed up suddenly and said, ¡°Something went wrong on the training ground, Your Highness.¡±


    They came to a halt. Nan Xun frowned. ¡°What is it?¡±


    The shadow guard exined. It turned out that two soldiers had gotten into a fight. It might seem like a trivial matter, but the two were both from important families and were sent to the troop to gain some experience. Nan Xun would be criticized if he let other people take care of the issue. It was best that he did it himself.


    He knew what he should do, but Jun Huang had just started to have fun. He didn¡¯t want to force her to go back to the manor. He hesitated.


    Jun Huang could tell that the matter wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed. She looked at the shadow guard, then at a hesitant Nan Xun. He had more important things to take care of. ¡°Go. I¡¯ll return to the manor soon.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they aren¡¯t going to do anything in broad daylight,¡± she assured. ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve left a lot of guards with me. It¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded after a short pause. ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere people can¡¯t see you, and don¡¯t get too far away from the shadow guards. I¡¯lle back for you after taking care of the problem.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. Once Nan Xun left, she went back to strolling along the street.


    Suddenly, a girl got hit by a coach. No one offered her a helping hand. Jun Huang didn¡¯t make it a habit to get into other people¡¯s business, but her breath hitched when she saw the little girl crying in pain. She couldn¡¯t possibly watch and do nothing. She rushed to the girl.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± She knelt down and reached out to help the girl, who looked up at her with big eyes brimming with tears. Jun Huang¡¯s heart softened. She picked the girl up.


    Suddenly, a burly man snuck up on her from behind and covered her nose and mouth with a handkerchief. Jun Huang wasn¡¯t able to react in time with the girl in her arms. She knew what the smell was. She struggled but failed to break out of the man¡¯s hold. In her fuzzy state, she let go of the girl and was thrown into the coach. The man drove the coach away at full speed.


    The shadow guards¡¯ line of sight had been obstructed by the coach. They only realized what had happened when the coach rushed away, leaving only the little girl on the street. The girl told them that Jun Huang had been knocked out and taken away. They ran after the coach.


    The street was too crowded. The coach was able to force its way out, but the guards couldn¡¯t. They tried their best to follow the coach. When they reached the city gate, though, they were stopped by the guards for a routine check. They were Nan Xun¡¯s shadow guards. What they did would reflect back to their master. They had no choice but toply. Once they were let go, the coach had already vanished.


    From the way the man grabbed Jun Huang off the street, it was clear that the kidnapper was their enemy, and very likely Prince Duan. They went to find Nan Xun and admitted their mistakes. A city-wide search started.


    Jun Huang was woken up when freezing water went into her nose and mouth, sending her into a coughing fit. Her head hurt. Her heart sank when she saw Qi Chen. She was more nervous now than she had been thest time Prince Duan grabbed her.


    ¡°Tell me, Feng Baiyu, when did you target me?¡± Qi Chen said through clenched teeth, his face red with rage. Life hadn¡¯t been treating him well. He¡¯d lost a lot of weight, giving him a ghoulish look. ¡°Have you always nned to betray me, or were you coerced?¡±


    Jun Huang wanted to lie, but Prince Duan was watching them from the dark. She had to be careful about what to say. She lowered her head, staring at the floor, trying to find the right words.


    Her silence made Qi Chen furious. He kicked her, hard. She looked up at him with a pale but calm face, her thoughts indiscernible.


    ¡°This gentleman¡¯s told Your Highness that Prince Nan saved me once. He only managed to rescue me. All my family has been murdered. I¡¯ve always been thinking about taking revenge. I thought Your Highness would be the best candidate, but you have your ambition. You don¡¯t have time for my revenge. Prince Nan knew of my trouble and helped me. I have to repay him for saving my life and fulfilling my goal.¡±


    She kept her head low and her fists clenched tight, trembling as if she¡¯d been reminded of her hatred and sorrow.


    Qi Chen looked at her with narrowed eyes, his expression changing several times. ¡°You¡¯ve taken your revenge?¡± he asked in a cool voice. ¡°And paid him back?¡±


    Jun Huang frowned, wondering what Qi Chen was aiming for. She nodded.


    Qi Chen broke intoughter. He bent down and grabbed Jun Huang¡¯s chin, wrapping his mouth around every syble as he said, ¡°Since all your wishes have been granted, you can die now.¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes in shock, which pleased Qi Chen. A peel ofughter left his mouth. He let go and looked down at her with his arms crossed.


    He pped his hands. A man carried in a censor filled with soil, protruding from which was an incense stick.


    That was enough for Jun Huang to guess what Qi Chen was going to do. Cold sweat broke from the side of her face. She held her breath and looked at him frigidly, waiting for him to continue.


    ¡°I¡¯m a sensible man who dislikes non-sensible killings,¡± he said at a deliberate slow speed, cackling at Jun Huang¡¯s stilted expression. ¡°You¡¯ve always been smart. You should know what I¡¯m nning to do ¨C Run. Run for your life. Once the incense stick¡¯s burnedpletely, I¡¯ll send out my men to chase after you. What do you say?¡±


    He wanted Jun Huang to feel desperate.


    Jun Huang knew she must save herself. Qi Chen¡¯s desires to torture her gave her a chance to live. She must seize it. She took a deep breath and let Qi Chen¡¯s men pull her upright. Her hands were tied behind her back before she was shoved out of the door.


    She quickly adjusted herself. She left the manor and surveyed the area. This ce waspletely foreign to her. She was on a broad street. On her left was a narrow path leading to the mountain. She knew that was her best chance of survival. Without hesitation, she ran in that direction.


    The path was covered in dust. It went into her mouth whenever a wind blew. Jun Huang ignored her difort and tried her best to run up the hill. She knocked into a woman when she made a sharp turn.


    Neither of them saw the othering. They both fell to the ground.


    The woman Jun Huang knocked into got to her feet first. Her eyebrows jumped up in surprise when she saw Jun Huang. Jun Huang stared at her owlishly. It was the girl she¡¯d saved in Yun Town.


    The girl hurriedly helped Jun Huang up. She frowned when she saw that her hands were tied up and untied her.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to run into you when I came to the mountain to gather herbs,¡± the girl said with a chuckle. ¡°It must be fate.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t want other people to get hurt because of her. She told the girl about her situation and told her to leave, or she might be caught in the crossfire.


    The girl paused. She looked down the mountain. So that was why Jun Huang had looked so anxious. She thought back to the graceful gentleman who¡¯d saved her life. She couldn¡¯t ept that fact that her rescuer was treated like this by a viin. ¡°Please don¡¯t turn me away. This woman may not be educated, but I know the importance of reciprocation. I cannot stay on the sideline when you¡¯re in danger. I notice that we have simr form. Let us exchange our identities.¡±


    ¡°You mustn¡¯t!¡± Jun Huang couldn¡¯t let that happen. She waved a hand in denial. ¡°It¡¯s my burden. I can¡¯t let you shoulder it for me. What I didst time was only a trivial matter. Please don¡¯t think too much of it.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m not good enough to help you?¡± demanded the girl.


    Jun Huang hurriedly exined, ¡°This gentleman doesn¡¯t mean it that way. I appreciate your offer, but I can¡¯t ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Then stop arguing. I¡¯m familiar with the terrain here. I can flee from them. We don¡¯t have a lot of time, honored gentleman. We have to do it now.¡±


    She dragged Jun Huang forward, her grip tight due to years of manualbor. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t break out of her hold. The girl knew that Jun Huang would try to lead the pursuers away even after they changed clothes. She hesitated for a brief moment before knocking Jun Huang out. She caught her and hid her in a hidden corner.


    She took a deep breath. She could hear peopleing this way. The clock was ticking. She disrobed Jun Huang and frowned when she realized that Jun Huang was a woman. She didn¡¯t have time to dwell on the that, though. She exchanged their clothes and fixed Jun Huang¡¯s shirt before running towards the source of themotion.

 Chapter 249 - Thin Ice

    <h4>Chapter 249: Thin Ice</h4>


    Worried that she¡¯d expose Jun Huang if she stayed too close to her, the woman ran away. She nced at the soldiers traversing the mountain, silently calcting her chance of survival as she ran. Distracted, she was caught off guard by one of the pursuers¡¯ shouting. She stumbled and rolled down a small hill, twisting her ankle when shended.


    She cursed under her breath and grabbed a stick to use as a crutch. Sharp pain stabbed through her ankle as she moved. She gritted her teeth and kept running.


    The soldiers chased her with single-minded focus, forcing her to the edge of a cliff. Her heart sank. There was no way out for her now. She couldn¡¯t turn around and risked having her face seen. She took a deep breath, focusing on the footsteps closing in on her.


    She jumped.


    The soldiers didn¡¯t expect such a strong reaction. Qi Chen hurried to the cliff and stared down, opening his mouth but unable to make a sound. It took a moment for him to recover from his shock. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go down there and search for him?¡±


    ¡°Your Highness, the cliff is steep. It¡¯s a bottomless pit no one has been to before,¡± said an older man who was familiar with the region. ¡°He must have died on impact. There¡¯s also no path for us to tread on. The only way down is to jump off the cliff.¡±


    Qi Chen scowled. He was overwhelmed with a great sense of loss when he saw Feng Baiyu jump off. His resentment for the man quieted down, leaving only memories of Feng Baiyu¡¯s kindness and wisdom.


    Prince Duan caught up with them. He nodded in response to the servants¡¯ briefing and came to Qi Chen¡¯s side. Qi Chen¡¯s expression made him furious. ¡°He¡¯s a nobody,¡± Prince Duan snapped. ¡°What are you being sentimental for? If you react like this every time, you¡¯ll never reach your goal. You might as well stay in the prison.¡±


    Qi Chen didn¡¯t know how to defend himself. He stared at the ground for a good while before saying, ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ve lost control of myself.¡±


    Prince Duan scoffed and led the soldiers and servants away. Qi Chen took onest nce at the cliff, his heart filled with a mess of emotions, but there was nothing he could do now. He sighed and followed after the group.


    He¡¯d thought that he¡¯d feel better after taking revenge against Jun Huang, but he didn¡¯t. His sleep wasn¡¯t a restful one. He kept remembering the young man with calm eyes and faint smile. He wondered if he¡¯d been possessed. He forced himself to forget about Jun Huang. He stayed with the guards Prince Duan assigned him all day long, turning a blind eye to what was happening outside the building.


    Jun Huang was woken up by a gust of wind. She hunched her shoulders as she looked around. It was deep into the night. The cool moonlight was the only light source, but it was enough for her to make out the contours of everything around her.


    She knew that it was likely the woman had fallen to her demise. If she had been alive and well, she wouldn¡¯t have left Jun Huang here alone.


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart sank. She never wanted other people to suffer in her stead, and yet she ended up getting a woman she¡¯d only seen once killed. There was a lump in her throat. She didn¡¯t know how someone would be willing to make such a sacrifice for a stranger.


    What happened had happened. She couldn¡¯t rewind time. The best thing she could do was to hide and clean up her tracks, making sure that Qi Chen¡¯s men wouldn¡¯t notice her. She¡¯d sneak away in the morning.


    Having something to focus on made her feel a little better. She moved backward until her back hit a tree and started looking around.


    Something was wrong. The forest shouldn¡¯t be so quiet.


    She frowned as she surveyed her surroundings. Suddenly, she spotted a pair of green lights in the dark. Her breath hitched and her fists clenched as she took a closer look.


    It was a wolf. It seemed to have been there for a while. It bared its terrifying teeth as it stared at her with predatory gaze. Saliva dripped down from the corner of its snout.


    Jun Huang forced herself to calm down. Holding her breath, she grabbed a rock with tight grip and slowly got to her feet.


    The wolf lunged as soon as it saw its prey move. Its two forelegstched onto her shoulders, the ws burrowing into her flesh. She gritted her teeth to brace against the pain.


    The wolf bit at her, opening its mouth wide. Jun Huang had dropped the stone in pain. At thest moment, she grabbed the wolf¡¯s upper and lower teeth with each hand, forcing its mouth open. Saliva oozed down her hand, the smell foul and aggressive.


    Jun Huang did her best to hang on. In its moment of weakness, she flipped their position and pinned the wolf down. She let go of its snout and grabbed a rock to hit the wolf¡¯s head.


    There was rustling sounding from somewhere nearby. She worried that the wolf had called in itspanions. She quickly climbed onto a tree and sat on a sturdy branch. Finally, she was able to breathe.


    It took a moment for the wolf to regain consciousness. It growled at Jun Huang threateningly. She held onto the trunk with her brows furrowed, shutting her mouth tight.


    She was trembling. She had been oddly calm when she grappled the wolf, but now the fear had set in.


    She¡¯d have died if the wolf bit into her throat. She¡¯d have been eaten alive. She shook. She¡¯d never been as afraid as she was now.


    She took a deep breath to calm herself. The wolf was still circling the tree. She didn¡¯t dare let herself rx. She stayed on the tree until morning came.


    The wolf finally left with great reluctance, but Jun Huang didn¡¯t¡¯ immediately get down. She worried that the wolf might be hiding somewhere.


    She snorted. No beasts were that smart.


    Even so, she stayed another hour on the tree before getting off. She almost copsed when shended. Sitting on the branch wasn¡¯t good for her legs, and she¡¯d been on high alert. Now that she let herself rx, she almost lost control of her limbs.


    She leaned against the tree to recover her strength. Paying no attention to her unkempt state, she went down the mountain through another path. She had to ask for direction a few times to find her way back to the imperial city. She went straight to Nan Xun¡¯s manor, ignoring people¡¯s odd looks.


    When she reached the manor, there was no one around. She frowned. During her long absence, Nan Xun must have ordered everyone to search for her. Her brows drew closer together, and her heart grew heavy.


    She hated being a burden, but she¡¯d made Nan Xun worry again and again.


    She¡¯d just escaped death, but her safety wasn¡¯t really her biggest concern now.


    Her head throbbed painfully. She entered the empty manor and went to her bedroom on autopilot. Her night had been a restless one because of the wolf. Exhaustion started to set in. She just wanted to sleep. The rest would have to wait.


    Inside her bedroom, she didn¡¯t even have the strength to close the door. She toppled onto the bed and fell asleep immediately.


    Meanwhile, Nan Xun was still looking for Jun Huang. His heart pounded hard in panic. Prince Duan had been the one who kidnapped herst time. It might not be him again. The one person who hated her the most at the moment was Qi Chen.


    It felt as if his blood had frozen over when he thought about the possibility that Qi Chen had taken her away. After punishing the guards tasked to protect Jun Huang, he started searching for her day and night.


    He knew he mustn¡¯t let too many people know about the kidnapping, or Jun Huang might be at more risk. He could only rely on his own people. After a day and a night, though, he still hadn¡¯t gotten any results.


    His shadow guards couldn¡¯t let Nan Xun do this to himself. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, making him seem unhinged and dangerous. They¡¯d never seen him lose his calm like this. Even on battlefields, he always looked confident in his victory. Now, though, his eyes were filled with fear.


    It¡¯d be dangerous to let someone see Nan Xun in this state. The shadow guards discussed the issue with Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand. The second inmand went to Nan Xun, ready for any punishment Nan Xun might give him. ¡°You have to rest, general.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s frigid gaze made his heart pound, but he continued after taking a deep breath. ¡°You should know that your reaction is putting Gentleman Feng in more danger, general. We¡¯ll keep searching for him. You can¡¯t copse at time like this.¡±


    Nan Xun paused. He knew his attitude might give those who¡¯d been watching him the leverage to use against him, but knowing was different from doing. He was reluctant to leave. He agonized for a good while before letting out a sigh and nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll return to the manor. Be careful not to let anyone notice what you¡¯re doing. I¡¯ll wait for your good news.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, general, that we¡¯ll inform you immediately after finding Gentleman Feng,¡± promised the second inmand.

 Chapter 250 - Little Trick

    <h4> Chapter 250: Little Trick</h4>


    Nan Xun was still worried, but he had to make the smart decision here. With a sigh, he returned to the manor. He walked through the garden with the housekeeper at his tail. The old man sympathized with his plight. ¡°Your Highness has been awake for a long time. You should take a break. Otherwise Gentleman Feng will be worried once he returns.¡±


    Nan Xun looked up at him andughed silently. ¡°If he returns safely, I¡¯ll dly let him scold me,¡± he said in a bitter tone. ¡°However, we don¡¯t know if he¡¯s alive or not. How can I rx?¡±


    He shook his head and sighed. ¡°Alright, I want to stay on my own for a while. You may go now. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    The housekeeper wasn¡¯t going to argue. Seeing his master¡¯s bloodshot eyes and tired gait, he told the servants to prepare things of the soothing nature.


    Nan Xun was going to go back to his room for a short rest, but he arrived outside Jun Huang¡¯s bedroom before he realized it. He frowned when he noticed that the door was open. One of the maids must have forgotten to close it when cleaning the room.


    He was about to close the door when he spotted muddy footprints on the floor.


    With his brows furrowed in deep thought, he walked in slowly, careful not to alert whoever it was inside, but not so slow that the person would run away.


    He walked around the screen with his breath held. Someone was in the bed.


    It was Jun Huang.


    He slumped down with an exhale, his rattled nerves finally rxed.


    He walked up to the bed. She looked pale as a sheet and there were twigs sticking out from her hair. She was dressed in women¡¯s clothes, her face and clothes covered in mud. She was a mess, and she smelled.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t care. What mattered was she was safe. With his exhaustion catching up with him, he toed off his boots andy down next to her, staring at her peaceful profile. He gently touched her face, his heart aching with both fear and delight.


    He pulled her into his arms. She muttered something intelligible, but didn¡¯t wake from her slumber. He considered her with narrowed eyes. He wanted to take her pain away.


    He fell asleep, but it was a light one. He worried that she would disappear again when he woke up. He kept part of himself conscious.


    It was noon when Jun Huang woke up. The sun was bright, covering the room in a warm glow. She heard quiet breathinging from her side. She turned and saw Nan Xun lying next to her. It wasn¡¯t the first time they shared a bed. She felt more at ease than bashful.


    All the fear she¡¯d felt the previous days vanished the moment she saw him, leaving only warmth spreading through her body and a smile tugging at her lips.


    Her quiet gaze was what Nan Xun saw when he woke up suddenly. Jun Huang fell into his deep and unfocused eyes. He quickly blinked his haziness away.


    ¡°How do you feel?¡± Nan Xun asked nervously as he sat up. ¡°Are you hurting?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head and said with a reassuring smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She lowered her head and looked awkwardly at the state she was in. Without missing a beat, Nan Xun stood up and patted her head. ¡°Stay here for a bit. I¡¯ll have someone draw a bath for you. It¡¯ll help soothe your exhaustion. We¡¯ll talkter.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    A few servants brought a barrel of hot water into the room not long after. They knew Jun Huang didn¡¯t like being served, so they left after filling the tub with hot water.


    Jun Huang took off her clothes and soaked herself in the bath, her exhaustion draining away. She washed away the grime on her body and finally felt less like she was going to break out of her skin.


    Just when she was getting sleepy, a knock on the door jerked her awake. She blinked and cleared her throat. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Are you going to be done soon?¡± asked Nan Xun, his strong voice booming through the door. ¡°Dinner is ready. You haven¡¯t eaten anything the past couple of days, have you? You must be starving.¡±


    The moment she was reminded, she got almost painfully aware of her empty stomach. She made a sound of assent and walked out of the tub. After wiping herself dry, she put on some clean clothes.


    Nan Xun was still waiting for her when she walked out of the door. His heart skipped when he saw her rosy cheeks and misty eyes. He stared at her, unable to look away.


    Jun Huang frowned at her clothes and didn¡¯t notice anything unusual. ¡°What?¡®


    ¡°Nothing. You look good.¡± Nan Xun smiled and took her hand, leading her to the dining hall like it was the most natural thing in the world. Jun Huang looked at their entwined fingers, her lips curved into a smile as she followed after him.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time the servants saw them being this intimate, but for some reason, there was something different about the way the two of them acted now.


    Perhaps it was just that Nan Xun had been even more attentive to Jun Huang. He¡¯d recovered her after thinking he¡¯d lost her.


    Only Jun Huang knew that she was letting Nan Xun get closer. She was trying to ept his feelings and tender gestures. Perhaps it was because of how safe she¡¯d felt when she saw him after waking up.


    No one questioned what they saw, and Jun Huang didn¡¯t question her reaction. It seemed insignificant now.


    During dinner, Nan Xun didn¡¯t immediately ask her what had happened the past two days. He waited until she was close to finish before asking, ¡°Who took you and what happened?¡±


    Jun Huang met his eyes and told him everything. Her tone turned sorrowful when she mentioned the woman who had saved her at the cost of her own life.


    Nan Xun frowned. He didn¡¯t like seeing her sad. He sighed and patted her shoulderfortingly. ¡°She volunteered to save you. She wouldn¡¯t want you to feel regretful. What is done has been done. There¡¯s nothing we can do to change the past. We can only live with it.¡±


    ¡°Even so, I was the reason that she wouldn¡¯t even get a proper burial,¡± Jun Huang choked out with her eyes closed. ¡°How can I be at peace with that?¡±


    Nan Xun took her fingers and struggled to find the right words. He knew that time would be the only medicine here. There was nothing he could say to make her feel better.


    After a silent pause, he said, ¡°This should serve as a lesson. You should stay in the manor for the time being, or Qi Chen¡¯s men may find you.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. They resumed eating without a word.


    Afterwards, Jun Huang stayed in the manor every day withoutin. She often went to the back garden to feed the koi fish during daytime. The fish seemed to be enjoying itself, but the monotonous life was starting to get to her.


    Nan Xun was told that Jun Huang was in the back garden again as soon as he returned. When he saw her, she was sitting on a rock by the pond with fish feed in her hand. Her mind was elsewhere.


    She didn¡¯t notice Nan Xun until he¡¯d been standing by her side for a good moment. She looked up at him quietly with unfocused eyes. He frowned and sat down next to her. ¡°Bored?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m like a fish in the pond?¡± Jun Huang raised an eyebrow and didn¡¯t answer his question.


    Nan Xun knew what she was implying. She was more talented than most people, and yet she was trapped in this manor because of the circumstances. How could she be happy? Everyone knew she was not someone who¡¯d be willing to stay in a little pond.


    ¡°How about this. I¡¯ll go to the housekeeper and ask him to let you help with his duty. What do you say?¡± He spoke carefully and added, ¡°The housekeeper¡¯s getting old. You may fill his position temporarily until we find the right candidate.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯ll be good,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°At least I¡¯ll have something to do.¡±


    Nan Xun told the housekeeper about his n. The housekeeper readily agreed and made the arrangements to hand off his job. No one knew Nan Xun¡¯s true intention.


    He wanted Jun Huang to get used to being the other master of his household.


    Jun Huang assumed that he was simply trying to fill her time. She¡¯d always been a careful person, and she took her new job seriously, not wanting to betray Nan Xun¡¯s trust. The housekeeper had been worried about her in the beginning, but his worry was proven to be unwarranted after only a few days.


    When Nan Xun didn¡¯t have to go to the training ground, he¡¯d stay in the study with Jun Huang. She was usually going over the ounting book, while he took care of his paperwork. They gave each other room to work, but asionally they¡¯d exchange a few words.


    Jun Huang had always been a quiet person. She wouldn¡¯t interrupt his work unless she had questions she needed to ask. Nan Xun snuck nces at her every once in a while, taking in the way her forehead creased in concentration. His heart melted.


    He felt at peace with her by his side. Life couldn¡¯t be better.


    He kept his thoughts to himself. He didn¡¯t want to break the careful bnce they¡¯d reached.


    Today, they stayed in the study as usual. Suddenly they heard someone talking outside. Nan Xun threw a nce at Jun Huang before walking out of the door. The housekeeper was leading Qi Yun toward the study. The two of them engaged in a pleasant conversation.


    The housekeeper left after spotting Nan Xun, who took Qi Yun into the study. Jun Huang looked up when she heard the door closing. She was a little surprised to see the prince here.

 Chapter 251 - Moon Festival

    <h4> Chapter 251: Moon Festival</h4>


    ¡°Royal Father¡¯s health is getting worse,¡± Qi Yun stated without preamble. ¡°You should get ready for his passing.¡±


    Nan Xun was surprised that the emperor¡¯s condition was going downhill rather than making a recovery, while Jun Huang had seen thising. She was gued with poison herself. She knew how potent Eastern Wu¡¯s poison was. Although the emperor had been saved from a quick death, his mdy had not been cured, but only suppressed. The effort of staying alive was taking a toll on him.


    Jun Huang thought for a moment. She worried that Prince Duan and Qi Chen, who were their biggest threats at the time being, might make a move soon.


    The emperor knew that his days were numbered, and yet he refused to make Qi Yun the crown prince. There must be something they were missing here.


    ¡°Although I¡¯m not sure what the emperor is going to do, he clearly puts a lot of hope in you,¡± she calmly said. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything reckless. We have to be patient. We¡¯ll have the emperor willingly make you the crown prince, instead of forcing his hand like Qi Chen did.¡±


    This was a critical time. She had to make sure that he wouldn¡¯t get impatient.


    Qi Yun nodded after a long pause. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t be reckless.¡±


    His promise made her feel a little better, but she was still anxious. After he¡¯d left, Nan Xun went up to her and took her hand. ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    She nced at him and shook her head. ¡°Nothing. I just have some spections.¡± She went back to the desk and sat down, reading the ounting book carefully.


    Neither of them foresaw what happened next.


    Moon Festival came. An extravagant banquet was held in the pce. Nan Xun woke up early to get prepared. Jun Huangy on the stone table with her eyes on him. She seemed distracted, her eyes caught by his robe.


    Nan Xun shook his head in resignation and downed the cup of tea ced on the table. It¡¯d gone cold. ¡°It¡¯s just a meeting attire. Nothing special. They all look the same.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just curious what a military official¡¯s meeting attire look like, but it¡¯s the same as a schr official¡¯s,¡± Jun Huang said. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel off-kiltered wearing the long robe after wearing armors for so long?¡±


    She was smiling with her whole face. Even the angle of her eyebrows seemed joyful. She hadn¡¯t looked so carefree for a long time.


    Nan Xun stared at her dumbly. It took a moment for him toe to his senses. He coughed and looked up at the bright moon. ¡°There was a time when I wasn¡¯t used to wearing armors, but I adapted. Now, I¡¯ve stayed in the imperial city for some time. I can¡¯t just go around without clothes, can I? The long robe doesn¡¯t impose a strong presence, but it¡¯s elegant.¡±


    ¡°I should have worn a general¡¯s attire, but the emperor worried that I¡¯d scare other people. He told me to dress like a schrly man for once. I can¡¯t see myself though. Do I look less intimidating now?¡±


    Jun Huang considered him carefully, rubbing her chin and supporting her head with the other hand. Nan Xun usually wore shirts with narrow sleeves, which did nothing to dampen his imposing aura. Now, dressed in a long robe with broad sleeves, he did look more like a graceful gentleman. His features were still sharp and steely, but they were softer than before.


    ¡°It¡¯s good,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re going to get a lot of attention from women today.¡±


    Nan Xun paused and chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s their business. What do they have to do with me? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯lle back for you in no time.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyshes fluttered before she looked up at him with a serious expression. She nodded.


    A eunuch from the pce came to hurry Nan Xun again. He couldn¡¯t dy his departure anymore. He said a few words to her before leaving with the eunuch.


    Jun Huang sat in the garden on her own under the cool moonlight. It was said that the moon festival was when one¡¯s yearning for her parents grew intense. She now saw the truth to the saying. The housekeeper had a servant serve her some moon cakes. She took a bite but didn¡¯t really taste it. She sighed and put it down.


    The pce was bustling with activities when Nan Xun arrived. The emperor didn¡¯t me him for beingte, but only waved at him to take a seat. Then the emperor slumped on the throne, his face pale.


    Qi Yun had been staying by the emperor¡¯s side. He ordered the servants to bring a robe and some hot tea for his father, painting the perfect picture of a caring son. A few of the participants scoffed in derision, drinking wine without a word.


    After three rounds of drinks, some of them were losing their ability to think carefully. One of the courtiers brought up Eastern Wu. The emperor didn¡¯t stop them from talking about the usually taboo topic. He hadn¡¯t had anything to drink because of his health. He let the officials talk in a pleasant mood.


    ¡°I hear that the emperor of Eastern Wu has torn the peace treaty with us,¡± an official suddenly eximed.


    The mood in the room clouded. Everyone turned to the emperor in silence. The emperor¡¯s face hardened. He mmed the table and got to his feet, pointing at the official who spoke as he demanded, ¡°Where did you hear that from?¡±


    The official was shocked into sobriety. He broke into cold sweat and dropped down to his knees. ¡°Please... please forgive me, Your Majesty. This official heard it from someone else...¡±


    ¡°How dare you say such things to offend His Majesty?¡± Nan Xun got to his feet and scolded. ¡°Have you lost control of your tongue? How dare you spread hearsay? Do you have a death wish?¡±


    He knelt down before the emperor and said, ¡°The rumor has no basis, Your Majesty. This official hasn¡¯t heard any news. It¡¯s a despicable move to spread false information.¡±


    The emperor froze and spat out a mouthful of blood before copsing. If Qi Yun hadn¡¯t caught him, he would have make an even bigger scene.


    The room fell into chaos. Nan Xun motioned at Qi Yun to take the emperor away. He¡¯d take care of the rest.


    Qi Yun knew he couldn¡¯t afford to wait. He nodded and took the emperor back to his chamber with a few men¡¯s help.


    The royal doctor arrived quickly. His brows furrowed as he took the emperor¡¯s pulse. Qi Yun anxiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    The royal doctor sighed. ¡°Anger caused the poison in His Majesty¡¯s body to act up. He¡¯s in a dangerous state.¡±


    Qi Yun grabbed the doctor by his cor, ¡°You must save Royal Father at all cost. Do you hear me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ll do all I can.¡± The royal doctor was drenched in sweat. He got on treating the emperor with his fellow doctors.


    Qi Yun stayed by the bed for some time. He realized that he still had things to take care of. He first reminded the eunuch serving the emperor to take care of his father and to inform him should something happen. Then he rushed outside.


    He went back to the banquet and heard Nan Xun said, ¡°Everyone of you should keep your mouth shut. If the rumors leave the room, I¡¯ll make you regret your life.¡±


    The officials were scared by his harsh words. They nodded without a word ofeback. Prince Duan, though, remained seated with an eyebrow raised. It was as if what happened had nothing to do with him.


    Nan Xun ignored him and ordered a few guards to send the officials back, his intimidation was clear in his approach. Once they¡¯d left, Qi Yun walked to his side. They exchanged a look before leaving the pce.


    Jun Huang only raised an eyebrow when she heard. Qi Yun turned to her questioningly, ¡°It seems that the gentleman knew about this beforehand.¡±


    She nced at him. ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t, but it makes sense. Many viinous men have been waiting for Northern Qi to fall into chaos. I don¡¯t know what the one spreading the rumors wants, but we have to be alert.¡±


    ¡°You have a point,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°I¡¯ve ordered my men to stay on guard. Anyone leaving and entering the city would go through a checkup first. We¡¯re staying in the dark as well. Let¡¯s see what the perpetrator would do.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and looked up at the moon without a word. Qi Yun was quiet as well, preupied with his thoughts.


    The imperial city, however, remained peaceful for some time.


    Out of the blue, delegates from Eastern Wu came to Northern Qi with the promised fortunes and beautiful women. They requested an audience with the emperor.


    The emperor had escaped death again, but his spirit hadn¡¯t recovered enough to take care of the negotiation. He also didn¡¯t want the delegates to know that he was sick. He thus entrusted Prince Duan to take care of the matter.


    Jun Huang was losing her sanity staying in the manor. Nan Xun understood her feelings, but he was too busytely to keep herpany. He could only ordered a big group of servants to stick closely to her and had many shadow guards follow her around.


    Jun Huang ran into Princess Wan¡¯er and Zhang Yuan on the street by chance. While she was still hesitating if she should greet them, Zhang Yuan spotted her and greeted her. ¡°Gentleman Feng, here!¡±


    Jun Huang had no choice but to approach them. She cupped her hands before looking up. ¡°It¡¯s said that the princess and her husband are a loving couple. It turns out to be true. I¡¯m happy that the princess is able to find a good man to be with.¡±


    ¡°Gentleman Feng may not know that Wan¡¯er is now pregnant,¡± Zhang Yuan said with a bashful but proud smile. ¡°She¡¯s going to give birth to my child.¡±


    Jun Huang looked own at Wan¡¯er slightly swollen belly and congratted them earnestly, ¡°What great news. This gentleman is happy for the princess and the official.¡±


    Wan¡¯er looked up at her, trying to find a trace of regret on her face. This was the person Wan¡¯er used to love. It was a little awkward for her to see Jun Huang. Jun Huang¡¯s open look made her feel a little ufortable. She didn¡¯t want to continue this conversation.

 Chapter 252 - Oddity

    Chapter 252: Oddity


    Wan¡¯er tugged at Zhang Yuan¡¯s sleeve. He looked at her questioningly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a little tired. This is enough fresh air for me. I¡¯ll like to go back to the manor.¡± Wan¡¯er turned to Jun Huang and added after a bemused pause, ¡°Have a good day, Gentleman Feng. Please excuse me.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t say that, Princess. You are the most important person here. You should go back if that¡¯s what you feel like. We don¡¯t want anything to happen to you.¡±


    Her lips were curved into a polite smile, and her tone was paced. Wan¡¯er could see how Jun Huang was keeping her at arm¡¯s length. Even though she didn¡¯t like Jun Huang anymore, it was still a little upsetting to be on the receiving end of Jun Huang¡¯s cool courtesy.


    Jun Huang noticed her reaction, but she pretended to be oblivious. She sighed inwardly.


    Suddenly, a coach lost control and came their way. Zhang Yuan was paralyzed by the sudden turn of event. Right before Wan¡¯er was going to get hit, Jun Huang tackled her to the other side and made sure to keep her belly protected.


    Wan¡¯er went as pale as a sheet. She clutched at Jun Huang¡¯s robe and trembled in her arms. Jun Huang helped her up with a frown and patted dust off her clothes. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    Wan¡¯er looked up at her. She took a deep breath to quell her fear and shook her head with her eyes red. Her voice was unsteady as she asked, ¡°How about you? Are you hurt? Why would you risk yourself like that?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Zhang Yuan had finally regained control of his body. His expression changed when he heard their conversation, which didn¡¯t escape Jun Huang¡¯s attention.


    Worried that Zhang Yuan woulde to the wrong conclusion, Jun Huang took a step back to put some distance between her and the princess. Wan¡¯er had not fully recovered from her shock, however, and was still holding onto Jun Huang¡¯s robe. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t possibly force her to let go when she was in this state.


    Fortunately, Zhang Yuan soon came to their side and pulled Wan¡¯er close tofort her. He regretted not making a move earlier, but he also was jealous about Wan¡¯er¡¯s reaction.


    Jun Huang peered at the coach. It looked familiar, but she couldn¡¯t put a finger on it.


    The door opened. Prince Duan got off the coach with the help of a servant. He nced at Jun Huang, his eyes betraying none of his emotions. Jun Huang could almost feel the temperature dropping.


    Prince Duan was indeed great at masking himself. She was certain that he must be surprised, but he didn¡¯t let anything show.


    Men like him were the most terrifying.


    Prince Duan approached them, his eyes fixed on Zhang Yuan and sparing no nce for Jun Huang. Zhang Yuan felt a shudder ran down his spine. Prince Duan always gave him the impression of a cunning fox. The man was close to Qi Chen, though, and Qi Chen was Wan¡¯er¡¯s brother. It¡¯d be inappropriate for him to disrespect Prince Duan.


    On the other hand, Nan Xun had been the one who saved him. He knew not to repay kindness with harm. He therefore stayed on the sideline in the fight for the throne. He wasn¡¯t going to help Qi Chen, but for the sake of his wife and his unborn child, he wasn¡¯t going to offer his support to Jun Huang¡¯s side either.


    ¡°My horse got scared because of a mistake the servants made,¡± Prince Duan said in a monotone. ¡°Has the princess gotten hurt?¡±


    Wan¡¯er never liked Prince Duan. She¡¯d always been afraid of him, even though she didn¡¯t know why. Still reeling from what happened, she hid herself in Zhang Yuan¡¯s arms, silently turning away from Prince Duan¡¯s considering gaze.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t nning on getting involved, but she couldn¡¯t bear seeing the frail Wan¡¯er being cornered like this. The guards behind her gave her courage to take a stand. She stepped between Wan¡¯er and Prince Duan. ¡°What is Your Highness doing? I hear that Your Highness has been busytely, there¡¯s no need for you to stay and check on the princess. Your Highness should go on to attend to your business.¡±


    Prince Duan turned to her. His gaze was unnerving, but she kept up a calm smile.


    The air seemed to havee to a halt. Prince Duan narrowed his eyes at Jun Huang. It seemed as if he was going to threaten her. As soon as he got closer, though, one of the guards behind Jun Huang stepped in.


    ¡°Apology, Your Highness. Our master has ordered us to keep anyone from getting close to Gentleman Feng. The gentleman hasn¡¯t been feeling well, Prince Nan doesn¡¯t want any harm toe to him.¡±


    The guard¡¯s tone was polite, but anyone with ears could hear the hard edge of the words.


    They were in public. There were already quite a lot of people watching them curiously. Prince Duan wasn¡¯t going to let someone he deemed irrelevant damage the image he¡¯d worked hard to build.


    He threw a cold nce at Jun Huang and turned to Wan¡¯er after taking a deep breath. ¡°It was my fault. The princess is of great importance. You must have been scared even if you haven¡¯t been hurt. I¡¯ll like to make amends to you. Whatever the princess wants aspensation, I¡¯ll give.¡±


    He looked at Wan¡¯er¡¯s swollen belly in bemusement.


    No one knew what Prince Duan was trying to do. Wan¡¯er shuddered under his scrutiny. She shielded her belly with her arms reflexively and tugged at Zhang Yuan¡¯s robe, whispering, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Zhang Yuan ordered a servant to prepare the coach without hesitation and helped Wan¡¯er get in. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said to Jun Huang and Prince Duan. ¡°My wife¡¯s feeling unwell. I¡¯m worried about her. Please excuse me.¡±


    Jun Huang waved a hand at him with a smile. ¡°The princess¡¯s health should be the priority. Remember to prepare some supplements for pregnant women. This is a critical time.¡±


    Zhang Yuan realized his mistake when Jun Huang reminded him. He took her hand with both of his and thanked her profusely, which embarrassed her.


    He reciprocated by asking after her health. She gave him a vague answer. At Wan¡¯er¡¯s prompting, he finally let go of Jun Huang and went into the coach.


    Once the couple had left, Jun Huang turned around and suddenly realized that Prince Duan was still here. She cursed at herself for not being cautious enough.


    She cupped her hands with her eyes lowered. ¡°Have a good time, Your Highness. This gentleman will take my leave.¡±


    Prince Duan scoffed and blocked her way. ¡°The gentleman sure has a sharp tongue. Why don¡¯t you follow me to the tavern ahead of us for a talk?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s head jerked up, considering Prince Duan, trying to figure out what he wanted to do.


    ¡°The gentleman is grateful for your offer.¡± Nan Xun¡¯s voice came from behind her. He approached them with a smile and stepped between Jun Huang and Prince Duan. ¡°As you know, Gentleman Feng hasn¡¯t been feeling well. We wouldn¡¯t want to spoil Your Highness¡¯ fun.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her head and chuckled. Prince Duan¡¯s expression clouded. With Nan Xun here, they were attracting even more attention. Prince Duan naturally wasn¡¯t going to make a scene. ¡°If so, I¡¯m not going to force you. However, I¡¯ll make sure to give you a surprise some timeter.¡±


    He went straight into his coach and smiled at them through the parted curtain. There was something odd about his smile.


    Jun Huang let out a sigh of relief once he¡¯d left, but her heart was still filled with anxiety. Prince Duan¡¯s parting words were obviously a threat, but what could he possibly do at this moment?


    Nan Xun sighed and rubbed at her creased forehead. ¡°You haven¡¯t fully recovered yet. You should stop thinking so much. Why do this to yourself? Whatever happens, we¡¯ll face it together.¡±


    She nced at him and finally nodded. She took a deep breath to suppress her anxiety before asking, ¡°Why did youe?¡±


    Nan Xun answered honestly, ¡°One of the shadow guards said that you ran into Prince Duan. He wasn¡¯t going to hurt you in public, but I still worried for your safety. I reckoned that he would be less of a trouble with me here.¡±


    Jun Huang felt warm all over. Her lips curved into a smile without her realizing. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. You should go back to work.¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m pretty much done with my work. If you want to walk around, I¡¯ll stay with you.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded without arguing. They strolled along the street side by side.


    Prince Duan was going to return to his manor, but he thought better of it. He set out for the pce.


    The emperor felt a little awkward around Prince Duan. Ever since people started specting that Qi Chen might be Prince Duan¡¯s son, he¡¯d been somewhat upset with the man. He couldn¡¯t let it show, though. When he heard that Prince Duan had requested an audience, he let the man in after a short pause.


    Prince Duan¡¯s expression changed for a brief moment when he saw Qi Yun sitting by the emperor. He bowed at the emperor with a smile. ¡°Your Majesty, the necessary arrangements have been made regarding Eastern Wu¡¯s offerings.¡±


    The emperor took a sip of his tea. ¡°Good. I appreciate your effort.¡±

 Chapter 253 - Intention

    <h4>Chapter 253: Intention</h4>


    ¡°This official has something to talk to Your Majesty about,¡± Prince Duan said with feign hesitance, his eyes fixed on the emperor.


    The emperor looked at him, then at Qi Yun. Qi Yun put aside his report and rose to leave, but Prince Duan stopped him. ¡°Please stay. What I¡¯m going to say has something to do with Your Highness.¡±


    Qi Yun stilled. He wondered what Prince Duan wanted. He went back to his seat and waited for him to continue.


    Prince Duan chuckled. ¡°I happened to run into Wan¡¯er on my way here. It¡¯s a surprise that she¡¯s gotten pregnant. Motherhood suits her. That reminded me that Nan Xun and Qi Yun don¡¯t have any women in their manors yet. I¡¯d like to ask Your Majesty to gift them with a few beautiful women to pass down their bloodline.¡±


    The emperor frowned. ¡°It won¡¯t do. Nan Xun and Feng Baiyu have feelings for each other. Neither are interested in women.¡±


    ¡°This official has heard about their rtionship, but following their desires is one thing. They have to settle down one day even if it¡¯s against their will. It¡¯s tradition that a man should pass down his legacy. They aren¡¯t going to not have children, are they? They may not care about that now, but in a few years, once their friends get married and have children, they¡¯ll want the same thing as well.¡±


    ¡°We live in this world for only a few decades. It¡¯ll be a shame to waste time. I¡¯m not saying that they should split up, but they must have children. Even if they aren¡¯t going to marry a wife, they need a serving concubine.¡±


    ¡°Qi Yun has also reached the age for marriage. Even if he doesn¡¯t want to get married yet, there should be someone taking care of his needs in his manor.¡±


    Prince Duan presented his arguments clearly and logically. The emperor was swayed.


    Qi Yun wanted to say no, but Prince Duan didn¡¯t give him a chance. ¡°This official knows that the emperor hasn¡¯t been feeling well, so I volunteer to pick a couple women for the two princes and the gentleman. Rest assured, Your Majesty, that I¡¯ll pick the rarest beauty.¡±


    The emperor nodded after a pause. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it in your hand.¡±


    ¡°Understood. Please excuse me.¡± Prince Duan knelt down and bowed to the emperor before walking away.


    Qi Yun swallowed down the objections threatening to fall out of his mouth. What the hell did Prince Duan want?


    The emperor threw a nce at him. ¡°What? Do you have anything against the idea??¡±


    Qi Yun hurriedly shook his head. ¡°Royal Father has misunderstood. This son is more than happy about the offer. I¡¯d like to express my gratitude to Royal Father.¡±


    Night fell. Lamps were lit all around the city. Jun Huang and Nan Xun decided to return. They ran into Little Girl on their way. She said there was something in the manor that required Jun Huang¡¯s attention. Jun Huang thought for a moment before telling Nan Xun that she¡¯d like to go back to her ce to check. Nan Xun was going to follow her, but a servant from his manor came to find him as well. They had no clue about what had happened. At Jun Huang¡¯s suggestion, they parted and returned to their respective homes.


    As soon as Jun Huang entered her manor, she saw a woman with delicate features standing at the center of the main hall. Her eyebrows nted along her contour and her eyes glinted with tender light. Theyered dress she wore made her look even more stunning. The warm glow of the candlelight added a surreal quality to her. If Jun Huang had been a man, she may have fallen for a woman like her.


    The woman spotted Jun Huang from a distance. She walked up to Jun Huang with a faint smile. The dangling ornament in her hair clinked and her dress waved gently as she walked. She was indeed a rare beauty.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Jun Huang asked with her brows furrowed.


    The woman didn¡¯t say anything. The young eunuch apanying her woke up from his short rest and widened his eyes when he saw Jun Huang. The gentleman was even more beautiful than the woman!


    He shook his head and sighed inwardly. What a shame that Feng Baiyu was born a man.


    Jun Huang waited for him to exin with a serious expression. The eunuch cleared his throat to mask his embarrassment and took out a decree. ¡°With the heaven as witness, His Majesty has decreed that Feng Baiyu, a man of integrity... is to be gifted with a woman to serve at his side and bear his child.¡±


    Jun Huang was stunned. She didn¡¯t expect the emperor to do this. She took the decree from the eunuch and read it over again. For a long moment, she didn¡¯t say anything.


    She nced at the woman and ordered Little Girl to take her to the east wing. Then she personally walked the eunuch out.


    On their way to the door, Jun Huang wondered how she should justify sending the woman away. The young eunuch interrupted her train of thoughts when he said, ¡°Prince Duanplimented Gentleman Feng for your good look when he made the proposal to the emperor. He said that he¡¯d have to find someone who could match you. This servant has thought it was an exaggeration, but Gentleman Feng turns out to be more handsome than I expected. Even the woman pales inparison to the gentleman.¡±


    Jun Huang could tell a tter when she heard one. She paid attention only to the part that the woman had been handpicked by Prince Duan. Once the eunuch left, she convened a meeting with her confidantes.


    ¡°Have more people stationed in the east wing,¡± Jun Huang said coolly. ¡°Keep a close eye on her. Since she¡¯s entered my manor, I won¡¯t let her leave easily. No matter what she does, it has to be approved by me. Understand?¡±


    The guards went off to make the arrangements. Jun Huang decided to go find Nan Xun. Someone must have been sent to his manor as well.


    No sooner had she approached his manor than she heard Nan Xun¡¯s cold voice. She entered the main hall and saw a woman as beautiful as the one sent to her manor clinging to Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun spotted Jun Huang right away. With a scowl, he brushed the woman aside and snapped, ¡°Know your ce! Follow the servant to where you¡¯ll be staying. Without permission, you¡¯re not allowed to even walk out of the building.¡±


    The woman fell silent. She had no choice but to leave. She threw Jun Huang a leer when she walked past her, her gaze almost a physical force that made Jun Huang¡¯s hair stand on end.


    ¡°Prince Duan is indeed considerate,¡± Jun Huang joked, smothering a smile.


    Nan Xun looked at her in confusion. Her smile widened. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard the talk on the street about you? It¡¯s said that Prince Nan had been alone for a long time and must like women who are more proactive in matters of the heart.¡±


    ¡°Tease,¡± Nan Xun muttered.


    Jun Huang¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Prince Duan must be plotting something. They are no ordinary women. I just can¡¯t be sure what exactly his intention is.¡±


    Nan Xun had some idea. Jun Huang hadn¡¯t thought of the possibility because in the end, she was a princess who had been kept away from the outside world for a long time. There were things he¡¯d heard that she hadn¡¯t.


    At the border, soldiers often talked about what had happened in the court and the nation atrge throughout history. He therefore had a better grasp on how a man seeking power thought.


    ¡°I believe that the women may be spies from Eastern Wu,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°They¡¯re not only a nuisance, but also informants. What¡¯s more, he may use the women as proof to use us of treason in the future.¡±


    Jun Huang thought for a moment. He had a point, but there seemed to be something more to it. She couldn¡¯t quite put a finger on it. She shook her head and took a moment to formte her thoughts.


    ¡°First, he knew we weren¡¯t interested in those women. He wanted to see if we¡¯d turn them away. In truth, we never have a choice. The emperor will be unhappy if we turn the women away.¡±


    ¡°Second, Prince Duan wanted the women to infiltrate our manors and help him find our weaknesses. They¡¯ll serve as his eyes and be put to use when the timees.¡±


    ¡°Third, the women are likely to be from Eastern Wu. Once we be a big enough threat to him, he¡¯s likely to expose the women and put the me on us, using us of selling out Northern Qi.¡±


    ¡°If the aforementioned spections are true, Prince Duan must be in cahoot with Eastern Wu.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded in agreement. Jun Huang became more convinced of her theory once sheid it out. A shudder ran down her spine as she thought about Prince Duan. What a shrewd man. He¡¯d nned several moves ahead.


    Seeing the concerned look on her face, Nan Xun patted her shoulderfortingly. ¡°We aren¡¯t sure about that yet. Don¡¯t worry too much. We¡¯ll be on guard.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded after ncing at Nan Xun. Only by observing the women would they be able to discover Prince Duan¡¯s true intention.


    Nan Xun could tell she was preupied. He took her hand. He was going to say that he had no feelings for the woman sent to his manor, but before he did, the servants announced Qi Yun¡¯s arrival. They exchanged a nce.


    Jun Huang pulled her hand out and schooled her expression into an aloof mask. Once Qi Yun came, she asked if the same thing had happened to him.


    Qi Yun nodded and told them what happened in the pce. Jun Huang didn¡¯tment on it.


    ¡°This must be the surprise Prince Duan mentioned,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°We aren¡¯t sure what his n is yet. We¡¯ll have to cross the bridge when wee to it. However, all of us should keep a close eye on the women he sent. It¡¯s best to assign some men to follow them. We must not allow them to cause any troubles.¡±


    Jun Huang and Qi Yun nodded in agreement. They¡¯d ordered their people to watch the women in their manors. Nothing should go wrong as long as no idents happened.

 Chapter 254 - Fall from Grace

    <h4>Chapter 254: Fall from Grace</h4>


    Qi Yun didn¡¯t stay for long. He hesitated when he was about to return to the pce. He¡¯d heard rumors about Nan Xun and Jun Huang, and the two of them did stay together almost all the time. Hearing the conversation between the emperor and Prince Duan made him wonder if the rumors had been true all along.


    He didn¡¯t voice his thoughts. Their rtionship was none of his business. He was in no ce to judge them.


    He waved a hand dismissively when Jun Huang turned to him in question and hurried away. Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun, who put away his thoughtful look and led Jun Huang to the dining hall.


    Every time a man in power fell from his grace, there would always be serious repercussions. Qi Chen had escaped, but his mother ended up suffering in his stead.


    She knew things wouldn¡¯t end well for her as soon as she heard about Qi Chen¡¯s failure. As she expected, once Qi Chen got broken out of prison, the emperor banished her to the Cold Pce.


    The honored consort was no empress despite her past glory. The worst the servants and maids had done to the banished empress was to ignore her. With the honored consort, though, there hostility tranted into abuse.


    Her life as the honored consort was pr opposite to her life in the Cold Pce. In the morning, when she called for a maid to help her change, the maid responded with nasty insults.


    The consort sat on the bed silently. Only when the maid mentioned Qi Chen did she lunge at the maid. She grabbed the maid¡¯s hair and yanked like a mad woman. The maid called out for help. The other maids rushed in to stop the consort.


    ¡°Do you still think you are the honored consort? Ha, stop dreaming! In this ce, even <i>we</i> are superior to you in status. Don¡¯t think about leaving. After what your son did, it¡¯s impossible for you to rise again.¡±


    A woman with a mean-looking face pushed the honored consort hard. The consort stumbled and fell to the floor, her forehead knocking into the table and swelling. No one cared enough to even check on her.


    The consort went blue in the face and gritted her teeth. ¡°You damn animals have gotten bold. Do you really think you¡¯re now in power? Once I get out of this ce, I¡¯ll make you pay tenfold.¡±


    ¡°Funny for the consort to say that. If you do get released one day, we¡¯ll be sure to bow down to you in apology.¡±


    The group of maids broke intoughter as they walked away.


    The honored consort sat on the floor and watched them go with unfocused eyes. She felt cold when she came to her senses. She realized that she was still dressed in only a thin robe, which wasn¡¯t enough to keep her warm.


    She took a deep breath and put on something warmer. Then she sat down before a bronze mirror to clean herself up. It took a moment for her to remember that the emperor would nevere see her again. She sighed and put away her hairpin, staring quietly at her own reflection.


    She only walked out of her room when she couldn¡¯t stand her hunger. A servant brought a small barrel into the pce.


    The women of Cold Pce rushed to the servant like animals. The honored consort followed after them. She suppressed her anger when a few other women knocked into her. When she saw the food in the barrel and smelled the slight acidic smell in the air, she pushed past the women around her and threw up.


    The maid nced at her coldly and snarked, ¡°The consort is still the delicate flower that can¡¯t survive outside a greenhouse. Where do you think you are? This is the Cold Pce, not your once residence. This is all the food you get.¡±


    The honored consort looked up at her, opening her mouth to say something, but she threw up again when she saw the other women tucking into the food like pigs.


    In the end, she didn¡¯t eat anything. The servant took the barrel away.


    After a while, another aggressive looking servant came. She looked at the vomit on the ground, then at the consort. She huffed and threw a towel at her. ¡°Wipe it clean,¡± she ordered. ¡°If you don¡¯t, you won¡¯t be allowed to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± the consort retorted in rage. ¡°Even though I¡¯ve been banished to this ce, a lowly girl like you are in no ce to order me around.¡±


    The servant pped the consort and pulled at her hair. ¡°Who do you think <i>you</i> are? We may call you the consort, but you better face the fact that you aren¡¯t one anymore. Otherwise, why would you be here? You better behave, or we¡¯ll make your life difficult.¡±


    The consort was stunned. She met the servant¡¯s taunting gaze. In the end, she took a deep breath and started cleaning her mess with gritted teeth.


    She was the one who had vomited, but it didn¡¯t make cleaning any less disgusting. She wiped the floor with her eyes half-lidded.


    Afterwards, her stomach contorted painfully in hunger, but she couldn¡¯t find any food.


    The door of the pce opened suddenly. In walked Prince Duan at a deliberate speed. His fine garment made him stand out like a sore thumb. The consort couldn¡¯t stop her tears from falling when she saw him. She wanted to rush to him, but the mess around her made her pause. She stayed motionless as she watched Prince Duan approach her.


    With the dirty towel discarded, she took a deep breath and looked at Prince Duan with a smile, her eyes turning red. ¡°Please take me away. I can stand being here anymore.¡±


    She sobbed. Prince Duan looked at her without a word and handed her a pack of food. After a long stretch of silence, he finally said, ¡°I know the food here may be too crude, so I had some prepared for you. It¡¯s not the finest cuisines, but it¡¯s edible. I can¡¯t stay here for too long. Please excuse me.¡±


    With that, he turned away and left, giving the consort no chance to say anything.


    The consort swallowed down her cry, worried that she¡¯d cause troubles for the man. It was difficult enough for Prince Duan toe to the Cold Pce for her.


    Prince Duan didn¡¯t expect how bad the condition the consort would be in. He felt a heavy weight on his chest, but there wasn¡¯t anything he could do at the time being. He sighed and went back to his manor. As soon as he entered the building, he heard Qi Chen shouting. He frowned and walked up to his son.


    ¡°When will I be able to leave this ce? I didn¡¯t want to stay here.¡± Qi Chen¡¯s tone was anxious. He¡¯d thought that things would get better after he moved out of the small house outside the city, but Prince Duan had banned him from leaving his manor since he moved here.


    Prince Duan shot him a re, reprimanding him for his ignorance. This was no time for Qi Chen to throw a tantrum. He was disappointed. He¡¯d thought Qi Chen was a smart one.


    Qi Chen knew he¡¯d lost control. He took a deep breath to suppress his anger and asked after his mother.


    Prince Duan told him what had happened to the consort honestly. Prince Duan gritted his teeth in anger and frustration. ¡°If so, we should get her out as soon as we can!¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t the right time,¡± said Prince Duan. ¡°We must be patient. Once the timees, we¡¯ll save your mother and take the throne.¡±


    Qi Chen scoffed. ¡°Do you really think so, or are you just paying lip service? My mother¡¯s being bullied by lowly servants. How can you be so patient and cruel? I certainly can¡¯t do that.¡±


    Prince Duan had been in a bad enough mood. He couldn¡¯t stand having Qi Chen be a hindrance. He pped Qi Chen.


    Qi Chen had always been proud. All his life he¡¯d been cherished and protected by people around him. Never had anyone hit him before. He shot to his feet, eyes shooting daggers at Prince Duan. Without a word, he stormed out of the manor.


    Once Prince Duan had calmed down from his anger, he ordered his confidantes to keep an eye on Qi Chen and stop him from getting into trouble.


    Qi Chen walked around the street like a soulless ghoul. He was born and raised in the city. Even though he¡¯d been kept indoors for a long time, he still knew his way around. He didn¡¯t even think about the possibility that someone may notice him.


    He caught a familiar voice from a distance. He turned around and saw that it was Jun Huang and Nan Xun, who were browsing jade stones at a stand. Jun Huang considered the stone in her hand closely. Every once in a while, she¡¯d exchange a few words with Nan Xun.


    They walked away from the stand, engaging in a pleasant conversation. The smile on Jun Huang¡¯s face was something Qi Chen had never seen.


    Prince Duan had told him that Jun Huang was still alive. He said that she must have survived the fall. Nan Xun¡¯s guards had also said she was in a bad condition.


    They didn¡¯t question the exnation. Qi Chen even felt relieved when he heard that Jun Huang was still alive, his anger long drained away.


    He stared at Jun Huang, unblinking. A strange sense of loss rose from his heart.


    Nan Xun felt a gaze. He turned around but didn¡¯t see anyone. He frowned.


    Jun Huang stopped to look at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Nan Xun turned to her and didn¡¯t say anything. He didn¡¯t know if his instinct had been right. Besides, he didn¡¯t want her to worry over a potential threat he hadn¡¯t confirmed. He¡¯d stay on guard for both of them.

 Chapter 255 - Poison

    <h4>Chapter 255: Poison</h4>


    Nan Xun shook his head and put on a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just think that the jade stone we saw was a good one. Do you really not want it?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t notice that he was changing the subject. She sighed thinking that Nan Xun actually wanted the jade. ¡°It¡¯s not about my preferences. The stone is of second-ss quality. It looks the way it does because the shop owner has treated it with solution. It¡¯s beneath your status. If you wear it in public, you¡¯ll getughed at. I promise I have your best interest in mind.¡± She smiled and added, ¡°What, are you unhappy with me for that?¡±


    Her eyes and eyebrows curved like a waxing moon. The setting sun shone on her dimpled cheeks. She looked arresting.


    ¡°No, I¡¯d like to thank you.¡± Nan Xun smiled back at her, putting aside the uneasy feeling that someone was watching them.


    After walking for some distance, he turned around to check again, but there wasn¡¯t anyone suspicious. He allowed himself to rx.


    Qi Chen narrowly escaped Nan Xun¡¯s detection when one of the men Prince Duan sent out pulled him into an alley. He frowned at the man and growled, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±


    ¡°Please forgive this subordinate,¡± the guard said respectfully. ¡°Prince Duan ordered me to keep an eye on Your Highness. Please do stay calm. It¡¯ll be bad if we get detected by soldiers.¡±


    Qi Chen huffed. ¡°What, do you think I¡¯m scared of them?¡±


    ¡°This is a critical time, Your Highness. Please don¡¯t ruin the n for short-term satisfaction.¡±


    The guard¡¯s tone remained polite, but Qi Chen took his words as mockery. However, he could only swallow his pride. The guard was Prince Duan¡¯s confidante. He¡¯d lost his influence in the court after what happened and needed Prince Duan¡¯s support.


    He took a deep breath and walked away in big strides. The guard followed him closely, worried that he might do something reckless again.


    Jun Huang was getting tired. Nan Xun stayed with her without a word. Every once in a while he¡¯d check on her, making sure that she was doing alright.


    Jun Huang assumed that it was simply exhaustion affecting her. Nan Xun noticed her change in gait and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back if you¡¯re tired.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at his open expression. She thought back to the rumors on the street. People already believed that they had a rtionship. It didn¡¯t matter if she followed him back home with the public as their witness. She pushed aside her concerns about proper courtesy and nodded. ¡°If I do, am I going to be the other master in your manor?¡±


    She meant it as a joke, but Nan Xun answered with a tender smile, ¡°If you¡¯re willing, I¡¯m more than happy with that. I¡¯ll tell the servants to address you as such.¡±


    Jun Huang coughed in mortification, caught off guard by his response, her ears burning hot. She took a deep breath to calm herself and turned back to Nan Xun. ¡°You know I was joking. No need to tease me like that. Let¡¯s go home. I am tired.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He knew not to push his luck. If he was too forceful, Jun Huang might end up feeling ufortable. That wasn¡¯t what he wanted.


    They made their way to the manor without a word, sparing no attention for the vendors lining the street.


    After they arrived at the manor, Nan Xun asked Jun Huang to wait for him in the garden and went off to order the servants to prepare some food and snacks. He worried that she might be hungry.


    Once she was alone, her body seized up suddenly. It was painful for her to even breathe. Worried, she took a deep breath and took her own pulse, but she didn¡¯t notice anything wrong.


    She was reminded of what her master once told her: a doctor shouldn¡¯t make diagnosis for themselves. Fear crept up to her. Her forehead broke into sweat.


    There was no one around. Pain drained her face of any color. She tightened her fists to stay awake, her nails biting into her palms.


    She¡¯d have to be a fool to not know what was happening. It wasn¡¯t the first time the poison wreaked havoc in her body. Thest few times had been pretty consistent in their intensity, but this time, her body reacted more violently than she anticipated.


    She held onto the edge of the stone table, her knuckles going white. Her face looked even paler. The servants passing by thought that she was taking a rest, so they didn¡¯t get closer.


    When Nan Xun returned to the garden, Jun Huang was lying on the stone table. He too assumed that she was simply tired. Worried that she¡¯d catch a cold, he retrieved a robe and put it around her shoulders.


    The moment he got closer, she clutched at his shirt, alerting Nan Xun. He knelt before her and brushed back her hair. She was as pale as a sheet, her brows knitted tightly in pain.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Nan Xun took her hands and asked nervously.


    Jun Huang struggled to open her eyes. Sweat dripped down her forehead like rain. It was heartbreaking to look at her.


    She opened her mouth but couldn¡¯t say anything. It was all she could do to hold onto Nan Xun¡¯s hand tightly, trying to distract herself from the pain.


    She failed to control herself because of the pain. Her nails burrowed into Nan Xun¡¯s arm, leaving bloody crescents on his skin. Nan Xun frowned but didn¡¯t say a word ofint. He smoothed his hand over her spine. ¡°You may feel better sitting up. Can you tell me what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    It took some time for Jun Huang to say through the pain, ¡°It¡¯s... most likely the poison. It hurts...¡±


    Nan Xun froze. It wasn¡¯t the first time the poison acted up when he was with Jun Huang, but she¡¯d never reacted like this before. For a brief moment, he was at a loss of what to do. He forced himself to take a calming breath and waved a shadow guard over.


    ¡°Go to the home base of the House of Heavenly Fiends outside the city and ask for Mister Ji Bo. Hurry.¡±


    The shadow guard knew they couldn¡¯t afford to wait. He nodded and ran outside, vanishing into the night. Nan Xun stuck close to Jun Huang and put an arm around her, supporting her weight.


    After the wave of pain subsided, her brows were still furrowed, and her parted lips were almost white. It pained him to see her in this state.


    He didn¡¯t hesitate for long before picking her up and rushing to the bedroom. He worried that the pain woulde again. He knew this wasn¡¯t a regr bout of attack. Jun Huang stayed motionless in his arms like it hurt to even move a muscle.


    Her breathing was so faint it was almost nonexistent. Nan Xun held her tighter against his chest. Once they reached the bedroom, he gingerly ced her on the bed.


    Jun Huang was assaulted by another wave of pain as soon as her body touched the divan. She gritted her teeth to stop herself from making a sound, not wanting to worry Nan Xun. However, her body reacted to the pain against her will. Her face went even more pale. Nan Xun offered his arm to her.


    ¡°Hold onto me. Don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head with tightened jaw and looked away. After some time, Ji Bo¡¯s voice came from the outside. He was asking the shadow guard what had happened. The guard didn¡¯t know for sure and gave him a vague answer. Ji Bo cursed.


    Nan Xun said a few words to assure Jun Huang before going out to get the door.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Ji Bo asked without preamble.


    Nan Xun dismissed the servants and exined, ¡°Nothing happened, but her poison acted up suddenly. This one is different from the previous ones. I¡¯ve had doctors check on her before, but they couldn¡¯t do anything to cure her. I remember seeing medical books at your ce when we first met you, and I heard you knew medicine. So I asked for you to check on her and see what you can do.¡±


    Ji Bo knew Jun Huang was gued with poison. She¡¯d told him that she hadn¡¯t sought out a cure for her own reasons. Now it seemed he had to check for himself.


    He followed Nan Xun into the room without a word and saw Jun Huang lying on the bed, her clothes wrinkled due to her sweat. There was a fragile beauty to her, but neither Nan Xun nor Ji Bo were in the mood to appreciate it.


    Ji Bo rushed to the bed and took her wrist. Her eyes opened wide and she struggled until she saw that it was Ji Bo. She sighed in relief. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Her voice was weak and unsteady. Ji Bo frowned and said lowly, ¡°Stop talking.¡±


    Nan Xun came up to them nervously. ¡°Mister Ji Bo, how is ¨C ¡±


    Ji Bo peered at him coolly. Nan Xun realized that he had lost his calm due to his fear. He was reminded of what the first doctor that had checked on Jun Huang told him. He said that the poison in Jun Huang¡¯s system couldn¡¯t be cured, and that she... was going to die soon.


    Ji Bo waved a hand at him and said, ¡°You won¡¯t be of much help. Please go and have the servants prepare some in congee. She¡¯s going to be hungryter.¡±


    Nan Xun knew Ji Bo considered him a nuisance here. Despite his reluctance, he left the room without arguing, looking back at Jun Huang every few steps.


    Once Nan Xun had left, Ji Bo calmly took Jun Huang¡¯s pulse and asked about her symptoms. Jun Huang¡¯s voice was still weak, but she answered him honestly.

 Chapter 256 - Treatment

    <h4> Chapter 256: Treatment</h4>


    Ji Bo frowned deeply, his thoughts unreadable. Dulled by her pain, Jun Huang wasn¡¯t as observant as she usually was. She could barely opened her eyes. Ji Bo sighed and walked outside.


    Nan Xun had alreadye back to the door. He immediately went up to Ji Bo. He wanted to ask how Jun Huang was, but he stayed quiet, worried that Ji Bo would find him troublesome.


    Ji Bo huffed in amusement. Nan Xun was known as an undefeated general on battlefields, but at this moment, he was merely a man riddled with concerns for a woman.


    Ji Bo took Nan Xun to the garden and drank some tea. ¡°Do you know about her condition?¡±


    ¡°I know something about it. I tried to help, but someone like her would rather die working towards her goal than to do nothing. Doctors have said her body was deteriorating. The past few months have been taxing to her. I fear that...¡± Nan Xun choked, unable to continue. He closed his eyes to hide his sorrow.


    Ji Bo thought for a good moment. ¡°There may be a way to help her. I heard that the blood lotus in Southern Mu has magical healing quality. If she takes one, perhaps her poison will be cured. If you care about her this much, you can take her to Southern Mu once the situation is more stable. It¡¯s better than doing nothing and awaiting death.¡±


    Nan Xun paused. He¡¯d heard about the blood lotus. People often talked about it as a mythical item of great value. Few remembered that it was meant for cleansing poison. Ji Bo¡¯s words gave him a sense of hope.


    Qi Chen was nowhere to be seen, and the emperor seemed close to dying. He couldn¡¯t afford to leave Northern Qi now no matter how concerned he was. He was torn between his duty and his love for Jun Huang.


    Ji Bo could easily read his thoughts. He patted Nan Xun on the shoulder infort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The poison isn¡¯t going to im her life just yet. I have ways to suppress it for the time being. Not for long, mind you. Once Northern Qi became stable enough, you may go to Southern Mu to seek treatment. It¡¯s better that you go without the need to worry over Northern Qi.¡±


    Nan Xun thanked Ji Bo earnestly. Even if he wanted to abandon his duty and take Jun Huang to Southern Mu, she wouldn¡¯t let him. It was imperative for them to stay on guard now. There was no room for mistakes.


    ¡°Is there a way for the gentleman to lessen her pain?¡± asked Nan Xun. He could hear the pained groaning from the other side of the door. The sound hit his heart like the sharpest daggers. There was nothing he wanted more than to take her pain for her. ¡°I¡¯m willing to do anything to make her feel better. I can¡¯t stand seeing her in so much pain... Can you do that?¡±


    Ji Bo thought for a moment before letting out a sigh. He nodded and requested for a set of silver needles and other equipment from Nan Xun. He went back to the room with Nan Xun at his tail.


    Nan Xun stared at Jun Huang with unblinking eyes, his brows furrowed when he saw the pained look on her face.


    Ji Bo sighed again. ¡°I¡¯ve read from an ancient text about methods to suppress poison and lessen pain. The process itself is painful, however. Not everyone can take it.¡±


    Jun Huang slowly opened her eyes, her gaze shifting from Ji Bo to Nan Xun, then back to Ji Bo. She took a deep breath and said weakly, ¡°I can take it.¡±


    Ji Bo took out the silver needles. It was going to be painful enough to have her skin punctured. Having her wounds opened to let blood out? That would be excruciating.


    Nan Xun went down on one knee and took Jun Huang¡¯s hands. ¡°Hold onto my hand if it hurts, okay?¡±


    Jun Huang gave him a small smile. This time, she didn¡¯t turn away his offer.


    Ji Bo sterilized the needles by heating it up with a candle and had Nan Xun roll up Jun Huang¡¯s sleeve. Nan Xun looked at the needles in Ji Bo¡¯s hand, then at Jun Huang¡¯s fair skin. She didn¡¯t seem apprehensive of what was toe, while Nan Xun was already dreading the pain she¡¯d be in.


    As a general, pain had been Nan Xun¡¯s oldest friend, but he couldn¡¯t bear seeing Jun Huang in any pain.


    Ji Bo nced at Nan Xun. He¡¯d never been in love before. He therefore didn¡¯t understand the reason behind Nan Xun¡¯s furrowed brows and pursed lips. Without a word, he ced Jun Huang¡¯s arm on a pillow and carefully inserted the needle into her flesh.


    She¡¯d be lying if she said it didn¡¯t hurt. She¡¯d been through intense pain, but there were things you didn¡¯t get used to. There had been days when her master would drain her blood every day. The kind of pain burrowed into her bones. It didn¡¯t feel any easier now than it did before.


    Her face went pale with a tint of blue. Nan Xun¡¯s heart seized up. Just when he was going to demand an exnation from Ji Bo, Ji Bo inserted another needle into her arm. Nan Xun shut his mouth with his fists clenched tight, forcing himself to calm down. He worried he¡¯d disturb Ji Bo by breathing even a little heavily.


    Ji Bo stopped at six needles. He took a deep breath and wiped off the sweat covering his forehead. Once Jun Huang¡¯s whole arm began to turn blue, he pulled the needles out and threw them into a bowl of water he¡¯d prepared beforehand. The water soon turned into a terrifying ck.


    Ji Bo took a few tools to help get the tainted blood out. Nan Xun hated seeing Jun Huang suffer, but there wasn¡¯t much he could do. He stared at Ji Bo¡¯s hands anxiously, worried that he might hurt her.


    For the next hour, Ji Bo continued to drain tainted blood from her body with his back bent. His waist was sore when he straightened. He rubbed at his tense muscles and sighed.


    Jun Huang had fallen asleep during the process. There was still a deep frown on her face, but she looked a lot better. Nan Xun finally let himself rx. He couldn¡¯t be more grateful to Ji Bo.


    Ji Bo looked at Jun Huang before motioning at Nan Xun to leave the room with him.


    ¡°What does the gentleman need?¡± Nan Xun asked once they were outside.


    ¡°She needs to have her blood drained every day,¡± Ji Bo answered. ¡°It¡¯s a painful and delicate process. I think it¡¯s better that I contact her master. He¡¯s helped suppress her poison after all. Perhaps he¡¯ll have a better way to manage her condition.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Ji Bo waved a hand and went back into the room to check on Jun Huang. Once he made sure that her condition had stabilized, he left the manor.


    They got a response from Jun Huang¡¯s master not long after. It turned out that he¡¯d been trying to find a cure for Jun Huang as well. Once he heard that Jun Huang couldn¡¯t leave Northern Qi just yet, he offered to go to Southern Mu himself and try getting a blood lotus.


    Both Jun Huang and Nan Xun were thrilled by the news. Nan Xun thanked her master in his mind and promise to express his gratitude to her master one day. He¡¯d buy a drink for him in the most luxurious tavern in the imperial city.


    Nan Xun kept his thoughts to himself and didn¡¯t say anything to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang¡¯s poison hadn¡¯t acted up for the past few days. Some of his worry drained away. When she offered to go back to managing the manor, he only told her to not push herself.


    Nan Xun went straight to the study after returning from the training ground. Jun Huang had fallen asleep sitting at the desk. He went off to his bedroom to retrieve a robe.


    The woman Prince Duan sent to the manor saw Nan Xun from afar. Her eyes lit up and her lips curved into a smile. When the maid watching her wasn¡¯t looking, she went to the kitchen.


    She came back with a bowl of lotus seed soup. The maid frowned at her. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I heard that the prince was back. I worried he may not have eaten much, so I asked the cook to prepare this. I¡¯ll like to give this to him.¡±


    The woman¡¯s tone was so earnest it unsettled the maid. Even so, she couldn¡¯t just admonish her openly. The woman was a gift from the emperor. Although Nan Xun didn¡¯t care enough to give her a title, the servants mustn¡¯t disrespect her. The maid gave another servant a pointed look, silently asking her to check if the soup had been tampered with.


    Nothing seemed to be wrong with the soup. The woman turned to the maid and said, ¡°I¡¯m taking this to the prince. If you¡¯re worried, you maye with me. But you should know that the prince is a trained fighter, while I am but a weak woman. Even if I intend to do anything untoward, I won¡¯t be able to.¡±


    She had a point. The maid stepped to the side without a word. The woman spared her onest nce before making her way to Nan Xun¡¯s bedroom.


    Nan Xun got changed and grabbed a blue robe. He ran into the woman at the door. He hadn¡¯t seen her since the day she was sent here.


    He¡¯d been busy taking care of Jun Huang. He barely even remembered the woman. He didn¡¯t expect her toe find him. He arched an eyebrow, irritated.


    The woman took a deep breath and walked up to him graciously. She smiled. ¡°Is Your Highness hungry? I¡¯ve brought you some lotus seed soup from the kitchen. I hope you¡¯ll have some.¡±

 Chapter 257 - Acceptance

    <h4> Chapter 257: eptance</h4>


    Nan Xun narrowed his eyes at the woman. He knew what she was trying to do. People like her had no shame, and there was no one around to witness her deed.


    He scoffed inwardly. Even if he hadn¡¯t been in love with someone else already, he still wouldn¡¯t have set his eyes on women like her. The way she threw herself at him repulsed him. He¡¯d never touch her willingly.


    ¡°That¡¯s the servants¡¯ job. Go back to your residence.¡± Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to waste any time on her. If the emperor hadn¡¯t issued the decree, he wouldn¡¯t even let her enter his manor.


    Panicked that Nan Xun was going to leave, the woman grabbed Nan Xun and pretended to stumble, tackling him and spilling cold lotus seed soup over his robe.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± he snapped and shoved her away. ¡°Do you really think I won¡¯t punish you?¡±


    The woman shuddered, dropping the ceramic bowl to the floor. She rushed up to Nan Xun with a worried expression. ¡°Your Highness, I ¨C I¡¯m sorry. I tripped. It¡¯s my fault. I hope Your Highness would forgive me. There aren¡¯t any servants here. Let me help you get changed.¡±


    She yanked Nan Xun¡¯s waistband off without warning and threw it to the floor. Before he realized it, his robe was untied and the woman had yanked her own cors open. They painted a scandalous picture.


    Nan Xun saw Jun Huang staring at them with wide eyes outside the door before he could push the woman away. The woman shamelessly clung to him, oblivious to Jun Huang¡¯s presence. Her lips were inches away from Nan Xun¡¯s face.


    Jun Huang hade to find Nan Xun after waking up. She didn¡¯t expect to see... this. Seeing their bodies pressed together made her heart burn. Without thinking, she whirled around and rushed away.


    Nan Xun knew she must have misunderstood. Throwing reservation out of the window, he grabbed the woman and threw her to the floor. She grimaced, her ankle twisted.


    Seeing Nan Xun turning to walk away, the woman held onto her foot and groaned, which didn¡¯t even earn her a nce. She crawled forward and caught the tail of Nan Xun¡¯s robe, batting her eyshes pitifully. ¡°My foot hurts, Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°Let go, or I¡¯ll strangle you myself no matter who you are.¡± Nan Xun shoved her away and ran after Jun Huang hurriedly. The woman gaped at him.


    The servants had heard themotion. Once Jun Huang and Nan Xun had both left, they carefully leaned over to see what was happening. The woman sat on the floor with a confused look. The servants thought that Jun Huang had caught the woman and Nan Xun in action. They were at a loss of what to do.


    The woman hadn¡¯t quite realized what had happened. She had let go on reflex, intimidated by Nan Xun¡¯s threat. She¡¯d thought Nan Xun simply didn¡¯t like to smile. In her mind, all men loved a tender women, and she was confident in her look. Although she¡¯d heard the rumors and seen Jun Huang herself, she was convinced that no men could resist her.


    She thought that Nan Xun¡¯s rtionship with Jun Huang was merely a fling, and yet her attempt of seduction had failed miserably. She couldn¡¯t be more mortified.


    She gritted her teeth, resenting Jun Huang for being the cause of her failure. She took a deep breath and looked over at the servants peering at her mockingly, her eyes turning frigid. She fixed her dress and walked past them.


    Nan Xun soon caught up with Jun Huang. She ran ahead without looking where she was going. She was about to rush out of the manor. Weighing his options, Nan Xun sped up and grabbed her.


    ¡°What are you doing? Let go!¡± Jun Huang threw him a re and struggled against his hold.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to hurt her, so he let her arm go. To his surprise, however, Jun Huang moved toward the door again. He had no choice but to block her way.


    ¡°Stop it,¡± Nan Xun said quietly, his brows furrowed but his tone gentle.


    All Jun Huang could think of was what she saw earlier. She couldn¡¯t contain her fury. Anger turned her words sharp and nasty. ¡°I¡¯m a trouble to you, am I not? Then leave me alone and go back to that woman. Why do you care?¡±


    ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I meant. You should trust that I wouldn¡¯t do anything with another person. She simply caught me off guard. What do I have to say to convince you?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to argue with her. He started describing what had happened. Jun Huang didn¡¯t really hear most of his exnation, her head still clouded by anger. Only when he finished talking did she calm down enough to think.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have toe after me,¡± she muttered. ¡°I¡¯m in no ce to question you. You don¡¯t have to exin to me. I¡¯m being honest with you, Nan Xun. It¡¯s better that you go back. I ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t hear it. You know that you¡¯re the only one I love, Jun Huang. People said that when a cold man loves, it¡¯s for a lifetime, and they¡¯re right. No one can draw my eyes except you.¡±


    Nan Xun put his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. ¡°I¡¯ve told you I¡¯d stay with you my whole life, remember? I don¡¯t care about your identity. I don¡¯t care how much time you have left. My only wish is for you to ept me. You said that you needed time to sort through your thoughts, and I gave you time.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ve given up,¡± Nan Xun said in a tender voice, carefully pronouncing every word. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±


    Jun Huang looked at him owlishly. She never expected such moving confession from Nan Xun. She stared at him, at a loss of how to respond.


    Nan Xun inhaled deeply and took her hands, rxing himself deliberately. ¡°I don¡¯t argue with you not because I don¡¯t have anything to say. I¡¯m just worried about making you angry and in turns harming your health. You¡¯re free to be angry at me, but not at yourself. Your health and safety are the top priority. Do you understand?¡±


    He looked at her with loving eyes. Jun Huang averted his gaze bashfully, her heart pounding.


    They stayed silent. After about the time for a pot of tea to brew, Jun Huang met his gaze. The gentle glint in his eyes made her heart soften.


    ¡°I was moved by your words, Nan Xun, but love isn¡¯t enough to sustain a rtionship. You know about my condition. I don¡¯t want to be in the way in your pursuit of happiness, but at the same time I can¡¯t just let you go. There are many outside forces we can¡¯t control.¡±


    She stopped looking away and said seriously, ¡°Have you made up your mind? If I agree to stay with you, you mustn¡¯t get close to anyone else. I can be understanding, but not enough to tolerate seeing you y house with another woman. Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart skipped a beat. His eyes lit up and his body trembled in excitement. He nodded seriously. ¡°I¡¯ll never do that to you. I need you and only you. I¡¯ll never betray you.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled, her soft eyes reflecting the setting sun, the glow as soothing as the warm river in spring. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to ept me as I am, I¡¯d like to take your hand and see the world with you.¡±


    Words couldn¡¯t describe the ecstasy he felt at this moment. He picked Jun Huang up by her waist and turned a full circle, holding onto her tightly.


    They stood in the garden in each other¡¯s embrace. The servants spared them only a brief nce before walking away in quiet steps. Their master¡¯s affair had nothing to do with them. It was their duty to stay hush.


    Nan Xun only let Jun Huang go after his urge to hold her subsided. Jun Huang¡¯s face was a little red from the tight embrace, and her eyes misty. It took some time in the breeze for her to recover.


    They exchanged a nce. Jun Huang lowered her eyes with a smile, and Nan Xun intertwined their fingers. They walked over to the stone table together.


    Nan Xun knelt before Jun Huang after she took a seat. ¡°Next time, you have to let me exin first no matter what happens,¡± Nan Xun said. ¡°We¡¯re lucky to resolve the misunderstanding and validate our feelings today, but I never know if you¡¯ll just abandon me next time.¡±


    He lowered his head, his voice hoarse. Jun Huang opened her mouth to exin, but in the end, she caressed his dark hair and admitted with a sigh, ¡°I¡¯ve jumped to conclusion and failed to consider your feelings. How ridiculous of me to lose my calmpletely. I promise that it won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    After some time, Jun Huang started thinking over what Nan Xun had told her. They both knew the women sent to their manors were suspicious, but they knew nothing about their true intention ¨C until now. The woman had exposed herself in her attempt to seduce Nan Xun.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t seem to know about us, or she didn¡¯t want to believe it,¡± said Jun Huang, the gear in her head turning. ¡°She made such an obvious move like she had nothing to worry about. It¡¯s puzzling. If she was sent here by Eastern Wu or Prince Duan, why would she be so conspicuous?¡±


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯t had the time to consider that, too busy worrying about Jun Huang. What she said made sense. Still, they didn¡¯t have anything concrete yet.

 Chapter 258 - Baby Steps

    <strong>Chapter 258: Baby Steps</strong>


    ¡°Alright, stop thinking too much,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°We won¡¯t get an answer just yet. We¡¯ll just have our people watch them closely. She isn¡¯t going to do anything for some time after this failure. Don¡¯t worry about who she is and what she¡¯s nning. You¡¯ve just gotten better. Don¡¯t push yourself too hard.¡±


    He gave her a gentle smile. ¡°We¡¯ll face the storm together when it rises. You have me. Let me shoulder your burden. I¡¯m not going to let anyone hurt you.¡±


    Jun Huang blushed. A gust of wind swept over her. It was a little cold for her since she was wearing only a thin robe. Worried that she¡¯d catch a cold, Nan Xun guided her to the study with a hand on her shoulder.


    Once inside, Nan Xun had a maid prepare some hot tea and snacks. Jun Huang was warmed by his attentiveness. Once he came back to the study, she took his hands and smiled. ¡°Stop running around and take a seat. Let¡¯s talk.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He grabbed a cloak and put it around Jun Huang¡¯s shoulders before sitting on the bed, holding her close to him like he was afraid she¡¯d disappear.


    Jun Huangy against his chest and tilted her head to look at him. After a brief pause, she started talking about what she¡¯d been through after the destruction of Western Que. Nan Xun knew all about the hardships she¡¯d been through, but hearing it from her still made his heart ache. If only he¡¯d met her earlier, he¡¯d be able to bear the pain for her.


    The hatred didn¡¯t overwhelm her this time. Instead, it settled heavily at the bottom of her heart. Nan Xun knew how hatred could consume a person. He was d that Jun Huang had enough self control to keep a level head even when exacting revenge. He squeezed her hand and sighed.


    ¡°Just wait a little longer, Jun Huang. Qi Chen and Prince Duan are both lurking in the dark, ready to strike any second. I have to stay where I am to protect us and the nation. But I promise that once Qi Yun bes the emperor, I¡¯ll conquer Eastern Wu for you.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled. She knew how difficult it was to be in his position. She wasn¡¯t going to pressure him. All she needed was for him to not forget about her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that for now.¡± She was suddenly reminded of her master, which curiously filled her with mncholy. She was increasingly surrounded by people who cared about her. It felt so surreal it made her worried when the other shoe was going to drop. ¡°I wonder how master¡¯s doing in Southern Mu.¡±


    Nan Xun offered a few words offort and suggested, ¡°Nan Jihan must know about blood lotuses. We didn¡¯t y an important role in his ascension to the throne, but we did help. He isn¡¯t going to burn the bridge if we ask for his help. Why don¡¯t we write a letter and see if he¡¯s willing to lend you a hand?¡±


    Jun Huang threw him a nce. He had a point. They needed all the help they could get. With Nan Jihan¡¯s assistance, they stood a better chance of acquiring a blood lotus.


    She nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯ll get on that.¡±


    She pulled away from Nan Xun and retrieved what she needed to write a letter. When Nan Xun approached her, she was about finished. She put aside the brush and shifted to the side, letting Nan Xun look at the letter in case there was something she¡¯d missed.


    Nan Xun read through the letter carefully and found nothing wrong with it. He put it into an envelope and handed it to a shadowguard, telling him to quickly get it to Nan Jihan.


    Nan Jihan¡¯s response came not long after. ording to him, blood lotuses were only found in the coldest environment, and it was difficult to locate. Only members in the royal family knew where it was. However, the lotus had to be fed with blood for forty-nine days and harvested as soon as it matured. Otherwise the hundreds of years of growth the lotus went through would be all for nothing.


    Her master had met up with Nan Jihan and knew already where the lotus was, but its nature dictated that they couldn¡¯t just pluck it and deliver it to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang was disappointed, her hope again dimmed. Sheughed ruefully at Nan Xun. ¡°Perhaps it is fate that I¡¯ll meet death sooner rather thanter.¡±


    Nan Xun browsed over the letter with a deep frown. He shared her sentiment, but he had to be optimistic for her sake. He pushed aside his messy thoughts and saidfortingly, ¡°We¡¯ll hold on for a little longer. You should rest well for the time being. Once things settle down in the imperial city, I¡¯ll take you to Southern Mu and have your poison cured.¡±


    Jun Huang managed a smile, her good mood from thest few days gone without a trace. She looked tired.


    Nan Xun worried that her poison would act up again. He asked a servant to send for Ji Bo.


    Ji Bo came visit soon. Nan Xun yielded his seat to Ji Bo so that he could take Jun Huang¡¯s pulse. Jun Huang nced at him. She felt fine, but to quell Nan Xun¡¯s concern, she stayed quiet and let Ji Bo check on her.


    Ji Bo closed his eyes for a moment before he let go of her wrist and drank some tea. ¡°You¡¯re doing fine. The poison isn¡¯t going to act up so soon. However, your body is a little weak. You should have some supplements and rest well. Otherwise you may copse before you can get the cure.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll remember that.¡±


    Her ready response surprised Ji Bo. He knew how stubborn she could be. She was willing to risk her life for revenge. That was why he¡¯d reminded her to slow down so many times.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too concerned. I¡¯ve once followed Qi Yun into the pce and took the emperor¡¯s pulse. He wouldn¡¯tst for more than a month. With me and the Prince Nan, we¡¯ll defeat Eastern Wu in a few months. We must be careful and patient now.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and nodded. She didn¡¯t say anything, but she felt a little lighter.


    Eastern Wu was going to be defeated. She knew Ji Bo was right. She just worried she wouldn¡¯t be able to stay with Nan Xun for long.


    Ji Bo told Nan Xun what food Jun Huang should eat during this time. Nan Xun memorized it carefully.


    After seeing Ji Bo off, Nan Xun turned back and was met with Jun Huang¡¯s smile. He frowned and sat down next to her. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I have an idea,¡± Jun Huang said.


    ¡°Which is?¡±


    Her eyes lit up with a rare mischievous glint, so very unlike her usual aloof expression. Nan Xun felt the urge to get closer to her. He couldn¡¯t have enough of these glimpses into her true self.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for the right time for this. Maybe now isn¡¯t the perfect time, but many things have happenedtely. I worry that Qi Yun would feel lost. He needs some reassurance. So... I decide to stop pretending to be a man and go see Qi Yun as Jun Huang.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. He didn¡¯t find the idea that appealing. He¡¯d seen how she looked without disguise. She was so beautiful that he felt the urge to hide her. Moreover...


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There are many people trying to find me, but only a handful of men from Eastern Wu have seen me with their own eyes, and they are all in Eastern Wu. Other may have heard about me, but I¡¯m confident that they won¡¯t recognize me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been busytely and rarely return to the manor. There will be times when you can¡¯t spare the effort to watch over me. Besides, I really don¡¯t want to see that woman around. I might as well go help Qi Yun.¡±


    Nan Xun contemted the issue with his gaze fixed on her. She looked back with a small smile. He couldn¡¯t say no to her. With a sigh, he nodded.


    ¡°How are you going to find him?¡±


    Jun Huang smiled. ¡°Can you invite him here for me?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded without a word and petted her head. He then went off to find Qi Yun, asking him toe under the pretense of discussing court affairs.


    Once Nan Xun had left, Jun Huang rose to her feet with a smile and made sure that no one was around. She quickly went back to her bedroom and took out the dress she¡¯d prepared some time ago.


    The blue dress had no embroidered designs. The only decoration was the silver threads lining the hem of the dress, which glinted slightly under the sun. The silky long sleeves gave the dress an ethereal look. She changed into the dress behind the screen. When she walked out, she looked like a goddess descended from heaven.


    She stood before the bronze mirror and looked at her reflection. Her hair ran freely down her back and waved in the breeze. Her features were as delicate as a painting. Her red lips and bright eyes could hold anyone captive.

 Chapter 259 - Re-assuming a Woman’s Identity

    <h4>Chapter 259: Re-assuming a Woman¡¯s Identity</h4>


    Her dress made her skin fairer and more ethereal. She frowned. Something seemed to be missing, but she didn¡¯t know what.


    She sighed and looked over at the hairband on the table. She picked it up and tied her dark hair loosely behind her head. She nodded in approval of her own reflection.


    She walked out of the room with a smile when she heard voicesing from outside. Nan Xun and Qi Yun were talking about court affairs with two maids serving at their side.


    They were both shocked when they saw Jun Huang. Qi Yun felt as if he had gone back in time. He felt the urge to hold her close.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time Jun Huang had dressed as a woman when he was present, but that time in the brothel, Nan Xun had shielded her from Qi Yun¡¯s sight. He therefore hadn¡¯t gotten a good look at her.


    The woman before him hadn¡¯t changed much from the mischievous princess from his memory. His eyes turned red as he pulled her into his arms, choking up.


    The servants gaped at them, at a loss of what was happening. Where did this beautiful womane from? Why had shee out of Gentleman Feng¡¯s bedroom?


    The dress lessened Jun Huang¡¯s sharp coldness. She still seemed untouchable, but there was an added alluring quality to her. She looked so different from the handsome Gentleman Feng that the servants never put two and two together.


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyebrows jumped up when he saw Jun Huang, stunned.


    Qi Yun had held onto her longer than Nan Xun wasfortable with. Jealousy prompted him to give the maids a pointed look, silently ordering them to leave. Afterwards, words got out that a beautiful woman had been living inside the manor, but the servants only talked among themselves. No one dared let the news leave the manor.


    Once the maids had left, Nan Xun went up to Jun Huang and pulled her behind him. ¡°Your Highness should try to reel yourself in. People will talk if they see you.¡±


    Qi Yun knew that he¡¯d lost control, so he didn¡¯t attempt to defend himself. His eyes, however, stayed glued to Jun Huang, which bothered Nan Xun. Jun Huang spoke up before Nan Xun could.


    ¡°Why are we still standing around here? Let¡¯s take a seat and talk.¡±


    The two men weren¡¯t going to argue with her. She went into the garden and sat down. Worried that she¡¯d catch a cold, Nan Xun retrieved a cloak and put it around her shoulders.


    Qi Yun felt a pang of jealousy when he saw the two of them acting like they¡¯d known each other forever, but he didn¡¯t dwell on the feeling. Instead, he asked why Jun Huang was staying in Nan Xun¡¯s manor.


    Jun Huang peered at Nan Xun and smiled slightly. ¡°I¡¯m Feng Baiyu.¡±


    Qi Yun widened his eyes in disbelief. He stared at her for a long time, trying to identify the simrities. Jun Huang, however, didn¡¯t seem like a gentleman at all in this state. No one would have seen the connection between her and Feng Baiyu.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here all this time!¡± eximed Qi Yun, taking her hands in his. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you told me? Don¡¯t you know I¡¯ve been looking for you?¡±


    Jun Huang pulled back her hands and smiled. ¡°You know the situation I¡¯m in. The more people who know my identity, the more danger I¡¯m in. I didn¡¯t mean to keep it from you. It¡¯s just better this way.¡±


    Qi Yun lowered his head and muttered, ¡°But I¡¯m not just anyone.¡±


    His voice was too low for Jun Huang to hear him. She frowned and asked what he¡¯d said, but Qi Yun only smiled wryly in response. Jun Huang went on to exin what had happened to her.


    Qi Yun had been worried about Jun Huang. It pained him to hear about the difficulties Jun Huang had been through. He sighed and promised to help with her revenge.


    The conversation was a pleasant one, but there were things Qi Yun wanted to say he didn¡¯t want Nan Xun to hear. After some discreet prompting from his side, Nan Xun left them alone.


    ¡°Jun Huang, I don¡¯t know if I should say this, but... I don¡¯t think you should live with Brother Nan anymore.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    Qi Yun swallowed down the impulsive words he almost blurted out and said after careful consideration, ¡°There are too many rumors about you twotely, which will be a problem since you¡¯re going to assume your identity as a woman again. If you stay, you may be a target. It¡¯s better that youe to the pce with me. It¡¯s going to be safer.¡±


    Jun Huang considered his words for a moment. He had a point, and she did want to help Qi Yun be the emperor. His proposal made sense.


    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Nan Xunter,¡± said Jun Huang.


    Qi Yun nodded. He risked exposing his true intention if he kept pushing. He wouldn¡¯t let her know that he simply wanted to spend time with her. He didn¡¯t want to leave her with Nan Xun.


    After a while, Nan Xun came back with a tter of snacks. Qi Yun knew they were Jun Huang¡¯s favorite. He felt a heavy weight settled on his chest, but he didn¡¯t dare let it show. He kept it to himself.


    ¡°I¡¯ve talked to Qi Yun. Troubles maye if I stay in the manor now. It¡¯s better that I stay in the pce for the time being. That should also deter Prince Duan and Qi Chen.¡±


    Nan Xun looked at her in surprise, but he didn¡¯t say anything. After some contemtion, he concluded that it was safer for her to stay in the pce. He¡¯d been busytely. There was no guarantee that she¡¯d be safe here. He might as well let her go.


    ¡°Go if you want to,¡± Nan Xun said. ¡°But there are rules to follow in the pce. You¡¯ll have to be careful about that.¡±


    Jun Huang beamed at him and nodded. ¡°I know. I won¡¯t make any troubles for you.¡±


    Her smile was bright and her eyes curved like waxing moon. Nan Xun touched her nose with fond exasperation and sighed. He¡¯d grown used to her teasing.


    Qi Yun cleared his throat and looked up at the sun. After a bemused pause, he stood up and said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I should take her to the pce now. It¡¯s going to be difficult to arrange a residence for her if we get there tote.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Nan Xun rose and followed them outside. They ran into many servants along the way, who snuck nces at Jun Huang curiously. She noticed, of course, but she smiled and didn¡¯t pay too much attention to that.


    Jun Huang felt a little reluctant to leave when she reached the door. She started to miss Nan Xun already before she even walked out of the manor. They¡¯d stayed together day and night for some time. She¡¯d be so used to having him at her side.


    Nan Xun understood and shared her feelings, but the circumstances didn¡¯t allow them to be emotional. They had to make the smart decision.


    While Qi Yun was off arranging for a coach, Nan Xun pulled Jun Huang behind the wall and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will visit you in the pce when I¡¯m able. The pce is often likened to a dangerous ocean, but it¡¯s heavily guarded. I¡¯ll feel better knowing that you¡¯re safe. I promise that I won¡¯t get close to any women.¡±


    Jun Huang blinked at him and chuckled. She didn¡¯t expect Nan Xun to make such a serious promise to her. She felt warmth spreading through her body.


    ¡°I know.¡± She lowered her eyes and her lips curved into a smile. Nan Xun didn¡¯t want anyone to see her like this, but they didn¡¯t have a choice. He sighed.


    They fell silent when Qi Yun showed up. Nan Xun pulled Qi Yun to the side and told him what food Jun Huang had to avoid and about her preferences. Jun Huang paced around, waiting for them to finish.


    At the corner of her eye, she spotted someone who looked very much like Qi Chen at the street corner. She frowned.


    The man didn¡¯t expect to be noticed by her. He blushed and fled, befuddling Jun Huang.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Qi Yun asked suddenly. Jun Huang turned around and shook her head. She wasn¡¯t sure if that had been Qi Chen, and his reaction was puzzling.


    Qi Yun epted her response as it was, while Nan Xun took note of her reaction. He wasn¡¯t going to force her to tell him, however. He¡¯d look into it on his own. He knew sometimes she stayed quiet for her own reasons. He¡¯d go ahead and investigate out of worry. They worked better when neither of them tried to intervene with the other¡¯s decisions.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Qi Yun said, looking at Jun Huang questioningly. She nodded and followed him to the coach. She let him help her get in, her attitude polite but aloof.


    Nan Xun saw her off before returning to his manor. His second inmand came not long after, informing him that there was business requiring Nan Xun¡¯s attention at the training ground. Before he left, Nan Xun made sure to order the servants to keep a close eye on the woman. She wasn¡¯t allowed to leave the front building at all.

 Chapter 260 - Musing

    <h4>Chapter 260: Musing</h4>


    After what happened, the servants hade to the realization that Nan Xun despised the woman. They nodded without hesitation.


    As soon as Qi Yun and Jun Huang arrived at the pce, he heard that the emperor was asking for him. He thought for a moment and concluded that he should introduce Jun Huang to the emperor. It was both for his selfish desire and to avoid potential troubles.


    He exined his reasons to Jun Huang. She nodded in agreement and followed him to the emperor¡¯s chamber. Both of them held themselves with grace and dignity. Jun Huang especially attracted many servants¡¯ attention. They marveled at the existence of such a stunning woman.


    She remained silent as they walked. Her dress waved slightly in the air as she took light and graceful steps. Qi Yun snuck nces at her every once in a while. The setting sun shone on her aloof face. His heartbeats quickened. He looked away with his face flushed.


    A eunuch hurried inside the chamber to notify the emperor when they arrived. He then motioned at them to enter.


    The emperor was surprised when he saw Jun Huang. It was the first time Qi Yun brought a woman to see him.


    After greeting the emperor, Qi Yun exined that he¡¯d set his eyes on Jun Huang outside the pce and decided to take her here.


    The emperor gave Jun Huang a once-over and didn¡¯t say anything. It wasn¡¯t unusual for a member of the royal family to have a few lovers. Jun Huang was beautiful. He didn¡¯t pay her undue attention and went back to talking to Qi Yun.


    Jun Huang quietly considered the emperor. Thest time she saw him was after Qi Chen stormed the pce. She hadn¡¯t gotten a close look at him then. Before that it was Wan¡¯er¡¯s wedding. The emperor had looked hale and hearty at the time, and now he looked significantly older, his air lined with strands of silver. She felt a little guilty, but she quickly suppressed the feeling.


    She¡¯d done what she had to for her revenge. She may feel pity for the man, but she¡¯d make the same decision again and again for her goal.


    After Qi Yun finished talking to the emperor, he led Jun Huang back to his residence and let her stay in the side room. He summoned the maids and servants and ordered them to treat her the way they treated him. Even when he wasn¡¯t in the pce, they must not disrespect her.


    Jun Huang smiled in response and got settled.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Jun Huang. He wasn¡¯t too worried that something would happen to her. He simply wanted to see her. When he returned to the manor after work, he realized how cold and empty the ce looked without her. He couldn¡¯t stand it. After only a couple days, he sent a message to Jun Huang, saying that he¡¯d like to meet her.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t suppress her smile when she received the letter, softening her brows and eyes. Once night fell, she would make her way to the river outside the Cold Pce.


    She didn¡¯t tell Qi Yun. It wasn¡¯t necessary, and she was sure that if Qi Yun knew, he¡¯d either stop her from leaving, or he¡¯d go with her. She didn¡¯t want a third wheel.


    When it was dark, and Qi Yun had gone to the study to take care of paperwork, Jun Huang dismissed the maids and changed into a set of dark-colored clothes. She sneakily made her way to behind the Cold Pce.


    Although she¡¯d moved into the pce, she had to be careful not to let anyone see her breaking the rules. People would talk if she was spotted going out at night.


    When she reached the river behind the Cold Pce, Nan Xun had been waiting for her for a while. He stood in a shadow watching Jun Huang search for him. He smiled and pulled her into his arms from her blindspot.


    Jun Huang froze but quickly rxed when she heard Nan Xun¡¯s voice. She chuckled and patted him on the arm. ¡°Let me go first.¡±


    Nan Xun let go and took a step back, his crinkling eyes fixed on her. Under the moonlight, his feelings seemed to overflow from his expression.


    Jun Huang had always been bolder than the average women. Since she¡¯d admitted her feelings to Nan Xun, she wasn¡¯t going to hold herself back. She held onto his sleeve and wouldn¡¯t let go.


    Nan Xun looked down at her and chuckled, ruffling her hair. He sighed. ¡°I let you enter the pce for your safety, but I can barely take the separation. I wanted to visit you the first day we parted and only managed to stop myself with great difficulties. How about you?¡±


    Jun Huang blinked at him andughed. ¡°You should listen to yourself,¡± she said teasingly. ¡°People are going to call you a lustful man.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t find any shame in that. He took her hand and pulled her toward him. She lost her bnce and fell into his embrace. He tightened his arms around her.


    He only let go after a good while, his eyes fixed on her, bright like the stars.


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She threw proper etiquette out of the window and hugged him, burying her face into his shirt. ¡°I miss you too,¡± she whispered.


    They stared at each other, seeing only the other in their eyes. They didn¡¯t think they were doing anything wrong. They simply wanted to make their feelings clear.


    Nan Xun led Jun Huang away from the Cold Pce. She followed him without a word. The Cold Pce was nearly empty even in the morning. Now, at night, there wasn¡¯t anyone outside. They could therefore freely walk around here.


    The moon cast the bluestone path in a silver glow. The couple walked side by side. There was a faint flowery fragrance in the air.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what Eastern Wu has been doing, but they won¡¯t make a drastic move anytime soon,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°You¡¯ve met the emperor yourself. You know his condition. We have a lot of things to take care oftely, but all in all, things are going well.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    They strolled along the path at deliberate pace, exchanging a few words every once in a while. It felt so peaceful, Nan Xun wanted the moment to stretch and never end. He was willing to abandon everything and followed Jun Huang to a secluded mountain, living in the nature without mundane disturbance. He knew, however, that Jun Huang was the one who wouldn¡¯t be able to let go despite her resemnce to a celestial being.


    She cared too much about the world.


    He¡¯d never let that bother him until now. The thought sat on his mind like a physical weight. He couldn¡¯t not say anything.


    Jun Huang noticed his troubled look. She waited for him to tell her what he was thinking. She stopped when he came to a halt, moonlight illuminating him from behind, obscuring his face.


    ¡°Have you thought about what kind of life you¡¯d like to lead after getting revenge, Jun Huang?¡± he asked nervously.


    Jun Huang paused and gave the question some consideration. In the end, she sighed and looked up at the bright moon, shaking her head. ¡°Who knows? That¡¯s not going to happen anytime soon. Whatever I dream about may nevere true. It¡¯s better that I live at the moment.¡±


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t hurt to dream a little,¡± Nan Xun said with a quietugh. He reached out to ruffle her hair like he¡¯d done it a thousand times.


    They let themselves drown in the intimacy, unaware that someone had been watching them from afar.


    Qi Chen twisted and turned on the bed. He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the beautiful woman he saw at Nan Xun¡¯s manor. He was reminded of how proud his mother had been. His temples throbbed painfully.


    He gave up on falling asleep and got off the bed. He heard conversationing from the outside. Curious, he snuck his way to the door and opened it slightly, listening with rapt attention.


    ¡°This subordinate noticed that the honored consort had seemed a little ill since this morning,¡± said the man Prince Duan nted in the pce. ¡°I hadn¡¯t thought too much of it, but she got worse. The consort then told a maid that she wasn¡¯t feeling well, but the maid treated people ording to their status. The consort naturally didn¡¯t get any sympathy from her. After getting insulted by the maid, the consort turned a shade paler.¡±


    ¡°This subordinate waited until no one was around to ask the consort what was wrong, but she insisted that she was alright and told me not to tell anyone...¡±


    Prince Duan¡¯s forehead creased as he contemted what was going on. Qi Chen, however, couldn¡¯t stand just listening. He opened the door, startling the two men outside.


    Prince Duan scowled at him and snapped, ¡°Where¡¯s your manner? Since when have you learned to eavesdrop?¡±


    Qi Chen ignored his words and threw him a re, scoffing. ¡°Right, you care only about power and nothing else. You must be thinking that mother¡¯s merely pretending to be sick, aren¡¯t you? Have you forgotten who it was that promised to keep her safe? She¡¯s now trapped in that prison of a pce, and yet you¡¯ve done nothing!¡±

 Chapter 261 - Selfish Intention

    <h4>Chapter 261: Selfish Intention</h4>


    Qi Chen¡¯s remark hit home for Prince Duan. Mortification shed through his face before it gave way to grave seriousness. He nced at Qi Chen and said to the guard, ¡°Go back to keeping an eye on the consort. If anything goes wrong, you¡¯ll be held ountable.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± The guard left without another word.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you learn?¡± Prince Duan sighed and tried talking some sense into Qi Chen. ¡°I told you there wasn¡¯t much we could do at this moment.¡±


    Qi Chen knew he¡¯d overreacted again. He stared at the floor silently without a word. After a long period of silence, Prince Duan said that he¡¯d take Qi Chen to see the consort after he put on some disguise.


    Qi Chen wasn¡¯t going to argue with that. He followed Prince Duan¡¯s instruction and changed his look before following him to the pce.


    The consort didn¡¯t expect to see them here. Tears streamed down her face against her will. She paid it no mind. Pushing her difort from the cold she caught aside, she sat up to look at them closely.


    Qi Chen couldn¡¯t bear seeing her like this. He knew his mother had a lot to talk about with Prince Duan anyway. He made an excuse and walked out of the Cold Pce.


    He heard augh as bright as a bell chime. At the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the tail of a dress at the other side of the wall. He hid and took a peek.


    He widened his eyes when he saw that it was the woman he¡¯d caught glimpses of some time ago. His gaze then shifted to Nan Xun. His face fell.


    He felt a pang of jealousy when he saw their intertwined hands. He wanted to be part of the peaceful picture they painted. He wanted to be in Nan Xun¡¯s ce.


    He stared at the woman, greedily taking in the way moonlight shone on her. Nan Xun must have been transfixed by her to not notice his presence. He fumed. He knew he¡¯d been captivated by the woman the moment he saw her. The snippets of memory were enough to make him lose sleep. He just hadn¡¯t realized it until now.


    He wanted to take her away from Nan Xun and had her apany him for the remainder of his life. He didn¡¯t care whose side the woman was on. He didn¡¯t care if she¡¯d fought him with Nan Xun.


    As Qi Chen thought, Nan Xun¡¯s attention was solely on Jun Huang. He hadn¡¯t noticed that someone was looking at her with desires. If he¡¯d known, he¡¯d have hidden her away.


    They came up to an osmanthus tree, the fragrance of its blossoms filling the air. Jun Huang was captivated, reluctant to leave. Nan Xun looked at her with a smile.


    Breeze brought a few white flowers to the top of her hair. Nan Xun took them off and chuckled. ¡°Even if you like osmanthus cake, you don¡¯t have to look at a tree to quell your hunger.¡±


    Jun Huang knew he was just teasing. She gave him a mock re the way a woman would to show intimacy. Nan Xun felt electric shoot through his heart. There was nothing he wanted more than to hold her.


    He followed his feelings and pulled her close, whispering, ¡°Your absence unsettled me.¡±


    Touched, Jun Huang curved her lips into a smile and took Nan Xun¡¯s hand, her eyes bright with emotions. She didn¡¯t say a word, but her gesture was eloquent enough.


    Jun Huang looked up at the sky. It was about time that she returned to her room. It¡¯d be unwise of them to stay here. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should go now. You must have things to take care of tomorrow morning, and I can¡¯t stay out for too long.¡±


    Nan Xun recovered his senses and agreed. ¡°It is time for your to rest. I¡¯ve forgotten about everything other than you in my joy of seeing you. I¡¯ll walk you back.¡±


    Jun Huang waved him away. ¡°We¡¯ll see each other again. There¡¯s no reasons for us to be reluctant to part. This is only temporary. I¡¯ll see you around.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to just let her go, but it¡¯d be unreasonable of him to argue with her for this. After she disappeared from his view, he left through the river behind the Cold Pce.


    In other people¡¯s eyes, Qi Yun was a loyal son who¡¯d been attending to the emperor since he fell ill. He was more attentive than even the eunuchs. He often read reports to the emperor out of consideration for his father¡¯s health.


    Jun Huang had retiredtest night. She was still asleep when morning came. Qi Yun didn¡¯t wake her up. It wasn¡¯t until about nine that she rose from her bed.


    Qi Yun had been waiting for her. He rushed to her as soon as she was out of the door. Jun Huang blinked hazily at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you here so early?¡±


    ¡°I forgot to tell youst night that Royal Father told me to take you with me this morning,¡± Qi Yun said with a smile. He¡¯d been worried when the emperor first asked to see Jun Huang, but his worry gave way to delight once he realized what the emperor was thinking.


    The emperor must have considered Jun Huang a potential spouse for Qi Yun. His father wanted to make sure that she didn¡¯t only have Qi Yun¡¯s affection, but was also worthy of the emperor¡¯s approval.


    Of course, Qi Yun wasn¡¯t going to tell Jun Huang that.


    Jun Huang was puzzled, but she didn¡¯t hesitate too much before nodding in agreement. She got changed and followed Qi Yun to the emperor¡¯s chamber after breakfast.


    The emperor was still asleep when they arrived. They waited outside for about an hour before a eunuch told them to enter.


    The emperor slumped on the bed. Jun Huang and Qi Yun bowed to him respectfully. He motioned at them to be at ease and exchanged some pleasantries with Jun Huang.


    A eunuch brought a report in. Qi Yun took it and read it out loud for the emperor.


    Jun Huang watched the father and son with mixed feelings. She sighed, wondering how she should feel about their rtionship.


    The emperor¡¯s health was deteriorating, but he insisted on taking care of court affairs himself. Every once in a while he¡¯d ask Qi Yun to read reports with him and ask his son a few questions, which Qi Yun answered to the emperor¡¯s satisfaction. It was clear that the emperor was raising his son to be the new crown prince.

 Chapter 262 - Companionship

    <h4>Chapter 262: Companionship</h4>


    The emperor kept his intention to himself, while Qi Yun continued to y the obedient son.


    For reasons she couldn¡¯t fathom, Jun Huang was filled with a sense of apprehension. If something happened to upset the careful bnce they¡¯d reached, she had a feeling that the emperor would abandon Qi Yun just as easily as he had done with his other sons.


    She didn¡¯t voice her concern. It was without basis served no purpose other than worrying Qi Yun.


    Afterwards, Qi Yun took Jun Huang to the royal garden. He heard that the flowers had blossomed and wanted to show her. She followed him without a word. She knew Qi Yun must have something to say to her.


    They walked for a while with Qi Yun taking the lead. Then he stopped to look at her with a hesitant expression. Jun Huang smiled and asked quietly, ¡°Is something on your mind?¡±


    Qi Yun nodded and took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m not a weak man, but my history with father isn¡¯t a simple one. Seeing him declining with age, I started to wonder if we should treat his poison. That way, he¡¯ll be able to live longer and you¡¯ll be able to go to Southern Mu for your cure.¡±


    Jun Huang considered it for a moment. She¡¯d seen for herself how the emperor had treated Qi Yun. It was only natural that the kind-hearted prince would hesitate to let his father die.


    ¡°It¡¯s not undoable,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°The cure needs time to refine, however. The royal doctors have been trying their best to treat the emperor¡¯s ailment. He should be able to stay alive long enough for us to produce the cure.¡±


    Qi Yun rxed slightly and chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t feel pressured. We have time.¡±


    They fell silent. Qi Yun found himself attracted to the scenery in the garden. He¡¯d never felt so serene before when he walked past this ce. Perhaps it was because of Jun Huang¡¯s presence.


    Jun Huang was thinking about how hard-working Qi Yun had be. He¡¯d changed from the young boy she knew.


    Meanwhile, Qi Yun wondered if Jun Huang woulde to fall for him if he kept her by his side. He felt apologetic to Nan Xun, yes. The man had never kept his affection for her a secret. But in the end, everyone could only strive for their own happiness.


    He didn¡¯t want to let go. He wanted her bright smile for himself.


    Qi Yun lost track of time as they strolled in the garden. Jun Huang followed without a word. Hours had passed before he realized it. He was suddenly reminded that she hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet. He nervously turned around and asked, ¡°Are you feeling alright? Sorry for losing track of time. It¡¯s getting windy, and you aren¡¯t in a good condition. We should get back.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded with a faint smile in lieu of a response. She was getting a little cold. She kept quiet, not wanting to dampen Qi Yun¡¯s rare good mood.


    Once they returned to their residence, Qi Yun immediately had a servant prepare some hot tea. He got a cloak for Jun Huang suggested her to stay indoor, but she found it morefortable to stay in the backyard.


    Qi Yun rarely went against her will. He stayed and chatted with her.


    That was what the maid saw when she came back with a pot of hot tea. She could tell that Qi Yun valued Jun Huang greatly and might marry her one day. On top of that, Jun Huang had always treated the servants well. None of them wanted or dared disrespect her.


    ¡°Prince Nan Xun has delivered some osmanthus cake in the morning saying that thedy would like it,¡± said the maid in a respectful tone. ¡°Are you hungry? If you are, I¡¯ll bring you some.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at her and thought for a moment. A smile blossomed on her face suddenly. It was faint, but anyone who¡¯d seen her usual smile would be able to tell she was happier now than ever.


    The maid was transfixed by Jun Huang¡¯s bright smile.


    ¡°I¡¯ll appreciate that,¡± said Jun Huang, pulling the maid out of her trance. She hurried away with her face flushed.


    Jun Huang ate quite a lot of the osmanthus cakes. She had a better appetite than usual.


    The next few days, the emperor again asked for Jun Huang¡¯s presence. She dly followed Qi Yun to visit the emperor and always stayed for some conversation.


    She knew a lot about what was happening with the peasants. She hadn¡¯t expected the emperor to be interested, but he was.


    Qi Yun sat on the side listening to the two of them talk, his heart swelling. He wanted her to be his lifelongpanion.


    The thought hit him hard. Heat rose to his cheeks without him realizing.


    Noticing his distraction, Jun Huang whispered when the emperor wasn¡¯t paying attention, ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    Qi Yun broke out of his trance and struggled to find a suitable response to her concerned look. In the end, he stayed silent. She didn¡¯t push and continued to talk to the emperor.


    They were interrupted when a eunuch brought a stack of reports to the room. Jun Huang remained seated and the emperor stayed on the bed while Qi Yun retrieved the reports. He read them out loud one by one. asionally, the emperor would offer some suggestions. The sun streaming in from the window covered the room in a warm glow.


    A report requested for the emperor to lower taxes in a remote area. On the surface, it made sense, but it wouldn¡¯t be a smart decision.


    The emperor thought for a moment. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Qi Yun took some time to consider the proposal. ¡°This son believes that it won¡¯t be the right move.¡±


    ¡°Exin why.¡±


    ¡°The tax rates are stipted clearly ording to the local economy, not determined by Royal Father¡¯s judgement,¡± Qi Yun said slowly and carefully. ¡°The taxes are known to all in the nation. If a region¡¯s taxes are lowered simply because of how far it is from the imperial city, residents from the other areas will be dissatisfied. It¡¯s unwise to undermine the state¡¯s credibility for a small region.¡±


    The emperor nodded appreciatively. He agreed. After a brief pause, he continued, ¡°What do you think we should do?¡±


    That was more difficult than the previous question. Qi Yun didn¡¯t respond immediately. He formted the answer in his head for a good while before saying carefully, ¡°If we agree, people from the other regions will request for a tax reduction as well, which will lead to less tax revenue and depletion of the treasury.¡±


    ¡°Eastern Wu¡¯s ready to strike anytime. We need sufficient fund to support our war effort. The officials must have had the idea for a long time for them to muster the courage to make the request. We can¡¯t ignore the request. If we do, they may make a move the next time they are to deliver the earnings. We can¡¯t deny them either, or the locals may grow dissatisfied. This son believes we may offer them other benefits and help them grow wealthier. Then there will be noin when we increase the taxes.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s smile deepened as he patted Qi Yun on the shoulder. ¡°Good thinking. It¡¯s a holistic solution no one will question. How about you take on the responsibility?¡±


    Qi Yun nodded and nced at Jun Huang, who gave him an appreciative smile. She approved of his n. It was in line with what she¡¯d talked to him some time ago. He¡¯d been listening to her advice.


    Qi Yun was pleased to see her smile. He tried to hide it by turning away from her, but his lips still curved a little.


    A decision had been made and the task assigned to Qi Yun. He picked up another report, freezing when he saw what was written on it.


    He wanted to put it away before the emperor noticed anything wrong, but his father had been looking at him and had noticed his moment of panic.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked the emperor.


    Jun Huang frowned at Qi Yun, wondering what could cause his reaction. Unsettled, she was about to rise and say something, but Qi Yun took a deep breath and started reading.


    ¡°The fourth prince possesses both character and talent. He¡¯s a man of... this official and many others believe that among all the princes, only the fourth prince may fill the spot of the crown prince...¡±


    The emperor¡¯s expression darkened. Jun Huang frowned at Qi Yun without a word. There wasn¡¯t much she could say to salvage the moment.


    Qi Yun nced at his father and stopped before finishing reading it.


    ¡°What¡¯s that, Qi Yun?¡± demanded the emperor.


    Qi Yun stilled and smiled ruefully, cing the report on the table. ¡°This son doesn¡¯t know how to answer that, Royal Father. I just saw the report myself. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening, either.¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll believe that? You¡¯ve started to covet the throne after your second brother and third brother fell out of favor, haven¡¯t you? Do you think I¡¯m dead? Do you think I¡¯m blind to my sons¡¯ desires?¡± The emperor shot to his feet and mmed his fist into the table, his face flushed red in rage.


    ¡°This son¡¯s never thought that way. Why is Royal Father making yourself feel bad? This son didn¡¯t want to read the report either, and yet Royal Father thinks that I did it on purpose. This son is wounded by the misunderstanding.¡±


    Qi Yun lowered his eyes, kneeling on the floor with his back straight.


    The emperor frowned deeply at him. There was fire in Qi Yun¡¯s determined eyes. The emperor would havemended his son for that any other time, but now, he saw that as a challenge to his authority.

 Chapter 263 - Bitterness

    <h4>Chapter 263: Bitterness</h4>


    Qi Yun knew what the smart thing to do was, but he had his pride. He was upset that his father would jump to conclusions like that. That on top of their past settled ufortably in his heart. He wanted the emperor to understand him.


    Jun Huang sighed and approached the emperor. ¡°Please quell your anger, Your Majesty. This must be someone else¡¯s doing. The prince has a pure heart. He wouldn¡¯t have colluded with the officials to challenge Your Majesty. An investigation is needed before me can be cast.¡±


    The emperor scoffed, throwing her a cold nce. She knew it was inappropriate for her to speak up now, but she had to say something to diffuse the emperor. Otherwise there was no telling what he¡¯d do in fury.


    ¡°Your Majesty must know better than others how much hardships the prince¡¯s been through for you. Please don¡¯t be misled by the ploy.¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± snapped the emperor. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear another word from either of you. You¡¯re dismissed.¡±


    Qi Yun wanted to say something, but Jun Huang shook her head to stop him. They walked away.


    The eunuch who¡¯d been serving at the emperor¡¯s side for decades looked at his master and sighed. ¡°Does Your Majesty really think that the fourth prince has nned this?¡±


    The emperor nced at him and picked up the report again. After a brief moment, he said, ¡°No matter what, he must be thinking about it. First Qi Chen, now him? If I don¡¯t eliminate the seed of dissent now, he¡¯ll be the next to storm the pce.¡±


    The eunuch fell silent.


    Jun Huang and Qi Yun left the emperor¡¯s pce. He had a dark expression on his face, which wasn¡¯t difficult to interpret. Jun Huang waited until they reached Qi Yun¡¯s residence before stopping him. She tried to find the right words. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, and I know you¡¯re not short-sighted enough to do that at this critical juncture. You¡¯ve read the report yourself. Perhaps the officials aren¡¯t trying to set you up on purpose, but simply think that you are the right candidate for the throne.¡±


    ¡°In that case, there¡¯s nothing to gain by arguing with the emperor,¡± she said bluntly. ¡°You¡¯ll get to vent your frustration, but it won¡¯t help. The emperor¡¯s reaction is a warning. Those are issues we¡¯ve ignored but must face now. Qi Chen storming the pce has made the emperor paranoid and easily triggered. There¡¯s nothing you can say to convince him when he¡¯s most suspicious.¡±


    Qi Yun pursed his lips and scowled. Jun Huang looked at him quietly, her expression impassive but soft under the setting sun.


    Qi Yun cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯m not frustrated because of being hindered. It just upset me that he¡¯d think of me like that. I¡¯ve been so careful and attentive so that he¡¯d willingly let me take the throne. It hurts to be subject to his usation. I...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you must endure,¡± Jun Huang said with an eyebrow raised. ¡°You have your ambition. If you can¡¯t even take a little setback, how are you going to shoulder the weight of an entire nation?¡±


    Qi Yun lowered his head, speechless. He exhaled deeply. ¡°I understand. I won¡¯t do it again. What should we do?¡±


    Jun Huang thought for a moment before sighing and shaking her head. ¡°We have to understand the situation before a decision can be made. You should refrain from bringing up the issue for the next few days. We¡¯ll see if the emperor¡¯s going toe around.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my mistake. Sorry for troubling you.¡± Qi Yun med himself for stressing her out.


    Jun Huang managed to smile at him. She was tired. She bid him farewell before returning to her room.


    The next day, when Qi Yun visited the emperor, the man was talking to the ninth prince. The young prince was only seven years old. He didn¡¯t know much about anything. Qi Yun was jealous to see the little boy snuggled close to the emperor as they talked, painting the perfect picture of a caring father and a loving son.


    The ninth prince was the first to notice Qi Yun. He grinned and jumped off the emperor¡¯s arms, rushing to Qi Yun and pulling his sleeve. ¡°The fourth brother is finally here,¡± he said with his head tilted up. ¡°If you don¡¯t, Royal Father is going to ask about my study again. He¡¯ll scold me for not being to answer his questions.¡±


    It was natural for a child to speak his mind. The emperor smiled widely and didn¡¯t hold it against him. Qi Yun, on the other hand, had to force himself to smile. He knelt down before the young prince and patted him on the head, his voice gentle as he asked, ¡°Why have youe? Royal Father hasn¡¯t been feeling well. You shouldn¡¯t bother him.¡±


    ¡°I told him toe,¡± the emperor spoke up. He waved the ninth prince over without sparing a nce for Qi Yun.


    Today¡¯s reports had been delivered. Qi Yun took a deep breath to suppress his frustration and went to pick the reports up, but the emperor stopped him and had the reports brought to the ninth prince. He told the boy to read the reports out loud for him with a smile.


    Qi Yun looked at him questioningly. The emperor threw him a cool nce. ¡°You don¡¯t have toe anymore. Your brother is young and there are many things he doesn¡¯t know. He can read the reports for me. If you have the time to spare, you should go deal with the task I assigned you. There¡¯s no need for you to visit me if there¡¯s nothing important to discuss. I¡¯m feeling better now.¡±


    There was a lump in Qi Yun¡¯s throat, stopping him from saying anything. The seven-year-old prince looked between the emperor and Qi Yun with a confused expression. In the end, he looked down at the reports in his hands and started reading out loud like he would in sses.


    It pained Qi Yun to see the father and son¡¯s intimacy. He cupped his hands and left the emperor¡¯s chamber.


    Once outside, he punched the rust-red pir next to him, his expression dark. He¡¯d been frustrated enough when the emperor reprimanded him. Now, seeing the emperor¡¯s obvious affection for the ninth prince, thest of his attachment to his father vanished. The emperor¡¯s death seemed like a good solution now.


    When he returned to his residence, Jun Huang was sitting in the garden idly watching the flowers. After some deliberation, he approached and sat before her.


    Jun Huang noted his dark look. Her mind quickly figured out that Qi Yun must have shed with the emperor again. She poured him a cup of tea.


    Qi Yun wasn¡¯t going to push her away even though he was furious. He drank the tea, letting tension drain out of his body.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to make the cure anymore, Jun Huang,¡± he said without ceremony.


    Jun Huang was surprised by his sudden change of mind. Qi Yun wasn¡¯t someone petty enough to want the emperor dead just because of the scolding he received yesterday. The emperor must have done something today.


    Qi Yun took a deep breath and gave her the exnation she wanted. ¡°I tried to reconcile with him. I tried to forget what happened yesterday, but he certainly hasn¡¯t forgotten. He used the ninth brother to humiliate me! He clearly wants the ninth prince to rece me. He even told me not to visit himtely, considering me an eyesore. Why should I care about our rtionship when he cut ties with me so easily? It¡¯s better that I seize the opportunity to achieve my goal.¡±


    ¡°The ninth prince?¡± Jun Huang was bewildered. ¡°Isn¡¯t he a seven-year-old boy?¡±


    Qi Yun let out a sharpugh and nodded. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s seven and he acts his age. Ha, only my father would prioritize the innocence of a child over all else. He must think that the boy is young and malleable, and that he can shape the boy into the perfect heir. In his eyes, I¡¯ve only just started to show my talents, and the young boy is better than a son who covets the throne.¡±


    Qi Yun closed his eyes. Sunlight shone on him, driving away the darkness even with his eyes closed. Itforted him somewhat.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond immediately. She needed to think after the sudden turn of event. They had to reconsider what they were going to do since their original n was no longer viable.


    It took some time for her to clear her head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do to undo what happened. The emperor used to favor you. We may try to rx his guard gradually. Of course, not giving the emperor a cure is a solution in itself. Once he dies, we may use the opportunity to get rid of Prince Duan and Qi Chen.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I think as well,¡± Qi Yun opened his eyes and said.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re upset,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°However, remember that impatience can lead to great failure. Don¡¯t let your emotions get in the way of our long term n. The emperor has told you not to visit him, but you can¡¯t just do as he said. You should deliver some food to him tomorrow. Don¡¯t let him put you out of his mind.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded after some hesitation. He sighed with a mocking smile directed at himself and downed the tea that had gone cold. Bitterness assaulted his taste buds. He swallowed, but it only made the taste stronger.

 Chapter 264 - Counter-productive

    <h4>Chapter 264: Counter-productive</h4>


    Without another word, Jun Huang handed Qi Yun an osmanthus cake. He took a bite and realized that it was delivered here by Nan Xun.


    Even before Jun Huang came to Northern Qi, he was on friendly terms with Nan Xun. He¡¯d been invited to Nan Xun¡¯s manor and had the chance to sample meals prepared by Nan Xun¡¯s cook.


    The next day, Qi Yun brought some food to the emperor¡¯s chamber as Jun Huang suggested. Not surprisingly, the emperor didn¡¯t let him enter.


    Jun Huang had told him that the emperor might react this way. He quickly recovered and said to the eunuch, ¡°Royal Father must have gotten tired of the taste of medicine. I know he dislikes bitter things. However, Royal Father has forbidden me from visiting him. I can¡¯t bring him desserts myself like I did before. Still, I should fulfill my duty as his son. Please take this to him for me, gong gong.¡±


    His tone was genuine but insistent. The eunuch hesitated, his eyes shifting from Qi Yun to the door. In the end, he nodded and sighed. ¡°We are in no ce to make guesses about the emperor¡¯s thoughts. Rest assured that this old servant will take this in to His Majesty. However, I can¡¯t guarantee that he will have any.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. Please just bring it in for me.¡± Qi Yun handed the eunuch the box of desserts he¡¯d prepared and gave him a gentle smile. With that, he walked away.


    The eunuch sighed. When he brought the box in, the emperor was sitting up with the help of a servant. The eunuch hurried to him and put a robe around his shoulders.


    The emperor¡¯s gazended on the box the eunuch had ced on the table and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Was it Qi Yun?¡±


    The eunuch didn¡¯t immediately respond. He carefully considered the emperor. Only once he made sure the emperor wasn¡¯t angry did he nod and respectfully say, ¡°The fourth prince is considerate enough to have some desserts prepared. This servant has taken a look. They¡¯re all Your Majesty¡¯s favorite. He¡¯s put in a lot of care.¡±


    ¡°Ha, I don¡¯t know when he¡¯s learned to buy my approval rather than earn it. He should be trying to improve himself rather than giving me such useless things.¡± He took a look at the inside of the box and added, ¡°Take this to the ninth prince. He¡¯ll like it.¡±


    The eunuch blinked in surprise. He nodded and obediently left with the box of desserts.


    Qi Yun had nted his own people at the emperor¡¯s side. What the emperor said soon reached his ears. He forced himself to calm down. Jun Huang reminded him to be patient as well. He mustn¡¯t get reckless at time like this.


    Autumn hade, but it could get a little hot at noon. Qi Yun went to the royal kitchen himself and had a bowl of lotus seed soup prepared. He brought it to the emperor¡¯s chamber. Instead of entering, he asked the eunuch about the emperor¡¯s condition and told him to take good care of the emperor before leaving.


    The eunuch ryed Qi Yun¡¯s words to the emperor, leaving the bowl of soup in the emperor¡¯s room.


    After some time, the eunuch returned to the room to find that the bowl of souppletely untouched. He sighed and chucked it.


    Qi Yun knew all about what had happened, but he kept on bringing food to the emperor. He¡¯d alsopleted the task the emperor assigned him.


    The emperor wasn¡¯t as angry at Qi Yun as he had been. He began to think that perhaps Qi Yun shouldn¡¯t be med for the officials¡¯ action.


    Qi Yun had continued to be a caring son withoutint despite being turned away every time. At the end of the day, he was of the emperor¡¯s blood. The emperor sighed, pushing aside his wariness of his son. He was a little regretful of how he¡¯d scolded Qi Yun. Perhaps he should grant his son some agency inpensation.


    As usual, Qi Yun came to the emperor¡¯s chamber early in the morning. He was going to leave after handing the desserts to the eunuch, but the eunuch stopped him.


    ¡°Your Highness is finally here,¡± the eunuch said with a smile. ¡°His Majesty is still asleep. Please wait outside for a moment. This old servant will notify him once he¡¯s awake.¡±


    Qi Yun frowned and waved a hand in denial. ¡°There¡¯s no need. Royal Father doesn¡¯t want to see me. I¡¯m only going to anger him. Gong gong should bring this in. Royal Father has started to have some of the desserts I brought himtely. I think I¡¯ve figured out his preferences. I¡¯ll bring more tomorrow.¡±


    The eunuch¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Your Highness misunderstood. This servant wouldn¡¯t dare ask you to wait here without the emperor¡¯s say-so. Last night, His Majesty said himself that he¡¯d missed Your Highness and wanted you to stay when you came in the morning. It¡¯ll be good if Your Highness can chat with him a little.¡±


    Qi Yun paused and finally let out a sigh of relief. He kept a calm face, but in his mind he was celebrating. The fact that the emperor was willing to see him was a victory in itself. He might be able to mend their rtionship by catering to his father¡¯s pride.


    He waited for about an hour until the eunuch said that the emperor was awake. Qi Yun fixed his robe and followed the eunuch through several doors. Once inside, he ced the box of desserts on his side and greeted the emperor respectfully.


    The emperor was in a good mood. He smoothed a hand over his beard and told Qi Yun to be at ease. He exchanged some pleasantries with his son, saying nothing about what happened that day. Qi Yun was relieved. He didn¡¯t want to talk about that either. It would only hurt their feelings.


    Their conversation shifted to politics. The emperor said after a brief bemused pause, ¡°I hear you¡¯ve done well with the tax reduction case. Since you have the time, you should resume your work at the Court of Judicial Review so that you¡¯ll have some voice in the court in the future.¡±


    Qi Yun¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He thanked the emperor earnestly and left after some more talk.


    Prince Duan soon heard that Qi Yun had been assigned to the Court of Judicial Review. It was a known fact that the court was controlled by the royal family. It was a warning sign that the emperor had put Qi Yun in charge. After some deliberation, Prince Duan concluded that he must find a way to knock the prince down a peg.


    He picked a few difficult cases, intending to deter and embarrass Qi Yun, but it turned out to be counter-productive. He¡¯d instead given Qi Yun the opportunity to prove himself and earn respect.


    Prince Duan visited Qi Yun not long after he took charge of the court. Qi Yun knew he hadn¡¯te to congratte him. After some contemtion, Qi Yun weed Prince Duan with a friendly smile.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Your Highness toe so suddenly,¡± Qi Yun said with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you send a message in advance?¡±


    Prince Duan¡¯s eyes flicked to the prince as they engaged in small talk. Suddenly, the drum outside sounded. A calcting glint shed through Prince Duan¡¯s eyes and was quickly masked. Qi Yun didn¡¯t notice.


    ¡°I have business to attend to and wouldn¡¯t be able to stay with you. Please forgive me.¡± Qi Yun cupped his hands in apology.


    Prince Duan didn¡¯t intend to let him leave. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, may I go as an audience?¡±


    Qi Yun couldn¡¯t say no to an imperial prince. He nodded after some hesitation. ¡°If so, I wee Prince Duan¡¯s advice if a tricky issue arises.¡±


    When they arrived at the court, there were two peasant women kneeling at the center of the hall. Both looked at the other with open hostility. It was clear they had a disagreement they couldn¡¯t resolve.


    ¡°State your identity and the reason you¡¯re here,¡± Qi Yun said once he got seated.


    The woman dressed in colored fabric red at the other woman before saying in a respectful tone, ¡°In response to the esteemed official, this woman is Gui Yuan, owner of a chicken farm in the west region of the city. Today, all my chickens were found dead. Widow Mu sold rat poison for a living. She must have killed my chickens.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Widow Mu shot Gui Yuan a re. ¡°How did I poison your chickens when all the poison remains unused in my house? Besides, your chickens deserve to be killed. They sleep in the morning and make a ruckus at night, keeping your neighbors up every day. What a wonderful thing to be free of the noises they made.¡±


    Gui Yuan¡¯s face went red in anger. ¡°You heard it yourself, esteemed official. Widow Mu has confessed! You should lock her up at once. She killed my chickens today. She may murder a person tomorrow.¡±


    The two women started arguing then and there for all to see, their faces red and their hands ced on their hips. It seemed that they wouldn¡¯t stop unless they got a result.


    Qi Yun was getting a headache. He rubbed at his forehead and asked a consultant by his side, ¡°How did this casee to the Court of Judicial Review? This shouldn¡¯t be our responsibility, should it?¡±


    ¡°Normally the local <i>yamen </i>should be in charge of such cases. These two, however, go there so often with trivial matters that the bureaucrat got tired and refuse to take their cases anymore.¡± The consultant added as a reminder, ¡°I don¡¯t know how their case was handed to us, but Your Highness can¡¯t just turn them away even if that¡¯s what the local <i>yamen </i>did. You¡¯ve just taken this job. It¡¯s better not to give anyone reasons to criticize you.¡±

 Chapter 265 - Tricky Cases

    <h4>Chapter 265: Tricky Cases</h4>


    Qi Yun frowned, looking over at Prince Duan reflexively. The excited glint in the old man¡¯s eyes was a clear enough indication that he was behind this.


    After some deliberation, Qi Yun hit the table with the gavel, putting a stop to the women¡¯s argument. They begged for Qi Yun to find justice for them. Gui Yuan vehemently used Widow Mu of killing her chickens, while the widow cried out that she was innocent. He was getting a headache listening to them.


    Such cases were always troublesome. Qi Yun rubbed at his forehead, trying to clear his thoughts, and yet the two women refused to settle down. Their argument prevented him from thinking clearly. He frowned and turned to Prince Duan with a faint smile. ¡°What does Your Highness think we should do?¡±


    Prince Duan had been waiting for him to ask the question. He rxed slightly and waved his fan, putting on a thoughtful look. ¡°I believe that they should be subject to a maximum of thirty hits with wooden stave until either of them admitted her guilt.¡±


    The women froze and fell silent. Qi Yun¡¯s forehead creased like he was seriously considering the option, which prompted the women to use Qi Yun of abusing his power and disregarding peasants¡¯ lives.


    The farce was interrupted by Jun Huang¡¯s sudden appearance. She was dressed in men¡¯s clothes today. Her arrival dissolved some of the tension in the room.


    ¡°Prince Duan has a point,¡± she said as she entered the hall. She nced at Prince Duan before greeting Qi Yun.


    Prince Duan didn¡¯t expect her to agree with him. Anyone with a lick of sense would know his proposal would do more harm than good. He wondered what she was nning.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t spare him even a nce. Sheid down the facts she¡¯d discovered. It turned out that she¡¯d heard about what happened and sent people to conduct an investigation. The truth was Gui Yuan was responsible for her chickens¡¯ death. She had been unable to sell her flock and decided to set Widow Mu up because of the woman¡¯s constant barraging. She poisoned the chickens herself and put the me on the widow, trying to getpensation from her.


    Gui Yuan felt chilled to the bones. She didn¡¯t expect the gentle-looking man to be this shrewd. She broke into sweat.


    Jun Huang threw her a cold nce and smiled slightly. ¡°You may not know much about thew. Your false usation not only doesn¡¯t benefit you at all, it¡¯s enough reason for you to be thrown into prison.¡±


    Her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes, and her tone was frigid. Gui Yuan didn¡¯t dare im innocence anymore. She bent down and hit the floor with her forehead, making a loud thud, her eyes misty with tears. She painted a pitiful picture.


    Widow Mu didn¡¯t seem as happy as a woman being proven innocent should be. She looked at Gui Yuan and waved a hand in the air. ¡°Esteemed officials, this is merely a little prank we women y on each other. It is inappropriate for us to take the case to the court. I don¡¯t want to go through with thewsuit anymore. Please don¡¯t lock her up. We¡¯ll settle the case ourselves.¡±


    Jun Huang thought for a moment. ¡°Even so, disturbing the proceedings of the court is a crime in itself. Thirty hits are considered merciful.¡±


    Widow Mu¡¯s face went pale. After some hesitation, she volunteered to take the beating for the other woman. Jun Huang raised an eyebrow at Qi Yun, who got the message and helped the two women up, seeing them out of the court.


    The case was closed. Prince Duan went red in anger and left with a huff. Qi Yun sighed in relief. To his dismay, though, there were other cases just as troublesome waiting for them to deal with.


    Qi Yun didn¡¯t want to exhaust Jun Huang. He sent for Ji Bo and his other advisors to help reach a verdict. The first of the cases was a theftmitted by a blind man. The crime itself was puzzling. How could a blind man steal?


    As soon as the suspect entered the court, however, Ji Bo saw through his pretense and pointed out that he wasn¡¯t actually blind. Jun Huang soon spotted the signs as well.


    The man was a good actor, but it¡¯d been a hobby of Ji Bo to observe all kinds of people. He knew how a blind person should act. The suspect refused to admit that he was acting, but a simple trick was enough to make the man slip and blow his cover. He was put in jail, awaiting his sentence.


    Then there was a homicide where the head of a respected family was killed in a locked room. His concubine was the one who brought the case to the court, using the man¡¯s first son of murder and demanding for him to pay with his life.


    Qi Yun¡¯s first reaction was the son had killed his father for inheritance. Jun Huang and Ji Bo disagreed. They went to the family¡¯s manor in the afternoon to check the corpse. They both knew enough in medicine to conclude that the physical trauma wasn¡¯t what killed the man.


    The concubine¡¯s expression clouded, which didn¡¯t escape Jun Huang¡¯s notice. She narrowed her eyes at the woman in her thirties.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, he must have poisoned my husband,¡± eximed the woman, pointing at the young man. ¡°That must be the truth.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned and thought for a moment. ¡°Why are you so certain?¡±


    ¡°He was the one who was with my husband that day. Who else could it be?¡±


    She and the other advisors went around asking the residents of the manor. They all agreed with the concubine. However, Jun Huang believe things weren¡¯t as simple as it seemed. She met with the young man with Ji Bo and asked him what had happened. He said that he had a private discussion with his father earlier that ended in an argument. In the end, he stormed away. When he went back after realizing his father hadn¡¯t left the room, the old man was dead.


    Jun Huang asked if he¡¯d noticed anything unusual. The young man thought for a moment and said there was an odd smell that made him antsy and eventually walk out on his father. Jun Huang and Ji Bo both believed it was the lead they were looking for. They entered the room under the young man¡¯s guidance, only to find it ransacked.


    After thorough searching, Jun Huang found a wilted leave. She took a whiff before handing it to Ji Bo. They¡¯de to the same conclusion.


    They had people look around the manor and found a nt in the concubine¡¯s room she had yet to discard. The nt was lethally toxic, which matched the way the victim died. Upon further questioning, they found out that the concubine had murdered her husband for fear of losing all the wealth of the family to the oldest son. She waster sentenced to death.


    The cases failed to obstruct Qi Yun as Prince Duan had nned. Instead, Qi Yun was more and more respected among the public. The officials often praised Qi Yun for having an agile mind before the emperor, which pleased him and made him forget about his previous contention with his son.


    After the failure, Prince Duan had been quiet, but Jun Huang didn¡¯t dare rx her guard. There was no telling what Prince Duan would do when he was cornered.


    In the past, Qi Yun had kept a low profile and was often forgotten despite him being a prince. Now, he¡¯d made a name for himself. When he was in public, people woulde up to him and greet him with genuine smile. He was delighted. Jun Huang was his lucky charm. He grew even more attached to her.


    Qi Yun had been temporarily staying in Jun Huang¡¯s manor after he took charge of the Court of Judicial Review. In order to help him with the court cases, Jun Huang had went back to dressing up as a man. At night, she¡¯d take time to discuss the current situation with Qi Yun, overlooking her own health.


    Nan Xun invited Jun Huang and Qi Yun to his manor as guests. Jun Huang hadn¡¯t seen him for a while. She¡¯d missed him. She epted the invitation readily. Qi Yun didn¡¯t want to let the two of them be alone together. He went as well.


    During the meal, Qi Yun continued to discuss court matters with Jun Huang, who answered his questions seriously and didn¡¯t have the attention to spare for Nan Xun or even the food. Nan Xun frowned at them.


    In the end, he put down his chopsticks, the clink interrupting their conversation.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡® asked Jun Huang. ¡°Do you not like the food?¡±


    Nan Xun took a deep breath and shook his head with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You should eat more.¡± He turned to Qi Yun with a dark expression and said, ¡°A word, please.¡±


    Qi Yun looked up at Nan Xun. He knew what Nan Xun was going to talk to him about. He wasn¡¯t intimidated. He nodded and told Jun Huang to enjoy the food before walking away with Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang was puzzled. She didn¡¯t know what Nan Xun had to say to Qi Yun in private. Since he wasn¡¯t going to tell her, though, she wasn¡¯t going to ask. She focused on eating now that Qi Yun wasn¡¯t here.


    Nan Xun took Qi Yun to the backyard and looked into the distance without a word. Qi Yun wasn¡¯t as patient as Nan Xun. He took a deep breath and asked, ¡°What¡¯s on Brother Nan¡¯s mind?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know about Jun Huang¡¯s condition?¡± Nan Xun said bluntly, his brows furrowed. ¡°Her health is bad enough. She entered the pce with you so that she could rest and be well taken care of. And yet you burdened her with even more responsibilities. You didn¡¯t even let her eat properly! Can¡¯t you think about her wellbeing for a second, Qi Yun?¡±


    Qi Yun didn¡¯t have a word ofeback, but he still thought Nan Xun was being too forceful. He must be boasting about his close rtionship with Jun Huang.


    The polite smile on Qi Yun¡¯s face dropped. Without a word, he lowered his head and looked away.

 Chapter 266 - Jealousy is the worst Human Sin

    <h4>Chapter 266: Jealousy is the worst Human Sin</h4>


    Nan Xun took a deep breath and let out a sigh. ¡°We both want her to be safe and well, but her health hasn¡¯t been good and her body can¡¯t take any more abuse. I don¡¯t know what I should do if something happens to her. Please understand and keep her condition in mind, Qi Yun.¡±


    Qi Yun¡¯s expression clouded as he narrowed his eyes at Nan Xun. ¡°That¡¯s unfair. I wasn¡¯t trying to exhaust her. It¡¯s just ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Nothing is more important than she is in my eyes,¡± Nan Xun cut him off. ¡°We¡¯ve been doing all we can to help you gain the throne without a word ofint. I only ask for you to not cause more troubles for Jun Huang and let her rest.¡±


    Qi Yun¡¯s eyes darkened. Nan Xun clearly knew all about what had happened. He himself understood how much Jun Huang had done for him as well. While the emperor was doubting him, it was Jun Huang who¡¯d been helping him through the obstacle at the cost of her own health.


    He felt a lump in his throat. He swore that as soon as he became the emperor, he¡¯d make Jun Huang his empress and called on all the prestigious doctors in the nation to treat her. He¡¯d spare no effort to save her life.


    Nan Xun could see the changes in QI Yun¡¯s expression, but he couldn¡¯t read his thought. He knew he¡¯d been too blunt, but he wasn¡¯t willing to bet on Jun Huang¡¯s life. He didn¡¯t want her to exhaust herself for anyone.


    He knew better than others how weak she was now. Every time he saw her pale face, he couldn¡¯t help but worry. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t trust Qi Yun. He just knew Jun Huang too well. She could be too willful for her own good at times. Without him by her side, she often forgot to take care of herself.


    ¡°Why not have her stay in my manor?¡± Nan Xun finally said what he¡¯d intended to tell Qi Yun.


    Qi Yun didn¡¯t expect that. He stared at Nan Xun for some time. ¡°There¡¯s no need. I¡¯ll take care of her. Royal Father values her. I¡¯ll finish dealing with the cases in the court soon. Then I¡¯ll take her back to the pce.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not doubting you,¡± Nan Xun said with a sigh. ¡°I simply worry that she¡¯ll treat herself carelessly when I¡¯m not around.¡±


    Qi Yun refused to budge. He finally had the opportunity to stay with Jun Huang alone. He wasn¡¯t going to just let go.


    Nan Xun was surprised by Qi Yun insistence. This wasn¡¯t something they should argue over. He sighed and agreed to let Qi Yun take her to the pce. Out of concern, he assigned a shadow guard to watch over her. Qi Yun reluctantly agreed for Jun Huang¡¯s sake.


    They stayed a little longer before returning to Jun Huang. She¡¯d finished eating and was waiting for them. She walked up to them with her brows furrowed and asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    Qi Yun and Nan Xun exchanged a nce, silently agreeing to not tell her what they were talking about. Qi Yun waved a hand at her and made up an excuse, saying that they were worried Prince Duan would stir up troubles again, and that they were going back to the pce in two days.


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun reflexively. Qi Yun pouted in jealousy. ¡°Now you need Brother Nan¡¯s permission toe with me?¡±


    Jun Huang smiled awkwardly, at a loss of what to say. Nan Xun chuckled and patted her head. ¡°You can go with him, but remember to take care of yourself. Promise?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a child,¡± she teasingly responded. ¡°I know how to take care of myself. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Qi Yun¡¯s heart sank. He directed his anger at Nan Xun¡¯s shadow guard, seeing him as Nan Xun¡¯s way of taunting him. Later, when Jun Huang wasn¡¯t paying attention, he summoned his own people and drive the shadow guard away. The shadow guard didn¡¯t engage them in battle. They were on the same side after all. After some agonizing, he sighed and decided to return to Nan Xun for advice.


    Jun Huang was kept in the dark. She and Qi Yun returned to her manor after a short stroll. She took a bath andy down on her bed, thinking back to Nan Xun¡¯s tender gestures with a smile tugging her lips.


    A sense of apprehension jerked her out of her light sleep. It was too dark for her to see anything. After some hesitation, she picked up the flint stone at her bedside and lit up a candle, illuminating the room. She kept her breaths shallow as she looked around. Nothing seemed to be amiss.


    She tightened her robe around her body and noticed that the window was open. She frowned and looked outside. Nothing. She closed the window and waited a good moment for something to happen, but nothing did. She let out a relieved breath and wiped off sweat from her forehead. She only realized then how nervous she¡¯d been.


    Shey back down on the bed, considering if she should put out the candle. She chuckled. She was way too sensitive. She shook her head and extinguished the light.


    She heard something just when she was about to fall asleep.


    She jumped off the bed and lit up the candle quickly. A man dressed in a thief¡¯s attire was climbing through her window. He didn¡¯t seem at all nervus when he realized he was spotted. He leisurely gave Jun Huang a once-over.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Jun Huang demanded coolly, forcing herself to calm down.


    The man was surprised that Jun Huang was able to stay calm given the circumstance. She looked just like any frail schr, striking him as helpless at first nce.


    Qi Chen had said that Jun Huang used to be his strategist, and a great one at that. For a fighter like him, however, she was simply an unarmed civilian whose only means of attack was her words. He didn¡¯t consider her a threat.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to know who I am. Just know that you have toe with me.¡± The burly man didn¡¯t want to waste his time talking to her. He knew strategists tended to y tricks, and he resented them for that.


    Jun Huang considered him carefully. He looked familiar. She must have seen him somewhere, but she couldn¡¯t put a name to the face. The man didn¡¯t give her any time to think. He reached out to grab Jun Huang¡¯s arm suddenly.


    She quickly stabbed him with a dagger, but he was prepared. He seized her wrist hard enough that she dropped the dagger in pain. Before she could cry out for help, the man covered her nose and mouth with a handkerchief drenched in incapacitating drug. She only managed to make a couple muffled noises before she lost her strength and cked out.


    The man hade alone without drawing any attention. He didn¡¯t care how people would react when they realized Jun Huang was gone tomorrow. He looked around and carried Jun Huang to the window. With a push of his foot he leapt outside with Jun Huang in his arms. He didn¡¯t notice that he¡¯d dropped something.


    When Jun Huang came to, she was faced with Qi Chen¡¯s closeup. Her stomach dropped. Qi Chen scoffed and put some distance between them, leveling her with a cold stare. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to fall into my hands again, did you, Feng Baiyu? You aren¡¯t going to get lucky this time.¡±


    Jun Huang quickly masked her shock and met his eyes calmly. Now she remembered who the burly man was. She¡¯d seen him in Qi Chen¡¯s manor. She didn¡¯t expect Qi Chen to keep some of his followers even after his downfall. She wondered what Qi Chen had promised to give the man.


    Qi Chen was angered by theck of reaction from Jun Huang. He wanted to see her fear, but she refused toply.


    He pinched her chin and forced her to look at him. He narrowed his eyes, swallowing down the words he had intended to say to her.


    With a huff, he let go of her chin and patted his hands. ¡°I¡¯m not going to say anything to you. It¡¯s only going to bring misfortune. I¡¯ll have you pay the price after I achieve my goal. Stay here and wait for that day toe.¡±


    He walked away. Jun Huang frowned when she heard the door being locked.


    She was reminded of thest time Nan Jihan kidnapped her and how he¡¯d treated her. She rolled her eyes, silently cursing the heaven for her bad luck.


    She pensively wondered if Qi Yun and Nan Xun would be able to find her. She didn¡¯t want to worry Nan Xun too much.


    Qi Yun woke up early the next day and didn¡¯t see Jun Huang anywhere. When asked, the servant said Jun Huang hadn¡¯t left the room. He didn¡¯t think too much of it. She¡¯d been tiredtely and hadn¡¯t been sleeping well. He wasn¡¯t going to wake her up if she wanted to sleep in.


    When he returned from the Court of Judicial Review, however, Jun Huang still hadn¡¯t showed up. Jun Huang didn¡¯t like being disturbed, so Little Girl didn¡¯t dare barge into her room. She paced around helplessly, unsure of what she should do.

 Chapter 267 - Pros and Cons

    <h4>Chapter 267: Pros and Cons</h4>


    Only then did Qi Yun realize that something was wrong. He rushed to the south wing with a group of people in tow and opened the door, only to find the room empty. Panic rose from his heart. He forced himself to calm down, but then he stepped on a dagger on the floor. It was a clear warning sign. He tried not to jump to conclusions.


    Taking a calming breath, he turned to Little Girl and said, ¡°Perhaps she¡¯s left early. Go to Prince Nan Manor to check if she¡¯s there. I¡¯ll keep looking.¡±


    Little Girl nodded and hurried away immediately. She happened to run into Nan Xun at the door to his manor. He was about to leave for work. He looked at her with a frown. ¡°Why are you in such a rush? Has something happened?¡±


    ¡°Your Highness, Gentleman Feng has disappeared,¡± Little Girl said with her eyes fixed on Nan Xun once she could finally breathe. ¡°Prince Qi Yun is looking around the manor. I came to check if Gentleman Feng¡¯s here.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s face fell. Clearly Jun Huang wasn¡¯t here. Nan Xun dragged Little Girl back to Jun Huang¡¯s manor with a dark expression. She could only try her best to catch up, too afraid to say anything.


    Once they arrived, Nan Xun grabbed Qi Yun by the cor, his eyes frosty. ¡°What the hell were you doing? Do you remember what you¡¯ve said? You better pray that she¡¯s alright. If anything happens to her, I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡±


    Qi Yun knew he¡¯d made a mistakest night. He didn¡¯t know what to say. He could only let Nan Xun take his anger out on him. ¡°I know it¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have driven your guard away. None of us expected her to disappear suddenly. There were no warning signs! If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Enough! She better be alright.¡± Nan Xun dropped Qi Yun with a scowl. Qi Yun had a matching expression on his face. No one had ever treated him like this, but he was in no ce to defend himself. He was at fault.


    After a long time, he took a deep breath and said, ¡°We have to find her as soon as possible. I don¡¯t know what happened, but my instinct told me she was kidnapped.¡±


    Despite his anger, Nan Xun knew their priority now was to find Jun Huang. The rest could wait.


    They looked around Jun Huang¡¯s bedroom. Eventually Nan Xun found a token outside the window. His mood took a further downturn. Qi Yun¡¯s face clouded as well.


    Nan Xun and Qi Yun had both nted people in Qi Chen¡¯s circle before, so they knew the token was given to Qi Chen¡¯s confidantes. It wasn¡¯t difficult to deduce what had happened for the token to be dropped here.


    Qi Yun was tormented with guilt. He knew this wouldn¡¯t have happened if he hadn¡¯t driven Nan Xun¡¯s shadow guard away. His jealousy created an opening for the viinous prince to exploit. Jun Huang had thus fallen into Qi Chen¡¯s hand. Everyone knew how much he hated her. Qi Yun didn¡¯t dare even think about how she was.


    His eyes went red as he silently cursed at himself. Despite his disappointment, Nan Xun wasn¡¯t cruel enough to put him down now. He sighed.


    ¡°We know who took her,¡± Nan Xun said after some musing. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. We¡¯ll go to Prince Duan¡¯s manor and ask for her.¡±


    Qi Yun couldn¡¯t stand waiting any longer, but he didn¡¯t want to appear childish before Nan Xun, and he thought it would be reckless of them to barge into Prince Duan¡¯s ce. Now that Nan Xun had brought the idea up, he nodded earnestly. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Nan Xun sighed. He knew they had to be calm. They didn¡¯t know what Prince Duan was trying to do or how Jun Huang was. The only thing they knew was this was a malicious attack.


    Nan Xun and Qi Yun made their way to Prince Duan¡¯s manor with an entourage without even attempting to put up a front. Nan Xun wanted to get Jun Huang back as soon as he could. He wasn¡¯t in the mood to think about anything else.


    Prince Duan was surprised to see Nan Xun and Qi Yun here. Why would they suddenly visit together? He didn¡¯t be the imperial prince without knowing how to deal with surprises, however. He sent a few servants to lead them in while he watched them in the dark.


    Nan Xun had hidden his emotions well. His eyes were cold, but that was the extent of his tell. Qi Yun, on the other hand, kept fidgeting. He was clearly anxious about something.


    When he¡¯d gathered enough information, Prince Duan walked up to them and put on a fake smile. ¡°Gentlemen, what can I help you with?¡±


    Nan Xun frowned slightly. Before Qi Yun could say a word, he stepped before the prince and smiled. ¡°Sorry for the intrusion. To be honest with Your Highness, I¡¯ve lost a great treasure from my manor. Do you know anything about that?¡±


    Prince Duan arched an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? What is this treasure you¡¯re talking about? I¡¯ve never even heard of it. Why would you think I¡¯ve seen it anywhere?¡±


    Nan Xun considered him carefully. Prince Duan allowed the scrutiny. He had nothing to hide.


    He stilled when he saw the token Nan Xun took out. Of course he recognized it. He didn¡¯t need Nan Xun¡¯s exnation toe to the conclusion. A myriad of emotions shed through his face. He pushed aside his agitation. ¡°What is it you¡¯re missing?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not an object, but a person ¨C Feng Baiyu,¡± Nan Xun said with an eyebrow raised. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything, do you?¡±


    Prince Duan nodded and sighed. For the first time ever, he took a deferential stance before the two princes and said, ¡°Leave it to me. I¡¯ll give you what you ask for. If Qi Chen has taken him, I¡¯ll have him return Feng Baiyu to you unharmed.¡±


    Nan Xun and Qi Yun exchanged a nce. There was no reason for Prince Duan to lie to them now. After some deliberation, Nan Xun nodded and bid the man farewell.


    Qi Yun was still worried. Prince Duan was far from an honest man. ¡°Are we going to just leave?¡±


    ¡°What else should we do?¡± Nan Xun nced at him.


    ¡°Jun Huang¡¯s still in their hands. What if something happens to her?¡±


    Nan Xun came to a halt and looked back at Qi Yun. In the end, he decided to exin the situation. ¡°It¡¯s clear that Prince Duan didn¡¯t know Jun Huang was taken. Now he knows Qi Chen was the one who did it. He¡¯s agreed to give us Jun Huang, and he will. He knows better than anyone it¡¯ll do more harm than good for him to sh with us now. A shrewd man like him isn¡¯t going to make such a careless mistake.¡±


    Qi Yun rxed somewhat. He knew Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t risk Jun Huang¡¯s life for anything. There was no reason for him to doubt Nan Xun¡¯s words.


    Prince Duan had a grave expression on his face after seeing Nan Xun and Qi Yun off. The servants gave him a wide berth and tried not to draw any attention. The main hall was silent enough for one to hear a needle drop.


    After a while, Prince Duan sent a servant to find Qi Chen. Qi Chen didn¡¯t know why his father would ask for him. He¡¯d been in a good mood after taking Jun Huang. He didn¡¯t notice anything unusual when he entered the main hall save for Prince Duan being more silent than usual. He asked the older man what was wrong.


    Prince Duan¡¯s fury burned hotter seeing his careless attitude, but he forced himself to calm down. ¡°Do you even know our priorities? It¡¯s not the time to provoke Nan Xun! Do you think he¡¯s just for show? Don¡¯t you know how many soldiers he has under his control? Why do you never learn about what you should and shouldn¡¯t do?!¡±


    Qi Chen quickly figured out what Prince Duan had asked him toe for. He scoffed. ¡°So what? Why should I be afraid of him?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste my time on you. Return Feng Baiyu to Nan Xun and we¡¯ll consider this behind us. If you insist on being stubborn ¨C ¡±


    ¡°What if I keep him?¡± Qi Chen growled with his eyes dark and his face twisted. ¡°I¡¯ve gone to great length to take him. I¡¯m not going to let him go. Nan Xun won¡¯t dare do anything when he¡¯s under my control.¡±


    Prince Duan didn¡¯t expect his son to be this blind to the big picture. He pped him hard,shing out at him for being nothing but a troublemaker. Despite his fall from grace, Qi Chen had once been a prince looking down on many others. He couldn¡¯t take the verbal abuse.


    However, Prince Duan was his only support now. A fallout would do him no good. He threw Prince Duan a re and stormed out of the manor.


    He made his way to where he was keeping Jun Huang and entered the room. The ce had been dormant for a good while. The motion of him opening the door brought dust into the air. Jun Huang, who¡¯d been resting, opened her eyes. She was surprised to see Qi Chen. She didn¡¯t know how she should think when she saw the handprint on his face.


    Qi Chen closed the door behind him and sat down on the floor, scoffing at himself. ¡°Say, am I really that ipetent?¡±

 Chapter 268 - Aspiration

    <h4> Chapter 268: Aspiration</h4>


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t deem Qi Chen¡¯s question a response. He kept on muttering, ¡°To be honest with you, my mother and Prince Duan have always told me I¡¯d one day be the emperor, that the throne would be mine. As time went by, I began to believe that as well. I won¡¯t go easy on anyone who dares covet what is rightfully mine.¡±


    ¡°You betrayed me for a man who doesn¡¯t deserve your loyalty and struck a fatal hit on me when sess is right within my reach. I¡¯ve doubted you before, but I foolishly decided to trust you. Feng Baiyu, I didn¡¯t expect you to go to such distance for Qi Yun. You¡¯ve stayed undercover for him for so long...¡±


    Jun Huang frowned at Qi Chen¡¯s crazed look. He seemed at the end of his sanity. She should keep her distance from him. However, she was tied to the chair and couldn¡¯t even move, let alone run away.


    Qi Chenughed when Jun Huang finally showed signs of fear. He rose and walked up to her, leveling her with a cold stare. ¡°Tell me, Feng Baiyu, how are Nan Xun and Qi Yun any better than I am? I¡¯ve never treated you wrong. What did you want that I couldn¡¯t give? Why must you betray me? Why?¡±


    Qi Chen was unraveling. He pulled on Jun Huang¡¯s hair, forcing her to look at him. She winced in pain. Qi Chen felt fire burn through his chest. He put his hands around her neck, wanting nothing but to strangle the life out of her.


    His grip grew tighter. Jun Huang¡¯s face began to turn blue due to theck of oxygen. Qi Chen had lost all senses of reality. He didn¡¯t know what he was doing. He simply reveled in seeing the pained look on her face.


    Suddenly, the door was kicked open with a loud bang. Prince Duan showed up with Nan Xun and Qi Yun. Before Qi Chen could react, Nan Xun sent him flying into a pir. He dropped to the floor wincing in pain.


    Jun Huang gasped for air. The sudden flow of oxygen sent her into a coughing fit. Her face turned red and her eyes misty, painting a pitiful picture.


    Nan Xun had lost the ability to think. It was Qi Yun¡¯s prompting that woke him enough to untie Jun Huang. He put his arms tight around her as if she¡¯d disappear any moment.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t get the image of Qi Chen strangling Jun Huang out of his head. He gritted his teeth at Qi Chen, who had stood up with the help of a servant and was rubbing at his waist. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes grew sharp with murderous intent.


    He gave Qi Yun a pointed look. Qi Yun got his message and took Jun Huang from Nan Xun¡¯s embrace. He wanted Qi Chen punished for his deed as well. Nan Xun stalked toward Qi Chen with purposeful strides.


    Prince Duan¡¯s heart sank. Qi Chen had hurt what Nan Xun held most precious. No matter how hopeless Qi Chen was, he was still his son. He could punish and scold Qi Chen, but he wouldn¡¯t let others do it. He threw his men a nce, silently telling them to stop Nan Xun.


    ¡°Qi Chen has made a mistake,¡± Prince Duan rushed to the general prince and hurried out. ¡°Please don¡¯t do anything drastic. I¡¯ll make sure to teach him a lesson. You should check on Gentleman Feng. He doesn¡¯t look too well.¡±


    Nan Xun turned to him with frigid eyes. Prince Duan shuddered under his gaze, but quickly recovered and put on a caring look.


    Nan Xun clenched his jaw. Jun Huang finally recovered enough to speak up, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t want to stay here any longer. Let¡¯s go, Nan Xun.¡±


    The ice in his eyes melted as if what Prince Duan had seen was merely a trick of light. Prince Duan realized that they mustn¡¯t make a move on Jun Huang as long as Nan Xun was in power. She was more important to Nan Xun than the rumors suggested.


    Nan Xun reluctantly followed Jun Huang¡¯s words and let Qi Chen off the hook. He picked her up and left without a nce back.


    When they returned to his manor, Ji Bo was waiting for them, and Jun Huang had lost conscious on the way. Nan Xun didn¡¯t dare dy her treatment. He ced her down and let Ji Bo take her pulse.


    Ji Bo sighed and shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s in a bad state and needs to rest. If she copses again, I can¡¯t guarantee that she¡¯ll be able to wake up.¡±


    With a grave expression on his face, Nan Xun attended to Jun Huang almost fearfully. After Ji Bo had prescribed medicine for her, he saw Ji Bo out and pulled Qi Yun to the side for a private conversation.


    Just like thest time, Nan Xun didn¡¯t even try to be polite about it. ¡°You¡¯ve heard what Ji Bo said. Jun Huang needs to rest. I don¡¯t care what you want or need. You better forget all about it. She¡¯s going to stay here. I¡¯ll keep her safe.¡±


    Qi Yun knew he had a point. The royal doctors weren¡¯t necessarily better than Ji Bo, and he couldn¡¯t be sure if someone from the pce would target her. He¡¯d never forgive himself if something happened to her again.


    Nan Xun¡¯s blunt words still hit him hard. His expression turned dark. It was difficult to watch Nan Xun took care of Jun Huang and see how she only had eyes for Nan Xun. Jealousy festered in his heart.


    He was toote. The girl he knew since childhood had fallen for someone else. Of course he¡¯d noticed her feelings for the stoic man. He just didn¡¯t want to admit it. Now he was forced to face the music. He couldn¡¯t y ignorant.


    Heughed at himself. He was the one who knew her first, and yet she¡¯d chosen someone else over him.


    He was going to leave when the maid staying with Jun Huang rushed outside and said Jun Huang had woken up. As Qi Yun predicted, Nan Xun was the only thing on Jun Huang¡¯s mind. She asked for him immediately after she woke up, and Nan Xun nervously asked after her condition. She snuggled close to him, her expression so uncharacteristically soft that she seemed more like a regr woman in love than the graceful Jun Huang everyone knew her as.


    She spared no attention for anyone other than Nan Xun, putting Qi Yun in an awkward position. Despite his broken heart, he was relieved that she was alright.


    He realized that Nan Xun and Jun Huang would like their privacy and he was the odd one out, so he silently left the room.


    When Jun Huang finally thought of Qi Yun again, he¡¯d already left for a while. She frowned, wondering why he¡¯d leave without saying goodbye. Nan Xun caressed her hair and exined, ¡°He must be worried that you¡¯d me him for not protecting you properly, so he left without a word.¡±


    Jun Huang paused and quickly figured out that Nan Xun wasn¡¯t serious. She called him out on spouting nonsense with augh. He shrugged and took her hands with an adoring expression.


    Jun Huang intertwined their hands andy against his chest, whispering, ¡°I couldn¡¯t help shuddering when I thought back to that moment. I¡¯m not as brave as people believe. I was scared when Qi Chen put his hands around my neck. I thought I¡¯d never see you again.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that. I¡¯m not going to lose you.¡± He held her tight, filled with the unreasonable urge to make her part of him.


    They seemed to be in a world of their own as they enjoyed the rare moment of peace. No one could get between them.


    Qi Chen had stayed outside the room at first, worried that Jun Huang might have business to discuss with him. She did end up remembering his existence, but the ce he held in her heart was meagerpared to Nan Xun. The person he loved had found her lifelong partner. They were never meant to be. Since he couldn¡¯t have love, he was even more determined to gain the world.


    Qi Yun swore to himself that he wouldn¡¯t hesitate again. He¡¯d take the throne and win everyone¡¯s approval, including that of Jun Huang and Nan Xun.


    He wasn¡¯t as generous as he¡¯d like to be. He couldn¡¯t help getting jealous whenever he thought back to Jun Huang¡¯s carefreeugh as shey in Nan Xun¡¯s arms. She¡¯d never showed that side of her to anyone other than Nan Xun, and she may never do.


    Nan Xun was said to be cold and know nothing about matter of the heart, but Qi Yun had seen for himself how tender Nan Xun could be. He both envied him and wished him the best. He knew what Jun Huang had been through. He wanted her to be happy more than anything.


    She had found her happiness. He was merely a passerby in her life.


    Once he sorted through his thoughts, he turned away and left immediately. The maids at the door didn¡¯t stop him. They were curious about his gloomy mood, but they quickly forgot about it.


    Qi Yun went back to the Court of Judicial Review and didn¡¯t go to Jun Huang¡¯s manor. Jun Huang needed to rest. He wasn¡¯t going to bother her. Even though he couldn¡¯t be her lover, he still care about her wellbeing. After all, they¡¯d known each other for many years.


    At night, he returned to the pce. After some hesitation, he went to the emperor¡¯s chamber to greet his father. The emperor¡¯s condition had been unstable. Sometimes he¡¯d get better, but then copsed again the next day. It made him worry that the emperor would die soon.


    When he followed a eunuch inside, the emperor was reading a book on his bed. The emperor looked up when he heard the footsteps and put aside the book, coughing.

 Chapter 269 - A favorable Misunderstanding

    <h4>Chapter 269: A favorable Misunderstanding</h4>


    With a slight frown, Qi Yun rushed to get a robe for the emperor and put it around his shoulders before closing the window. The wavering candles fire settled.


    ¡°Royal Father, you may catch a cold. You should take better care of yourself. Please have the servants put on the heating if your feet get cold at night.¡±


    Qi Yun babbled on. Worried that the emperor wouldn¡¯t listen, he reminded the eunuch to take care of his father as well. The eunuch nodded with a smile as he listened, while the emperor looked at his son gently, moved.


    It took an hour for Qi Yun to give the eunuch the rundown. Exhaustion set in after that. He rubbed at his forehead tiredly. The emperor motioned at him to retire back to his ce out of consideration and told a eunuch to prepare some soothing medicine.


    Qi Yun had been emotionally drainedtely. He looked tired even during the day. Although he¡¯d made up his mind to let his father die, it was still difficult to live with the decision. The emperor interpreted his exhaustion differently.


    On a sunny day, the emperor decided to go out for a walk. He¡¯d stayed in the bedroom for too long. His muscles were deteriorating. The eunuch put a robe around his shoulders and helped him to the royal garden.


    It was autumn, but the scenery in the garden was still beautiful. The myriad of flowers added vibrancy to the deste season. The emperor strolled along the path with a group of eunuchs and maids. His robe glided over the grass and got wetted by dew.


    The view opened up once they passed the crabapple trees. The emperor saw Qi Yun sitting under a pavilion in deep thoughts.


    ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s the fourth prince,¡± murmured the old eunuch.


    The emperor frowned. He could easily see how tired Qi Yun looked, but he assumed it was because Qi Yun had heard about his unstable condition.


    After some musing, he turned to the eunuch and asked in a low voice, ¡°Did he know that I¡¯ve fallen ill yesterday?¡±


    The eunuch nodded. ¡°The royal doctor ran into the prince when he was living yesterday. The prince asked after Your Majesty¡¯s health. It¡¯smon knowledge that the prince is a caring son. The doctor therefore answered him honestly. Originally, the prince was going to visit Your Majesty, but he left after hearing what the doctor said. Later, he came back with a bowl of medicine he made. This old servant was going to let the prince deliver it to you, but he excused himself and said he had business to attend to.¡±


    The emperor frowned, perturbed. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    ¡°It was the prince who told this old servant not to bring it up unless Your Majesty asked. What happenedst time must have made him wary. He worried that people in the pce may spread rumors.¡±


    The eunuch snuck a nce at the emperor and let out a relieved sigh when he saw that the emperor wasn¡¯t angry.


    The emperor sighed after a thoughtful pause. Thinking back to how he¡¯d scolded Qi Yun, he realized that he¡¯d made a mistake. The one who submitted the report was a man of great integrity and a rare pure-hearted official. He¡¯d always refused to take sides. He must have suggested for Qi Yun to be the crown prince out of his appreciation for the young man rather than other reasons.


    Qi Chen¡¯s coup had made the emperor paranoid. That was why he overreacted. Fortunately Qi Yun was a mild tempered man. Even after being falsely used, he still had his father¡¯s best interest in mind. He was the only son who¡¯d ever made the emperor feel loved.


    A gust of wind swept through the garden, bringing up the robe around his shoulders and burrowed through his sleeves. He shuddered and started coughing.


    Qi Yun looked up with surprise in his eyes and rushed to him.


    ¡°Why is Royal Father outside?¡± Qi Yun smoothed a hand over the emperor¡¯s back with a frown. He nced at the maids angrily and snapped, ¡°Is this how you¡¯ve been taking care of Royal Father?¡±


    The maids had never seen the gentle Qi Yun be this intimidating. Their knees went weak and they dropped down to the ground, too afraid to make a sound. They didn¡¯t think they deserved the scolding. They couldn¡¯t possibly stop the emperor from leaving the pce, could they?


    ¡°Royal Father should take better care of yourself!¡± Qi Yun shifted his focus to the emperor and didn¡¯t spare a nce for the maids. ¡°What if something happens?¡±


    Everyone broke into sweat, dreading the emperor¡¯s reaction. The emperor, surprisingly, didn¡¯t seem at all angry. Once he stopped coughing, he patted Qi Yun on the back of his hand and said with a smile, ¡°Now you¡¯ve started to scold me as well.¡±


    Qi Yun¡¯s face paled when he realized what he¡¯d said. He dropped down to his knees and bowed down until his head hit the ground. ¡°This son has crossed a line. Royal Father may punish me if you¡¯re angry. Please don¡¯t take it out on yourself.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not being serious. You are my son. Are we not allowed this levity?¡± The emperor bent down to help Qi Yun up, raising an eyebrow.


    Qi Yun stared at the ground with his head lowered. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare say that.¡±


    His careful attitude bothered the emperor. It was said that being in thepany of a lord was as dangerous as being in thepany of a tiger. Now even his son started to treat him like a terrifying beast.


    ¡°Don¡¯t me them. I decided on a whim to get some fresh air because of the nice weather.¡± The emperor looked over at the maids kneeling behind him. He told them to be at ease and go prepare the pavilion. He wanted to stay and talk to Qi Yun.


    Qi Yun kept close to the emperor and supported him with a hand. Seeing his sickly look, Qi Yun said, ¡°It¡¯s autumn already. The weather seems nice, but it is windy. This is exactly when people are most likely to catch a cold. Royal Father should stay indoor for the sake of your health. If you¡¯re bored, this son will visit you and chat or y chess with you.¡±


    Without a word, the emperor patted his hand with a smile. The two of them made their way to the pavilion. A few screens had been set up around the pavilion to shield them from the wind. Once the emperor sat down, a maid put another robe around his shoulders before leaving.


    The emperor pointed at the desserts on the table and said with a smile, ¡°These were your favorite when you were young. I had them prepared for you. Give it a try.¡±


    Qi Yun tensed up, wondering what the emperor was trying to do. He was old enough to mask his emotions. He smiled with his eyes downcast and picked up a snack. It was too sweet for his liking and appealed more to a young boy. He¡¯d grown out of the taste.


    He kept his reaction to himself and forced himself to swallow. He then drank some tea with a smile. The tea was a tribute to the nation. It was a premium brand that peasants couldn¡¯t get their hands on. He was reminded of Jun Huang¡¯s preference for tea. He should gift her some when he could.


    The emperor took a sip of his tea and asked, ¡°Is there anything you want?¡±


    Qi Yun looked up at him in surprise. The emperor didn¡¯t look any different from usual. He wondered what his father wanted.


    His first reaction was Jun Huang, but he shook the improbable thought away and chuckled. ¡°This son wants nothing but for Royal Father to make a full recovery. Royal Father should let yourself rest and prioritize your health.¡±


    The emperor considered him carefully. Qi Yun lowered his eyes with an earnest expression on his face, which pleased the emperor. It was a pleasant surprise that his son still put his health above all else. Qi Yun thus passed the emperor¡¯s test without realizing it.


    After they parted, the emperor made his way back to his chamber. The eunuch could tell that the emperor was in a good mood, and the only exnation was Qi Yun.


    ¡°What do you think about Qi Yun?¡± the emperor stopped to ask him.


    The eunuch thought for a moment before saying with a smile, ¡°The prince is well known for his kind heart, and he is a loyal son. His love for art and literature proves him to be educated and caring, and now he¡¯s doing very well with the court affairs. This old servant often hears officialsplimenting him for a job well done.¡±


    The emperor brightened up like he was the one being praised. He nodded after a brief bemused pause. ¡°You¡¯re right. Qi Yun has never disappointed me.¡±


    The eunuch agreed enthusiastically and apanied the emperor back to his room. The emperor thought for some time before he decided to issue a secret decree.


    There was no telling how much time he had left in his disease-riddled body. To avoid causing chaos when he passed away, Qi Yun would be a good candidate to take over him.


    Over the past few months, Qi Yun had proven himself to be a capable ruler. He wouldn¡¯t leave Northern Qi vulnerable to outside forces.


    The eunuch had anticipated the emperor¡¯s decision, but he didn¡¯t expect the time toe so soon. As someone who¡¯d been in the pce almost his entire life, he knew what he had to do. Qi Yun would be his master after the emperor passed away. He, like anyone else in the pce, had to think about his own interests.


    It was time that he reinforced his rtionship with Qi Yun. That way, Qi Yun would treat him well even if he had no use for him. He silently nned for what he would do.


    Once he was dismissed from the emperor¡¯s chamber, he brought the premium sandalwood the emperor gave him to Qi Yun¡¯¡¯s residence. Qi Yun was surprised to see the eunuch. He put on a straight face and waited for the old man to speak.

 Chapter 270 - Uncertainty

    <h4>Chapter 270: Uncertainty</h4>


    The eunuch spent some time talking to Qi Yun without even mentioning the secret decree the emperor had issued, but Qi Yun was shrewd enough to make the right guess. The eunuch was the emperor¡¯s confidante, Qi Yun therefore had kept an eye on him and sometimes gave him gifts. The eunuch never showed him any real support and rarely initiated contact with him. His sudden change of attitude was telling.


    The signs were there. Qi Yun had to live up to his father¡¯s expectations. He put in more effort in dealing with court affairs, giving others no chance to criticize him. He was even more attentive to the emperor as well. He¡¯d visit his father whenever he had the time and say he simply wanted to spend time with the emperor when asked. The emperor dly enjoyed his son¡¯spany.


    During her stay in Nan Xun¡¯s manor, Jun Huang was kept from working. She wasn¡¯t even allowed to read books, which exasperated and warmed her in equal measure. She didn¡¯tin and instead teased Nan Xun for being a mother hen.


    Nan Xun had delegated most of his work at the training ground to his second inmand in order to keep Jun Huangpany. After a few days, the second inmand couldn¡¯t do it anymore. He went to Jun Huang and asked her to convince Nan Xun to go back to work.


    Jun Huang knew it was a turbulent time. Nothing must go wrong with the soldiers¡¯ training. She discussed the issue with Nan Xun and tried to change his mind.


    Nan Xun was unwilling to leave her. He wasn¡¯t a irresponsible man, but Jun Huang was a terrible patient. In the beginning he¡¯d left her to her own devices, and she started dealing with business of the House of Heavenly Fiends not long after. She fainted again and only stopped overtaxing herself after Ji Bo scolded her. Still, she¡¯d sometimes go back to work when no one was watching. Nan Xun had no choice but to put aside his responsibilities and focused on taking care of her.


    Jun Huang had been kept from the court affairs. She heard news about what was happening, but she didn¡¯t get to see the whole picture. It wasn¡¯t until Ji Bo told her that she realized Qi Yun had gained a foothold in the court. Ji Bo suggested her to take the opportunity to travel to Southern Mu and receive treatment.


    She¡¯d told Ji Bo she¡¯d think about it. What Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand said got her thinking. Nan Xun was willing to sacrifice everything for her. She should try her best to earn a life with Nan Xun. Her ailment-riddled body was her biggest obstacle.


    After some deliberation, she decided that she¡¯d go to Southern Mu and cure her poison. The urge to be free of the shackles of impending death grew stronger and stronger. She wanted nothing but to regain her health again and stay with Nan Xun until the end of time. She¡¯d like to see the vast world with him.


    Nan Xun frowned when he heard her out. He would miss her dearly, but it was her life they were talking about. Everytime Jun Huang fell asleep, he never knew if she would be able to wake up. In the end, he nodded in agreement.


    Jun Huang was still worried about the situation of the court, but Nan Xun assured her that it¡¯d be alright. He and Ji Bo would be here, and Qi Yun had been granted some real power. There were also officials who supported him.


    Moreover, although Qi Chen would like to take revenge, he was no longer the just heir, and wouldn¡¯t dare show up before the emperor. Prince Duan alone wouldn¡¯t be enough to turn things around.


    Nan Xun made the arrangements to escort Jun Huang to Southern Mu. The day before her departure, he brought a bowl of medicine to her bedroom. She was writing something and put away the brush when she saw him, a small smile tugging her lips.


    ¡°I told you to rest. Why are you working again? Besides, you¡¯re leaving tomorrow. You should sleep early.¡±


    Nan Xun handed her the bowl and looked over her shoulders. It turned out that she was making a map of the imperial city for their reference. If something happened, they could bettere up with a solution ording to the map.


    ¡°I would go with you if Northern Qi didn¡¯t need me now. It¡¯s a long travel. What if something happens without me by your side?¡± Nan Xun¡¯s gentle eyes were filled with reluctance. No one other than Jun Huang had seen him like this.


    She touched the corner of his eye and chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. Just take care of yourself and wait for me to return. If any troubles arise, remember to consult Ji Bo. Alright?¡±


    Nan Xun took her hands and nodded, pulling her into his arms. He wanted to just hold her until the day he died.


    It was already midnight when Jun Huang fell asleep. Nan Xun stared at the full moon from the hallway, a sense of mncholy filling his heart. He paused when a servant announced Qi Yun¡¯s arrival and made his way to the main hall.


    Qi Yun put his hands behind his back and said without ceremony, ¡°I hear Jun Huang is going to Southern Mu on her own. I know you¡¯ll make the necessary preparations, but are you sure she¡¯ll be safe?¡±


    Nan Xun had been in a bad mood knowing that Jun Huang was leaving. Qi Yun hade at the wrong time. He scoffed at Qi Yun¡¯s anxious face and mocked, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. I¡¯ve personally trained all my people. They are morepetent than your men. I¡¯ll never let anyone take her away while she¡¯s under my protection.¡±


    Qi Yun flushed red in anger. Of course he could tell that Nan Xun was still angry with him for what happenedst time. However, he couldn¡¯t defend himself. Nan Xun hadn¡¯t said a word of artifice.


    He gritted his teeth and stormed away, returning to the pce. He had a lot to do. He didn¡¯t have time to waste.


    The next day, Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand visited early in the morning and said the emperor had notified them about a visit to the training ground. It was an important matter that required Nan Xun¡¯s attention. He had no choice but to get to work.


    When he returned to his manor, Jun Huang had already left. He was almost depressed the next two days. He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her even when he was trying to sleep. She had a long journey ahead of her.


    Jun Huang had traveled outside the city quite a few times, but rarely without hispany. It was fine when he could stay with her and take care of her. It worried him now that she was on her own.


    He wanted to take care of the business in the imperial city as soon as possible and went straight to Southern Mu for Jun Huang. He knew she wasn¡¯t going to be able to return anytime soon. He missed her even more and wanted nothing but to fly to her side immediately.


    He knew how Nan Jihan felt about Jun Huang. He worried that the man would keep Jun Huang from returning to him.


    Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand noticed how much time Nan Xun had been spending on worktely. It was a stark contrast from how he¡¯d been a while ago. The general had made sure to make time for Jun Huang every day. It was troubling to see him overwork himself now.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to work so hard, general,¡± the second inmand finally said. ¡°This subordinate knows that you don¡¯t want to be apart with Gentleman Feng. You should go find him once the situation settles down.¡±


    Nan Xun paused and cracked a smile. ¡°That¡¯s my n. We have a lot of brave warriors on our side. Even if Eastern Wu wages war against Northern Qi, you¡¯ll be able to defeat them without me.¡±


    The second inmand wasn¡¯t sure if he should be happy that Nan Xun trusted them, or upset that Nan Xun had put such a heavy burden on them.


    ¡°That¡¯s true. But ¨C ¡±


    Nan Xun threw him a nce before he could finish. He swallowed his words and sighed, keeping hisint to himself. ¡°General may do as you wish. This subordinate will follow your instructions. Northern Qi is bing more stable. We¡¯ll be fine without you for a few weeks.¡±


    Nan Xun rubbed at his forehead tiredly and put down the book in his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what I¡¯m doing. I won¡¯t let any harme to Northern Qi. The big picture is what matters at the moment.¡±


    The second inmand sighed in relief. Before leaving, he ordered a servant to prepare something to help rx Nan Xun.


    The journey to Southern Mu was a smooth one. Jun Huang and her escorts all disguised themselves as peasants to avoid attracting attention. She never had a high standard for her living condition, but when she put on the clothes of a peasant man, she still felt a little ufortable.


    She sighed. Had she gotten used to a luxurious life during her stay in Northern Qi?


    A rueful smile tugged at her lips. She turned to nce at the shadow guards following her. It warmed her to think about how Nan Xun had assigned the guards to her and reminded her to stay safe.


    They kept a low profile as they entered Southern Mu. Jun Huang first sent a message through the House of Heavenly Fiends. Their top priority was to locate her master. The rest woulde after they met up.


    It¡¯d take some time for her to find her master. During the down time, she stayed and explored the nation. It was different from how she expected. Northern Qi was a strong and steely country, while Southern Mu was moderate and gentle. It resembled the ancient city Chang¡¯an, as stunning and captivating as a woman¡¯s gentle smile.


    She¡¯d always thought Western Que was a ce for schrs. She only realized how simr Southern Mu was to her home country now. Pavilions and buildings stood by rivers andkes. Young women strolled along the street, their colorful dresses dancing with their movement. Meanwhile young men engaged in pleasant conversation about the beauty of literature, waving a fan with a faint smile. It was a serene picture.


    She could get lost here. It resembled Western Que too much ¨C her home country would never be more than a passage in history books, but it¡¯d been rendered immortal in her memory.

 Chapter 271 - Known Truth

    <h4>Chapter 271; Known Truth</h4>


    A sense of mncholy crept into Jun Huang¡¯s heart. She¡¯d been busy ying mind games for revenge. She¡¯d forgotten what she should have remembered. She felt a little lost as she recalled her past. It felt like a lifetime ago.


    She smiled bitterly. The guard keeping to her side frowned and looked around, but didn¡¯t find anything unusual. He hesitated if he should ask her what was wrong. However, Nan Xun had reminded him not to be too nosy.


    Noticing the guard¡¯s hesitation, Jun Huang stopped to look at him and asked with an eyebrow raised, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°The gentleman seems unhappy,¡± said the guard. ¡°Are you tired? The prince has said the gentleman needs all the rest you can get. We¡¯ve been out on a walk for a while. If you¡¯re tired, we¡¯ll go back.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and nodded, turning around to leave. A boy came out of nowhere and threw himself into her arms, knocking her backward. She winced when her back hit the chilly wall and looked down at him. What was going on?


    ¡°Master wants to see you,¡± said the boy before the guards could drive him away. He pulled back and stood two steps away from Jun Huang with a friendly smile.


    She considered the young boy and got a good look at his face. Her master must have gotten her message.


    She motioned at the shadow guards to reassure them that she was fine. She asked the boy a few questions and found out that he was indeed sent by her master. They made their way through a winding alleyway and reached an isted house.


    The boy went up to knock on the door. After hearing a cough, he opened the door and led Jun Huang inside. The guards knew she¡¯d like her privacy. They stayed outside politely.


    Oleg Cragfiend, Jun Huang¡¯s master, sat by the table with an impassive expression. Jun Huang went up to him and bowed. He quickly helped her up and gave her a once-over. ¡°You¡¯ve lost quite a lot of weight since you left,¡± he said with a sigh.


    ¡°This disciple is fine. Master doesn¡¯t need to worry.¡± Jun Huang spoke softly, her usually cold eyes warming up. She¡¯d been perturbed when Oleg Cragfiend first tried the myriad of poisons on her, but she realizedter that he¡¯d been trying to cure her. She¡¯d sworn to pay him back for saving her once she recovered.


    ¡°Does master know where the blood lotus is?¡± Jun Huang asked without ceremony. She knew her master disliked small talk. This had always been the way they interacted. They weren¡¯t cold to each other, but they didn¡¯t exactly have heart-to-heart conversations either. Besides, she didn¡¯t have a lot of time left.


    ¡°The emperor of Southern Mu must have told you only members of the imperial family are privy to the whereabout of the lotus. We¡¯ll need one of them to point you to the right direction. I only know about this because I¡¯ve once saved one of their princes.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. She knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy to get the lotus, but this was troublesome. She wondered what she should do next.


    Her sickly look bothered Oleg Cragfiend. He¡¯d heard about what Jun Huang had been doing in Northern Qi. She shouldn¡¯t be overworking herself in her condition, but she didn¡¯t care enough about her health and ended up putting her life on the line.


    He took her wrist and felt her pulse, jerking her out of her thoughts. She looked at her master, then at her own wrist. In the end, she opted not to say anything.


    ¡°What have you done to yourself?¡± Oleg Cragfiend said harshly, his expression dark. ¡°No wonder you need the blood lotus. You¡¯d have been able to live for some time simply by suppressing the poison, but now it¡¯s threatening your life. I know you want revenge, but your careless disregard of your own body is troubling.¡±


    Jun Huang knew he was worried for her. Her lips curved into a smile and her eyes softened. Oleg Cragfiend huffed and turned away from her.


    A series of knocks interrupted Jun Huang. She nced at her master before getting the door.


    ¡°Gentleman Feng, the emperor of Southern Mu sent a representative,¡± said her personal guard.


    Jun Huang nodded without a word. She¡¯d sent a message to Nan Jihan as well just in case, but now it seemed she would need his help.


    The eunuch Nan Jihan sent approached her and said, ¡°His Majesty has ordered this servant to lead you to the pce.¡±


    Jun Huang raised an eyebrow. She quickly figured out that Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t havee in person to have a conversation with her. She rose and was about to follow the eunuch. Before she left, she turned and asked, ¡°Are youing as well, master?¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend waved a hand in the air. ¡°You may go yourself. Remember to be careful and not to offend too many people.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do as master instructed.¡± With that, she walked away, leaving her master on his own.


    The boy who had led Jun Huang here walked to his side and asked, ¡°What is master thinking about?¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend turned to him without a word. Just when the boy wondered if he¡¯d ever say anything, he opened his mouth. ¡°You¡¯ve seen the guards following her. I can tell at first nce how well-trained they are. They came with her from Northern Qi. Whoever their master is must be of a high status. She seems to be surrounded by people from high ces. Nan Jihan is another example. I wonder if it¡¯s going to end up helping her or hurting her.¡±


    The boy thought for a moment before smiling. ¡°Why are you worried about that? Whatever will happen will happen. Perhaps it is her fate to meet those people. There¡¯s nothing you can do to change that. Might as well let her destiny run its course. Besides, there¡¯s nothing wrong with her knowing Nan Jihan. She needs the emperor to lead her to the lotus. If they¡¯re close, he won¡¯t mind giving her a hand. Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps.¡± Oleg Cragfiend smiled wryly. Of course he understood what the boy said, but the boy was too young to know how unpredictable people could be.


    Jun Huang followed the eunuch to the pce. It was very different from that of Northern Qi. Northern Qi¡¯s pce was decorated with carvings, and the eaves of both buildings and pavilions curved upwards, giving the architecture a solemn feel. Southern Mu¡¯s, on the other hand, wasposed of jade stones, and the buildings were often draped with silks. Everywhere there were songstress singing in a gentle voice, half of their faces obscured by the lutes in their hands, revealing only their misty eyes.


    The winding hallways were lined with lotusmps. It must be beautiful at night once they were lit. She could smell a faint fragrance of sandalwood.


    Noticing her gaze on themps, the eunuch exined, ¡°His Majesty is fond of sandalwood and incense. The lotusmps are light sources at night, but in the morning they¡¯re used as censors, the fragrance refreshing.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? His Majesty must be a proper gentleman.¡± Jun Huang smiled and nced at themps again. She found it sacrilegious somehow to use themps as censors.


    Of course, she wasn¡¯t going to voice her thought. It¡¯d be consider a great offense.


    After about half an hour, they came to a magnificent pce. Outside were a good number of maids. They each had a dozen of flowers in their arms, which suited their turquoise dresses.


    ¡°They serve the emperor,¡± exined the eunuch. ¡°Every day they bring flowers to the pce. Hearing that the gentleman ising and not knowing what kind of flower you like, the emperor had them bring a few of every kind.¡±


    The eunuch seemed to be talking Nan Jihan up. He didn¡¯t know Jun Huang¡¯s only weakness was jade. Things like flowers and other trinkets without practical use were wasted on her.


    She covered a chuckle and said bluntly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such extravagance from Southern Mu. I¡¯ve gotten distracted for a moment. Please forgive me for any mistakes I may make. Southern Mu is obviously a nation with refined taste. I¡¯m too crude toprehend it.¡±


    The eunuch¡¯s smile stilled. He could hear the sarcasm in her tone, but he was a mere eunuch, while Jun Huang was Nan Jihan¡¯s guest. He shouldn¡¯t and didn¡¯t dare offend her. He smiled awkwardly in lieu of a response.


    Jun Huang walked up the stairs and waited for the eunuch to notify the emperor. He came back not long after to invite her inside. She walked past the door with a polite smile and didn¡¯t say anything when she saw Nan Jihan.


    He stopped her before she could bow down to him, his eyes lighting up with joy for seeing her again after all this time.

 Chapter 272 - Blood Lotus

    <h4>Chapter 272: Blood Lotus</h4>


    ¡°You¡¯ve finallye,¡± Nan Jihan said without preamble. She gave him a polite smile in response.


    Delighted, Nan Jihan led Jun Huang to a divan and had the servants serve the food prepared beforehand. He then poured a cup of tea for her. ¡°I know you like tea. You must have gotten tired of Northern Qi¡¯s varieties. You should have some of ours.¡±


    Jun Huang looked down at the cup, then at the hopeful Nan Jihan. She stopped after taking a sip. Nan Jihan frowned at her and asked, ¡°Do you not like it?¡±


    ¡°As Your Majesty said, this gentleman has gotten used to Northern Qi¡¯s tea. Northern Qi¡¯s tea is bitter, which is how most tea in the world is. Southern Mu¡¯s, on the other hand, is sweet. It¡¯s not how tea is supposed to be.¡±


    Nan Jihan stilled but quickly recovered. With an awkward smile, he told the servants to get some bitter tea. This time, Jun Huang quietly drank the tea and only looked up at Nan Jihan after she finished her cup.


    ¡°How is the princess?¡± She hadn¡¯t seen Nan Guyue since she got here.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s found a good husband who treats her well,¡± said Nan Jihan. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about what Qi Chen did. I didn¡¯t tell her. I want her to forget about the trauma she¡¯s suffered there.¡±


    Jun Huang was surprised by how quickly Nan Guyue forgot about Qi Chen, but other than that she didn¡¯t judge the princess¡¯s decision. Qi Chen had hurt her too deeply. There was no reason for her to stay loyal to him.


    Nan Jihan considered her. He¡¯d found out from his informants that Jun Huang was actually a woman. At first he had been in disbelief. She seemed so much like a proper gentleman, and she held herself with such steely grace. How could she be a woman?


    Now that he got another look at her, he did see the feminine side of her. No men could have smiles as captivating as hers. She was exactly his type.


    A maid walked up to them and bowed slightly. ¡°Your Majesty, we¡¯ve prepared what you asked for.¡±


    Nan Jihan was reminded that he¡¯d ordered the servants to prepare some bouquets. He smiled at Jun Huang. ¡°Come with me to have a look.¡±


    Jun Huang quietly followed Nan Jihan outside and was faced with a dozen bouquets. She twisted her lips into a smile, but it didn¡¯t reach her eyes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of flowers you prefer, so I have them prepare a few more varieties. Which do you like?¡± Nan Jihan took her hand and led her to the table, pointing at the flowers.


    ¡°This gentleman doesn¡¯t like impractical things like flowers.¡± Jun Huang pulled her hand away, her face cold and her eyes frigid. ¡°I¡¯m here for something important. Please don¡¯t burden me with your attention, Your Majesty.¡±


    Nan Jihan opened his mouth but no words came out. He chuckled and waved a hand to dismiss the servants. Once they were alone, he said, ¡°I¡¯m willing to lead you to the blood lotus on one condition.¡±


    He stopped to look at her. Jun Huang waited for him to continue without so much as a reaction. He took a deep breath and said what he¡¯d thought about saying for some time, ¡°I¡¯d like you to stay and assist me. Originally I wanted you to be part of my harem, but it¡¯ll be a waste of your talent if you¡¯re forced topete with other women. If you¡¯re willing to stay as my advisor, I¡¯ll ¨C ¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the only way to gain your cooperation, I¡¯ll rather not get the blood lotus,¡± Jun Huang cut in, her eyes sharp and steely. She wanted the lotus to save her life, but if she had to stay by Nan Jihan¡¯s side away from Nan Xun, she¡¯d rather die.


    ¡°Why?¡± Nan Jihan demanded with his brows furrowed, seizing Jun Huang¡¯s wrist. ¡°Is Northern Qi really that important to you? I can give you unrivaled glory. You¡¯ll stand above everyone but me.¡±


    Jun Huang huffed out augh, staring at her gripped wrist. She looked even more stunning when she smiled. Nan Jihan stared dumbly at her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not looking for power,¡± she said softly. ¡°What I want is someone who understands me. Do you get it?¡±


    Nan Jihan¡¯s face went dark and his grip tightened. Jun Huang frowned and tried to pull away, but he didn¡¯t let her and instead loomed over her.


    ¡°Enough, Nan Jihan. If you¡¯re unwilling to help me, just say so. Why must you try to humiliate me?¡±


    Jun Huang pped his hand away angrily, jerking him out of his possessed trance. His throat tightened when he saw the handprint he left on her arm. He sighed andughed ruefully.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to do that. If you¡¯re unwilling, I¡¯m not going to force you. I simply wonder what Northern Qi has offered you. If you aren¡¯t going to tell, I¡¯m not going to ask.¡±


    He turned away, breathing deep to suppress the bitter feelings in his chest.


    Was this the end of it? Was she just going to wait for her death? Just when Jun Huang was wondering about her fate, a eunuch announced that a letter had been delivered requiring Nan Jihan¡¯s attention.


    Nan Jihan frowned and walked out without a word, treating Jun Huang like she didn¡¯t exist. She touched her nose and debated over if she should leave.


    Nan Jihan snuck a few nces at her as he read the letter. She had no clue what that was about.


    After about the time for a pot of tea to brew, Nan Jihan approached her with a chuckle and handed her the letter.


    ¡°I thought it was a coincidence for Oleg Cragfiend to be here, but it turns out he is your master,¡± he said faintly, his tone tinted with a hint of smile.


    Jun Huang read the letter through and btedly remembered she¡¯d never asked her master how he contacted Nan Jihan. He mentioned saving the life of a prince. It must be Nan Jihan.


    ¡°You are the disciple of the man who once saved my life. I can¡¯t not help you. How about you take a rest, and I¡¯ll take you to the blood lotus?¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes slightly. She didn¡¯t expect him to agree so easily. He seemed genuinely willing to help despite the heavy workload on him as the emperor. She nodded with a smile.


    Nan Jihan swallowed his words when he saw the faint smile on her face. He ordered a maid to take her to a guest room.


    Once she had left, a eunuch went up to Nan Jihan and sighed with a nce at the flowers. ¡°Has Your Majesty given up?¡±


    Nan Jihan shook his head without a word, his eyes growing dark.


    Jun Huang rested in the pce for the night. The next day, Nan Jihan was ready for their short trip. She was surprised by the borate arrangement when she sought him out.


    ¡°We¡¯re just going to find the lotus,¡± Jun Huang said, staring at the wool-covered coach. ¡°There¡¯s no need for such trouble.¡±


    ¡°While Southern Mu is warm like the spring all year long, the blood lotus grows in freezing environment. Without the proper protection, you¡¯d freeze to death before we even get there.¡±


    He handed a winter coat to Jun Huang.


    She didn¡¯t argue. Nan Jihan was the one who¡¯d been there. He knew best what to expect. She would follow his lead.


    Once everything was prepared, Jun Huang got into the coach, followed by Nan Jihan. Neither of them talked during the trip. Due to their argument yesterday, Nan Jihan worried that Jun Huang would misunderstand him, so he brought a maid to stay inside with them.


    It wasn¡¯t a short trip. Night had fallen when they reached the foot of a tall mountain. Being hasty could do more harm than good. They found an inn to stay in. Tomorrow, they¡¯d climb the mountain.


    Jun Huang was having troubles sleeping. She walked out of her room to the hallway and looked over at the snowy mountain. Moonlight cast a silver glow over the white. It was a captivating sight.


    At the foot of the mountain, trees and vegetation prospered, and birds fluttered around chirping. On top of the mountain was barrennd covered in snow and ice. This close, she could asionally hear ice melting and falling. She could almost feel how cold it was up on the mountain.


    She had the coat on during the day and had taken it off once she entered the inn. It started getting windy at night.


    She hunched her shoulders up reflexively. Then a robe was draped over her shoulders.

 Chapter 273 - Miss You Dearly

    <h4>Chapter 273: Miss You Dearly</h4>


    It was Nan Jihan. His gaze wasn¡¯t on Jun Huang, but on the mountain not far from them. Neither of them said a word.


    When exhaustion set in, Jun Huang bid Nan Jihan goodnight and returned to her bedroom. She didn¡¯t see the adoring look he cast her way when she turned around.


    In the beginning, he merely admired her for her talent and grace. After knowing that she was a woman, he fell for her and grew protective of her. He didn¡¯t want anything bad to happen to her.


    He huffed out a sigh. What a shame that she didn¡¯t need what he could give.


    Early the next morning, Jun Huang woke up to find the sun shining brightly in the cloudless sky. The air, however, was so cold it sent a chill down her spine. She put on the winter coat and left her room. Nan Jihan was waiting at the door.


    After breakfast, they made their way into the snowy mountain. Jun Huang had assumed that the lotus would be at the top, but Nan Jihan cut into a narrow path halfway through their climb.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the blood lotus at the top of the mountain?¡± she asked curiously, fogging up the air. Her nose turned red because of the cold and her eyes were misty. Her hair ran neatly down her back, contrasting with the snow surrounding her. Nan Jihan stared at her dumbly for a moment before clearing his throat.


    ¡°Blood lotuses can only survive under very specific conditions,¡± exined Nan Jihan. ¡°The snow has to be pure and there has to be sufficient oxygen. Although the snow at the top of the mountain hasn¡¯t been tainted by human traffic, the air there is too thin. Halfway up the mountain is where the lotuses can be found.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded without another word. Nan Jihan silently led her to a small cave. He threw her a nce before entering. Jun Huang quickly followed him.


    Their boots had been drenched by melting snow during the long walk, which had been mildly ufortable but not debilitating up until this point. Inside the cave, the temperature dropped, causing chills to run up from her feet. Jun Huang tightened her robe around herself, trying to warm up.


    The deeper they got, the colder it became. All warmth seemed to have seeped out of her body. Her ears turned a violent red as she trembled. It felt as if she was walking on des. However, it was all worth it when she saw the blood lotus protruding from the snow.


    The cave expanded into an open space without cover. Snow fell from the sky andnded on the translucent lotus, giving it a mystical feel.


    ¡°Is this it?¡± Jun Huang pointed at the lotus, her tone excited.


    Nan Jihan nodded with a smile. Jun Huang took a couple steps forward, but quickly backed away for fear of disturbing the flower. After some deliberation, she approached Nan Jihan and said earnestly, ¡°Thank you for generously taking me here, Nan Jihan.¡±


    Nan Jihan stilled, but it gone unnoticed by Jun Huang because of the heavy snow. He took a deep breath before he said, ¡°It¡¯s not that simple.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s smile dropped. She stared at him coldly, thinking that he was going to state his price again.


    Nan Xun could tell what she was thinking about. A rueful smile appeared on his face and quickly disappeared. He sighed, pointing at the lotus. ¡°I promise you that I don¡¯t mean you any harm. I know it¡¯s futile to try anything on you.¡± He paused and thought for a moment before continuing, ¡°The blood lotus requires tribute before it can be consumed. It must be fed a palm-sized bowl of the patient¡¯s blood the first time, and a fist-width bottle of blood every day afterwards. You won¡¯t be able to survive that much blood loss at the moment.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s face fell. She knew her condition better than Nan Jihan. She wouldn¡¯t be able to go through with the blood donation for even a few days. For a moment, she stared at the lotus silently.


    Nan Jihan felt his chest tightened. He remembered how excited Jun Huang had been when she saw the lotus. It pained him to see her this dejected. However, he couldn¡¯t do anything to change the reality.


    ¡°Let¡¯s return. We¡¯lle up with a solution. You should rest and recover.¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll stay for a little.¡±


    Nan Jihan frowned and grabbed her hand, growling, ¡°It¡¯s not going to run away. What good is it going to do for you to stay here? Why can¡¯t you take better care of yourself? You won¡¯t need to think about curing your poison if you copse again. I don¡¯t know what is pushing you to seek out the cure, but staying here won¡¯t help.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at him with unfocused eyes and suddenly cracked a genuine smile. It was so beautiful that Nan Jihan¡¯s breath hitched. When he came to his senses, she¡¯d reverted back to her usual aloof self.


    She nced at her trembling hands and nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡±


    Her smile wasn¡¯t for Nan Jihan. She¡¯d simply been reminded of the reason she wanted so much to cure herself ¨C Nan Xun. The smile bloomed on her face unbidden. Perhaps it was because her heart had finally found a ce where it could settle.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t return to the pce with Nan Jihan. She wanted to see Oleg Cragfiend and discussed what they could do. Nan Jihan didn¡¯t stop her, but he looked like he wanted to say something on their way back. In the end, he didn¡¯t say anything.


    When Jun Huang returned to Oleg Cragfiend¡¯s residence, the shadow guards were waiting for her. She sighed in relief and med herself for forgetting to notify them about her trip. They must have been worried.


    ¡°You¡¯ve finally returned, Gentleman Feng,¡± a guard hurriedly said as he jogged up to her.


    Jun Huang responded softly before entering the house to find her master. He was writing down prescriptions at the desk. He raised an eyebrow at her when he saw her and put away his writing brush. ¡°How did it go?¡±


    Jun Huang told him everything. After a bemused pause, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll need your help, master.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend nodded. ¡°Of course. You should stay here for the next few days. I¡¯ll try my best to restore your health while we find a solution. We¡¯re going to cure you once and for all no matter what.¡±


    Jun Huang was touched. She nodded and had the guards help her move her belongings from the inn to her master¡¯s residence. She wanted to start getting treated immediately.


    Ever since Jun Huang¡¯s departure, Nan Xun couldn¡¯t stop missing Jun Huang. At first it was a faint nagging feeling, but then it grew to the point that he started losing sleep.


    He twisted and turned, but sleep eluded him. Finally, he opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.


    There were footstepsing from outside his room. Overwhelmed by unexinable mncholy, he jumped off the bed without thinking and ran outside.


    The one sitting in the garden wasn¡¯t the woman he¡¯d missed dearly. Of course it wasn¡¯t. He exhaled disappointedly, his lips curling downward.


    Ji Bo turned to look at him, surprised. It was difficult not to notice Nan Xun¡¯s dramatic entrance. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Has something happened?¡±


    Nan Xun pursed his lips and schooled his expression into one of indifference. After taking a deep breath, he sat down before Ji Bo. ¡°No, nothing happened. I simply heard you reciting poetry about the moon and found it interesting, so I came out to check on you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an impractical hobby,¡± Ji Bo drawled. ¡°It¡¯s for my own entertainment and doesn¡¯t hold any deeper meanings. I hope Your Highness won¡¯t find itughable.¡±


    They fell silent. It was getting windy. Nan Xun noted the thin clothes Ji Bo was wearing and wondered if he should remind him to put on something warmer, but Ji Bo didn¡¯t seem to care. He stared up at the bright moon, his thoughts indiscernible.


    ¡°Your Highness seems preupied these days,¡± Ji Bo said softly, shifting his gaze to Nan Xun. ¡°Would you mind telling me what has been troubling you?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t expect the question. He wondered if he should tell Ji Bo. His suppressed emotions had been tormenting him. He wanted to talk to someone. He just didn¡¯t know who it should be.


    It was a peaceful night. His emotions finally found an outlet. He took a deep breath and picked up a cup of tea, taking a sip. It felt as if he was drinking wine. He looked up at Ji Bo with furrowed brows.


    ¡°There¡¯s not much to do at night other than drinking. Hasn¡¯t Your Highness heard that one shouldn¡¯t have an empty cup under the moon?¡± Ji Boughed heartily, his hair running loosely down his shoulders and flying in the wind. He looked carefree despite his graceful turquoise robe.


    ¡°I miss her,¡± Nan Xun finally said, pouring himself a cup of wine and finished it in one go. ¡°I miss her every second every day. I want nothing more than to abandon everything and get to her side, keeping herpany.¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s smile dropped. He looked up at Nan Xun and listened to the general talk about his feelings for Jun Huang. Ji Bo didn¡¯t speak up until Nan Xun was finished. ¡°This gentleman knows about Your Highness¡¯s feelings, but she wouldn¡¯t want you to abandon all your responsibilities for her.¡±

 Chapter 274 - Nan Guyue

    <h4>Chapter 274: Nan Guyue</h4>


    Nan Xun huffed out a wistfulugh and poured himself another cup of wine. Ji Bo took the cup from him.


    ¡°What?¡± muttered Nan Xun.


    ¡°The wine is good, but it¡¯s going to be bad for you in excess. Besides, you¡¯re going to be feeling the alcohol tomorrow if you don¡¯t stop drinking. Why waste something so nice if you¡¯re not going to enjoy it?¡± Ji Bo smiled and chucked the wine carelessly. ¡°Might as well use it as tribute to the bright moon.¡±


    ¡°The gentleman sure knows how to enjoy life,¡± Nan Xun said with a quietugh.


    Ji Bo shrugged and ced his empty cup on the stone table. After a pause, he continued, ¡°It¡¯s already difficult for her to leave the city to seek treatment. She can only do so because you and I are here. If you leave as well, she¡¯ll start worrying again, which will be detrimental to her health.¡±


    ¡°Besides, Qi Chen and Prince Duan pose a threat simply by existing. If you leave, there¡¯s no telling what they¡¯ll do. Please keep the big picture in mind. Once they¡¯re dealt with, you can then think about going to Southern Mu.¡± Ji Bo was speaking from the bottom of his heart.


    Nan Xun pursed his lips. He knew what Ji Bo meant. He simply missed Jun Huang too much and was feeling mncholy seeing the moon. Ji Bo words made him realize how unreasonable his wish was.


    Ji Bo sighed in relief when he saw Nan Xun¡¯s resigned expression. After exchanging a few more words, Ji Bo bid Nan Xun farewell and returned to his bedroom.


    Nan Xun sat under the moon alone, his heart filled with a faint sense of loss. He knew he had to put all his effort into dealing with the task at hand before he could go to Jun Huang.


    With that in mind, he threw himself into work, leaving early in the morning to train his soldiers and returningte in the evening. Before he fell asleep, Jun Huang was often on his mind.


    Meanwhile, Jun Huang missed Nan Xun dearly as well. She stood in the garden looking up at the sky. Her yearning for Nan Xun was quiet, but unrelenting.


    It¡¯d been some time since she left Northern Qi. She wondered what was happening there. asionally she¡¯d exchange a letter with Nan Xun, but she knew he was busy. She didn¡¯t write a lot about her current situation lest she burden him with worry.


    She sighed as she ced her hand over her chest, feeling her heart pounding against her ribcage. The lone moon cast an untouchable silver glow over her surroundings. She felt like a lone wolf roving a vastnd.


    When Oleg Cragfiend came with Jun Huang¡¯s medicine, she was standing at the center of the garden. Her silk robe waved softly in the breeze, catching the silver moonlight and giving her an ethereal feel. She looked even more stunning than usual.


    ¡°Master.¡± Jun Huang was surprised to see him standing in the hallway. She gave him a small smile.


    Without a word, Oleg Cragfiend walked up to her and handed her the bowl of medicine. She stared at the ck liquid in the ceramic bowl for a moment before finishing it in one go.


    Bitterness assaulted her senses, but she¡¯d gotten used to the taste. Nothing could top the pain inflicted on her by the poison. She could therefore take any medicine without so much as a frown.


    Oleg Cragfiend sighed and patted her on the shoulder, motioning at her to take a seat. Jun Huang obliged without a word.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Oleg Cragfiend finally asked, breaking the silence.


    Jun Huang frowned and shook her head in response.


    Oleg Cragfiend sighed, looking into the distance. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to keep it from me. I don¡¯t know why you¡¯ve been preupied, but I have to remind you that you have to recover enough to feed the lotus with your blood. You mustn¡¯t exhaust yourself, mentally or physically. I don¡¯t know what has happened to you in Northern Qi, and I don¡¯t want to prod. However, you have to prioritize your health and rest well.¡±


    ¡°Maybe your heart is with something or someone in Northern Qi,¡± he said slowly,ying down the facts. ¡°However, if you can¡¯t put your mind to rest, it¡¯ll take longer for your body to recover, and we¡¯ll have to wait longer to cure you.¡±


    After a long pause, Jun Huang nodded with a smile. ¡°This disciple will keep master¡¯s words in mind. I¡¯ll rest and recover with your help in order to get cured as soon as possible.¡±


    Her tone was earnest. Oleg Cragfiend nodded and went back to his room. Jun Huang stayed in the garden for a while in deep thoughts.


    Her master was right. It wasn¡¯t the time for her to be stubborn. She had her obligations. She had to cleanse the poison as soon as she could so that she could focus on her revenge.


    Early the next morning, Jun Huang was woken up by a familiar voice outside. Her forehead creased as she contemted what to do. She rose and made herself presentable before walking outside. It was Nan Guyue, who she hadn¡¯t seen her for a while.


    Nan Guyue was talking to Oleg Cragfiend with a bright smile. She widened her eyes slightly when she saw Jun Huang. Her gaze shifted from Jun Huang¡¯s face to the clothes she wore, her brows drawing closer.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jun Huang asked as she approached Nan Guyue, her tone teasing. ¡°You look as if you don¡¯t recognize me anymore, Princess.¡±


    Nan Guyue took Jun Huang¡¯s elbow without pause and ended her conversation with Oleg Cragfiend, dragging Jun Huang back to her bedroom.


    Once Nan Guyue let go of her, Jun Huang fixed her robe and looked up at the princess. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you the other day and thought I wouldn¡¯t have the chance, but you came to my doorstep on your own ord.¡±


    ¡°Of course I would. You¡¯vee to my country. I have to show you my hospitality.¡± Nan Guyue winked at Jun Huang mischievously. She seemed more like herself than she had been in Northern Qi, which Jun Huang was d about.


    After some pleasantries, Nan Guyue noted how Jun Huang¡¯s attitude had softened. She rushed to Jun Huang¡¯s side with a beam and pulled at her cor. ¡°Why are you still dressed like a man?¡±


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes at Nan Guyue. Intimidated, Nan Guyue hunched and cleared her throat. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to vite your privacy. It was my brother¡¯s men who brought the news from Northern Qi. I just happened to hear it.¡±


    ¡°Nan Jihan knew as well?¡± Jun Huang started. Now that she thought about it, there were signs of him knowing. She should have deduced that, but she was distracted by their argument.


    Nan Guyue timidly looked at Jun Huang without a word, thinking she¡¯d angered Jun Huang. Once Jun Huang sorted through her thoughts, she looked up and was met with Nan Guyue¡¯s meek gaze. She snorted and poked at Nan Guyue¡¯s forehead with a finger.


    The princess knew she was a woman already. They built an easy rapport and had a pleasant conversation between two women.


    ¡°Hey, no one knows who you are here. Why are you still dressed like a man?¡± Nan Guyue was curious.


    Jun Huang said honestly, ¡°It¡¯s just to be on the safe side, and it¡¯s easier toy low this way. Besides, I¡¯ve gotten used to dressing as a man.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re such a natural beauty,¡± said Nan Guyue. ¡°If you style your hair, change into a dress, and put on some makeup, you¡¯ll look stunning.¡±


    Jun Huang flushed red and cleared her throat awkwardly, averting her gaze, trying to ignore Nan Guyue¡¯s insistent prodding. In the end, Nan Guyue pouted at her unhappily.


    ¡°You¡¯re a woman. Why can¡¯t you dress like one? Men¡¯s clothes don¡¯t suit you as much! I¡¯m not trying to be nosy, but you don¡¯t have to be as careful in Southern Mu as you were in Northern Qi. Besides, I just want to see you as a woman. Why must you turn me down?¡±


    Nan Guyue spoke with great aplomb, as if she¡¯d announce it to the whole world if Jun Huang turned her down again.


    In the end, Jun Huang gave in. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to show you. I just don¡¯t have any women¡¯s clothes. I¡¯ll put them on for you once I acquire some.¡±


    Nan Guyue nodded after a thoughtful pause. She knew Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to lie to her in this matter. But then she came up with a better alternative. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare the clothes and bring them to you in two days. You have to honor your promise then.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded in resignation.


    The next two days passed quickly as Jun Huang stayed indoor and took medicine every day. On the third day, Nan Guyue visited with an armful of clothes.


    Nan Guyue didn¡¯t insist on following Jun Huang in and helping her change. She did know something about boundaries as a member of the royal family. She waited outside for Jun Huang.


    Meanwhile, Jun Huang was in the room, staring at the light yellow dress in her hands with a sigh. After a brief hesitation, she put on the dress and untied her hairband, letting her dark hair run freely down her back, reaching her waist.


    She had given Nan Guyue her word. She shouldn¡¯t go back on it.


    Nan Guyue was getting impatient. She shot to her feet and knocked on the door. Jun Huang opened it to let her in.


    Nan Guyue¡¯s jaw dropped when she saw Jun Huang. She knew Jun Huang was beautiful, but she never anticipated how beautiful she could be.


    Jun Huang had been taking medicine every day. The smell lingered about her. Her face was a little pale, but her unique grace made her look ethereal rather than sickly. She was like a goddess descended from heaven.

 Chapter 275 - Escalating Argument

    <h4> Chapter 275: Escting Argument</h4>


    Nan Guyue was both envious and stunned. She ran circles around Jun Huang and muttered dejectedly, ¡°Why are you so pretty?¡±


    Jun Huang blinked in surprise and smiled resignedly, which was so captivating it transfixed even Nan Guyue. She shook herself awake, a little mortified, and considered Jun Huang. After a bemused pause, she motioned at a number of maids to put makeup on Jun Huang.


    The maids only applied some rouge to cover her tired look. Too much cosmetics would only detract from her beauty. After some hesitation, one of them put a red dot on her forehead with an brow pencil.


    Nan Guyue covered her mouth as she stared at Jun Huang, too awestruck to make a sound. Jun Huang¡¯s eyes were gentle and her lips a vibrant red. She was beautiful enough as she was. A simple hairdo with a tasseled hairpin would suffice. The light yellow dress she wore entuated her grace. The red mole added between her brows made her look even more stunning. Even a woman would be attracted to a goddess like her.


    Jun Huang shied away from Nan Guyue¡¯s gaze. She¡¯d been dressed as a man for a long time. asionally some would praise her for being handsome, but she hadn¡¯t beenplimented for being beautiful for a while. It made her think of her days in Western Que.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be a shame for your beauty to be hidden away. Let¡¯s go get some fresh air.¡±


    Nan Guyue pulled Jun Huang outside the door. Jun Huang frowned and said once the princess slowed down, ¡°That¡¯s too risky. I should change back into men¡¯s clothes.¡±


    ¡°Why? I¡¯m not going to drag you to the street for all to see. Don¡¯t worry. Let¡¯s just enter the pce and show Royal Brother how beautiful you are.¡±


    The sedan chair was ready. Jun Huang acquiesced after seeing Nan Xun¡¯s excited smile and followed her into the litter.


    They reached the pce soon and were carried straight to the royal garden. Nan Guyue motioned at the porters to stop. She jumped off first before helping Jun Huang down.


    It was the first time Jun Huang visited Southern Mu¡¯s royal garden. It had its own unique beauty. Southern Mu¡¯s springsted the whole year. There were nts avable only in warm weather here despite the time of the year. She marveled at the crabapple flowers in the distance and the cherry trees on her side.


    ¡°I¡¯m fortunate to witness scenery that can only be found in Southern Mu,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile.


    Nan Guyue nodded and happily responded, ¡°You¡¯re right. Northern Qi has more varieties of flowers, but they don¡¯tst long due to the change in seasons. Southern Mu¡¯s weather is always mild like the spring. The flowers bloomed all years long.¡±


    They made their way further into the garden as they talked. At the point where the garden opened up, a woman approached them and blocked their way. Jun Huang turned to Nan Guyue questioningly, whose dark look told her the woman was no friend to the princess.


    Earlier, Honored Consort Li had arrived at the garden, her mood dark as she looked at the flowers she¡¯d long gotten tired of. Her maids followed her timidly, heads lowered and mouths shut.


    ¡°Where has His Majesty been, and why hasn¡¯t he visited me?¡± asked the consort, her eyesnding on the cherry blossoms.


    One of the maids shook her head and admitted, ¡°This servant doesn¡¯t know the answer, but His Majesty hasn¡¯t visited any other consorts either. He¡¯s been staying in the study at night.¡±


    Consort Li frowned, which made her look intimidating. The maid didn¡¯t dare say anything, worried that the consort would get angry and scold her.


    Instead of reprimanding her, the consort fell into deep thought. After a moment of silence, she asked, ¡°What have you found out about my inquiry?¡±


    ¡°Honored Consort needs not to worry. His Majesty prepared the flowers to entertain a male guest. The man was said to be handsome, but His Majesty can¡¯t be interested in men. Therefore ¨C ¡±


    A loud p sounded through the garden. The maid dropped to her knees, covering her cheek and wincing. The other maids knelt down as well, confused by the consort¡¯s sudden anger.


    Consort Li took out an embroidered handkerchief to wipe her hand and shot the maid a frigid re. ¡°Watch your mouth, careless girl. Do you know what will happen to you if your word reaches the emperor¡¯s ear?¡±


    The maid only realized then how offensive her remark could be taken as. She broke into cold sweat and hit the ground with her head with a loud thud. ¡°Honored Consort is right to punish this servant.¡±


    The consort didn¡¯t intend to hurt the maid. She gloomily looked up into the distance and spotted a woman in yellow dress. She frowned, wondering if she¡¯d seen it wrong. She blinked and took a better look. The woman in yellow turned to Nan Guyue and chatted with the princess. They were both smiling.


    ¡°Stand up and take a look at that woman,¡± the consortmanded in a steely voice. The maids scrambled to their feet and looked at where the consort was pointing.


    Their amazed look made Consort Li even more jealous. She took a deep breath to maintain herposure and asked through gritted teeth, ¡°Can she be a new consort the emperor selected?¡±


    A maid shook her head and said without hesitation, ¡°That can¡¯t be. His Majesty has been busy with court affairs, and we¡¯ve never seen the woman. If someone so ¨C ¡± the maid swallowed down the praise at the tip of her tongue and continued, ¡°If she were part of the harem, we¡¯d know.¡±


    Consort Li thought for a moment. Her lips curved into a smile and her eyes darkened. ¡°Then let us find out who she is,¡± she said, motioning at her maids to follow her.


    The consort ignored the hostile look Nan Guyue cast her way and focused on Jun Huang. Nan Guyue turned to Jun Huang as well and saw the inquisitive look on her face.


    Nan Guyue cursed at her bad luck for running into Consort Li, but she had to remain polite in face of her sister-inw. It¡¯d be inappropriate for her to ignore her. ¡°This is Honored Consort Li, the daughter of Southern Mu¡¯s general and Royal Brother¡¯s spouse.¡±


    Jun Huang bowed slightly without a word. The consort wasn¡¯t going to let her off the hook. ¡°Who are you? Why are you allowed to enter the pce?¡±


    That didn¡¯t get much of a reaction from Jun Huang, but Nan Guyue couldn¡¯t stand it. She scoffed and said, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. You¡¯re just one of my brother¡¯s many concubines. Do you fancy yourself the empress, who canmand the harem? Besides, you¡¯re just jealous of her good look. If you have the time to waste on us, it¡¯d be better spent returning to your room to make yourself presentable. If Royal Brother sees how unkempt you are now, he¡¯ll never visit you again.¡±


    Nan Guyue was never a meek woman. Her words were sharp and they hit the consort where she was most tender. The consort¡¯s expression darkened, but Nan Guyue didn¡¯t seem finished.


    Jun Huang stopped her from speaking up again with a hand and shook her head. She didn¡¯t want to cause any troubles.


    Nan Guyue knew when to back down. She didn¡¯t want to get Jun Huang in trouble either. She shut her mouth and decided to let it go. However, the consort interpreted that as Jun Huang¡¯s being afraid of her. She lifted her chin and said cattily, ¡°Even if you¡¯re not a resident of the pce, you should know you¡¯re required to kneel down and bow to all consorts.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned and narrowed her eyes at the finely-dressed woman, irritated.


    Nan Guyue had decided to let things slide, but the consort only got bolder. She stepped between the two of them and looked at the consort coldly.


    ¡°You should know your manners.¡± Nan Guyue scowled, no longer hiding the disgust in her eyes.


    The consort tightened her jaw, her face red in anger. It took some time for her to get herself under control. She put on a fake smile. ¡°Guyue, it is only appropriate for her to kneel down before me. Besides, I¡¯m your sister-inw. It¡¯ll make you look bad if you take an outsider¡¯s side rather than mine. His Majesty will be conflicted if he knows. Don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    She spoke with a faint smile and a casual tone as if she wanted the best for her, but Nan Guyue knew her too well to be deceived. Besides, Jun Huang was her guest. It¡¯d be her failure to let Jun Huang be humiliated.


    Nan Guyue stared at Consort Li until the consort started getting unsettled. She scoffed and said bluntly, ¡°Is that so? You are merely a concubine. Even if you were the empress, it¡¯d be my choice whether to listen to you. Go ahead and tell my brother how I¡¯ve offended you. If he thinks I¡¯ve made a mistake, I¡¯ll apologize. What do you say?¡±


    Consort Li¡¯s face contorted further. She red at Nan Guyue with venom in her eyes, but Nan Guyue wasn¡¯t intimidated at all. The consort gritted her teeth and balled up her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She was so angry her whole body was trembling. Oh, how she wanted to p that smug face.


    Nan Guyue was Nan Jihan¡¯s precious little sister. Every time she shed with the princess, Nan Jihan either stayed out of it, or told her to back down first. She wasn¡¯t going to let that happen this time. Nan Jihan might care greatly about his sister, but he couldn¡¯t have that much affection for a random woman, could he?

 Chapter 276 - Ploy

    <h4>Chapter 276: Ploy</h4>


    Consort Li knew Nan Jihan wasn¡¯t someone who¡¯d just fall for any beautiful faces. He wouldn¡¯t mind if she offended a random girl. She threw caution out of the window and hurled insults at Jun Huang with abandon, rudely demanded for Jun Huang to bow down to her.


    Jun Huang leveled the consort with a cool stare. She didn¡¯t want to make a scene, but the consort insisted on pushing her buttons. She scoffed and looked up at the consort. ¡°As the honored consort you should know your manners despite being a shut-in. I didn¡¯t want to argue with you, but you wouldn¡¯t let go. I am deeply disappointed in the way concubines behave in this pce¡±


    Jun Huang looked away and turned around. ¡°I have other business to attend to. I don¡¯t want to waste my time watching you act like a shrew. Ha, if the servants let the emperor know what you¡¯ve done, it¡¯s not going to end well for you.¡±


    Her tone was calm, but her words were sharp enough to cut. Consort Li¡¯s face went red in anger, but then paled in trepidation. She grabbed Jun Huang¡¯s wrist before she could walk away.


    ¡°Your Majesty, today¡¯s work is about finished,¡± the eunuch said quietly. ¡°It¡¯d be bad for your health if you overwork yourself. This servant has gone out to check. The royal garden is beautiful in this weather. Why don¡¯t we go out on a walk?¡±


    Nan Jihan put away the report in his hand, rubbing at his forehead. He turned to the smiling eunuch and affected a put-upon huff. ¡°Which consort stuck silver taels into your sleeve so that you¡¯d take me outside?¡±


    The eunuch smiled in lieu of a response. Nan Jihan didn¡¯t push. He knew the eunuch had his interest in mind. He¡¯d been staying in the study for several days in a row and hadn¡¯t visited any of his consorts at night.


    It was time to get some fresh air. He was exhausted. He nodded and got to his feet, letting the eunuch put a robe around his shoulders. He led an entourage of maids outside the pce and made his way to the garden.


    He¡¯d been staying in the dim and cool study. It felt good to get some sunlight. He took a deep breath, his lips curved into a smile as his mood visibly brightened.


    He heard amotion as soon as he entered the garden. With a frown, he shot the eunuch a nce, who hunched his back and didn¡¯t dare say a word. Nan Jihan scoffed. ¡°Do they consider the royal garden their home? It¡¯s unbing for anyone from the harem to make such noises.¡±


    He picked up his pace, determined to see who it was that spoiled his mood. Once he reached the center of the garden, he saw three women and a group of maids from a distance.


    He recognized the woman standing behind Nan Guyue as Jun Huang immediately. The yellow dress suited her. He couldn¡¯t get his eyes off her.


    The eunuch was going to intervene, but Nan Jihan stopped him and shook his head, meeting the eunuch¡¯s eyes. Without missing a beat, the eunuch stayed behind with the maids while his master approached the group.


    Nan Jihan got near just in time to hear Jun Huang¡¯seback. He chuckled. Her tongue was as sharp as ever, and she wouldn¡¯t suffer a humiliation. It pleased him to see the the scowl on Consort Li¡¯s face.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect the consort to stop her from leaving. She frowned and nced at her before looking at her own wrist. ¡°The Honored Consort should know what you¡¯re doing.¡±


    ¡°Who do you think you are? I am the honored consort. You should kneel before me. If no one has taught you manners, I will.¡±


    She gave the maids behind her a pointed look. Without pause, two aggressive looking women went up to Jun Huang and grabbed her arms.


    Nan Guyue had had enough. She took a step toward the consort, intending to teach her a lesson. Jun Huang, on the contrary, calmly stood at the spot without a word. She was well-trained enough to defend herself against two maids. Besides, she¡¯d spotted Nan Jihan already. She just kept quiet about it.


    Before the consort could have her people wrestle Jun Huang to the ground, Nan Jihan walked up to them and snapped, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? You¡¯ve forgotten where you are!¡±


    Consort Li froze, caught off guard by Nan Jihan¡¯s sudden appearance. She¡¯d remembered btedly that she¡¯d bribed Nan Jihan¡¯s personal eunuch earlier. She cursed at herself for being so possessed by jealousy that she forgot about everything else.


    She looked up at Jun Huang and saw the mockery shing through her eyes. Jun Huang knew about Nan Jihan¡¯s arrival already, and was simply ying the role to deceive her! She lost control and charged at Jun Huang.


    Nan Jihan stopped her and pushed her away. She staggered backward before losing her bnce and falling. She grimaced as pain shot from her ankle.


    ¡°As part of the harem, it¡¯s unbing of you to act like a shrew. Do you want to be sent to the Cold Pce?¡±


    Consort Li widened her eyes and eximed with a finger pointing at Jun Huang, ¡°It¡¯s her! She tricked me! She knew Your Majesty hade, but she provoked me on purpose. Shouldn¡¯t Your Majesty be questioning her?¡±


    She burst into tears looking pitiful. Nan Jihan turned to Jun Huang, who calmly took a step forward and looked down at the consort.


    ¡°There was no bad blood between us,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have initiated contact with you, and I didn¡¯t. There are people you shouldn¡¯t target. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered.¡±


    Nan Jihan knew Jun Huang always stood her ground. He found that endearing and rather than incriminating.


    Nan Guyue noticed her brother¡¯s expression. That on top of the way he¡¯d asked after her led her to the conclusion that he had feelings for Jun Huang. She told him what had happened with great embellishment.


    Nan Jihan¡¯s face grew darker and darker as he listened. In the end, he ordered Consort Li to kneel down for two hours and transcribed Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies ten times.[1]


    Jun Huang looked at the pebbled ground. Nan Jihan must have been really angry. She didn¡¯t pity the consort, though. She deserved to be punished for her foolishness.


    Without sparing another nce at the weeping consort, Nan Jihan took Jun Huang and Nan Guyue away. The consort only stop faking tears after they disappeared. She stared at the direction they left in. Her resentment and jealousy for Jun Huang festered and grew.


    Nan Jihan took the two women to the Warm Pce not far away. Jun Huang watched the lotuses and koi fish in the pond with a thoughtful expression. Nan Jihan had the maids prepare some food. He took a better look at Jun Huang and was even more captivated.


    Nan Guyue noted his reaction and beamed. She grabbed his arm with a eager smile. ¡°Isn¡¯t she pretty? You don¡¯t know how difficult it was to convince her. If I didn¡¯t insist, you wouldn¡¯t be able to see her like this.¡±


    Nan Jihan asked her to borate. After knowing the full story, he reprimanded her with a frown, ¡°You¡¯re too reckless! I¡¯ve let you do as you wish, but you¡¯re putting Feng Baiyu at risk this time. What would you do if I hadn¡¯t gotten there in time?¡±


    ¡°I ¨C ¡± Nan Guyue ran up to Jun Huang and looked at her like a kicked puppy seekingfort. ¡°Did you hear him? He always scolds me like that.¡±


    Jun Huang nced at Nan Jihan before looking down at Nan Guyue, who was trying to bury her face into her neck. She smiled in resignation and didn¡¯t know what she should say.


    Nan Guyue had known what a good person Jun Huang was back in Northern Qi. What happened earlier told her that Nan Jihan had feelings for Jun Huang. Perhaps he¡¯d kept quiet about it because he was shy.


    She thought back to the hateful Consort Li. They never got on. If Jun Huang entered the pce, Nan Jihan would shower her with all the love he could muster. The consort would be so mad!


    She had nned the whole thing out in her head. As someone who rarely kept anything to herself, she straightened her back and asked Nan Jihan bluntly, ¡°Do you love Baiyu, brother? If you do, why don¡¯t you marry her?¡±


    Nan Jihan looked owlishly at his sister, a trace of hope flickering back to life in his heart. He¡¯d thought about the possibility many times, even back when he still thought Jun Huang was a man. She¡¯d made it pretty clear that she¡¯d never ept him.


    He smiled wryly. He¡¯d indulge himself one more time and let his sister ask about Jun Huang¡¯s feelings. ¡°I¡¯d like to, but I¡¯m not sure she¡¯ll be willing.¡±


    ¡°Baiyu, will you be my sister-inw?¡± Nan Guyue turned to Jun Huang and asked, her expression hopeful.


    Jun Huang frowned at Nan Jihan and shook her head decisively. ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to say no.¡±


    Nan Guyue wasn¡¯t going to take that as an answer. She thought Jun Huang was just shy. She took her arm and swung it. ¡°My brother will treat you well. Why don¡¯t you want to be his wife? Is he not good enough for you?¡±


    Jun Huang considered how she should turn her down. She tried not to be too blunt. ¡°The princess has misunderstood. There¡¯s nothing wrong with His Majesty. On the contrary, he¡¯s the ruler of the nation and stands above everyone else. I turn the offer down only because I don¡¯t want to be trapped in the pce.¡±


    1. Written by Zhang Hua in Jin Dynasty to criticize the then empress for her behavior and to provide instructions to women in the pce.

 Chapter 277 - Awkward Conversation

    <h4>Chapter 277: Awkward Conversation</h4>


    Nan Guyue stared at Jun Huang for a long while, wondering why Jun Huang would say no to the offer. She was then reminded of the rumors she heard when she was in Northern Qi.


    Before she could say anything, Jun Huang spoke up again. ¡°His Majesty and I are not meant to be. Our paths are two parallel lines. Why should we force them to cross?¡±


    Nan Jihan didn¡¯t want to hear another polite refusal from Jun Huang, and he didn¡¯t want his feelings for her to be her burden. He coughed and grabbed Nan Guyue off Jun Huang.


    ¡°If you have the time to y matchmaker, you should settle down and think about rearing an heir for your husband.¡±


    Jun Huang felt awkward enough as an outsider. Nan Guyue¡¯s entire face and both ears flushed a deep red. She turned to Nan Jihan and pouted, wanting to argue, but her brother gave her a pointed look, silently telling her to give them some privacy.


    She gave him a meaningful look, which mortified him. She covered a snicker and put on a polite smile before excusing herself.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect her to just leave. She sighed in resignation. It¡¯d be impolite of her to leave Nan Jihan now.


    The awkwardness in the air was smothering. Nan Jihan felt antsy seeing Jun Huang in women¡¯s clothes. After some deliberation, he asked, ¡°Do you need to get changed?¡±


    Jun Huang nced at her dress and shook her head. She didn¡¯t see anything wrong with her attire. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡±


    They fell silent again. Nan Jihan sat across from her and took a deep breath, putting on an appropriate smile and pouring himself a cup of tea. He took a sip of the bitter drink and asked, ¡°How have you been? Is the treatment working?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯m about recovered.¡±


    ¡°But you don¡¯t look healthy,¡± Nan Jihan said with his brows furrowed.


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and chuckled. ¡°I hear it¡¯s because of the suddenrge amount of supplements I¡¯ve taken. It¡¯ll take some time for my body to adjust. Don¡¯t worry. Maybe I¡¯ll have made a full recovery the next time you see me.¡±


    Her voice was deliberate and paced. Nan Jihan stared at her feminine and stunning look, his adoration threatening to burst out of his chest. He didn¡¯t have three thousands consorts in his harem like the ancient emperor, but there were quite a lot of beautiful women in this pce. Some were vibrant and seductive, while others were tender and meek. None of them, however, was like Jun Huang, who was proud and extraordinarily graceful.


    He got lost staring at her. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help but frown. She didn¡¯t like being subject to such looks, and she didn¡¯t want someone to waste their time on her. Her heart was small and only had room for Nan Xun. Other people¡¯s attention would only be a burden to her. She wanted to treat Nan Xun right. That was why she was so eager to cure herself.


    She grew even more resentful of Eastern Wu when she thought about how she was poisoned. After that came a sense of loss. She and Nan Xun loved each other deeply, but what about their future?


    She was never the sentimental sort, and she was born proud and level-headed even in face of great challenges. After the tragedy befalling her, her eyes had been dark and lifeless until she met Nan Xun. Gradually, she grew to trust and care for the man. Her eyes were now as gentle as the river in spring. There was a tender air to her whenever she lowered her head and smiled.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Jun Huang couldn¡¯t stand the awkward atmosphere. She coughed to interrupt Nan Jihan¡¯s train of thought and yed ignorant to his feelings.


    Nan Jihan didn¡¯t be the emperor of Southern Mu without a pair of keen eyes. He could tell that Jun Huang was pretending. He smiled bitterly. She came to seek treatment for another man. It made his heart ache, but he knew he must never voice his thoughts. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be able to even have a civil conversation.


    He waved a hand in the air and smiled without a word. Jun Huang paused and met his gaze again. ¡°When do you think I¡¯ll be able to start drawing blood for the lotus?¡±


    This was a serious matter. Nan Jihan put aside his brooding thoughts and hummed. ¡°I don¡¯t know about your current condition, but let¡¯s not rush into things. It¡¯s risky to be hasty. You know that. Once you start drawing blood, you can¡¯t stop. If you rush it, your body may not be able to take it, and all the hard work will be in vain.¡±


    ¡°I understand your concerns, but still ¨C ¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to argue with me. I¡¯ll get a doctor to check on you. I know your master has been taking care of you, but he may not have ess to some rarer herbs. After the doctor makes a diagnosis, I¡¯ll have someone bring you supplementary herbs. It¡¯ll help you recover faster.¡±


    He got to his feet, leaving no room for argument.


    Jun Huang knew he was right, so she nodded agreeably. He sighed in relief. He had been worried that she¡¯d refused to take anything from him.


    He walked away to make the arrangement, leaving Jun Huang alone. The conversation had been unbearably awkward. She felt much better after he left.


    She picked up a tea cup and took a sip, raising an eyebrow when bitterness hit her tongue.


    Nan Jihan preferred sweet tea. She didn¡¯t know he¡¯d started having the bitter type. She was surprised, but she didn¡¯t dwell on it.


    Nan Jihan returned with a royal doctor and told him about Jun Huang¡¯s condition as they walked. The doctor listened without a word, thinking about what he should do.


    His forehead creased deeply after taking Jun Huang¡¯s pulse. He nodded and said reassuringly, ¡°You¡¯ve been recovering well. You just have to rest for a little longer. I¡¯ll prescribe some supplements for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Jun Huang smiled and rose to thank him. The doctor was startled by the gesture. He nced at Nan Jihan and silently wiped off his sweat before hurrying away.


    Jun Huang and Nan Jihan talked for a little longer until she started feeling tired. Nan Jihan wasn¡¯t going to keep her. He had a few servants escort her back to her master¡¯s ce. He stood before the window for a long time and finally decided to send for Oleg Cragfiend.


    The poison master approached him slowly without saluting him. Nan Xun didn¡¯t pay that any mind. He didn¡¯t care that much about formalities.


    ¡°I had a doctor check on her,¡± Nan Jihan hurried out. ¡°It¡¯s the same conclusion again. I don¡¯t know if he was just saying what we want to hear. You are her master. You know what happened to her, and you¡¯ve been treating her these days. You must know her condition better than anyone. I¡¯m concerned and want an answer from someone I trust.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend stared at him for some time before asking what the royal doctor had said. Nan Jihan told him everything.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do to change her fate,¡± said the poison master. ¡°If she recovers, she recovers.¡±


    ¡°Is there nothing else we can do?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure,¡± admitted Oleg Cragfiend. ¡°The best we can do at the moment is to help her regain strength. I¡¯ll have to do more research to see what else can be done.¡±


    Nan Jihan frowned deeply. They exchanged a look. Both of them knew there was no better alternatives. Otherwise they wouldn¡¯t put so much effort into making this solution work. Nheless, they worried that Jun Huang would copse before the lotus was fed.


    Oleg Cragfiend sighed and said quietly, ¡°Maybe this is how it is. Sometimes life takes and doesn¡¯t give. If there¡¯s no other way, we¡¯ll have to draw her blood to feed the lotus. We both know she¡¯s determined to cure herself. We won¡¯t be able to convince her otherwise. The only thing we can do is to help her recover so that she can survive the process.¡±


    His words were blunt and hit Nan Jihan hard. The young emperor didn¡¯t say a word, keeping his thoughts to himself. Oleg Cragfiend shook his head and bid Nan Jihan farewell.


    Meanwhile, Consort Li was still kneeling in the garden. She gritted her teeth, wanting nothing but to tear Jun Huang to pieces. Bloody crescents were left on her palms as she clenched her fists and dug her nails into her flesh.


    The maids timidly knelt on the ground with her. Theymented their misfortune, but didn¡¯t dare stand up lest they received even worse punishment.


    After two hours, the consort got to her feet with the help of a maid. She felt numb from knees down. Her fury intensified.


    ¡°We should return, Lady Li,¡± the maid said carefully.


    Consort Li threw her a cold nce, scaring her into lowering her head. She narrowed her eyes bemusedly before patting the maid¡¯s hand and saying with a smile, ¡°Take some silver taels once we return to the pce and ask the emperor¡¯s personal eunuch who that woman is. Find out why the emperor is so concerned for her.¡±


    The maid nodded. Before she could go, Consort Li stopped her again. She turned to her master questioningly, waiting for her to speak.

 Chapter 278 - Matters of the Heart

    <h4>Chapter 278: Matters of the Heart</h4>


    ¡°Nothing. Do as I said first.¡±


    Consort Li waved the maid away and returned to her residence with the help of the other maids. She ran into other consorts on the way, who mocked her after hearing the rumors. She felt humiliated and grew even more resentful of Jun Huang.


    The maid hurried to the pce and took some silver taels before rushing toward Nan Jihan¡¯s chamber. His personal eunuch happened to be free. She approached him when no one was around and tugged at his sleeve. They exchanged a knowing nce. The eunuch followed her to a hidden corner.


    ¡°What were you thinking?¡± the eunuch reprimanded before the maid could say anything. ¡°I finally was able to convince His Majesty to leave the room, and yet you made a scene and wasted the opportunity. His Majesty is going to give your consort the cold treatment for some time.¡±


    The maids obediently admitted their faults and handed the eunuch the silver with an apologetic smile. ¡°Lady Li recognized her mistake and told me to make amends to you, gonggong. Apologies for embarrassing you. Please take this offer and forgive us.¡±


    The eunuch weighed the silver with his hand, his expression softening. He nced at the maid and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Be upfront about what you want. Let¡¯s not beat around the bush. However, I have to tell your first that I¡¯m not going to create opportunities for your consort again anytime soon. If His Majesty realizes, he won¡¯t forgive me.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the maid said with a smile. ¡°This servant is just here to ask who the woman is. His Majesty seems to care about her greatly. We¡¯d like to know how we should treat her lest we offend her again.¡±


    The eunuch stared at the maid, who masked her nervousness with a polite smile. She seemed genuine enough, but he didn¡¯t immediately respond.


    The maid spoke up again, smiling, ¡°Please tell me, gonggong. It won¡¯t do any harm. This servant isn¡¯t going to tell His Majesty. Can it be that the woman is His Majesty¡¯s new consort?¡±


    The eunuch widened his eyes and waved his hands in denial. He looked around, only sighing in relief when he was sure no one was around. He shot the maid a re and poked at her forehead. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? If His Majesty hears us, we¡¯ll both be doomed.¡±


    The maid got nervous. Jun Huang must be someone important. Her curiosity was piqued, and Consort Li had ordered her to find out about Jun Huang¡¯s identity. If she failed, she¡¯d be punished.


    ¡°I can tell you as a reminder not to sh with her again. She¡¯s a friend of the princess and the emperor. She came from Northern Qi to seek treatment. It¡¯s also said that she¡¯s helped His Majesty take the throne as well. The rest I don¡¯t know, and don¡¯t dare to ask about.¡± Concerned, the eunuch added, ¡°This is the end of it. Don¡¯t try to get any more information from other people.¡±


    The maid nodded agreeably. She returned to Consort Li¡¯s residence and told the consort everything the eunuch said. The consort thought for a long moment with her narrowed eyes fixed on the screen. She remembered something fromst year.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t His Majesty go to Northern Qist year?¡±


    The maid nodded after a pause. ¡°He did. His Majesty went with the princess to attend the birthday celebration of Northern Qi¡¯s emperor.¡±


    ¡°If so, His Majesty must have met the woman there. Send someone to Northern Qi and ask around. She must have a weakness. Although she isn¡¯t a consort at the moment, she enjoys His Majesty¡¯s favor and is likely to be one in the near future. We might as well try to get some ckmail material first. Then we can use it against her and have her abide by my orders.¡±


    Her face contorted into a horrifying scowl. The maid couldn¡¯t help freezing and trying to make herself smaller. She gritted her teeth to contain her fear, but her face had turned pale.


    Meanwhile, Jun Huang was reading book scrolls in the study. It was a peaceful life, but not a boring one. The only downside was her growing longing for Nan Xun.


    What happened in the morning made her antsy. She lost track of what she was reading. In the end, she put the book aside and sat there looking into the distance.


    The supplementary medicine she¡¯d taken made her irritable. She took a deep breath and made her way to the window, looking out at the bright moon and trying to calm herself.


    After a while, she finally felt better. She got back to the desk and took out the writing instrument. It took a moment for her to organized her thoughts. She dabbed the brush in the ink and started writing a letter.


    After letting the ink dry, she read the letter over and folded it with a smile. The second day, she took the letter to the House of Heavenly Fiends, asking them to deliver it to Northern Qi at once.


    She wrote to tell Nan Xun that she was doing well in Southern Mu, that nothing had happened and he shouldn¡¯t be too worried. She glossed over the issue with the blood lotus, not wanting to burden him.


    Nan Xun received the letter a few dayster. He read it again and again, as if he couldn¡¯t get enough of it. The guard at his side nced at him questioningly, silently grumbling about his odd behavior.


    Nan Xun felt like he¡¯d go mad if he didn¡¯t express his love for Jun Huang. He carefully ced her letter on the desk and smoothed a hand over it, his smile soft and eyes filled with tender feelings. Those who imed the brave general Nan Xun had no heart wouldn¡¯t be able to recover their jaws if they saw him now.


    Love could melt a frozen heart, and it made Nan Xun¡¯s usually steely eyes light up with adoration.


    He got himself under control and thought for a long while with a brush in hand. He started a stroke on the yellowed paper, but then he was so overwhelmed with things to tell her that he felt lost.


    A drop of inknded on the paper and spread, leaving arge stain on the white, rendering the sheet of paper unusable.


    ¡°Why did Your Highness sigh?¡± Jo Bo said from the door. Without thinking, Nan Xun put away the paper on the desk and put on a polite smile. He shook his head without a word.


    Ji Bo pretended not to notice and approached him, waving his foldable fan. He told Nan Xun his spections about Jun Huang. It turned out that Nan Xun wasn¡¯t the only one she was worried about. She¡¯d sent a letter to Ji Bo to assure him as well, briefly telling him about the situation in Southern Mu.


    Nan Xun listened calmly and made a few guesses of his own, which he based on her letter since he couldn¡¯t see things for himself.


    Ji Bo contemted with a frown and sighed. He¡¯d nned to tell Nan Xun that he didn¡¯t think things were going as smoothly as Jun Huang imed. Otherwise she¡¯d be on her way back to Northern Qi already. Seeing Nan Xun¡¯s expression, however, he realized that voicing his concerns would serve no purpose other than worrying Nan Xun.


    He still believed that Jun Huang could take care of herself in Southern Mu. She was apetent woman. They should trust her.


    Nan Xun had noticed Ji Bo¡¯s conflicted look, but he yed ignorant and saw the strategist off with a smile, which dropped as soon as Ji Bo was out of the door. Nan Xun was worried despite Jun Huang¡¯spetence. He sighed. There wasn¡¯t much he could do.


    Since Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to tell him the truths, he wasn¡¯t going to ask. He¡¯d do what he must do and eliminate anything that could threaten Jun Huang on his end.


    The thought made him feel a little better. He started writing a letter again. He only told her to rest without worry and don¡¯t get hasty. At the end of the letter, he added a line telling her that he¡¯d make a move against Eastern Wu when the time is right.


    With all the forces keeping an eye on him, he worried that his letter would be intercepted, so he masked his message with inconspicuous words.


    His worry turned out not to be unwarranted. After he ordered a guard to deliver the letter to the House of Heavenly Fiends, the letter was intercepted by Prince Duan¡¯s men.


    Usually letters would be delivered by messengers between the two countries, but Nan Xun missed Jun Huang too much and asked for the House of Heavenly Fiends to deliver the letter through a pigeon. That was how Prince Duan was able to intercept the letter.


    Prince Duan had thought it¡¯d be about something important, but the letter was filled with nothing but sappy confessions. He scoffed. Nan Xun was blinded by passion.


    ¡°I¡¯ve received your letter. I miss you dearly. I feel the same as you... When you return safely, we¡¯ll spend an evening catching up... I¡¯ll keep your wishes in my mind and honor my promise. When the time is right, I¡¯ll give you what you want the most... Remember me.¡±


    The shadow guard by Prince Duan¡¯s side noticed his derisive smile and asked, ¡°Is there anything of value?¡±


    Prince Duan dropped the letter and huffed. ¡°He¡¯s too focused on romance at the moment. There¡¯s nothing important on his mind.¡±


    ¡°If so, we have nothing to worry about.¡±


    Prince Duan shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not true. Although Nan Xun is unlikely to do anything, we have to keep an eye on Qi Yun. I don¡¯t know who¡¯s advising him now. Does his inaction indicate he¡¯s conserving his strength, or something else? Qi Chen¡¯s disappointed me. He stood out too much and ended up bing the biggest target. Even with my support, he still failed. Now, he can¡¯t even openly show up in public. I can¡¯t say for sure what the emperor is thinking, but he is unlikely to forgive Qi Chen for storming the pce.¡±

 Chapter 279 - Warning Sign

    <h4>Chapter 279: Warning Sign</h4>


    The shadow guard listened to Prince Duan¡¯s exnation and concluded that the prince was right. ¡°Your Highness is wise. However, this subordinate doesn¡¯t think it¡¯ll be a good idea to keep the prince hidden away. It¡¯s better to find a way to earn the emperor¡¯s forgiveness. Even if the prince can¡¯t be restored to his original status, it¡¯ll be good enough for him to be pardoned for his crime.¡±


    Prince Duan considered that for a moment before making a dismissive gesture. ¡°It¡¯s easier said than done. Staging a coup is a great offense. He was jailed even though the emperor has been merciful as his father. Qi Chen¡¯s been doing nothing but wasting his life these days. The failure has struck a strong blow on his ego. He can¡¯t face the music, which is his biggest failure. Even a strong man can only seed by oveing setbacks and challenges.¡±


    The shadow guard fell silent. Prince Duan¡¯s words were blunt, but true. The key was Qi Chen. He had to pick himself up before their n could proceed.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve checked the letter. It contains nothing but sappy confessions. Take this and send it again. Remember not to let anyone notice anything wrong.¡±


    Prince Duan changed the subject. There was no use criticizing Qi Chen behind his back. He just had troubles reconciling with his change.


    Only after the guard left with the letter did Qi Chen walk out from the shadow, staring at the guard with a dark expression. He then turned to the door leading to the study without a word.


    He knew Prince Duan was disappointed in him. He heard everything the imperial prince had said, which made his resentment grow fonder.


    He both hated Jun Huang for destroying his life and missed her for the the assistance and kindness she¡¯d given him. She often appeared in his dreams with a faint smile on her face.


    Sometimes he wanted nothing but to kill Jun Huang with his own hands, but at the same time he had a feeling he¡¯d regret it. He thought back to when he had her as his captive. He¡¯d been blinded by hatred and almost strangled her. It wouldn¡¯t end well if Nan Xun hadn¡¯t arrived in time.


    When he was alone, he often thought about what¡¯d happen. His entire body would tremble, including his fingers. That was why he drowned himself in alcohol every day, hoping to make himself forget about the conundrums of the mortal world.


    But he shouldn¡¯t forget.


    He could¡¯ve given up on everything and just left, but he was unwilling to do so due to the desire for revenge. In the end, it became an obsession he couldn¡¯t let go of.


    He huffed out a silentugh. His eyes stung. The corner of his eye was damp when he touched it. He took a deep breath and wiped away his tears, pretending that nothing had happened as he wobbled away.


    Rou¡¯er frowned when Qi Chen returned smelling like alcohol, but she quickly masked her emotions. She ordered a servant to prepare some sobering tea and went up to support Qi Chen¡¯s weight.


    He narrowed his eyes at her with a hup before grabbing her wrist, scoffing. ¡°They all left. Why are you still here?¡±


    Rou¡¯er blinked at him. She didn¡¯t expect the question, and she didn¡¯t have an answer. She didn¡¯t stay because she wanted to, but because someone had to keep an eye on him.


    A teenaged boy from the House of Heavenly Fiends delivered the letter to Jun Huang. His enthusiastic nature made Jun Huang take an instant liking to the boy, seeing her brother in him.


    ¡°Why was it delivered so quickly?¡± Jun Huang nced at the letter but didn¡¯t read it.


    The boy thought for a moment. ¡°I hear that Prince Nan wanted the letter to be delivered sooner, so he had it sent through a pigeon instead of a messenger. The pigeon must have felt his yearning as well. It made the delivery even though it was hurt.¡±


    He grinned. Jun Huang jerked up to look at him and confirmed that the pigeon really had been hurt. She didn¡¯t think it was a trivial matter. She put away the letter and had the boy take her to their operation base.


    She met up with the head of the base, who took her to the pigeon house in the backyard upon hearing her suspicion. He then had their bird keeper grab the pigeon that just arrived from Northern Qi.


    Jun Huang extended a hand. The pigeon crooked and jumped onto her arm. It didn¡¯t seem to have been swapped.


    Seeing Jun Huang¡¯s worry, the older man said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re hidden away and only our pigeons can find their way to us. They can¡¯t be swapped.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and looked up at the bird keeper. She pointed at the pigeon¡¯s wing. ¡°Have you seen this?¡±


    The man took a closer look and realized that the flesh behind the feathers was festering. He jumped and shook his head. He hadn¡¯t noticed the severity of the wound.


    Jun Huang thought for a moment and inserted a silver needle into the flesh. When she pulled it out, it¡¯d turned ck. Everyone present was shocked and confused.


    ¡°I always put a powder without color or smell on letters I send to Nan Xun. Only those who know where to look can see it. If someone uninformed tampers with the letter, I¡¯ll notice immediately. I assumed the powder was rubbed away when the letter was delivered, but it was sent through a pigeon. It¡¯s odd, isn¡¯t it? Messenger pigeons tend to fly off whenever dangers strike. This one somehow managed to return despite its injury. How curious.¡±


    ¡°I suspected foul y, and it turns out I¡¯m right. The pigeon was hit by an arrow. Whoever it was has treated the wing, but they used potent medicine to make sure the bird could make it back. That¡¯s why the injury is festering.¡±


    Jun Huangid down the facts in a paced tone. The group were shocked. This could have serious implications.


    The old man didn¡¯t say anything until after a while. ¡°Who does the gentleman think intercepted the letter?¡±


    ¡°Prince Duan,¡± Jun Huang said without hesitation.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s anyone else, they won¡¯t send the letter again after intercepting it,¡± she said calmly even with everyone¡¯s eyes directed at her. ¡°Prince Duan, however, would try to cover up his action if there was nothing important in the letter. We may overlook the signs if we weren¡¯t careful. Among out current enemies, he is the only one who is shrewd enough to do that.¡±


    After a long pause, she looked up and waved a hand in the air. ¡°Don¡¯t fret. Neither Nan Xun nor I are fools. Prince Duan wouldn¡¯t understand what we were writing even if he¡¯s read our letter. I¡¯ll like to see what he¡¯s going to do next.¡±


    She smiled and walked away.


    Once she returned to her room, she took out Nan Xun¡¯s letter and read carefully. Prince Duan didn¡¯t know how to interpret Nan Xun¡¯s writing, but she did. She understood what he meant readily.


    She was d that Nan Xun still had her revenge in mind and was waiting for the right time, but she¡¯d like to deal with Eastern Wu¡¯s emperor herself and avenge the lives lost in the invasion.


    She twisted and turned, but sleep eluded her. Shey on the bed thinking back to her past. A long time had passed. She¡¯d been riddled with illnesses andcked the strength to do anythingtely. Things she should have done were put aside. She sighed and forced herself to stop thinking herself into a corner.


    The day had broken when she finally fell asleep. Her eyshes fluttered slightly. Her sleep wasn¡¯t a restful one.


    She had a dream. A dream that couldn¡¯t exactly be called a nightmare. Still, her clothes were drenched when she woke up. She slowly exhaled and propped herself up, rubbing at her throbbing forehead. She then washed up and left her room.


    After greeting her master, she grabbed something to eat and went straight to the study. She thought for a moment before writing another letter to Nan Xun, telling him about her thoughts. To make sure no one could understand her true meaning even if they intercepted the letter, she hid her message between the lines like Nan Xun had done.


    This time, the House of Heavenly Fiends was more careful. Sending letters through pigeons was quick, but unsafe. It¡¯d be bad if the same thing happened again. They therefore opted to deliver the letter through a messenger.


    Nan Xun was delighted when he received the letter. This was the only way for him to express his longing for Jun Huang. If there weren¡¯t any letters for some time, he¡¯d bepelled to go to her side and never let go of her. He knew it was a little unreasonable of him, but that was how he felt, and he wasn¡¯t ashamed of it.


    His heart softened when he saw her graceful handwriting, his lips curved into a small smile. Before he could read it, though, someone knocked on the door.


    ¡°What is it?¡± He got the door with a frown. It was one of his servants.


    ¡°Your Highness, your second inmand is waiting for you in the main hall,¡± the servant responded respectfully. ¡°He said it was something important.¡®

 Chapter 280 - Another Encounter with Consort Li

    <h4> Chapter 280: Another Encounter with Consort Li</h4>


    Nan Xun paused. His second inmand must havee for something important. He ordered a servant to keep anyone from entering his study before making his way to the main hall. Once Nan Xun got out of eyeshot, the servant smiled and entered the study when no one was looking.


    He picked up the letter from the desk and memorized every word. Before he could leave, he heard conversationing from outside the room. Panic shed through his eyes, but he was well trained. He took a deep breath and opened the window to make a silent escape.


    Nan Xun opened the door and walked in as he talked to his second inmand about issues within the military. His second inmand told him what had happened at the training ground.


    Nan Xun frowned and walked to the desk when he noticed the letter was now open.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± his second inmand asked.


    Nan Xun told him. The second inmand looked at the open window and said, ¡°Perhaps it was the wind.¡±


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t entirely convinced, but as a man, he didn¡¯t pay as much attention to details as women did. He nodded and gestured for his second inmand to take a seat. He picked up the letter and read through it.


    He knew the loving words were merely there to mask her true message, but it still made him smile. His second inmand didn¡¯t even have to think to figure out who the letter was from.


    Jun Huang had been staying in Southern Mu for a while. She believed Nan Jihan could be a good partner and asked Nan Xun if he thought allying with Southern Mu would be a good idea. It¡¯d be ideal if the two countries could conquer Eastern Wu together. They stood a better chance of winning if they fought together, and they could split their spoils and ensure a closer coborative rtionship in the future.


    Nan Xun thought about it carefully rather than blindly agreeing to Jun Huang¡¯s suggestion. He couldn¡¯t reach a conclusion just yet, so he didn¡¯t draft a response immediately and instead sent for Qi Yun to discuss the issue.


    Both Qi Yun and Ji Bo came. Nan Xun handed Jun Huang¡¯s letter to them. Qi Yun¡¯s expression clouded when he read the adoring words. He looked up at Nan Xun and only put aside his jealousy when he was sure Nan Xun didn¡¯t intend to boast.


    ¡°This gentleman thinks she made sense,¡± Ji Bo said. ¡°If we are to face Eastern Wu on our own, there is no guarantee we¡¯ll win, and we may suffer too great a casualties. Then, Southern Mu can be the oriole that catches the mantis. Things will be different if we ally ourselves with Southern Mu.¡±


    Nan Xun and Ji Bo turned to Qi Yun. The prince had to make the final decision. If he found it inappropriate, they¡¯d reconsider.


    Qi Yun nodded without hesitation. He was still upset about Nan Xun¡¯s rtionship with Jun Huang, but he knew to look at the big picture. He wouldn¡¯t argue needlessly when he believed the idea was a good one.


    With that decided, Nan Xun wrote a letter in response. Since Jun Huang had implied that theirmunication might have beenpromised, he ordered one of his men to personally deliver the letter.


    Prince Duan¡¯s manor was shrouded in a heavy air. Prince Duan narrowed his eyes at the servant kneeling before him, his eyes sharp and inquisitive, making the servant cower.


    ¡°Are you telling the truth?¡± Prince Duan demanded.


    The servant nodded. ¡°This servant wouldn¡¯t dare lie. If Prince Nan hadn¡¯t returned when he did, this servant would have taken the letter. However, this servant also worried about rousing troubles if I took the letter before the prince could read it. Therefore...¡±


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. You¡¯re dismissed.¡± Prince Duan rubbed at his forehead without another word. The servant sighed in relief and walked away.


    A shadow guard walked out from the dark and asked after some deliberation, ¡°Does Your Highness suspect him?¡±


    Prince Duan nced at the guard, annoyance shing through his eyes. He kept his emotions in check since the guard was his confidante and contemted what to do with a hand supporting his head. ¡°Have a man follow the servant. If there¡¯s anything unusual, don¡¯t hesitate to take him out.¡±


    The guard nodded silently and went off to put someone on stakeout duty.


    Prince Duan stayed in the study for a long time. He thought back to the letter the servant had recited, but he had troubles figuring out what deeper meaningsy therein.


    Jun Huang soon received Nan Xun¡¯s response. She was d that he agreed with her. She made her way to the pce after some preparations. She didn¡¯t want to waste any time.


    She¡¯d been to the pce a few times as a woman. The guards stationed at the door secretly spected about her identity while treating her with great care, worried that they¡¯d offend her.


    Still, she had to go through the routine checkup. She put aside her anticipation and let the guards do their jobs. After about the time for a pot of tea to brew, the guards respectfully saw her off.


    She had to walk on foot after passing the first door. She got off the coach, holding her dress up. The scorching sun made her frown. The maid Nan Guyue assigned her jogged up to her and opened a paper umbre with drawings of reeds, shielding her from the sun.


    Jun Huang smiled at the maid gently. The maid felt a great sense of satisfaction. Her now master was not only good looking, but also mild-tempered. Her personable personality drew people in.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to do this,¡± Jun Huang said in a resigned tone, meeting the maid¡¯s eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t like getting taken care of. This feels odd to me.¡±


    The maid wasn¡¯t going to budge. She frowned. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. The princess ordered me to take care of you. Even if you don¡¯t like to be served, I have to shield you from the zing sun, or the princess will scold me. Please endure my care for a little while.¡±


    The maid batted her eyshes at Jun Huang, which made her smile. She knew it was how the imperial family operated. If she didn¡¯t like it, she¡¯d just tell Nan Guyue. There was no need to make the maid¡¯s job difficult. She waved a hand and let the maid be.


    Jun Huang was feeling a little impatient, but she wasn¡¯t on her own now. She therefore walked at a slower pace.


    Unfortunately, she ran into Consort Li in the royal garden again. She sighed inwardly, her brows furrowed. She was going to make a detour, but Consort Li spotted her.


    ¡°You¡¯re indeed the princess¡¯s friend,¡± the consort blocked her way and said mockingly. ¡°How impolite of you to ignore me.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to get into trouble again. She was in a foreign country and had to be more careful, but she didn¡¯t expect the consort to chase after her like a mad dog. The consort should have learned her lessonst time, but she became bolder instead.


    Consort Li had noticed Nan Jihan¡¯s feelings for Jun Huang, but she couldn¡¯t help being reminded of her suffering when she saw Jun Huang on her own. She wasn¡¯t going to just let Jun Huang off the hook. She wanted the young woman to suffer as she had.


    ¡°Did I not make myself clearst time?¡± Consort Li leveled Jun Huang with a cold stare, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she implied that Jun Huang didn¡¯t know her manners.


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes. It wouldn¡¯t hurt for her to bow to the consort. Better that than to waste her time here. She took a deep breath and put on a smile before kneeling down and gracefully bowing to the consort. As she rose, the consort pushed her down by the shoulders, forcing her to kneel again. Her knees hit the pebbles on the ground. She felt the pain in her bones, but she gritted her teeth and stopped herself from making a sound. She looked up at the consort and asked with a frown, ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t said you can get up, have I?¡± Consort Li chuckled. ¡°Then you should stay on your knees.¡±


    The maid wasn¡¯t going to let Jun Huang be bullied. She took a step forward. ¡°Lady Li, His Majesty is still waiting for my master. If he sees her like this, he¡¯ll ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Then I won¡¯t let you notify him.¡± Consort Li made a gesture at the maids behind her, who went up to restrain Jun Huang¡¯s maid. She struggled against their hold.


    Consort Li pped the maid hard. After that came silence. Jun Huang suffered from not only the pain in her knees, but also the scorching sun. Her vision started to blur, but she gritted her teeth and endured it.


    She¡¯d always been willful, but she failed to take her condition into consideration. She reached her limit after half an hour.


    Her face was pale as a sheet. The maid tried and failed to break free, her eyes brimming with tears as she saw Jun Huang wavering. She dropped down to her knees and begged, ¡°Lady Li, my master¡¯s ill and can¡¯t afford to kneel any longer. What if something happens to her? Please show her some mercy. This servant is willing to do anything in return.¡±


    ¡°Worthless chit, do you think you¡¯re in any ce to negotiate with me?¡± The consort kicked the maid in the stomach. She grimaced and bent over in pain, her face turning white.


    Jun Huang frowned and looked up at the consort, her tone frigid as she said, ¡°The Honored Consort is part of the harem, but you have no right to hurt my people.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I have every right to hurt not only her, but even you.¡± The consort approached Jun Huang and grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet the her eyes. She then let go of her with a huff.


    Jun Huang had reached her limit. Both her heart and head hurt and her face turned ashen. A push from the honored consort was enough to knock her unconscious.

 Chapter 281 - Payback

    <h4>Chapter 281: Payback</h4>


    Nan Jihan was notified as soon as Jun Huang arrived at the pce. He quickly dealt with the business at hand in order to make time for her. After half an hour, however, Jun Huang still hadn¡¯t shown up. He wondered what had happened. Had Jun Huang got lost?


    He was going to ask the servants, but as soon as he stepped out of the pce, he saw his personal eunuch talking to a young eunuch. He was a little too far from them to hear their conversation clearly, but the young eunuch¡¯s expression was a clear enough indicator that something was wrong.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± he demanded.


    Both men jumped. The older eunuch looked guilty. Nan Jihan frowned and asked again, but the eunuch stammered and didn¡¯t give him an answer. He scowled.


    The older eunuch weighed his options and tried to buy himself time. Too many conflicting forces were at y for him to make a decision readily.


    Nan Jihan had never been particrly patient. His eunuch¡¯s silence made his fury burn hotter. Still, the old man had served him for a long time. He¡¯d give him the benefit of the doubt.


    He took a deep breath to suppress his annoyance. ¡°Fine. How about Feng Baiyu? Why hasn¡¯t shee?¡±


    The eunuch stilled, which didn¡¯t escape Nan Jihan¡¯s notice. They¡¯d been talking about her! His expression darkened further.


    The older eunuch didn¡¯t dare keep the secret anymore. He knew Consort Li¡¯s family was powerful, but he had to take Nan Jihan¡¯s feelings for Jun Huang into consideration as well. If he remained silent and something happened to Jun Huang, he¡¯d certainly be killed. He told Nan Jihan about how the consort had kept and bullied Jun Huang.


    Nan Jihan¡¯s expression turned frosty. It scared him to think about what¡¯d happen to Jun Huang after kneeling under the sun for half an hour. He immediately ran for the garden. The eunuch hurriedly chased after his master and didn¡¯t dare say another word.


    When Nan Jihan arrived at the garden, Consort Li had a basin of water in her hands with duckweeds floating over the surface. It clearly came from the pond next to her. Before he could stop her, she¡¯d already sshed the water all over Jun Huang. The sound hit his ear drums like a crack of thunder and made his head spin.


    The shrieking from Jun Huang¡¯s maid hit his heart like a dagger. She put herself between the unconscious Jun Huang and Consort Li, shielding her master with her own body. Her eyes were red as sheshed out at the consort with an usative finger pointed at her,pletely forgetting about their differences in status.


    Consort Li wasn¡¯t going to take the insults. She grabbed the maid¡¯s cor and pped both her cheeks, leaving two offensively red handprints.


    Nan Jihan¡¯s heart clenched thinking about what the royal doctor had said. Without thinking, he went up and gripped Consort Li¡¯s wrist. The consort winced in pain and was scared witless. She stood rooted to the spot and stared owlishly as Nan Jihan pped her and pushed her away. If her maids hadn¡¯t caught her, she¡¯d have fallen to the ground likest time.


    Nan Jihan carefully picked Jun Huang up. A brief contact with the hot pebbed road was enough to leave his hand red. Jun Huang¡¯s hair and clothes were a mess because of the water the consort sshed on her. Her face was so terrifyingly pale it put a lump in his throat and made his eyes sting.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done quite enough,¡± Nan Jihan growled. Consort Li curled into herself in fear and lost the ability to even make a sound. ¡°I thought you¡¯d learn your lesson, but you clearly haven¡¯t. I¡¯ve gone too easy on you. From now on, you¡¯re grounded to your residence and aren¡¯t allowed to leave without my say so.¡±


    Without sparing her another nce, he gathered Jun Huang into his arms and carried her to his pce with a group of maids and eunuchs in tow. The consort gritted her teeth in anger, her eyes turning bloodshot due to jealousy, but there wasn¡¯t anything she could do.


    The eunuch felt guilty when he saw the state Jun Huang was in. If he¡¯d notified Nan Jihan as soon as he heard about what happened, things wouldn¡¯t have escted to this point. However, he couldn¡¯t possibly make Consort Li his enemy. He waited outside the room with Nan Jihan as the maid to clean Jun Huang up. He debated if he should say something to his master.


    Nan Jihan knew what he was thinking. He threw the eunuch a nce, rendering him silence.


    After a pause, Nan Jihan said, ¡°I¡¯ve given you too much leeway. People will talk if I don¡¯t punish you for what you did. Go get twenty beatings. And no stipend for you for the next month.¡±


    The eunuch opened his mouth to say something, but nodded in the end. He wasn¡¯t at all surprised by Nan Jihan¡¯s decision, and he didn¡¯t resent Jun Huang. It was only fair. After a brief stay, he went off to receive his punishment.


    Jun Huang¡¯s maid walked out of the room, her eyes still brimming with tears when she looked up at Nan Jihan. ¡°Your Majesty, thedy... she¡¯s still unconscious. What¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± Nan Jihanforted her, pushing his worry aside. ¡°I¡¯ve sent for the royal doctor. She¡¯ll recover. You¡¯re a mess as well. Go clean up yourself. She won¡¯t be happy if you look like this when she wakes up.¡±


    The maid didn¡¯t want to leave, but noting Nan Jihan¡¯s dark expression, she nodded and followed one of his maids away to get changed. When she returned, the royal doctor had arrived as well.


    Nan Jihan didn¡¯t dare enter the room without the royal doctor and only walked in after the doctor hade. When he saw Jun Huang lying on the bed, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from worrying. She looked as if she¡¯d fade away any second.


    The doctor gingerly took her pulse, his brows knitted together. He let go after a while and approached Nan Jihan. ¡°Her health has beenpromised long ago. The heat today harmed her further and the sun burned her skin. She must rest well in order to make a full recovery. The scrapes on her knees are much less serious. Some ointment will do.¡±


    Nan Jihan stilled, staring at Jun Huang. Her pale face had turned red because of the sunburn. It pained him to even look at her.


    Jun Huang came for a cure, and yet her health deteriorated further because of Consort Li. The more he thought about it, the more his temples throbbed. He couldn¡¯t bear to see Jun Huang like this.


    The arrival of Jun Huang¡¯s maid gave him a good excuse to leave. He told her to take care of her master and practically fled the room.


    Now, he could finally breathe.


    The eunuch returned after receiving his punishment, limping towards his master. Any other day, Nan Jihan would have been amused, but now he couldn¡¯t even managed a smile. He sighed and reminded the eunuch, ¡°Send someone to tell Consort Li she¡¯s deprived of three months of stipend because of her mistake.¡±


    The eunuch nodded. ¡°Understood.¡±


    The consort scowled when the young eunuch came to ry the message. She¡¯d been in a bad mood. Hearing Jun Huang¡¯s plight made her feel a little better. But then Nan Jihan sent this eunuch to remind her of her mistake! She couldn¡¯t contain her fury and shattered the teacup in her hand. The young eunuch shuddered helplessly.


    The consort¡¯s old caretaker cleared her throat and tugged at Consort Li¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Don¡¯t act hastily,¡± she whispered. She couldn¡¯t say much when the eunuch was here. ¡°Humor him and we¡¯ll discuss the rest. It¡¯ll be unwise to throw a tantrum.¡±


    Consort Li gritted her teeth and dismissed the young eunuch.


    Consort Li reluctantly allowed the caretaker to lead her back into the room. She was angry, but the caretaker had raised her and treated her kindly. She shouldn¡¯t take her anger out on her. Besides, her caretaker was a wise woman who always had the answer. She poured herself a cup of tea.


    Southern Mu¡¯s tea was almost sickeningly sweet. Normally she liked the taste, but for some reason she found it difficult to swallow now. She spat the tea out and mmed the cup on the table, using a little too much force that the cup toppled and spilled tea all over. The liquid dripped on her dress. The fabric stuck to her body ufortably.


    ¡°Have you forgotten your job? Why aren¡¯t you cleaning this up yet?¡± Consort Li shot to her feet and growled, pointing at her wetted dress.


    The caretaker threw the maid by her side a pointed look, who rushed to retrieve a towel. Consort Li scoffed and hurled the maid to the table by her sleeve. ¡°What are you waiting for? Do you think the emperor will set his eyes on you if you keep yourself neat? Foolish chit, you better know your ce.¡±


    The maid dropped down to her knees, her face pale. ¡°Lady Li has misunderstood. This servantes from a lowly background and wouldn¡¯t dare hope for more.¡±


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t waste your time on the servants. We have business to talk about.¡± The caretaker stopped the consort from hitting the maid and told the girl to leave first.


    She retrieved a dress and helped the consort get changed. Then she sat on the divan and patted the consort¡¯s hand. She wanted to tell the consort to control her emotions, but the consort hated nothing more than being ordered around. She sighed and cut right to the chase.

 Chapter 282 - You’re the most important

    <h4>Chapter 282: You¡¯re the most important</h4>


    ¡°Why must you make things difficult for yourself? This is a simple matter. She enjoys His Majesty¡¯s favor now. That¡¯s nothing new. Very few men can be truly loyal, let alone a man from the royal family. You should know that better than anyone.¡±


    Consort Li¡¯s anger subsided somewhat. She took a deep breath to calm herself and nodded. ¡°I know what you meant, mama, but you haven¡¯t seen her yourself. She¡¯s too shameless! I don¡¯t know who she is and how she seduced His Majesty. I¡¯ve never been scolded before, and yet His Majesty punished me again and again for her. How can I take that? She¡¯s a nobody with no official rtionship with His Majesty, and yet His Majesty keeps taking her side! Of course I¡¯d be angry!¡±


    The caretaker darted her eyes around. ¡°If so, Lady Li should turn to your father, the general, for help. Exin what you¡¯ve been through. He¡¯d have a solution.¡±


    Consort Li thought for a while. It made sense. She quickly drafted a letter to her father. Worried that he wouldn¡¯t pay enough attention to her plea, she made Jun Huang out as a woman who shamelessly seduced Nan Jihan and asked him to get rid of her.


    General Li considered the letter for a long time. He asked around about Jun Huang and came to the conclusion that there was truth to his daughter¡¯s usation. Besides, he wasn¡¯t going to ignore her plea. During the morning meeting the next day, he brought the issue up to the emperor.


    ¡°It¡¯s said that His Majesty is keeping a woman in the pce. Is that true?¡± General Li stared at Nan Jihan and asked before a room full of schr and military officials.


    Nan Jihan frowned at him. ¡°Where did the official hear that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s... Whatever happened in the pce could affect the entire nation,¡± the general struggled to exin himself, his expression tight. ¡°It¡¯s amon topic in the court. This official happened to overhear that.¡±


    Nan Jihan smiled coolly. General Li stood silently at the center of the main hall, worried that he¡¯d drag his daughter down with him.


    Nan Jihan¡¯s eyes turned frosty. ¡°Do your job and don¡¯t try to gather information about my personal affairs. You do this now. Are you going to force me to surrender the throne next?¡±


    He was facing the general, but everyone knew Nan Jihan¡¯s warning was for all of them.


    ¡°We¡¯d never.¡± Everyone dropped to their knees. General Li waspletely drenched in sweat. He was both defiant and fearful. He didn¡¯t know what to do.


    Nan Jihan scoffed, his gaze sweeping over everyone in attendance. ¡°My personal affairs are none of your business. If any of you dare contact anyone in the pce, I won¡¯t go easy on you. Do all of you understand?¡±


    He raised an eyebrow, his face tight with anger.


    General Li nodded nervously. Even after the meeting concluded, he still hadn¡¯t recovered from his shock. Everything felt like a fever dream.


    Nan Jihan returned to the pce. Consort Li obviously hadn¡¯t learned her lesson. After some hesitation, he issued a decree degrading her from the honored consort to a nobledy. Consort Li almost fainted when she heard. She gritted her teeth in resentment and came close to tearing down her ce.


    Nan Jihan heard that Jun Huang had woken up before he reached his chamber. He rushed to her room and saw her reading a book on the bed. He frowned and took the book from her, handing it to a maid behind him. ¡°The royal doctor said you shouldn¡¯t do anything strenuous. Rest and wait until you¡¯ve recovered to read.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded with a smile and didn¡¯t argue with him. She adjusted her posture, trying to getfortable, but ended up pulling the wounds on her knees. She sucked in a pained breath.


    Nan Jihan hurriedly steadied her with a hand on her shoulder and scolded, ¡°Just sit tight and let the servants do the work.¡±


    Jun Huang snorted. Her face was no longer red from the sunburn. Instead, it was sickly pale. Even her lips were almost free of any color. It made Nan Jihan¡¯s heart ache.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The pain is minor and not important at all in the grand scheme of things.¡±


    ¡°You are the most important thing now,¡± Nan Jihan snapped with a scowl. ¡°Don¡¯t trivialize your difort.¡±


    Jun Huang knew Nan Jihan was worried about her, which she wasn¡¯t going to dismiss. She¡¯d caused quite a lot of troubles for himtely. She lowered her eyes for a bemused moment before looking up at him and saying apologetically, ¡°I appreciate all the help you¡¯ve offered me. What can I do to repay you?¡±


    ¡°Would you stay by my side?¡± Nan Jihan asked hopefully, reaching out to take her hand.


    Jun Huang¡¯s smile dropped. With furrowed brows, she pulled her hand away and shook her head. ¡°No.¡±


    Nan Jihan¡¯s chest tightened. Jun Huang just wouldn¡¯t budge! He¡¯d done so much for her. He¡¯d even offended his officials for her. And yet her heart remained frosty.


    His expression clouded. What an ungrateful woman!


    The maid was observant enough to read Nan Jihan¡¯s thoughts. She hurried to Nan Jihan when she saw the change in his expression and said, ¡°His Majesty, thedy has just woken up. She still hasn¡¯t recovered and must be tired now. It¡¯s time for her to rest.¡±


    Nan Jihan nced at Jun Huang and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for the side building to be prepared for her. You may move thereter.¡±


    The maid sighed in relief and turned to the bemused Jun Huang. She was beautiful. Even a woman like her couldn¡¯t help stare. Now she saw that Jun Huang was also a woman who didn¡¯t fear the aristocrats. She didn¡¯t seek power the way other people did and had an unusually pure heart.


    After the room had been prepared, Jun Huang made her way to the side building with the maid¡¯s help. Nan Jihan hadn¡¯te visit her, which she was d about. She was tired of dealing with him. In the past, she¡¯d just say no to him. However, Nan Jihan had done too much for her. She was in his debt.


    She sighed, staring outside the window as she sat on the bed. That was what the maid saw when she entered with a bowl of medicine. Was her master thinking about what happened earlier? She approached the bed and ced the bowl on the table.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let it concerned you,¡± the maidforted. ¡°His Majesty is just busy. Besides, he¡¯s prepared the side building for you so that you can recover.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at her. Hers was a face of someone who truly cared. She smiled and patted the girl on the back of her hand and gestured for her to sit down.


    ¡°I¡¯m not worried,¡± she said at a deliberate pace and chuckled. The cadence of her speech had a nice rhythm to it. ¡°I¡¯m just getting bored and feel like getting some fresh air.¡±


    The maid looked around. ¡°You don¡¯t pay enough attention to your own health, and you became even worse after you got sick. What would you do without me? You¡¯d insist on going outside! Please don¡¯t be stubborn. You can do whatever you wish to do.¡±


    Jun Huang covered up augh and prodded at the maid¡¯s forehead. ¡°Sweet-talker.¡±


    ¡°Alright, please don¡¯tugh at me. The medicine is about cooled down. If you don¡¯t take it now, it¡¯s going to be really bitter.¡±


    The maid was reminded of the medicine she ced on the table. She brought it to Jun Huang.


    Without a word, Jun Huang took a sip. The maid hurriedly said, ¡°You should finish it in one go, or it¡¯s going to be even more bitter. I¡¯ve asked for some candied dates earlier. I wonder why it¡¯s not delivered yet. I¡¯ll go out and check. Please wait for me and don¡¯t take the medicine just yet. The dates will help lessen the bitterness.¡±


    She rushed out of the room before Jun Huang could stop her. Jun Huang looked at her, then at the ck and thick medicine in her hand. She smiled resignedly and finished the medicine in one go without so much as a frown.


    The maid walked outside and saw the girl she¡¯d sent to get candied dates sitting on the door sill chewing sunflower seeds. She frowned as she rushed to her. ¡°Why are you still here? Didn¡¯t I tell you to get some candied dates? Lady Feng is going to take the medicine. She needs something sweet.¡±


    The chubby girl nced at the maid and spat the seed onto the ground. She then shoved the remaining seeds into her inner pocket and brushing dust off her clothes. ¡°I went but they wouldn¡¯t let me take any. What am I supposed to do?¡±


    The maid wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°How so? We¡¯ve taken things from the kitchen before. Why would they turn you away?¡±


    The chubby girl scoffed and looked over at the door. She leaned into the maid and muttered, ¡°Stupid girl, you are the only one who still serves her with care. She has no hope in the future. Everyone knows His Majesty has stormed away from her room in anger. People are only going to turn me down due to herck of status if I ask for anything. Why would I waste the time?¡±


    With that, she walked away.


    The maid quickly figured out what was happening. She looked inside the room, then nced outside again. In the end, she sighed and returned to Jun Huang, giving her a stilted smile. ¡°The housekeeper said there was no candied dates avable. This servant...¡±

 Chapter 283 - Troubles in the Harem

    <h4><strong>Chapter 283: Troubles in the Harem</strong></h4>


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I understand.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled gently at the maid, which made her eyes sting. She turned to wipe off her tears when Jun Huang wasn¡¯t looking, her heart clenching. Why would a wonderful woman like Jun Huang be subjected to such malice?


    Jun Huang pretended to not see the maid¡¯s tears and sighed silently. She knew what was happening. When Nan Jihan still cared, the maids and servants had been attentive to her. After they had an argument and he¡¯d left in a dark mood, she was no longer considered under his protection. It was only natural that people with ulterior motives would take the opportunity to make her life difficult, for example by denying her daily supplies, which she didn¡¯t care much about.


    The maid calmed herself. She didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to know what was wrong. She put on a smile and lowered her eyes. She paused when she noticed the empty bowl. Her head jerked up and her eyes met Jun Huang¡¯s. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a sweet tooth,¡± Jun Huang said carelessly with her eyes downcast. ¡°I don¡¯t need any sweets. Don¡¯t worry about that.¡±


    ¡°But the medicine is bitter, and the taste lingers in your mouth. The smell was enough to make me gag when I brewed it. Candied dates can cover the bitterness.¡±


    The maid¡¯s brows remained deeply furrowed. She choked out a sob.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m going to rest.¡± Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to waste time on the issue. She felt sleepy as the medicine came into effect.


    The maid wasn¡¯t going to argue. She quickly helped Jun Huang to her bed and tucked her in. ¡°Rest well. This servant will wake you up when the meal is ready.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and closed her eyes. The maid sighed and turned to leave.


    She made her way to the royal kitchen with a meal box. Many other maids were already here. They mocked and insulted her as soon as they saw her. She kept her mouth shut like Jun Huang had suggested. However, those people just wouldn¡¯t let go. Although she didn¡¯t want to waste her breath arguing with them, she couldn¡¯t let them nder Jun Huang.


    Their argument attracted the attention of the eunuch in charge. He asked them where they were from and shot the maid a cold nce. He dismissed the others and pointed a finger at the maid. ¡°How dare you make such a scene in the pce? Your master must be as catty as you are. Stay here and don¡¯t enter until they leave.¡±


    ¡°Gonggong, they ¨C ¡±


    ¡°What? Do you want your master to starve?¡± The eunuch nced at her derisively.


    The maid bit into her lip, her chest bursting with anger she couldn¡¯t let out and her eyes brimming with tears. Only after everyone had left did she enter the kitchen. However, the ce seemedpletely ransacked. There was nothing left. She gripped the mealbox tightly. What should she do now?


    ¡°Hm? Why did youe sote?¡± The young cook leaned out of the kitchen and peered at her questioningly.


    ¡°I was dyed.¡±


    ¡°Those women acted like they were from the ghettos and didn¡¯t leave anything,¡± said the cook. ¡°It may not be your fault that you¡¯re dyed, but you shoulde earlier next time. The feud between those consorts never ends. They¡¯d love to deprive their rivals of food. You¡¯re going to be scolded if you return empty-handed though. How about I prepare something simple for you? If it¡¯s not too crude for you, that is.¡±


    Hope lit up in the maid¡¯s eyes. She nodded earnestly. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The cook waved his hand carelessly and rolled up his sleeves before starting to cook. He quickly made a bowl of noodles and a side dish. He scratched his head. ¡°I don¡¯t have a lot of time, so this is the best I can do.¡±


    The maid nodded and quickly put the food into the box like she was worried someone would rob her. She bid the cook farewell before walking away.


    ¡°This is all that¡¯s left,¡± the maid carefully said as she took out the bowl of noodles and the side dish. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you can stomach it.¡±


    Jun Huang nced at the food on the table and nodded with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not picky. You don¡¯t have to be so concerned.¡±


    Once she finished the meal, Jun Huang went back to bed. The maid left the room after tucking Jun Huang in and grabbed the remaining steamed bun on the table. She was used to a life of poverty. She finished eating and went to bed, intending to wake up early to get breakfast for Jun Huang, who needed to have bird nest porridge every day to boost her recovery. The maid wouldn¡¯t be able to get any if she went toote.


    Early the next morning, the maid rushed to the kitchen with a meal box, but she was stopped from entering. The other maids took away all the bird nest porridge right before her. She couldn¡¯t do anything but fume. The cook that helped her yesterday was nowhere to be seen. It was said that he¡¯d been assigned to a different post for a mistake he made.


    The maid returned with only a bowl of in porridge, and she¡¯d fought hard for it. Jun Huang looked at the porridge, then at the maid. She sighed and decided to have an open conversation with her. ¡°I know what¡¯s happening. You don¡¯t have to hide it from me. I¡¯m not a consort, and I don¡¯t want to be one. They have nothing to do with me. There¡¯s no reason for you to push yourself. If someone stops you from getting something, let them. Don¡¯t put yourself at risk. You can¡¯t win.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t protect you. I can¡¯t do anything if they try to hurt you. Take a step back and don¡¯t sh with others head on. Then, maybe you¡¯ll get something fresh out of the pot rather than cold, stale buns.¡±


    ¡°You knew?¡± the maid muttered timidly, staring at Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang chuckled and ate the tasteless porridge without a word. The maid pursed her lips in frustration and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you going to do nothing when they treat you like this? You¡¯re getting weaker. Even if we disregard those maids and servants, the medicine you get is short of a few ingredients the royal doctor prescribed you. You don¡¯t get good food or good medicine. What if you copse? Let me go to His Majesty for help. He likes you. He won¡¯t let you be subjected to such unfair treatment.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Jun Huang said with an impassive expression. ¡°I know my body. I¡¯ll recover anyway. I don¡¯t want to owe him another favor.¡±


    Days passed. The maids and eunuchs still saw Jun Huang as an easy target. The maid was unable to get any good food, and the medicine she was given became even cruder. She tried to seek out Nan Jihan, but he¡¯d moved into another pce, and the maid couldn¡¯t get any more information on his whereabouts.


    The maid watched helplessly as Jun Huang became slimmer. She should have recovered already if she hadn¡¯t been subjected to unfair treatment. Finally, the day came that the maid could leave the pce to purchase groceries. She didn¡¯tin about the meager silver taels she was given and went straight to Oleg Cragfiend.


    She told him about the situation Jun Huang was in. Jun Huang had been growing more and more sleepy. She spent unnaturally long hours asleep every day, and she looked sick. Oleg Cragfiend immediately followed the maid to the pce.


    Nan Jihan had given him a free pass to the pce for saving his life. Therefore no one had tried to stop them from entering. They rushed to the side pce.


    Oleg Cragfiend opened the door and saw Jun Huang sleeping on the bed. Even from a distance, he could tell she¡¯d lost weight. He¡¯d put in so much effort to help her recover, and now it was all undone. It pained him to see her in this state.


    Jun Huang opened her eyes when he was near the bed. She widened her eyes in delight and surprise and propped herself up. The sudden movement sent her into a coughing fit. The maid quickly poured her a cup of water and fed her.


    ¡°Why are you here, master?¡± Jun Huang wiped her mouth with a handkerchief after she stopped coughing and asked with a smile.


    ¡°I heard you weren¡¯t doing well, so I came to check on you,¡± Oleg Cragfiend admitted. As he expected, Jun Huang looked mortified for a brief moment.


    Jun Huang turned to the maid with a frown, who got her message and lowered her head. Neither of them said a word.


    ¡°At this rate, you¡¯ll never recover enough to survive the blood drawing,¡± Oleg Cragfiend snapped.


    Jun Huang fell silent. She lowered her eyes, her expression impassive. She felt strangely calm and almost cold inside.


    Oleg Cragfiend didn¡¯t want to engage in a staring match with her. He rose and said a few words to the maid before leaving the room, making his way to the study.


    Nan Jihan had just returned from the morning meeting. He was surprised to see the poison master. He hurried to him. ¡°What is the gentleman doing here?¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend scoffed aggressively. ¡°This peasant would like to ask Your Majesty the same thing. This peasant entrusted my disciple to Your Majesty, and now she¡¯s bed-ridden and weak. If this peasant hadn¡¯te, she¡¯d have wasted away.¡±


    Nan Jihan waspletely lost. He nced at the eunuch, then at Oleg Cragfiend. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°My disciple is delicate. She looks so much worse than she did before. The pce must have been too harsh an environment for her to stay in. It¡¯s better that I take her back to my ce.¡±


    Nan Jihan finally had an inkling about what the poison master was talking about. He stopped the old man from leaving and asked with a frown, ¡°What? She¡¯s been having the most premium herbs. Why would she get more ill?¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend huffed and took a couple steps back, staring at Nan Jihan coldly. ¡°Is Your Majesty truly in the dark, or are you trying to y ignorant? Premium herbs? She doesn¡¯t even get enough food!¡±

 Chapter 284 - Drawing Blood

    <h4> Chapter 284: Drawing Blood</h4>


    Nan Jihan turned to his personal eunuch, who knelt down and told him how the maids and servants had been treating Jun Huang. Nan Jihan scowled and kicked the eunuch in the chest. ¡°Useless thing! Stay on your knees and think about your mistakes.¡±


    He rushed to the side building with Oleg Cragfiend. When they arrived, the maid happened to be leaving the room. She greeted them respectfully and said, ¡°She¡¯s asleep.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?!¡± Nan Jihan growled. He was so angry he¡¯d snap at anything that moved.


    Before the maid could say anything, Oleg Cragfiend retorted in a steely voice, ¡°Who do you think she is, Your Majesty? She¡¯s only a maid. How could she possibly reach you when you were avoiding them? If you have time to waste on casting me, it¡¯s better served dealing with the matter at hand.¡±


    Nan Jihan quieted down. The poison master was right. He cupped his hands and bowed slightly to express his gratitude and went off to make the necessary arrangements.


    He furiously punished everyone involved and ordered all servants to take good care of Jun Huang. Anyone who dared defy his will would be put to death. The maids and eunuchs realized that Nan Jihan still cared greatly about Jun Huang. They dared not make another move against her and instead gave her everything she needed and more.


    The maid pursed her lips and scoffed at the table full of quality food. ¡°They only have eyes for status. When they realize His Majesty cares about you, they shower you with gifts. However, this servant still remembers how they treated you.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled as she stared at the dishes, but she didn¡¯t feel like eating. She had a few bites before sitting down on the bed reading books. Her attention kept straying to Nan Xun.


    He wouldn¡¯t have let anyone treat her like that. Everyone showed her respect when she was in his manor. The disparity made her miss Nan Xun even more. She decided to cut ties with Southern Mu as soon as she recovered and returned to his side.


    No one even looked at her wrong from then on, and Jun Huang was making good progress recovering. She heard about how Nan Jihan had punished those who mistreated her, but it didn¡¯t leave an imprint in her heart. Although the maid had told her how much Nan Jihan worried for her, she didn¡¯t feel at all moved. She just wished for a speedy recovery. Then she could leave this ce.


    After some time, she believed she¡¯d recovered enough to start drawing blood. She notified Nan Jihan, who sent for Oleg Cragfiend and the royal doctor out of concern. The decision would only be made after they¡¯d checked on her.


    Oleg Cragfiend took her pulse. She¡¯d recovered well. The process of drawing blood could begin. Nan Jihan was still worried, but Jun Huang wasn¡¯t willing to wait any longer. He had no choice but to let her, telling her he¡¯d make the preparations.


    After a few days, Nan Jihan took Jun Huang and Oleg Cragfiend to the snowy mountain where blood lotuses grew. Jun Huang had experienced the cold once, but it didn¡¯t make it any easier to bear. Even dressed in a thickyer of winter coat wasn¡¯t enough to keep her warm.


    They slowly made their way to their destination. Jun Huang frowned when she saw the lotuses. ¡°Thest time we came they were blooming. Why are there only buds now?¡±


    The once stunningly blooming lotuses had reverted back to buds. The flowers were there, but they were tucked within the sepals.


    ¡°Blood lotus doesn¡¯t bloom for long, but it can bloom several times in its lifetime,¡± exined Nan Jihan. ¡°It¡¯ll always be there.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded without a word.


    Oleg Cragfiend pulled out a dagger. Jun Huang rolled up her broad sleeve, revealing her delicate wrist. The cold made her fingers look even paler, and the veins more prominent, as if her skin would break under the slightest pressure.


    Oleg Cragfiend considered her for a moment before raising the dagger. Nan Jihan stepped in suddenly with a frown. ¡°Are we really doing this? Is there no other way?¡±


    Both Jun Huang and Oleg Cragfiend shot him a pointed look. He realized his mistake and stepped back with a tight expression, forcing himself to not look at Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and smiled faintly. ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend nodded and decisively slid the dagger across her arm. The de radiated coldness and left a cut on her skin. Crimson blood streamed down her arm into the bowl he¡¯d prepared.


    The bowl was soon filled. Nan Jihan hurriedly hand her a handkerchief. Lightheaded, Jun Huang took a deep breath and wrapped the handkerchief around her arm without a word. The silk quickly turned a terrifying red.


    Oleg Cragfiend gingerly brought the bowl of blood to the lotuses and poured it over the most fully-developed one. Its roots consumed the still warm blood at unusual speed and the nt gradually turned translucent. It was as if it¡¯d be sentient. A faint red shone through the bud ¨C Jun Huang¡¯s blood had be one with the flower.


    Jun Huang¡¯s vision blurred. She took a few steps backward, trying to stay conscious by rubbing at her forehead, but to no avail. Her movement pulled at her injured wrist. She wavered and lost bnce, copsing to the ground.


    Both Oleg Cragfiend and Nan Jihan were both temporarily transfixed by the change the lotus went through. They only realized that Jun Huang was gone when they turned to talk to her. Nan Jihan searched around. When he found her, she was half buried in snow. Panicked, he rushed to get her out and took her freezing wrist, his expression tight with fear.


    Oleg Cragfiend¡¯s face turned serious. He took off his coat and handed it to Nan Jihan, who wrapped it around Jun Huang without hesitation and picked her up. They carried her down the mountain.


    ¡°Should we return to the pce?¡± Nan Jihan asked.


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s return,¡± Oleg Cragfiend said after a brief pause. ¡°She fell unconscious only because of exhaustion and a slight cold. She¡¯ll be fine. You are the emperor, but you haven¡¯t taken many guards with you this time. It¡¯s safer for us to return to the pce now.¡±


    Nan Jihan nodded. His men had been waiting at the foot of the mountain. They were shocked to see Jun Huangying in Nan Jihan¡¯s arms, thinking something bad had happened to her. They only rxed when Nan Jihan exined. They made their way back to the pce via coach.


    Nan Jihan never once let Jun Huang go on their way to the pce and instead clutched her cold hand tightly. It was as if Jun Huang would disappear as soon as he let go. Oleg Cragfiend was conflicted when he took notice. With the secrets Jun Huang¡¯s past held, he wasn¡¯t sure if it was a good thing for her to get involved with Nan Jihan.


    Nan Jihan only had eyes for Jun Huang, so he didn¡¯t notice Oleg Cragfiend¡¯s concerns. What he wouldn¡¯t give to give the horses wings! He¡¯d parted the curtains and urged the coachman to go faster several times. The man swallowed down hisints and went as fast as he could.


    It took them two hours to reach the pce, but Jun Huang still hadn¡¯t regained her consciousness. In panic, Nan Jihan got off the coach with Jun Huang in his arms and hurried toward the side building. Oleg Cragfiend followed closely after them.


    They encountered many maids and eunuchs on the way, but Nan Jihan was too worried to care. His face was tight with concerns as he carried Jun Huang, which shocked the servants. They didn¡¯t realize how much their emperor cared about the woman.


    Some were already nning to get on Jun Huang¡¯s good side. It seemed that it was only a matter of time before she became a consort. They cursed at their past selves for being short-sighted and bullying Jun Huang when she seemingly lost the emperor¡¯s favor.


    The maid let Nan Jihan in. Jun Huang¡¯s wound was treated, but there was still splotches of blood. The maid widened her eyes. ¡°What happened to her?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± Oleg Cragfiend offered and patted her shoulder. ¡°She¡¯s caught a cold and lost some blood. She just needs rest and my treatment.¡±


    The maid was still concerned, but she nodded with her lips pursed. Nan Jihan came up to them and told the maid, ¡°I¡¯ve had some hot water prepared. Clean her upter and help her change. Be careful not to let her wrist get wet.¡±


    The maid kept his instructions in mind. Once the hot water was brought into the room, the maid started cleaning Jun Huang up. Nan Jihan and Oleg Cragfiend stayed in the garden without a word.


    The blood drawing process was risky. A frown found its way to Nan Jihan¡¯s face and stayed there. Jun Huang had insisted on starting the process despite her master reminding her of the risks involved. There was nothing they could do but to be extra careful.


    Nan Jihan regretted his decision when he thought back to Jun Huang¡¯s frail and pale form lying in the snow. He shouldn¡¯t have let them take the risk. Now that this was a done deal, he could only try to protect her.


    ¡°You don¡¯t look well, Your Majesty,¡± Oleg Cragfiend said when he noticed Nan Jihan¡¯s ashen face. ¡°You should go rest. I¡¯ll keep an eye on her.¡±


    Nan Jihan shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll stay outside and wait until you make sure she¡¯s not in danger.¡±

 Chapter 285 - Illness and Suspicion

    Chapter 285: Illness and Suspicion


    In the study, Nan Xun flipped through a scroll. It was a rare day where he had no official business to attend to. He decided to spend some time working on affairs of the House of Heavenly Fiends. He worried that Jun Huang would overwork herself when she returned. He¡¯d do anything to lessen her burden.


    He quickly browsed through the organization¡¯s ounting book with an impassive expression. Suddenly, he felt a pang in his heart. He grimaced and the book dropped from his hand. He took a deep breath with a hand covering his chest, trying to suppress his anxiety.


    Something bad had happened.


    Jun Huang mentioned that she was going to start drawing blood for the lotus in herst letter. Her description was intentionally vague, but he¡¯d done his research. He knew it wasn¡¯t as simple as she made it out to be. The knowledge filled him with a sense of dread.


    ¡°Has something happened to Jun Huang?¡± He walked up to the window and opened it to look outside. The sun hung high in the sky and the world seemed bright and peaceful, but the shadow of doubt lingered in his heart.


    Someone knocked. Nan Xun schooled his expression and opened the door. He frowned when he saw that it was his housekeeper. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Your Highness, news got out from the pce that His Majesty has copsed again,¡± said the housekeeper.


    Nan Xun started and narrowed his eyes. This could have serious ramifications. He led the housekeeper outside and listed out everything the housekeeper should pay attention to, who nodded agreeably and promised to keep the manor safe.


    Nan Xun mounted the brown horse the housekeeper had prepared. Things had happened to suddenly, leaving him little time to think. He rode to the pce and ran into an anxious-looking Qi Yun at the entrance.


    ¡°I just came from the Court of Judicial Review after getting the news,¡± Qi Yun said bluntly after dragging Nan Xun to a hidden corner. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Royal Father¡¯s condition to deteriorate so suddenly. He¡¯s been recovering! Something is wrong.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t immediately respond. He shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not that sudden. His Majesty was poisoned. It wasn¡¯t that surprising that the poison would act up and wreak havoc. He¡¯s been careless assumes he¡¯s cured. I worry that Prince Duan will use the opportunity to stir up trouble.¡±


    ¡°Agreed. I¡¯ll need your help this time. Don¡¯t give Prince Duan a chance to strike at us.¡± Qi Yun spoke seriously. He was no longer the young man obsessed with literature and art, but a wise man who could be a good leader. Nan Xun looked at him appreciatively. Jun Huang had picked the right person to take the throne.


    ¡°Things aren¡¯t as simple as we thought, but we don¡¯t have time to hesitate,¡± Nan Xun said calmly. ¡°I¡¯ll have my men guard the pce and rece the imperial army with our people.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. ¡°We aren¡¯t sure what Prince Duan is trying to do, though. It¡¯s best to be on our guard. You should keep what you do a secret and don¡¯t let Royal Father know.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He leaned to take a look at their surroundings and said after some deliberation, ¡°I¡¯ll get on with that. You should stay with His Majesty.¡±


    Qi Yun waved a hand in the air. ¡°There¡¯s no telling if he¡¯ll get suspicious of me if I show up immediately. Maybe I should return to the court and wait for him to notify me.¡±


    The emperor is a mistrustful and guarded man. What Qi Yun said made sense. However, Nan Xun thought that¡¯d be too obvious. He proposed a more neutral alternative, suggesting Qi Yun to stay outside the emperor¡¯s pce. The emperor shouldn¡¯t get too suspicious of Qi Yun then.


    They parted. Qi Yun went straight to the emperor¡¯s pce, while Nan Xun rode to the training ground. Their actions were noted by Prince Duan¡¯swork of informants and were soon brought to the man¡¯s attention.


    Prince Duan could tell what they were nning. He scoffed. He had intended to seize control over the pce while the emperor was weak, but now he had another idea. If things went ording to his n, he might be able to destroy Nan Xun and Qi Yun both.


    He dismissed the troop he¡¯d gathered in his manor, which befuddled Qi Chen. When he asked, Prince Duan only told him to be patient and wait for events to unfold.


    Nan Xun quickly gathered his people and nted them around the pce. Only then did he allow himself to rx. Still, he kept his eyes sharp. A good general should always take the path with the least risk. He couldn¡¯t rest easy without keeping watch over his soldiers in person.


    Prince Duan had his men keep an eye on Nan Xun. He smiled when he heard Nan Xun had deployed his soldiers. His thoughts shifted to the young prince. ¡°Where is Qi Yun?¡±


    ¡°The fourth prince is waiting outside the emperor¡¯s pce,¡± said his shadow guard. ¡°It¡¯s said that the emperor refuses to take any visitors.¡±


    Prince Duan thought for a moment before nodding. He turned to a confused Qi Chen and beckoned him over. ¡°Follow me to the pce.¡±


    Qi Chen got to his feet. ¡°Should I put on some disguise?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We should avoid rousing any troubles at the time being. There¡¯s no rush. Everything is under control. There will be a day when you can walk into the pce as yourself.¡±


    A dark look shed through Prince Duan¡¯s eyes. Qi Chen¡¯s breath hitched. He had a feeling that something big was going to happen.


    He turned out to be right. The status quo was going to change.


    They hurried to the pce and were stopped by Nan Xun¡¯s men at the door. However, no one could do anything to someone with as high a status as Prince Duan. The soldiers had no choice but to let him through without searching him. They then sent someone to notify Nan Xun.


    Qi Chen¡¯s heart was beating fast. He¡¯d put on a disguise, but he didn¡¯t know how he should face the emperor. Even though the emperor might not be able to recognize him, it still worried him.


    They reached the emperor¡¯s pce quickly, and there Qi Yun was. He looked at Prince Duan, wondering what the man was nning. The eunuch talked to Prince Duan for a long while before entering the building to notify the emperor.


    The eunuch didn¡¯t immediately return, which prompted Qi Chen to pace around anxiously. Prince Duan kept his expression calm, masking his thoughts. Every once in a while he¡¯d turn to throw Qi Yun an inquisitive nce, which unsettled Qi Yun. He had a feeling that Prince Duan was up to no good. The young man by Prince Duan¡¯s side also looked strangely familiar, but he couldn¡¯t put a name to the face.


    Finally, the eunuch emerged. He whispered something to Prince Duan, who cupped his hands in gratitude. Prince Duan led Qi Chen into the pce. Once the door was shut, Qi Yun approached the eunuch and asked, ¡°What has Prince Duan said to gonggong?¡±


    Knowing that Qi Yun could very well be the future emperor, the eunuch¡¯s first reaction was to tell him the truth, but what Prince Duan said gave him pause.


    His reaction was telling enough. Qi Yun smiled and continued to wait under the sun. He just wanted to see how the eunuch would respond. He didn¡¯t expect the old man to just tell him.


    Prince Duan and Qi Chen knelt down on the floor and bowed to the emperor as soon as they entered. Qi Chen didn¡¯t dare look up at the emperor. Only after the emperor told them to be at ease did he rise to his feet. He stood on the side without a word.


    Prince Duan considered the emperor, who was lying on the bed. The man had aged considerably since thest time he saw him. He looked almost pitiful.


    The emperor nced at the young man who had entered with Prince Duan. Something about him was familiar, but he didn¡¯t dwell on that.


    He was suddenly reminded of Qi Chen. The young prince was his son after all, and one he once favored the most. Although Qi Chen hadmitted an atrocious crime, he wasn¡¯t as angry at his son as he¡¯d been.


    Prince Duan decided to deal with Nan Xun and Qi Yun first instead of trying to win forgiveness for Qi Chen. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself halfway.


    The emperor frowned at him. ¡°You may be frank with me.¡±


    ¡°This official made a discovery, Your Majesty,¡± Prince Duan said as he dropped to his knees, keeping his back straight. ¡°Qi Yun has been eyeing the throne for a while. He¡¯s had his men surround the pce already, waiting to take the throne as soon as Your Majesty passes.¡±


    The emperor widened his eyes, staring at Prince Duan. Prince Duan met his gaze calmly like he had nothing to hide and continued, ¡°This official is beingpletely honest. The pce is under the fourth prince¡¯s control. If Your Majesty doesn¡¯t believe me, you should have your people conduct an investigation. The fourth prince is right outside the pce. He¡¯s going to enter soon under the guise of bringing you medicine.¡±

 Chapter 286 - Vague Words

    Chapter 286: Vague Words


    The emperor could tell what Prince Duan was implying. Qi Yun had been the one preparing his medicine these days. He could easily tamper with it. The more he thought, the more paranoid he became.


    He didn¡¯t want to die. No emperor ever wanted a premature death. Some even wished to defy death forever. He¡¯d lead a luxurious life. It still scared him to think about his life being threatened.


    Prince Duan¡¯s words made him doubt Qi Yun¡¯s intention, which was evident in the way his brows furrowed. Prince Duan hid a smile. He decided to take care of Qi Chen¡¯s issue as well.


    ¡°There¡¯s something else this official is debating if I should tell Your Majesty.¡± Prince Duan lowered his eyes and put on a harmless front. The emperor was already fearing for himself. He nodded to Prince Duan after some hesitation, silently urging him to continue.


    ¡°There¡¯s more to the second prince¡¯s attempt to stage a coup. This official has conducted an investigation myself. There are many unanswered questions. Your Majesty knows the second prince better than I do. You know what kind of a person he is. He couldn¡¯t havee up with such a treacherous n himself.¡±


    ¡°Storming the pce was the worst thing he could do. He was already the crown prince. Why would he have taken the risk? Besides, hasn¡¯t Your Majesty doubted Nan Xun? Everything happened so suddenly. How was it possible for Nan Xun to make it to the pce in time? Besides, everyone he brought with him was his best fighters. They should have been at the training ground, which wasn¡¯t that far from the imperial city, but was still outside the city. If Nan Xun arranged for them toe after hearing about the second prince¡¯s action, they wouldn¡¯t have arrived so soon.¡±


    ¡°Everything came together too perfectly. Moreover, Feng Baiyu had been the second prince¡¯s strategist, but he showed up with Nan Xun that night. There was something fishy about that. I hope Your Majesty would investigate the matter again.¡±


    Prince Duanid out his points logically. He didn¡¯t try to absolve Qi Chen of his crime, but instead raise questions to the emperor from a different perspective.


    He made it out as if the whole ordeal was a carefully constructed n, which was a terrifying possibility. Being overloaded with information prevented the emperor from thinking critically. Prince Duan¡¯s analysis nudged the direction his thoughts went and made hime to the same conclusion.


    ¡°The second prince has made a mistake,¡± continued Prince Duan. ¡°However, it¡¯s clear that someone deliberately set him up. He was tricked intomitting the treacherous deed. The one who ends up benefiting isn¡¯t the second prince, is he?¡±


    He deftly framed Qi Yun as the suspect like the cunning man he was. He knew what to say and what to leave unsaid. If he¡¯d mentioned Qi Yun explicitly, his words would be less convincing. The emperor woulde to the conclusion himself.


    ¡°This official has said everything I wanted to say. I won¡¯t bother Your Majesty further. Please excuse me.¡± Prince Duan left the room with a silent Qi Chen in tow, a smile tugging his lips. Qi Yun frowned when he saw his expression. Something was wrong.


    The more the emperor thought, the more Prince Duan¡¯s spection made sense to him. It suddenly struck him as odd that he still hadn¡¯t recovered even after being cured of his poison and treated with great care. He rose to his feet and summoned one of his confidantes, asking him to send for the royal doctor he most trusted.


    The doctor came not long after. He bowed to Qi Yun when he passed by him and rushed into the room. Qi Yun¡¯s eyes twitched. He had a bad feeling about this.


    The emperor asked the doctor for a diagnosis. He grew nervous as the doctor¡¯s face grew tighter with fingers wrapped around his pulse point.


    Finally, the doctor let go of the emperor¡¯s hand. ¡°Your Majesty is inflicted with a potent poison. Why are you still taking supplements that do nothing to treat it? You¡¯ve missed the best time to get cured.¡±


    The emperor widened his eyes, immediately suspecting Qi Yun of being responsible. His son had been the one to get the royal doctors for the emperor, and he had been preparing the medicine.


    The emperor hadn¡¯t realized how cunning a man Qi Yun was. His frown grew deeper as he contemted the possibility.


    The royal doctor left without a word. Apanying the emperor was as dangerous as taming a tiger. He knew a quiet retreat was his best option.


    Qi Yun¡¯s worries intensified when he saw the doctor leaving the pce. He stared at the shut door, then at the doctor walking away from him. After a brief hesitation, he caught up with the doctor.


    He knew the man was the emperor¡¯s confidante. There were things he couldn¡¯t bring up openly. He thus smiled and exchanged pleasantries with the doctor, discreetly asking him what the emperor asked him here for.


    The doctor was no fool. He gave Qi Yun a polite smile and humored him without giving him any useful information. Qi Yun had no choice but to let the doctor leave. He¡¯d have to cross the bridge when he came to it.


    He didn¡¯t know what Prince Duan had said to the emperor, but it was obvious that the emperor had grown distant from him again. He¡¯d been delivering medicine to the emperor himself in the past, but the emperor sent him a message, telling him to focus on affairs in the court and to not worry about anything else.


    Others would assume the emperor was being considerate, but he knew it was a sign that the emperor was suspecting him again. However, he hadn¡¯t found out anything about Prince Duan¡¯s previous conversation with the emperor. He thought Prince Duan had merely made a few harmless remarks behind his back.


    The emperor was ill, and Nan Xun had made all the necessary arrangements. Nothing could stand in his way. He didn¡¯t think Prince Duan would be able to stir up that much trouble. He put aside his worries and stopped dwelling on it, trying to tell himself that the emperor was merely being considerate. He didn¡¯t even tell Nan Xun about the recent turn of events, thinking it unnecessary.


    The emperor was relieved rather than disappointed that Qi Yun hadn¡¯t been waiting outside the pce the past couple of days. His reaction confused his personal eunuch. In the past, the emperor would always ask for Qi Yun if he stopped visiting. Why did the emperor seem happy about Qi Yun¡¯s absence?


    The eunuch couldn¡¯t figure out a reason. The royal family was always difficult to predict. He shook his thoughts away.


    This day, the emperor asked the eunuch to send for an official who was loyal to him, seemingly to talk about business.


    The official bowed to the emperor and looked up at him. ¡°What has Your Majesty asked me toe for?¡±


    The emperor¡¯s eyes were vicious. His face was pale due to his illness, but his presence was as strong as ever, if not stronger.


    ¡°I want you to scout around the pce,¡± he said bluntly. ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone notice you. Gather information in secret.¡±


    The official was befuddled, but he nodded without a word and walked away. He reported back to the emperor at night.


    ¡°The pce was surrounded by Prince Nan Xun¡¯s men. Every gate is guarded by his people as well. Has something happenedtely?¡±


    The emperor wanted to keep the information on a need-to-know basis before he went to the bottom of the situation. Thus, he made a dismissive gesture without a word and told the official to not tell anyone. The official nodded despite his confusion and walked away.


    The emperor was left alone in the room. He gazed deeply into the distance. He knew Qi Yun often met up with Nan Xun. He¡¯d assumed the two brothers were just close. Prince Duan¡¯s words made him realize what was happening. The two of them must have been in cahoots for a long time, aiming to take the throne. He¡¯d thought Qi Yun was a pure-hearted man, but now it seemed he was the shrewdest of them all. He¡¯d managed to yed everyone!


    The emperor¡¯s thoughts turned to Qi Chen. He¡¯d heard about how Feng Baiyu helped Qi Yun take care of some of the cases in the court. He must have been nted by Qi Yun in order to trick Qi Chen intomitting treason. Qi Yun might have sent Feng Baiyu to seduce Nan Xun as well so that the general would support him.


    The emperor put all the me on Qi Yun. He¡¯dpletely forgotten about the young man who loyally stayed at his side while he was sick. In his ce was a shameless viin who¡¯d do anything to further his goal.


    It was a sleepless night for both the emperor and Qi Yun. Qi Yun had informants by the emperor¡¯s side. He knew who the emperor had met with, but not what they¡¯d talked about. Nheless, he was sure Prince Duan was somehow involved.


    The next morning, the emperor sent for Prince Duan, who didn¡¯t show any reaction when he got the message. Qi Chen watched him, wondering what he was nning.


    ¡°You know he¡¯ll ask for you, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Prince Duan huffed, his eyes turning sharp. He shifted his gaze to Qi Chen. ¡°They aren¡¯t that difficult to deal with. It ends up benefiting me that they treated me as such a serious threat that they secretly took the precaution to maintain control over the pce. They made one mistake: I didn¡¯t n to storm the pce. I want the emperor to willingly hand us his power.¡±


    ¡°How do you know Royal Father will believe you?¡± Qi Chen was still confused.

 Chapter 287 - Heartless Judgement

    <h4>Chapter 287: Heartless Judgement</h4>


    ¡°I was simply telling the truth. The emperor may have suspected the same thing before. He can easily find out what Nan Xun and Qi Yun have been doing. He¡¯s a mistrustful man. His doubt toward his own blood will be his downfall.¡±


    Prince Duan spoke slowly, deliberately, which made him sound eerie. Qi Chen shuddered but remained quiet.


    Prince Duan didn¡¯t intend to continue with this conversation. The eunuch outside was urging him to leave. He changed into his court attire and followed the eunuch to the pce.


    The emperor had been on edge sincest night and only rxed when Prince Duan arrived. He hurried to Prince Duan to help him up and invited him to take a seat.


    ¡°What has Your Majesty summoned me for?¡± Prince Duan put on an innocent look, hiding the gears turning in his head. He snuck the emperor a nce and noted how tired he looked. He lowered his eyes bemusedly.


    The emperor had summoned Prince Duan for advice. He didn¡¯t intend to hide anything from him. Prince Duan was known for being a man of integrity. The fact that he¡¯d told the emperor what was happening in the pce proved him to be trustworthy.


    ¡°I¡¯ve looked into the spections you made a few days ago,¡± said the emperor. ¡°You¡¯re right. However, I¡¯m getting weaktely, and may not be able to live for long. I¡¯m feeling lost and therefore asked you here for advice.¡±


    Prince Duan looked thoughtful for a moment. ¡°Ah, I hear the ninth prince is doing well with his studies and is growing into a fine intellect. He¡¯ll be able to assist Your Majesty in no time.¡±


    He didn¡¯t tell the emperor that Qi Chen was living in his manor. After all, the emperor hadn¡¯t explicitly pardoned his son. There was no telling if he might get angry if Prince Duan brought Qi Chen up. It was better to put the ninth prince on the spot first. Once the ninth prince became the crown prince, they¡¯d be on track to victory. They boy would be nothing but a puppet ruler after the emperor died. He would listen to whatever Prince Duan said.


    ¡°What do you mean exactly?¡± the emperor asked with a frown.


    Prince Duan put away his thoughts and nodded respectfully. ¡°This official shares the same thought as Your Majesty. The ninth prince is young, but he is your son. I also hear that he¡¯s a pure-hearted boy. The best solution now is to educate him well and help him be the crown prince. Then, Your Majesty will be able to rest easy.¡±


    The emperor considered the proposal carefully. He looked up at Prince Duan, who sat by his side with a faint smile on his face. It seemed as if everything he said was for the good of the emperor.


    The emperor deemed the n viable after some deliberation. He nodded. ¡°That may work. However, the boy is still too young. There are things he won¡¯t be able to deal with properly and things he won¡¯t understand. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not healthy enough to teach him myself.¡°


    Prince Duan rose to his feet and knelt down before the emperor. ¡°Your Majesty doesn¡¯t have to worry. This official will do all I can to assist the ninth prince and teach him how to tackle court affairs.¡±


    The emperor didn¡¯t immediately respond. He considered Prince Duan for a long time.


    For reasons unbeknownst to him, Prince Duan felt as if the emperor was trying to convey something through his look. He held his breath.


    There was no basis to his sense of foreboding. He wondered what the emperor was thinking.


    Just when Prince Duan started to feel suffocated, the emperor finally said, ¡°I believe you. I know you want the best for me, and I think the ninth prince will make a good leader as well. How about you be the prince regent assisting the ninth prince? He¡¯s young, and I am ill. I¡¯ll be more at ease with you helping him.¡±


    That caught Prince Duan off guard. He bowed down and hit the floor with his head earnestly, his heart skipping in excitement.


    ¡°However... this official worries that those with ulterior motives may refuse to acknowledge Your Majesty¡¯s decision. Would Your Majesty issue a decree to avoidplications?¡±


    Prince Duan had thought everything through. He wasn¡¯t willing to leave any loose ends.


    The emperor paused for a long moment before getting to his feet. ¡°If so, please give me some privacy. You may return after I¡¯ve drafted the decree.¡±


    Prince Duan nodded. He knew the emperor didn¡¯t want other people to see the imperial seal. He wasn¡¯t too worried. In his mind, the seal was already his.


    After he¡¯d left the room, the emperor¡¯s personal eunuch approached the emperor andid a nk decree scroll on the table under the emperor¡¯s order. He then started grinding ink.


    After a brief bemused pause, the emperor wrote the decree in one swift attempt. The eunuch sighed, which sounded almost offensively loud in the silent room.


    ¡°Is something the matter?¡± asked the emperor.


    The eunuch didn¡¯t voice his thoughts and instead shook his head with a smile. The emperor knew what was left unspoken. After a moment, he said, ¡°This is the best thing I can do now.¡±


    ¡°This old servant doesn¡¯t understand, but Your Majesty would make the right call,¡± the eunuch saidfortingly. ¡°We¡¯re all walking on a predestined path. Your Majesty doesn¡¯t have to worry too much.¡±


    The emperor silently put his writing brush aside and read the decree over. Seeing that there was no mistake, he stamped the decree with the imperial seal.


    ¡°Deliver this to Prince Duan. I¡¯m tired.¡±


    The emperor rose and made his way to the bed. He seemed to have aged overnight. The eunuch felt a pang of guilt watching him. It must be hard for him to have everyone betraying him in the end.


    Once the ink was dried, the eunuch carefully rolled up the decree and gingerly walked outside, shutting the door behind him.


    Prince Duan sat with his back straight when the eunuch walked out. He sighed in relief as his gazended on the decree in the eunuch¡¯s hand. He walked up to the eunuch with a wide smile, intending to exchange some pleasantries with the old man, but the eunuch didn¡¯t seem willing to talk. He handed the decree to Prince Duan and said bluntly, ¡°His Majesty has gone to bed due to exhaustion. Prince Duan should return as well.¡±


    Prince Duan was confused, but he hadn¡¯t noticed anything wrong when he nced at the decree. Without another word, he returned to his manor.


    Once Prince Duan was out of eyeshot, the eunuch turned around and beckoned over a young eunuch. He whispered a few words to the boy, who nodded in understanding. He snuck out of the pce and made his way to Qi Yun¡¯s residence without attracting any attention.


    When the young eunuch arrived, Qi Yun was dealing with court cases. He had too many tasks to deal with every day. He had no choice but to take his work home. That also left him with no time to visit the emperor.


    He¡¯d seen the young eunuch a couple times. The emperor¡¯s personal eunuch always delivered message through this young boy. It waste. Something serious must have happened for the young eunuch toe here. He put aside the documents in his hands and asked the boy what had happened. His eyes grew darker and darker the more he listened. The young eunuch timidly went on to describe what the emperor had said to Prince Duan.


    Qi Yun could barely contain his rage. He took the young eunuch straight to the emperor¡¯s chamber. The old eunuch went up to him and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, ¡°His Majesty has issued a decree to make Prince Duan the prince regent. Fortunately, Your Highness has foreseen what could happen and prepared ordingly. Therefore everything is still under control. Your Highness doesn¡¯t have to be too worried. This old servant has done as you said.¡±


    Qi Yun took a deep breath to calm himself and smiled at the eunuch, his eyes dark. Before he entered the pce, he told the young eunuch, ¡°Since we¡¯vee to this point, there¡¯s no need for us to hold back. Tell Nan Xun to be prepared.¡±


    The boy nodded and rushed away. The eunuch dismissed everyone outside the pce. Some of them were puzzled, but they recognized the eunuch as the emperor¡¯s confidante and didn¡¯t dare disobey him. They thus left without hesitation.


    Qi Yun exchanged a look with the eunuch and nodded before he opened the door.


    The emperor was on the bed, but he was wide awake. Too many thoughts upied his mind, giving him a massive headache and preventing him from falling asleep. Still, he was tired. It might help to lie down for a while.


    The door creaked. The emperor assumed it was the eunuch. He rubbed at his forehead and asked for a cup of water to clear his throat, but then it was Qi Yun who responded.


    He jerked his head up to face Qi Yun, who wasing his way with a cup of water. His heart pounded in fear. Earlier, he¡¯d ordered to keep anyone other than the eunuch from entering his room. He broke into a cold sweat, caught off guard by Qi Yun¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± the emperor demanded after calming himself down.


    Qi Yun looked at him with a smile and ced the cup on the desk beside the emperor¡¯s bed. ¡°Why is Royal Father so nervous?¡±


    The emperor frowned, perturbed by Qi Yun¡¯s attitude. Qi Yun, however, met the emperor¡¯s gaze squarely with steel in his eyes, which unsettled the emperor.


    Qi Yun had always known that the emperor was heartless, but he didn¡¯t know to what extent. He¡¯d been so respectful and attentive to his father, and yet this was what he got in the end. He huffed. He couldn¡¯t y the loyal son anymore.

 Chapter 288 - Failure

    <h4>Chapter 288: Failure</h4>


    ¡°This son came to ask if Royal Father remembers my mother.¡± Qi Yun stared at the emperor and noted the sh of surprise and derision on the man¡¯s face. It made his fury burn hotter.


    Before the emperor could respond, he took a deep breath and continued, ¡°When I was young, my mother was the only one by my side. Royal Father is too busy to even pay me a visit. Mother was never allowed to attend the family dinner due to her lower background... Days after days, she waited for the man who¡¯d promised her a lifetime of happiness toe, but he never did. She was still defending you even right before her death... She should¡¯ve led a carefree life, but she was trapped in this pce with no end in sight.¡±


    His eyes turned red as he swallowed a sob, reminiscing about the loved one he¡¯d lost.


    ¡°I only have one question for you,¡± Qi Yun said slowly, pronouncing every syble. ¡°Have you ever regretted it?¡±


    The emperor frowned. After a long pause, he asked in a strange voice, ¡°Regret what?¡±


    A peel of sharpughter escaped Qi Yun¡¯s mouth. The emperor¡¯s face grew dark. Before he could say anything else, Qi Yun stoppedughing and shot him a frigid re. ¡°Regret what? How can you ask that? Fine, let me tell you what you should regret. You should regret trapping her in the pce but never showing her any love. You should regret getting her killed.¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± snapped the emperor. ¡°Have you forgotten you are my son? You¡¯re getting too bold! You have no right to question me!¡±


    Qi Yun stared at him with venom in his eyes. After the emperor was done scolding him, he said, ¡°Isn¡¯t Royal Father suspecting this son? Then let me tell you this: I allied with Brother Nan long ago, and I knew about Prince Duan¡¯s n beforehand.¡±


    ¡°I asked Brother Nan to circle the pce so that Prince Duan would make his move. If I hadn¡¯t done that, I wouldn¡¯t have known how Royal Father really thinks of me. Since you already consider me a viin, I should y the part, shouldn¡¯t I?¡±


    The emperor cowered under Qi Yun¡¯s sharp gaze, his robe and hair drenched by sweat. He looked ridiculous with his dark red face.


    Qi Yun¡¯s words hit the emperor where he was most tender. There was no love left in Qi Yun¡¯s heart, only the thrill of revenge.


    The emperor trembled in fury and threw a teacup at Qi Yun, who easily dodged it and seized his father¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± The emperor was frightened by his son¡¯s reaction, his voice shaking without him realizing.


    ¡°What does Royal Father think this son is going to do?¡± Qi Yun approached the emperor and asked, his lips curved into a terrifyingly cruel smile.


    The emperor¡¯s pupils contracted. He¡¯d never been this scared before, not even when Qi Chen stormed the pce. He knew Qi Chen wanted only the throne and nothing else, and thus wouldn¡¯t actively try to hurt him. Qi Yun was different. He was looking for more.


    ¡°Are you going tomit treason?¡± The emperor struggled with all he¡¯d gotten, but Qi Yun was too strong for him to resist. ¡°Guards! Arrest this man! Guards!¡±


    No one answered his call.


    The old eunuch opened the door. Qi Yun nced at him and let go of the emperor, who fell onto the bed, panting, his face pale.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± Qi Yun asked coolly.


    The eunuch answered without sparing the emperor a nce, ¡°Prince Nan Xun made his way here in time and restrained all the guards outside.¡±


    All color drained from the emperor¡¯s face. Not even in his worst nightmare could he imagine being yed by his son, and the one son he¡¯d deemed ipetent before. It shocked him even more that his confidante had defected to Qi Yun.


    He broke intoughter with his gaze fixed on Qi Yun, who looked back at him calmly.


    ¡°Do you think you¡¯ve won?¡± the emperor sneered. ¡°Haha, you can¡¯t get what you want even after everything you¡¯ve done! I¡¯ve decreed that Prince Duan is to be prince regent with the ninth prince on the throne. You can¡¯t be the emperor even after I die!¡±


    There were tears in his eyes fromughing too hard.


    The old eunuch snorted. ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯m afraid the prince has anticipated that as well. He¡¯s ordered this old servant to rece the imperial seal. The decree you¡¯ve drafted before is kept safe in my hands. The fourth prince, who Your Majesty favors so much, is going to take the throne after your death.¡±


    The emperor widened his eyes in shock. In the end, he still ended up falling into Qi Yun¡¯s trap. He hadn¡¯t expected Qi Yun to know about everything he¡¯d done. Did his son refrain from making a move just to see him make a fool of himself?


    On this side of the door, father and son had a falling out, and a servant betrayed his master. On the other side of the door, Nan Xun had surrounded the pce with a group of soldiers, stopping anyone from getting close and forcing the imperial army to surrender or face death. There was no hope for the emperor. He struggled to breathe properly.


    Qi Yun narrowed his eyes at the emperor and took slow strides towards the throne, his lips curved. ¡°Royal Father may entrust Northern Qi to me. I¡¯ll continue your unfinished business and unite the world.¡±


    The emperor widened his eyes. He couldn¡¯t believe this young man was the boy who¡¯d yearned for his love and stubbornly waited for his arrival even after he stopped visiting, or the loyal son who¡¯d attended to his illness day and night. This was a devil. A calcting devil who¡¯d done all he could to kill the emperor and take the throne.


    Blood rushed out of the emperor¡¯s throat and sttered out, dyeing Qi Yun¡¯s white silk robe red. Qi Yun seemedpletely unfazed. He watched the emperor with a smile as the older man copsed and drew hisst breath, his eyes wide open even in death.


    Qi Yun exhaled deeply and wiped away the blood on his face. He smoothed a hand over his father¡¯s eyes and closed his own eyes to steady himself.


    The eunuch reached out to support him and said worriedly, ¡°Your Highness should take care of yourself.¡±


    Qi Yun waved him away and cleared his throat. When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was bright and clear. He rubbed at his temple and took two steps backward. ¡°Clean him up and change his clothes. We¡¯ll announce his death in the morning.¡±


    The eunuch nodded and made a move to walk him out, but he shook his head and left the pce on his own. When he opened the door, the sky was starting to turn bright. Once the sun rose, it¡¯d be a brand new day. He felt a little sad, but he didn¡¯t know what for.


    He knew Nan Xun was watching him from a distance, but he didn¡¯t have the strength to deal with him. He wanted to be alone, so he went straight to his residence.


    Prince Duan had gotten wind of the emperor¡¯s death. He heard Qi Yun was going to make the announcement in the morning, so he didn¡¯t rush. His smile deepened as he envisioned himself bring the decree to the court.


    The morning meeting came. The officials waited in the main pce for the emperor to show up, but after half an hour, people were starting to talk. Suddenly, Qi Yun walked into the room in a white mourning robe, his expression lost and his eyes red.


    ¡°His Majesty... passed away.¡± Drops of tears streamed down his face as he dropped down to the floor with great force. The loud thud rang through the pce. The courtiers were in a state of shock.


    A sob broke the thick silence. Then the whole room started weeping for the emperor¡¯s death. Whether they were genuine tears was a different story.


    When the time was right, Prince Duan walked to the center of the hall. Everyone turned to look at him, wondering what he was going to do.


    ¡°I visited His Majesty yesterday and he issued me a decree, stating that should anything happen to him, the ninth prince will take the throne with me as prince regent.¡±


    Qi Yun scoffed, staring at Prince Duan calmly. ¡°What are you doing here with a fake decree? Do you not know what punishment that¡¯ll get you?¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you spouting off?¡± snapped Prince Duan.


    Qi Yun shrugged with an impassive expression, which made Prince Duan second-guess himself. He took a careful look at the decree and widened his eyes when he noticed that the seal wasn¡¯t the right one. How could he have missed that yesterday?! He¡¯d been yed by Qi Yun! Now it was toote for him to do anything.


    It wasn¡¯t difficult to deduce what had happened. Some of the courtiers in attendance silentlyughed at his plight. Qi Yun didn¡¯t spare Prince Duan any attention and instead called out for the guards.


    ¡°Prince Duan has falsified a decree out of malicious intent, trying to disrupt the court in this troubled time. Investigation is needed to find out all the facts. He is to be kept in prison at the time being.¡±


    The two guards circled Prince Duan, who pushed them away before they could touch him. He bared his teeth at Qi Yun and growled, ¡°Don¡¯ty a finger on me. I can walk on my own.¡±


    Qi Yun watched until Prince Duan had been taken away. The old eunuch entered the hall and recited the decree the emperor had drafted some time ago. The senior courtiers knew the eunuch was one of the emperor¡¯s confidantes, but they requested to check the decree in case this was a fraud as well. Qi Yun and the eunuch let them to it without any resistance.


    After careful inspection, the courtiers concluded that the decree was legitimate. They knelt on the floor and bowed to their new emperor. Qi Yun looked down at them, overwhelmed by a myriad of emotions he couldn¡¯t decipher.

 Chapter 289 - Divergence

    <h4>Chapter 289: Divergence</h4>


    Qi Yun announced that he¡¯d hold a proper burial for his father before taking the throne, to which the courtiers responded positively. Some officials suggested preparation for both matters tomence at the same time to avoid dy. Qi Yun nodded in approval and left the tasks to the Ministry of Rites.


    After the morning meeting, Nan Xun went straight to the prison. Prince Duan slumped in a pile of rice straw, his usual aplomb long gone.


    ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate just yet,¡± Prince Duan growled, staring at Nan Xun. ¡°I¡¯m not done yet.¡±


    Nan Xun huffed and locked eyes with him. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡±


    The former emperor had passed away, and Prince Duan had fallen from his grace. Everything was going in the right direction. Their work hadn¡¯t been in vain.


    Nan Xun felt much lighter. He returned to his manor for a short rest and went to his study afterwards.


    He wrote to Jun Huang about everything that had happened in Northern Qi, leaving no details out. He sighed and ended the letter with an apology to her. Qi Yun was going to take the throne soon. This was a critical time. He must keep on his guard and couldn¡¯t visit her just yet.


    His yearning had no bound. He couldn¡¯t fit everything on a piece of paper. He put away the writing brush and struggled to swallow down the lump in his throat. He¡¯d been apart with Jun Huang for too long. Although they regrly exchanged letters, it simply wasn¡¯t enough to express their feelings.


    The more he thought, the antsier he felt. He wanted to quickly finish with his business here and went to Jun Huang¡¯s side, but too many people were waiting to make their strike. He couldn¡¯t allow himself to rest. He could only throw himself to work to suppress his yearning.


    Meanwhile, Jun Huang had caught a serious cold not long after she started the blood-drawing process. Both the royal doctor and Oleg Cragfiend concluded that it was a mere cold, but she remained sick for a long time, which concerned Nan Jihan.


    Jun Huangy on the bed idly flipping through a book, her face pale but her expression calm. Nan Jihan sat by her bed without a word, silently watching her.


    The maid looked at them by the door and covered a smile. In her mind, Jun Huang deserved the world, including Nan Jihan¡¯s heart.


    ¡°What are you daydreaming about, girl?¡± Oleg Cragfiend asked suddenly. The maid yelped and jumped, startling both Jun Huang and Nan Jihan. She put down the book and looked outside. Nan Jihan went to get the door.


    Oleg Cragfiend chuckled as he entered the room. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the girl was thinking about that made her so jumpy. Maybe she was missing her lover boy. Hahaha.¡±


    The maid knew the poison master was teasing her, but she blushed and stormed away in feign anger. She wasn¡¯t unwilling to tell them what she had actually been thinking, but how could a servant say anything when Nan Jihan himself had stayed silent?


    ¡°What is master here for today?¡± Jun Huang asked quietly.


    That reminded Oleg Cragfiend. He approached her bed and handed her a letter. ¡°This is from Northern Qi.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and put the letter beside her with a smile. It was clear what she meant by that, which made Nan Jihan and Oleg Cragfiend a little awkward.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t seem to notice their reaction. She simply didn¡¯t want to read Nan Xun¡¯s letter before other people. It was something she wanted to savor on her own. Since they didn¡¯t intend to leave just yet, though, she¡¯d take care of other things first.


    She lowered her eyes for a bemused moment. ¡°Nan Jihan, there¡¯s no need for your to stay here. Both my master and my maid are here. They won¡¯t let anything happen to me. You, however, is Southern Mu¡¯s emperor. You¡¯ve stayed away from the imperial city for too long.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Nan Jihan rushed out. He knew what she was implying. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. I¡¯ve been staying here, but reports are delivered to me every day. It doesn¡¯t impede my work.¡±


    Jun Huang sighed. She¡¯d started drawing her blood a few days ago. Since she had to go through the procedure every day at the time being, it¡¯d be too troublesome tomute between the pce and the mountain. She therefore listened to her master¡¯s advice and lived in the inn at the foot of the mountain. It was a short walk to the lotus every day.


    Nan Jihan was too concerned to willingly leave her, but Jun Huang knew Southern Mu wasn¡¯t entirely stable even if he didn¡¯t admit it. If he stayed away from the imperial city for too long, people with malicious intent might make their move. She didn¡¯t want to burden other people. Therefore she kept bringing it up to Nan Jihan. However, he always humored her and refused to listen.


    Silence filled the air. Nan Jihan opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself halfway. The court had started to pressure him more. He should return. But he worried something might happen to Jun Huang.


    Oleg Cragfiend broke the silence. ¡°She¡¯s getting better. Your Majesty should stop worrying too much. Court affairs are much more important for you. There¡¯s no need for Your Majesty to stay here for us peasants. I¡¯ll keep her safe. Your Majesty maye back after you¡¯ve dealt with the court affairs. She¡¯ll feel guilty if you put aside your duty for her.¡±


    ¡°My master is right,¡± Jun Huang said bluntly, her tone was nonchnt, but insistent. ¡°You should return to the pce. I know my myself. Besides, you aren¡¯t going to be of much help here. Why not return to your duty?¡±


    Nan Jihan silently nodded and walked away. Oleg Cragfiend said he was going to go prepare her medicine and left as well.


    Jun Huang exhaled slowly, her face pale. She¡¯d been trying to act tough, but the illusion broke as soon as she was alone. She was ill and tired.


    Her fingers trembled because of the blood loss. The mountain was freezing cold. Since the lotus had to be fed warm blood, she must go up the mountain and have her blood drawn in harsh weather every time. Although everyone had done all they could to help her recover, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from weakening. She¡¯d been suppressing her difort to avoid worrying them.


    Still, she was exhausted.


    Her eyes stung when she saw the letter from Nan Xun, but she blinked her tears away. She had to be strong.


    The familiar handwriting made her feel as if a lifetime had passed. She took a deep breath and pushed away her mncholy before unfolding the letter.


    She smiled when she read that Qi Yun was on his way to bing the emperor. She¡¯d see Nan Xun soon. She could wait for him to take care of his duty.


    She read through the letter again and again with a soft smile. Then she got out of bed and sat at the desk by the window. She smoothed a piece of paper over the desk and started writing a response, tranting her yearning into words. She told Nan Xun she was doing well and not to worry. They¡¯d see each other soon enough.


    Oleg Cragfiend returned to the room with a bowl of dark, thick medicine. He frowned when he saw Jun Huang sitting on the mat with only a thinyer of clothes. He put the bowl aside and grabbed a robe for her.


    ¡°It¡¯s cold. You have to take better care of yourself. Do you have a death wish?¡± Oleg Cragfiend noticed the letter. She didn¡¯t try to hide it from him. He felt a pang of hurt seeing that she¡¯d written only about the good news and not the pain she¡¯d been through.


    Jun Huang chuckled and pulled the robe around her shoulders. ¡°Is there something you want to talk to me about?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re getting weak. You may be able to fool the others, but not me. How about we stop drawing blood for some time and wait until you recover? Or maybe we¡¯lle up with another solution. What do you say?¡±


    Jun Huang frowned and shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to stop halfway, master. Death is my only end if I do nothing. I might as well take a leap of faith. You said there may be another way, but we both know it¡¯s unlikely.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend struggled to find the words. In the end, he sighed.


    Jun Huang smiled a little. ¡°It¡¯s time for us to go up the mountain again.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend couldn¡¯t change her mind. He reluctantly helped Jun Huang out of the door.


    Nan Xun had just returned from the training ground when he heard that Jun Huang had written back. His mood visibly brightened, warming up his usually icy expression. The housekeeper shook his head. He¡¯d been taking care of Nan Xun for a long time. Even he rarely saw Nan Xun like this.


    He wasn¡¯t some judgmental old man. He was happy with anyone Nan Xun loved. As long as Jun Huang treated Nan Xun well, he wasn¡¯t going to object.


    Once he entered the study, Nan Xun quickly gulped down some water to quell his thirst and exhaled deeply. He steadied himself before approaching the desk and picking up the letter. On the outside it said, ¡°Addressed to Nan Xun.¡± He stared at the elegant handwriting, transfixed, picturing a graceful Jun Huang writing down his name with decisive strokes.

 Chapter 290 - Trap

    <h4>Chapter 290: Trap</h4>


    Nan Xun huffed, a little resigned. He never expected to fall so deeply for another person. His heart fluttered and a chuckle escaped his mouth. He knew Jun Huang was the one for him. He¡¯d never met anyone quite like her.


    He unfolded the letter, hurriedly but carefully, worried that he¡¯d damage the paper and obscure even a word or a sentence Jun Huang had penned.


    Although she¡¯d kept the bad news from him, he could tell her wrist was weak when she wrote the letter. Her handwriting was usually elegant and unique ¨C not delicate like most women¡¯s and not crude and hard-edged like most men¡¯s. It had a presence to it that drew the eyes. Now, though, her handwriting wasn¡¯t as coherent and strong as it¡¯d been, which worried him.


    He put aside the letter and sat on the divan for a long time, his head swirling with thoughts. In the end, he came to a decision.


    It¡¯d be more polite for him to enter the pce to see Qi Yun, but Qi Yun had only just taken over the throne. Things had yet to settle down. Many hidden forces were waiting for an opening to strike. They both had to be careful. The pce had many unwanted ears and gossip traveled fast. Nan Xun¡¯s manor was rtively more secure.


    Qi Yun arrived not long after. Instead of showing him Jun Huang¡¯s letter, Nan Xun kept it to himself and summarized what she¡¯d written. Qi Yun snorted. This man sure was possessive.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe Prince Duan¡¯s people will be able to do much now. They are no more than a swarm of headless flies after Prince Duan was arrested. Meanwhile, we know little about what¡¯s happening in Southern Mu, and if it¡¯s safe.¡± Nan Xun frowned as he spoke, his chest growing tighter and a sense of mncholy creeping up on him.


    ¡°Do you mean you want to go?¡± Qi Yun wasn¡¯t surprised by Nan Xun¡¯s decision. In truth, he shared the same sentiment. He was worried about Jun Huang as well.


    Nann Xun nodded. ¡°I¡¯m considering that. I have been considering that. Our biggest enemy is locked behind bars. His remaining supporters won¡¯t be much of a threat. You¡¯re a talented and clever man. I¡¯ll have my men ¨C ¡®


    Snap!


    The sound was faint, but it didn¡¯t escape Nan Xun¡¯s attention. Although Qi Yun hadn¡¯t heard it, Nan Xun¡¯s expression was telling enough. They shared a look.


    ¡° ¨C protect you and make sure nothing goes wrong,¡± Nan Xun continued without pause, silently approaching the window with Qi Yun. He looked outside with cold eyes and gestured at Qi Yun to be quiet. Qi Yun nodded in understanding. Nan Xun leaned over to take a look, his brows furrowed.


    They continued their smalltalk so that whoever outside wouldn¡¯t be alerted. Both their expression clouded when they turned around.


    They calmly made their way back to the table, keeping up the amicable chatter. Qi Yun urged Nan Xun to reconsider his decision with feign seriousness, while Nan Xun took a writing brush and wrote, ¡°That man is dressed like a eunuch. He must have been nted by Qi Chen to keep watch over you.¡±


    Nan Xun had decided what to do. Qi Yun nodded without missing a beat.


    Nan Xun put away the brush and cleared his throat. ¡°You know I¡¯m worried. What good will it do for me to stay here? Qi Chen is weak. Without Prince Duan, he¡¯s nothing. He¡¯s even less likely to do anything now.¡±


    ¡°Then go,¡± Qi Yun said. ¡°I¡¯ll have some rare medicinal herbs prepared. It may be of use.¡±


    Nan Xun thanked him and saw him off. The man outside left, unaware of the fact that he¡¯d been discovered. Nan Xun looked into the distance and spotted a few Qi Chen¡¯s men outside his manor. He calmly continued with his day.


    Back in the pce, Qi Yun had the servants prepare for some rare herbs, while Nan Xun started preparing for his departure.


    When the herbs were delivered, Nan Xun was ready to go. He made the final preparations before making his way to the city gate. The man who had been keeping an eye on Nan Xun¡¯s manor reported back to Qi Chen.


    As soon as Qi Chen received the information, Qi Yun¡¯s invitation arrived as well. He didn¡¯t know what his brother wanted. To brag, perhaps. He followed the messenger to the pce.


    ¡°Have a seat, Royal Brother.¡± Qi Yun sat at the table and drank some tea, his lips curved into a smile. He didn¡¯t even stand up to greet Qi Chen.


    Qi Chen was angry, but there wasn¡¯t anything he could do. Qi Yun was going to be the next emperor. Even he would have to kneel before his brother then. The rescue mission tonight must seed.


    Qi Yun poured Qi Chen a cup of tea, turning a blind eye to the disgust on his face. ¡°I have some time today, so I invited you here to catch up. I thought you wouldn¡¯t be willing. I¡¯m d to be wrong.¡±


    Qi Chen gave him a stilted smile and downed his cup of tea, reluctant to speak. Qi Yun continued to say, ¡°Has Royal Brother heard about the story of how Zhou Xing from the Tang Dynasty was arrested?¡±[1]


    Qi Chen shot Qi Yun a nce, who calmly met his gaze. Qi Chen narrowed his eyes. He knew Qi Yun loved his literature and art. Old stories must interest him as well.


    I¡¯ll y this game with you, Qi Chen thought. Once I get Prince Duan out, it¡¯ll be your doomed.


    They were both upied with their own thoughts as they talked. When the conversation came to an end, the sun had set and themps were lit. Qi Yun invited Qi Chen to stay, but he turned down the offer after some deliberation. Qi Yun saw Qi Chen off with an unreadable expression.


    After about an hour, the old eunuch showed up and whispered into Qi Yun¡¯s ear that all preparations had been made. Qi Yun nodded, his lips curved into a sharp smile.


    When Qi Chen took his men to break Prince Duan out of the prison, the ce was much more heavily guarded than usual. He frowned. Something was wrong.


    Before he could react, he and his men were quickly surrounded. He cursed under his breath. They were trapped.


    Nan Xun, who should have left already, walked into the prison with Qi Yun. Qi Chen widened his eyes. He¡¯d been tricked!. He couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯d fallen into such an obvious trap.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Royal Brother n to exin why you¡¯de to the prison with so many people sote at night?¡± Qi Yun¡¯s face waspletely free of emotions. He called Qi Chen brother, but it sounded more like a threat.


    Qi Chen shot him a re. ¡°I didn¡¯t take you as such a cunning man, Qi Yun.¡±


    Qi Yun chuckled, then his smile turned cold. ¡°Royal Brother has misjudged me. I¡¯ve been trying to warn you not to do anything reckless, but you insisted on making a mistake. I don¡¯t want this to happen, either.¡±


    Qi Chen¡¯s expression darkened. He recalled the story Qi Yun had brought up. He trembled in fury and couldn¡¯t form a word.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to waste his time watching the brothers quibble. He beckoned his men over to arrest all the intruders.


    It was the worst humiliation Qi Chen had ever suffered ¨C to be held up by people he deemed inferior to him. He shot Nan Xun a re, which Nan Xun ignored. When he passed by Nan Xun, he broke intoughter, attracting everyone¡¯s questioning eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve made the wrong choice, Nan Xun? Ha, what good is it going to do for you to help Qi Yun gain the throne? What can he give you? Nothing! And you¡¯re going to lose the person you love as a result! Do you know what¡¯s happening to Feng Baiyu? You¡¯ll never see him again!¡±


    Qi Chenughed hysterically and ended up choked by his saliva. He broke into a coughing fit, his face red.


    Nan Xun stared at Qi Chen with a frown. He couldn¡¯t forget about the prince¡¯s words. It rattled him. He stormed away, leaving his men to take care of the mess.


    Qi Yun knew what Nan Xun was worrying about, so he didn¡¯t stop him, silently praying for Jun Huang to be safe.


    Back to his manor, Nan Xun couldn¡¯t stop himself from imagining the worst. Jun Huang had intentionally refrained from talking about her health. He couldn¡¯t stay and do nothing.


    He had decided to go to Southern Mu already, but the eavesdropper interrupted his n. To rx Qi Chen¡¯s guard, he¡¯d pretended to leave the city. He ordered his soldiers to change into servants¡¯ clothes and split them into three groups: One to guard the city gate. Another to depart the city with the herbs gifted by Qi Yun. The rest had returned to the pce, waiting for Qi Chen to show up.


    Nan Xun was d they had apprehended Qi Chen, but his concern for Jun Huang grew more and more intense. The housekeeper didn¡¯t like seeing him this rattled. He offered, ¡°If Your Highness wants to go to Southern Mu, you should. This old servant has heard about what happened to the second prince. Since he¡¯d been caught, the fourth prince will be able to take care of the rest on his own.¡±


    Nan Xun nced at the housekeeper. The old man¡¯s serious expression helped him settle down. He thought for a moment and nodded. ¡°Right. I¡¯ll go to Southern Mu as soon as I can. I won¡¯t be able to rest easy without seeing her with my own eyes. I¡¯m not going to enter the pce again. Tomorrow, inform Qi Yun that I¡¯ve departed. He¡¯ll understand.¡±


    1. Zhou Xing had interrogated and tortured many people to get their confessions. When he then became a suspect himself, the official in charge used Zhou Xing¡¯s own interrogation method against him.

 Chapter 291 - Blood Tribute

    <h4>Chapter 291: Blood Tribute</h4>


    The housekeeper nodded, watching Nan Xun leave. He sighed. Not even Nan Xun could resist the call of love.


    The herbs arrived at Southern Mu before Nan Xun did. He¡¯d ordered his men to go as quick as possible, worried that Jun Huang might need the herbs soon. They didn¡¯t even know if Nan Xun woulde as well.


    Once they met up with the guards Jun Huang had taken with her, they sought out Oleg Cragfiend, who silently took them to the pce and then to the building Jun Huang was staying in.


    ¡°She hasn¡¯t been feeling welltely,¡± Oleg Cragfiend said before they entered. ¡°Don¡¯t keep her up too long. Be brief with whatever you¡¯re going to say. We still need to draw her blood.¡±


    The guards were Nan Xun¡¯s confidantes. They knew how serious Jun Huang¡¯s condition was. They nodded before entering the room. Jun Huang turned to the door, her eyes lighting up when she recognized Nan Xun¡¯s personal shadow guard. She propped herself up. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    The shadow guard told her everything. She was a little disappointed that Nan Xun wasn¡¯t here, but she managed a smile. The guard pursed his lips and offered, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. The prince is deeply worried about you.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled and shook her head. ¡°I know. I¡¯m just a little tired. It¡¯s been a long trip for you. You must be exhausted as well. You should get some rest.¡±


    The guard knew Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to continue the conversation. He nodded and took the other guards out of the room. Once outside, one of them couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Aren¡¯t we here for Gentleman Feng? That is a girl, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Someone else added, ¡°She¡¯s beautiful. She must be the emperor¡¯s consort. Isn¡¯t it inappropriate for us to barge in?¡±


    It dawned on the leading shadow guard that the others didn¡¯t know Jun Huang was a woman. Noting their confused expressions, he told them everything he knew and reminded them to watch themselves when they were with Jun Huang. They shouldn¡¯t treat Jun Huang like they would a man.


    The guards fell silent once the realization set in. They silently followed a maid to their temporary residence.


    After some time, Nan Xun arrived at the imperial city as well. However, all the guards had entered the pce. He could only contact Nan Jihan through the House of Heavenly Fiends.


    Early the next morning, Nan Xun was led to the pce. He exchanged a few words with Nan Jihan before making his way to Jun Huang¡¯s residence. She was still asleep. The maid was busy doing chores. His shadow guards were training in the garden. And Oleg Cragfiend was grinding herbs.


    Nan Jihan introduced Nan Xun to Oleg Cragfiend, who gave Nan Xun a considering look. Nan Xun nodded to acknowledge him and gingerly opened the door to Jun Huang¡¯s bedroom, his footsteps faint as he approached the bed.


    Jun Huangy on the bed with her eyes shut, her eyshes fluttering in the breeze. Her face was pale and cool and her form thin and sickly. He froze, his throat tightening.


    Jun Huang opened her eyes slowly, seemingly woken up by Nan Xun¡¯s gaze. She blinked the haziness in her eyes away and spotted Nan Xun. For a moment, she was too stunned to say anything.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you been taking care of yourself?¡± Nan Xun asked gently, carefully pulling her into his arms.


    ¡°Why are you here? What¡¯s happening in Northern Qi? It¡¯s careless of you to just leave.¡± She was thrilled that Nan Xun hade, but her more logical mind urge her to question Nan Xun, her voice disapproving.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve caught Qi Chen.¡± Nan Xun patted her lightly on the back. ¡°With Ji Bo there, Northern Qi will be fine.¡±


    Jun Huang allowed herself to rx, her heart filled with adoration and content. She looked up at the dark shadow under Nan Xun¡¯s eyes. He must have hurry here without a lick of rest. ¡°It¡¯s still early. You should get some sleep.¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head, his lips curved into a smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I actually arrived yesterday. I just didn¡¯t have a way to enter the pce. I¡¯ve had a good night sleep already.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t argue with him.


    Oleg Cragfiend knocked. Nan Xun let go of Jun Huang and went to get the door. He frowned when he saw the equipment in the poison master¡¯s hands.


    Nan Jihan realized then that Jun Huang hadn¡¯t told Nan Xun about the blood drawing. Jun Huang noted Nan Xun¡¯s expression as well. She put on a smile and beckoned Nan Xun over.


    ¡°What is that for?¡± Nan Xun asked bluntly.


    ¡°The lotus has to be fed with my blood before it can be used to cure me,¡± Jun Huang admitted. Nan Xun would know sooner orter.


    Nan Xun stilled, his heart aching.


    Jun Huang turned to Oleg Cragfiend and nodded, who brought a dagger and a ceramic bottle to Jun Huang without missing a beat. He rolled up her sleeve and made a cut, filling the bottle with her blood. Nan Jihan hurriedly retrieved a handkerchief and some medicine to stop the bleeding and patch her up.


    Nan Xun frowned when he saw how used to the action Nan Jihan was. Before he could think about it, Oleg Cragfiend had already handed the bottle to the head shadow guard. His light body technique was the best among them. He could rush to the mountain and pour it over the lotus quickly.


    ¡°Can¡¯t others do this for her?¡± Nan Xun asked, pained to see color drain from her face due to blood loss.


    Oleg Cragfiend wiped the dagger clean and shook his head. ¡°No. The blood has to be from the patient.¡±


    Nan Jihan snorted. ¡°If it¡¯s possible, I wouldn¡¯t have let her donate the blood herself. We wouldn¡¯t wait until you¡¯re here.¡±


    Nan Xun fell silent. He could read Nan Jihan¡¯s feelings as clear as day, which bothered him. Once Oleg Cragfiend left with the equipment, Nan Xun sat down beside Jun Huang and put his arm around her, staring at her with pain in his eyes.


    Nan Jihan snorted at Nan Xun¡¯s possessive reaction. ¡°Who would have thought the general of Northern Qi would do something so childish? How amusing.¡±


    Nan Xun threw Nan Jihan a cool nce and didn¡¯t spare him any attention. Jun Huang snuggled closer to Nan Xun. She knew why Nan Xun would react like this. It was childish, but it warmed her heart. She lowered her eyes and smiled.


    The two of them looked like the perfect couple. Nan Jihan felt out of ce. It was difficult for him to stay here, so he turned and walked out of the room, giving them their privacy.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun held onto each other without a word. They were content with this simple intimacy.


    After some time, Jun Huang¡¯s breathing slowed and evened out. Nan Xun lowered his head and saw Jun Huang¡¯s eyes had closed. Her brows were furrowed, probably due to the pain from the cut on her arm. Nan Xun smoothed a hand over her forehead, hoping to wipe away the crease, but worried that she¡¯d wake up.


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t been sleeping welltely. She assumed it was because of her health, but now,ying against Nan Xun¡¯s chest, she fell into a peaceful slumber, undisturbed even when the maid entered the room.


    The maid saw how Nan Xun was watching Jun Huang. The sunlight streaming in from the window covered them in a faint glow, transfixing her.


    Nan Xun looked up at the maid when the door creaked. She blushed, feeling like she was interrupting. She struggled to form aplete sentence. ¡°It¡¯s time for lunch.¡±


    ¡°Has she had breakfast?¡± Nan Xun asked quietly.


    The maid shook her head. ¡°She needs to take medicine every morning, which is so bitter it leaves her with no appetite. In the beginning, she can still get some food in her, but now she always throw up afterwards.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s forehead creased deeply. He nodded in understanding after a while and dismissed the maid with a wave of his hand, saying that they¡¯d be outside shortly. The maid nodded and closed the door after her.


    Jun Huang woke up at some point during their conversation. She opened her eyes to look at Nan Xun, her eyes crinkling. Nan Xun¡¯s heart softened and he held on tight to her.


    When Nan Xun started to worry that she¡¯d be hungry, he let go of her. He retrieved a robe for Jun Huang and put a cloak around her on top of that. He helped Jun Huang up and led her to the dining hall.


    Jun Huang had been having a lot of supplementary food. She frowned when she saw the dishes. She didn¡¯t feel like eating at all. She paled and couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯t nned to join their lunch, but after hearing about Jun Huang¡¯sck of appetite, he changed his mind.


    ¡°At least eat something,¡± Nan Xun said with a frown, holding a spoon up to her..


    Jun Huang was usually a calm and disciplined person, but now she put on a child-like expression and shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t. Just go ahead and eat without me.¡±


    ¡°You mustn¡¯t,¡± Oleg Cragfiend said. ¡°You¡¯ve been losing weight. The blood drawing process is going to take a heavy toll on you. If you don¡¯t eat well, you won¡¯t be able to survive it.¡±


    ¡°Once you¡¯ve recovered, you can have whatever food you want,¡± added Nan Xun. ¡°You should prioritize your health.¡±

 Chapter 292 - Love Rivals

    <h4>Chapter 292: Love Rivals</h4>


    Jun Huang looked at Nan Xun with fond exasperation. She didn¡¯t expect him to actually feed her. She acquiesced and ate the blood curd in the spoon. The taste made her gag. Nan Xun pursed his lips. He didn¡¯t like seeing her ill.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t hold it any longer. She threw up what little food she had eaten, her face turning a shade paler. Everyone looked at her worriedly.


    Nan Jihan called out for the servants to clean the mess up and turned to Oleg Cragfiend. ¡°She can¡¯t have anything else. If we force her to eat more, it may end up hurting her. We¡¯ll get her some desserts if she gets hungry in the afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Food is crucial to our health. Sweets alone won¡¯t be able to sustain her. She needs real food.¡± Oleg Cragfiend didn¡¯t like seeing Jun Huang like this either, but he knew best the condition she was in. He wasn¡¯t going to let her get herself killed.


    Nan Xun smoothed a hand over Jun Huang¡¯s back to help her recover. He agreed with the poison master. He rose to his feet and left with a maid. The others were confused, but they let him be.


    Jun Huang looked at the unappetizing food over the table and drank some tea to cleanse the lingering taste in her mouth.


    Nan Xun came back with a bowl of in porridge. Oleg Cragfiend smiled approvingly when he smelled the ganoderma powder. Nan Xun gave him a faint smile in response and motioned at the maids to leave them alone. Jun Huang didn¡¯t like being attended to by so many people.


    The maids and servants were Nan Jihan¡¯s and therefore only followed his order. However, Nan Xun had an air of intimidation to him. They debated if they should listen to this stranger. Fortunately, Nan Jihan considered them of no use here and waved them away. They couldn¡¯t leave the room faster.


    Nan Xun dragged a chair to Jun Huang¡¯s side and put a spoonful of porridge to her lips. Jun Hunag took a deep breath and let him feed her. The porridge was light and in enough that she didn¡¯t feel ill. Nan Xun kept feeding her until she was full. She¡¯d eaten half of the porridge.


    Nan Xun rxed once she¡¯d gotten some real food in her and btedly realized that he was hungry as well. He tucked in. Jun Huang poured him a cup of water and reminded him to slow down, her gesture gentle and their intimacy easy. Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t help getting jealous.


    Oleg Cragfiend sighed. Something was never meant to be. There would always be someone who couldn¡¯t get what they wanted.


    The mealsted for a long time. Jun Huang sat down on a divan and started reading. Nan Xun knew she was waiting for him. Touched, he focused on finishing his food.


    Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t stand being in a room with the two of them. He grabbed a few bites and struggled toe up with an excuse to leave. A eunuch happened to enter the room, stating that an official hade to discuss court affairs. He got to his feet without hesitation and left with the eunuch.


    Nan Xun knew what the young emperor was thinking. He covered a smile and shook his head. After lunch, he bid Oleg Cragfiend farewell and left with Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang started dozing off. Nan Xun followed her back to her room and they had a nap. When they woke up, the sun was warm and pleasant in the sky.


    Jun Huang sat in the garden enjoying the warmth. She told him to get some fresh air himself. He¡¯d been thinking about looking around the area as well. He had a maid take care of her and left the building.


    Nan Xun visited the pce as a guest and had been staying in the side pce with Jun Huang. However, there were many unwanted eyes here, and gossip traveled fast. Soon, many had heard about a handsome man who was living with Jun Huang.


    People started to mock and insult Jun Huang behind her back. If Nan Xun hadn¡¯t left the building today, he would still be in the dark.


    In the royal garden, he ran into a few maids who were talking about Jun Huang. He hid in the shadow, listening in on their conversation.


    ¡°Do you know that a man has moved into the side pce?¡± a chubby maid said in a dramatic voice.


    A slim maid nodded. ¡°I saw him. Isn¡¯t he the emperor¡¯s guard?¡±


    ¡°Tsk, he isn¡¯t. I worked there. That man has been staying with that woman the emperor favors all day long. They seem intimate and don¡¯t even try to hide it when the emperor is present. Still, the emperor doesn¡¯t resent her for that.¡± The chubby maid widened her eyes for dramatic effect. ¡°Hey, do you think the woman is a fox spirit?¡±


    ¡°She can¡¯t be. She¡¯s so beautiful. How can she ¨C ¡±


    ¡°The fox spirits in the tales are all beautiful as well!¡± the chubby maid said with great confidence. ¡°But they¡¯re often cunning and despicable. She must be one with the way she seduces men.¡±


    ¡°I suspect there¡¯s something wrong with her as well. She dide out of nowhere...¡±


    The maids walked away. Their voices slowly faded.


    Nan Xun balled his hands into fists. It felt as if his blood had all rushed into his head. This was what Jun Huang¡¯s time in the pce was like! She was misunderstood and, ording to her personal maid, mistreated not too long ago. He gritted his teeth. If only he¡¯d been here at the time!


    He stood rooted to the spot until he¡¯d suppressed his anger. Exhaling deeply, he crossed the garden and made his way to the royal study.


    Nan Jihan¡¯s personal eunuch was surprised to see Nan Xun here. He knew Nan Xun was the unbeatable general of Northern Qi. He of course was going to treat him with respect. He came up to Nan Xun with a smile. ¡°What can this old servant help you with?¡±


    ¡°I want to see Nan Jihan,¡± Nan Xun said bluntly. ¡°Just tell him I¡¯m here.¡±


    The eunuch paused. Noting Nan Xun¡¯s dark expression, he gulped and hurriedly notify his master. He came back out not long after to respectfully invited Nan Xun inside.


    Nan Jihan frowned when he looked up at Nan Xun. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Nan Xun told him what he¡¯d heard in the garden and pretended not to see the scowl on his face. ¡°This is something you must deal with seriously.¡± Nan Xun said with a scoff. ¡°At least don¡¯t let her hear such remarks.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Nan Jihan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was furious as well. How could anyone liken the goddess-like Jun Huang to a fox spirit?


    After Nan Xun had left, Nan Jihan ordered to re-assign the chubby maid to the Cold Pce. He then had his men impose a stricter rule over the pce. Anyone who spread such rumors would be punished severely.


    Nan Xun felt much better with the problem taken care of, but seeing the way Nan Jihan dealt with the issue made him uneasy.


    First Qi Yun, now Nan Jihan. The two men both held more power than he did. If they decided to forcefully take Jun Huang away, there was little he could do. Although Jun Huang loved him, nothing couldst in face of absolute power. Besides, he didn¡¯t want to risk losing her.


    He decided he¡¯d take Jun Huang away once she was cured. He would be fine settling down anywhere. As long as they could stay together for the rest of their life, he was willing to give up everything.


    A smile bloomed on Jun Huang¡¯s face when she saw Nan Xun. She rose to her feet to wee him, but stopped when she noticed the worry lines on his face. She frowned but didn¡¯t voice her questions.


    Sometimes, she didn¡¯t need him to speak to understand his feelings.


    Nan Xun settled his gaze on her. A sense of mncholy rose from his heart but didn¡¯t show on his face. He put an arm around her. Shey against his chest without a word.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t let go of her until muchter. He led her back to the porch overlooking the garden and helped her sit down. He went inside to retrieve a robe for her and draped it over her shoulders.


    ¡°I hear that you¡¯ve not only dealt with Northern Qi¡¯s court affairs, but also some business of the House of Heavenly Fiends. If you continue to do my job for me, I¡¯m going to have nothing to use my skills on.¡± Jun Huang teased with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.


    She was naturally observant. Nan Xun knew she would notice even the most subtle changes in his mannerisms. He pursed his lips, wondering if he should let her know what he¡¯d been worrying. She caught his hand and smiled. ¡°There are things you don¡¯t have to tell me. We know how we feel, and the world can see that as well.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Nan Xun rxed, a smile tugging his lips. He discussed a few trivial matters about the House of Heavenly Fiends with Jun Huang. She didn¡¯t have to know, but he didn¡¯t want her to worry.


    Jun Huang treated everything seriously. She¡¯d try toe up with a better solution no matter how trivial the problem was.


    Nan Xun watched her tenderly while she exined her ideas. Jun Huang fell into his adoring eyes and chuckled brightly after a short pause.


    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d one day yearn for someone so keenly,¡± she said softly. ¡°The feeling was tested during the time we were apart, and it grew deeper during your absence.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s stoic face softened into a tender smile. He smoothed a hand over the dark hair running down her shoulder, his gaze stopping at her sharp cheeks, his eyes filled with love and care.


    Slowly, he whispered, ¡°May our hearts be aligned always.¡±

 Chapter 293 - Deep Love

    <h4>Chapter 293: Deep Love</h4>


    The sun was warm and the wind was gentle, bringing with it a captivating fragrance from the royal garden. Jun Huang blushed and looked bashfully at the ground, her smile stunning. Not even the fine turquoise silk she wore could outshine her beauty.


    Nan Jihan looked at them from a distance, his expression conflicted. The eunuch by his side widened his eyes slightly and said in an awe-struck voice, ¡°How can such a couple exist? They paint the perfect picture of...¡±


    He swallowed down the wrote spiel about a match made in heaven when he felt frigid gaze cast his way. He shuddered and smiled awkwardly.


    Nan Jihan narrowed his eyes at the couple, his heart burning with jealousy. He had never been the sentimental sort, but he couldn¡¯t bear seeing Jun Huang show such easy intimacy with someone else like they¡¯d been born to fit together. He forced himself to push aside his emotions so that he could keep his eyes on her.


    The sun seemed offensively warm. His chest tightened and his throat constricted as he watched the two. In the end, he sighed in resignation, a bitter smile tugging his lips. He turned to leave.


    Nan Guyue spotted his brother from a distance, watching him roaming through the garden like a mindless ghoul with an air of despair around him. She¡¯d heard about Nan Xun¡¯s arrival, and she knew about his rtionship with Jun Huang. It wasn¡¯t difficult to put two and two together.


    ¡°If Royal Brother had simply made Feng Baiyu your nobledy, this wouldn¡¯t have happened,¡± Nan Guyue approached his brother and said without ceremony, opting for reprimand rather thanfort.


    Nan Jihanughed bitterly. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to force her...¡±


    ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t be so sad now,¡± Nan Guyue retorted. She sighed when she saw his pained expression and dragged him to a pavilion. Once she¡¯d dismissed everyone, she said, ¡°Royal Brother, I¡¯m going to ask you onest time: Do you really love her?¡±


    ¡°What if I do?¡± Nan Jihan chucked down a cup of cool sweet tea. He usually enjoyed the taste, but the mix of bitterness once the tea was cooled off and its inherent sweetness made it difficult for him to swallow now. It was a perfect reflection of his dark mood.


    Nan Guyue paused and smiled mischievously. Although there wasn¡¯t anyone around, she checked her surroundings again before leaning into Nan Jihan and whispered, ¡°In my opinion, the only thing that sets Nan Xun apart from you is the time he¡¯s spent together with Feng Baiyu. Who knows how long their love is going tost? Besides, you are the emperor, while Nan Xun is merely a prince outside the imperial family. That puts you two on a level ying field. Why don¡¯t you give it a try?¡±


    Nan Jihan met her eyes and mused. The thought of taking Jun Huang away from Nan Xun did cross his mind, but he wasn¡¯t willing to hurt the woman he loved.


    Sensing his hesitation, Nan Guyue added, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much, Royal Brother. If they truly love each other, they aren¡¯t going to split. Besides, you¡¯re just giving Feng Baiyu an option. She¡¯s smart enough to see that.¡±


    He¡¯d thought about a future with Jun Huang and didn¡¯t like seeing her in Nan Xun¡¯s arms. He silently swore to himself that he¡¯d let her see how good a lover he could be.


    With his mind made up, he rxed and stopped agonizing. Nan Guyue¡¯s eyes shed. If one day Jun Huang did enter the harem, she¡¯d be her ally. Together, they¡¯d take care of the despicable Consort Li.


    There wasn¡¯t much else that needed to be said. Nan Guyue bid her brother farewell and left.


    Nan Jihan sat in the pavilion for a long time. The eunuch didn¡¯t dare bother him. He stayed from a distance with a group of maids, silently watching his master. He thought the emperor was troubled by some tricky issue in the court.


    Nan Jihan was young for an emperor and faced a lot of pressure. As Nan Jihan¡¯s personal eunuch, he knew better than anyone else how often Nan Jihan¡¯s duty kept him up at night.


    ¡°Gonggong, it¡¯s really windy,¡± one of the maids said worriedly. ¡°What if His Majesty gets sick?¡±


    The eunuch hesitated before deciding that the maid was right. He approached Nan Jihan, who was staring into the distance with an unreadable expression.


    ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s getting cold. We should return.¡±


    Nan Jihan nced at him and nodded. ¡°Come with me to the side building first.¡± He started walking without looking back. The eunuch followed him without a question asked.


    Nan Jihan ran into Nan Xun at the door to the side pce. The general looked past him like he hadn¡¯t seen him, which Nan Jihan found insulting. He was the emperor. He couldn¡¯t stand being ignored. He reached out to grab Nan Xun¡¯s shoulder, but his wrist was caught before he could make contact. His face went red in anger.


    The eunuch and maids were startled and worried. Before they could rush up to their master, Nan Jihan took a deep breath and waved a dismissive hand.


    ¡°A word,¡± he said, barely containing his anger, his cold eyes fixed on Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun nced at Nan Jihan. He knew a threat when he heard one, and he could feel Nan Jihan¡¯s hostility and pinpoint its source. He paused before letting go of Nan Jihan and waved Jun Huang¡¯s personal maid over.


    The maid jogged up to him. ¡°What can this servant help the gentleman with?¡±


    ¡°I have business to talk to His Majesty about. Take care of her and remind her to take some rest. Don¡¯t let her tire herself.¡± Nan Xun spoke clearly. His devotion to Jun Huang was cause for great envy.


    The maid nodded and returned to the room. Nan Xun and Nan Jihan walked away from the building and followed a pebbled path.


    They were safe within the walls of the pce, so Nan Jihan didn¡¯t bring any eunuchs or maids with him. They reached the royal garden not long after. The sun was blindingly bright. Consorts who wanted to keep their skin fair wouldn¡¯te outside, which made this the perfect spot for a conversation.


    Nan Jihan didn¡¯t get right to his point and instead talked about the first time he saw Jun Huang. His gaze had zeroed in on her at first nce even though she had been in a crowd. Her grace was unrivaled and only the finest clothes suited her.


    His words weren¡¯t any different from most people¡¯s praises for Jun Huang. Nan Xun had heard simr remarks many times.


    Jun Huang had heard Nan Xun¡¯s words to the maid. Her instinct told her that this wasn¡¯t a simple conversation. She recalled how Nan Jihan had been treating her and concluded that he must have sought out Nan Xun to talk about her. She quickly made up her mind and got off the bed. Once she got dressed with the maid¡¯s help, she made her way to the garden.


    When she arrived, Nan Jihan had just finished his spiel about the reason he had fallen in love. He red at Nan Xun and said seriously, ¡°I don¡¯t know what your story is, but you don¡¯t mind mepeting for Feng Baiyu¡¯s heart fairly, do you?¡±


    Nan Xun paused before letting out a quietugh. Nan Jihan narrowed his eyes at Nan Xun questioningly.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t try to sugarcoat his words and said in a mocking tone, ¡°You made it out as if you were deeply in love, but may I remind you that you tried taking her away by force? How ironic it is for you to talk about fairness.¡±


    ¡°Besides, you are the emperor. Even if you don¡¯t end up with a harem of three thousand women, you already have quite a lot of consorts, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Nan Jihan frowned and retorted sharply, ¡°So what? What¡¯s wrong with that? Aren¡¯t you going to have any concubines in the future?¡±


    A wind brought Jun Huang¡¯s cloak off her shoulders, whichnded on the ground with a thud. Both men turned and saw Jun Huang standing not far from them with a calm expression. She gave them a slight smile.


    She bent down to pick up her cloak and brushed off the dust. ¡°Apologies for the intrusion. You may continue.¡±


    She turned to leave. Nan Xun hurried after her and grabbed her arm. She must have heard what Nan Jihan said.


    She turned to look at him, then at her wrist. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Her voice was clear and her lips were curved into a smile, looking untouchable even under the warm sun. Anyone else would have been captivated by her beauty, but Nan Xun was caught by a deep worry.


    He knew Jun Huang. She always appeared moreposed than any human beings should ever be. The more serious the problem, the calmer and lighter she seemed. The aloof expression on her face wasn¡¯t a mask, but a reflection of her resignation to the reality of the world.


    That was why Nan Xun was so anxious. He never knew what to do with her when she was like this. He took a deep breath and, turning a blind eye to anyone around them, said earnestly, ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for a while. You know how I feel about you. I denied even an arranged marriage from the emperor. Me getting a concubine isn¡¯t in the realm of possibility. I may not confess to you about my feelings often, but my love for you is real and runs deep. I want you and only you. No one shalle between us.¡±

 Chapter 294 - Ugly Scars

    <h4>Chapter 294: Ugly Scars</h4>


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun understood each other. Most of the time, an exchange of nces was enough for them to know what the other was thinking. Although they hadn¡¯t known each other for that long, they¡¯d been through hell and back together. Words weren¡¯t necessary for their rtionship.


    Jun Huang rarely lost herposure, and she almost never talked about her feelings openly. They didn¡¯t even discuss their future that often. Nan Xun¡¯s uncharacteristic deration in public made the usually calm Jun Huang flush red. She pursed her lips and gazed at Nan Xun. He seemed worried that she didn¡¯t believe him and opened his mouth to state his feelings again.


    Jun Huang cleared her throat to stop him. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say that out loud. I¡¯m going to walk away if you don¡¯t stop with that.¡± She lowered her eyes, her ears red. The rare reaction made Nan Xun melt. He pulled Jun Huang into his arms.


    The sky dimmed as thick patches of clouds obscured the sun. The weather had been unpredictabletely. It was going to rain soon. The three of them made their way to the side pce together. Nan Jihan didn¡¯t want to see the two of them being so intimate, but thinking that Nan Xun might do even more without him around, he followed after them.


    Once inside the building, a crack of thunder pierced through the silence. It started pouring. Jun Huang didn¡¯t feel like resting yet, so she sat in the hallway listening to the rain.


    ¡°People from the ancient times often listened to the rain to rx. We¡¯re getting a taste of the life before.¡± She chuckled. She was tired, but it was clear she was in a good mood.


    Nan Xun took her hand and whispered, ¡°I wasn¡¯t finished. You should focus on getting better. Then we can get your revenge and get married.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s breath hitched. She wasn¡¯t an emotional person, but she was weak against Nan Xun¡¯s tenderness. She¡¯d always been forcing herself to be strong, but now, this man told her she was allowed to be vulnerable. He would shield her from any harm.


    She had to be heartless to not be moved. Her eyes went misty and she squeezed Nan Xun¡¯s hand with a serious nod.


    Nan Jihan felt as if he¡¯d fallen into a freezing pit. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t stop the cold from burrowing into his bones. The pain was unbearable.


    He averted his gaze. Anyone else would have considered Nan Xun and Jun Huang the perfect couple, but for him, their intimacy was the most offensive sight in the world. He steadied himself and turned to them. ¡°I have business to attend to. Please excuse me.¡±


    He walked right into the heavy rain. The eunuch hurriedly caught up with him with an umbre. Jun Huang and Nan Xun were suddenly left alone.


    ¡°Business, he said. Tsk, he¡¯s just mad.¡± Nan Xun didn¡¯t notice how irritated he sounded. ¡°He¡¯s crossed a line. He knew full well that you and I are together, and yet he insisted on getting between us. I didn¡¯t want to bring up his kidnapping attempts, but he obviously forgot what he¡¯d done.¡±


    ¡°No need to dwell on that. You know you¡¯re the one I¡¯ve fallen for. Why should we care about other people? There¡¯s no reason for you to be insecure.¡± She chuckled, smiling with her entire face. Nan Xun put aside his resentment for Nan Jihan and nodded, holding Jun Huang closer.


    Even through the tter of rain, Nan Jihan had heard them. He silently tightened his fists to calm himself and left in a hurry, followed by an army of servants.


    Once Nan Jihan was gone, Nan Xun went off to retrieve a robe and draped it over Jun Huang¡¯sp. He then tightened the cloak around her shoulders. The rain had caused the temperature to drop. He didn¡¯t want her to catch another cold.


    He ordered the maid to prepare a pot of hot tea. When he turned back to Jun Huang, she was staring at him. He quickly figured out what she was silently telling him and approached her with a chuckle. ¡°I just worry Nan Jihan would trick or coerce you,¡± he took her cool fingers and murmured. ¡°He isn¡¯t a man of integrity, and he isn¡¯t the right person for you. I ¨C ¡±


    Jun Huang snorted, warmed by his exnation. She didn¡¯t me him. She knew what Nan Jihan was doing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know who I truly care about. I¡¯ll keep my guard up around him.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t intend to make her do anything. He just disliked the way Nan Jihan chased after Jun Huang. He didn¡¯t think of himself as a petty man, but no one could be truly unfazed when their lover was being pursued by other people.


    He cleared his throat awkwardly, embarrassed by her serious exnation. She smiled and noted his reddened earlobes. She barely stopped herself from teasing him.


    They stayed there watching the rain for a long time. Only when it started to get cold did they return to Jun Huang¡¯s bedroom.


    Nan Xun immediately retrieved the portable censer to keep her warm, which the servants had prepared under Nan Jihan¡¯s order since Jun Huang often felt coldtely.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting so weak already. Maybe I won¡¯t be able to even move in Northern Qi¡¯s winter.¡± Jun Huang covered a wry smile and lowered her eyes.


    Oleg Cragfiend entered with the usual equipment, which told Nan Xun it was that time of the day again. Although he¡¯d already watched the poison master draw blood from Jun Huang a few times, it still made him nervous.


    He was a general who¡¯d fought with tens of thousands of soldiers under hismand to deter invaders. He¡¯d seen human blood trickling into rivers and an entirend littered with corpses. He¡¯d bled and gotten wounded without so much as a frown. Seeing Jun Huang in pain, however, was unbearable. He wanted nothing but to suffer in her stead.


    Her arm was covered in cuts on top of cuts on top of old scars. Nan Xun¡¯s expression clouded and turned frosty.


    Jun Huang sighed. ¡°If you don¡¯t like seeing the scars, you should go outside and get some fresh air. I¡¯ll call out for you once we¡¯re finished.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to leave you now.¡± Nan Xun frowned and sat down on the bed to put an arm around her, tantly disregarding anyone¡¯s opinions as he shared his warmth with her.


    Oleg Cragfiend shook his head and sighed. ¡°I hear that the general of Northern Qi is unstoppable on battlefields. Your enemies are going to drop their jaws if they see you like this.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t deem that a response.


    Oleg Cragfiend made a cut and filled up the ceramic bottle. When he looked up again, Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were red like they were brimming with tears. The poison master swallowed his teasing words and quickly patched Jun Huang up before taking his leave.


    Before Jun Huang could rolled down her sleeve, Nan Xun carefully caught her wrist. Jun Huang looked at him questioningly. He gazed at the numerous scars on her arm without a word, his heart heavy and his temples throbbing.


    He took a deep breath and knelt down on one knee. Jun Huang looked at the pink, jagged scars. Her skin had always been fair. Although her master had made the cuts with great precision and treated the wounds with premium medicine, they still scarred. The daily blood drawing process meant getting a new cut before the previous one healed.


    ¡°How ugly the scars are. Don¡¯t look. It¡¯s just going to make both of us feel bad.¡±


    Jun Huang reached out to cover her arm, but Nan Xun didn¡¯t let her. He leaned down to drop a dry kiss on the scars. His tears dropped on her skin, hot enough to burn. Jun Huang¡¯s breath hitched. She gently caressed his hair, overwhelmed by feelings she couldn¡¯t put into words.


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay with you always, Jun Huang. I¡¯ll love you till the end of time and never give up on you.¡± His voice was hoarse andmitted. When he looked up at her, his eyes were still red.


    Jun Huang never doubted anything he said. She smiled softly and nodded. No words were needed at times like this.


    The sun was out the second day. The weather seemed even nicer after the rain. Nan Xun looked outside. It wouldn¡¯t do Jun Huang good to get stuck in a dim room. They might as well seize the opportunity to get some sunlight in the royal garden.


    Nan Xun told Jun Huang what he thought. Jun Huang nodded. She was getting tired of staying in her room. Nan Xun called out for the maid to take Jun Huang there. He had something to take care of first.


    Jun Huang left with the maid. It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the garden. After the rain, the flowers looked even more beautiful. She walked slowly with the maid¡¯s help, the silver dress she wore waved slightly as she moved. Her waist-length hair danced in the breeze. Her expression was calm, even aloof. Every once in a while, she would cover a cough. She looked not unlike the sickly beauty Xi Shi from the old tale[1].


    From a distance, a few of Nan Jihan¡¯s consorts were chatting in a pavilion. Jun Huang nced at them with a frown and turned to leave, unwilling to get involved, but someone had spotted her already. An aggressive looking woman walked up to her.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t one to back down. She looked at the woman with a faint smile and bowed slightly, which was more than the amount of respect Nan Jihan¡¯s consorts deserved.


    1. One of the Four Great Beauties from Ancient China.

 Chapter 295 - Harem Politics

    <h4>Chapter 295: Harem Politics</h4>


    The woman stared at Jun Huang with a weing smile, but her eyes were derisive. She pushed past Jun Huang¡¯s maid and hooked her arm around Jun Huang¡¯s. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, you should join us.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. Her maid spoke up for her, ¡°The consort may not know that my master is ill. She shouldn¡¯t do anything extraneous. We¡¯re going to ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll say she looks pretty good to me. And the weather is nice. It¡¯ll be a shame for her to just leave. She¡¯s not going to deny me, is she?¡± The woman had put on a convincing smile, but her eyes betrayed her true feelings. Jun Huang didn¡¯t miss that. This consort was at least more patient than Consort Li.


    The former honored consort would have scolded Jun Huang¡¯s maid about proper pce etiquette already, while this one maintained a smile. If Jun Huang wasn¡¯t as observant as she was, she might have been fooled.


    She contemted for a moment before nodding. ¡°It¡¯d be rude of me to turn down your offer. If you don¡¯t mind my humble background, I¡¯ll join you.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? Everyone knows His Majesty cares about you more than he does us. You may not have an official title at the moment, but if one day you join the harem, you¡¯re going to be the honored consort or even the empress.¡± She watched Jun Huang as she spoke. On the surface, it seemed like she wasplimenting Jun Huang, but Jun Huang knew this was a test. She smiled slightly.


    Her maid was pleased to hear the consort¡¯s words. She had imagined Jun Huang bing the empress as well. Although Nan Xun and Jun Huang seemed close, as a maid, the maid hadn¡¯t seen enough to know they were more than close friends.


    They reached the pavilion soon. The other finely-dressed consorts cast dark looks at Jun Huang and greeted her with mockeries. Jun Huang, however, was too smart to be angered by petty insults. She smiled at them and joined in the conversation with astounding grace.


    ¡°I wonder if there¡¯s anything you like in particr?¡± the consort who had invited Jun Huang asked.


    Jun Huang looked up at her. She wasn¡¯t sure what the consort really wanted, but she chuckled and answered her question. ¡°This woman prefers white jade over flowers.¡±


    Nan Jihan had prepared a great number of flowers the first time she entered the pce. She knew many consorts had been wondering who the flowers were for. She deftly cleared her suspicion to avoid future trouble.


    The consort rxed somewhat once she heard her answer, and she talked more. When the others mocked Jun Huang, she would put in a few words for her as well.


    Suddenly, everyone turned to look behind Jun Huang with appreciation in their eyes. Jun Huang blinked in confusion.


    She turned around and saw that Nan Xun had braided his hair and put on the attire of a eunuch. He¡¯d always been handsome. Not even disguising as a eunuch diminished his attractiveness.


    Jun Huang blinked and snorted, her eyes brimming with tears and her face flushed. She shut her mouth to muffle herughter, her eyes and brows curved like waning moon.


    She cleared her throat to suppress her amusement but couldn¡¯t help teasing him. ¡°Gonggong is a good-looking one,¡± she said, meeting Nan Xun¡¯s gaze. ¡°Where are you from?¡±


    Nan Xun gave her a brief smile and coughed before saying respectfully, ¡°Have you forgotten? His Majesty has assigned this servant to serve you.¡±


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t helpughing, spilling droplets of tea as her body shook. Nan Xun worried that she¡¯d burn herself. He quickly took the cup from her and shot here a disapproving look with his back to the others.


    ¡°Ah, of course I remember,¡± she said with feigned seriousness, her eyes crinkling. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you toe, though. You know how you look. It¡¯ll be bad if someone set their eyes on you. It¡¯ll be just as bad if you feel desires for one of us.¡±


    She was simply teasing, but the consorts misunderstood due to jealousy. One of the more vtile women shot to her feet and pointed an usative finger at Jun Huang. ¡°Who do you think you are? You¡¯re nobody in this pce. How dare you make such offensive remarks? He may be a eunuch, but he¡¯s not someone you can bully. It¡¯s rude of you to insult him.¡±


    ¡°I thought you were a well-mannered girl, but is this how you treat your servants?¡± the woman who invited Jun Huang reprimanded. ¡°If His Majesty hears, he¡¯s going to be mad.¡±


    The others echoed her words, hurling insults and nder at Jun Huang. Name-calling didn¡¯t bother her that much, but the consorts had crossed a line when they used Jun Huang of shamelessly seducing Nan Jihan while hiding another man in her room.


    p!


    Everyone looked on with shock as the frail-looking woman pped the consort who had bad-mouthed her the most. They widened their eyes at Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang¡¯s gaze swept over them. ¡°His Majesty has granted me power over members of the harem. You deserve punishment for running your mouth. All of you are going to receive twenty ps and kneel here for an hour.¡±


    A maid went off to notify the eunuch who would execute the punishment. The consorts had hoped Jun Huang was boasting, but they were proven wrong by the eunuch¡¯s arrival. They panicked when they realized that Nan Jihan had indeed granted her the privilege.


    Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t forgive them for what they¡¯d said. A few more timid consorts tried to beg for forgiveness, but they shut their mouth when Jun Huang turned to them with a frigid expression. They knew this was something they couldn¡¯t escape.


    Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t hurt someone who had never hurt her, but she wouldn¡¯t go easy on anyone who had. She didn¡¯t even frown when the sound of consorts being pped rang through the garden. Her calm expression and cold eyes were intimidating.


    The consorts¡¯ cheeks were swollen afterwards. The one who cursed Jun Huang the hardest couldn¡¯t say anything. It was painful to even utter a word. The taste of blood lingered in her mouth.


    Jun Huang rose to her feet and looked down at them with a scoff. ¡°You don¡¯t have to pretend nothing happened today. If any of you want to get back at me,e to the side pce. I¡¯ll y the game with you.¡±


    She turned to her maid and ordered her to make sure the consorts stayed on their knees for a full hour. The maid nodded. She didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be capable of such demonstration of power. She puffed her chest out proudly and looked at Jun Huang with admiration, a stark contrast to the consorts¡¯ scowl.


    The hour flew by. The consorts rose to walk away one by one, leaving only the shrewd one who had invited Jun Huang. She narrowed her eyes at the side pce, imagining stepping on Jun Huang¡¯s face with gritted teeth.


    ¡°Is the consort not going to do anything?¡± Her maid was angry for her master. She wondered out loud when she saw how quiet her master was.


    The consort scoffed. ¡°It¡¯ll be an insult to me if I do nothing. However, His Majesty is protective of her. We have to be smart about this.¡±


    ¡°Why not tell your father and let him take care of this?¡± suggested the maid.


    The consort nced at her and shook her head. ¡°That won¡¯t work. Have you forgotten about Consort Li?¡±


    ¡°This is different,¡± the maid said with a conspirative smile. ¡°Besides, she¡¯s offended a lot of people today. The other consorts aren¡¯t going to keep quiet about what happened. They may already be seeking their fathers out.¡±


    The consort considered the maid¡¯s words before nodding. However, before she made sure exactly what Nan Jihan wanted with Jun Huang, she mustn¡¯t blindly follow the crowd. She would write a letter to her father, but she wouldn¡¯t put all the me on Jun Huang.


    Her face split into a cunning smile. Her maid shuddered and fell silent.


    The next morning, many officials had spoken up against Jun Huang, calling her a bad omen to Southern Mu and suggesting Nan Jihan to be more objective. They also described how Jun Huang had punished the consorts in exaggerated fashion. They assumed from Nan Jihan¡¯s dark look that their advice had worked and rxed.


    One of the courtiers remained quiet as he watched everyone. He¡¯d received a letter from his daughter yesterday with a brief description about what had happened. At the end of the letter, she told him not to get involved and, when the others tried to get him to talk, to put the me on the other consorts.


    Nan Jihan had found out what had happened beforehand. He asked the official who hadn¡¯t said a word, ¡°What do you think?¡±

 Chapter 296 - Lingering Influence

    <h4>Chapter 296: Lingering Influence</h4>


    ¡°This official knows nothing about matters of the harem, and I don¡¯t believe in hearsay. It couldn¡¯t have been as simple as they imed with so many consorts being punished. Besides, I hear that Miss Feng is ill. I don¡¯t see why she¡¯d punish the consorts without a reason. They have probably done something wrong.¡±


    Nan Jihan¡¯s expression rxed somewhat. He waved a hand to dismiss the meeting and made his way to the side pce. The other officials shot the man disapproving res, but they knew it was smart of him to keep himself out of the matter.


    When Nan Jihan arrived at Jun Huang¡¯s residence, she was drinking tea in the garden. She rose to her feet with a smile and had the maid prepare some snacks.


    Nan Jihan didn¡¯t intend to keep what happened a secret. He told her about the morning meeting. She responded guiltily, ¡°My reckless action has created troubles for you.¡±


    ¡°Ha, he is to me for not being capable enough,¡± Nan Xun retorted. ¡°Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t need to use his consorts to keep the remaining factions from thest emperor¡¯s reign at bay.¡±


    Nan Jihan¡¯s face darkened, but he had to admit he wasn¡¯t good with this aspect of politics. He pushed aside his annoyance and turned to Nan Xun. ¡°You sound like you know what I should do. Why don¡¯t you give me some suggestions? Then we can get this over with.¡±


    Nan Xun mused. Southern Mu was a significant enough yer. There was no telling what would happen when Northern Qi fought Eastern Wu. With Southern Mu¡¯s help, they stood a better chance of winning. He couldn¡¯t stay on the sidelines when unrest lingered in Southern Mu. ¡°Deal with your trouble-seeking consorts first. Then you can assemble a group to spy on the officials and identify their weaknesses. You¡¯ll be able to win them over one by one.¡±


    Nan Jihan nodded approvingly. However, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to assemble such a group, and he didn¡¯t want to scare the courtiers. He wasn¡¯t sure exactly what he should do.


    Nan Jihan voiced his doubts. Nan Xun hummed, thinking of the House of Heavenly Fiends. He gave Nan Jihan a smile.


    Nan Jihan pursed his lips. What is he plotting?


    ¡°Does Your Majesty want to buy the information?¡± asked Nan Xun. ¡°I know a ce.¡±


    Nan Jihan looked at him in confusion. Nan Xun briefly exined their rtionship with the House of Heavenly Fiends. Nan Jihan pulled a face. He envied Nan Xun¡¯s good luck for bing one of the leaders of the House of Heavenly Fiends with Jun Huang¡¯s help, but he did need the organization¡¯s help. After some negotiation, he offered to buy the information at a considerable price.


    A few dayster, Nan Xun made his way to the House of Heavenly Fiends¡¯ operation base in Southern Mu and showed the doorwatcher his token. He asked for information about Eastern Wu and the officials Nan Jihan was going to target.


    The man in charge took him to a study and went off to retrieve the documents he needed. He returned with a couple written reports. Nan Xun cared less about the officials in Southern Mu. He thus picked up the report on Eastern Wu first and saw that they¡¯d been gathering troops. They must be preparing for battles. He wrote a letter and had it delivered to Northern Qi, telling Qi Yun to be on guard.


    When Nan Xun was about to leave, the man in charge stopped him. He waited for the old man to speak.


    ¡°Two of the officials Nan Jihan listed have been difficult to investigate,¡± admitted the old man. ¡°We¡¯ve found nothing unusual yet.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned and took a more careful look at the other report. One of the two officials was General Li. The other was the man who had spoken up for Jun Huang in the court.


    It was rare for the house to find nothing unusual about anyone. He told the old man to put more effort into investigating the two officials. He then asked about Jun Hao and Yin Yun.


    He sighed in relief when he was told that they were both safe. Jun Huang hadn¡¯t had the opportunity to inquire about her familytely, but she must be worried. It made his heart grow heavy.


    He returned to the pce and told Jun Huang everything. She agreed that not finding anything unusual was a warning sign. The house must get to the bottom of this no matter how much time they needed.


    Nan Xun knelt before Jun Huang and took her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said gently. ¡°I¡¯ve asked about Jun Hao and Yin Yun. They¡¯re both safe.¡±


    Jun Huang paused before giving him a smile and a nod, epting his kind offer.


    She¡¯d been losing weight and hadn¡¯t felt like going outside. No matter how much medicine she took, she remained ill and sometimes copsed at night. Oleg Cragfiend had no choice but to prescribe more medicine for her. He also told her to get off the bed every day to facilitate the treatment.


    Jun Huang knew what she should do, but she couldn¡¯t move her sickly body. Her face got paler and paler, which worried everyone.


    ¡°You have to ovee yourself!¡± Oleg Cragfiend snapped angrily. ¡° Get off the bed tomorrow! You¡¯re not a little girl anymore. You know what you have to do. Don¡¯ty there like a dead man.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and nodded. Nan Xun pulled her into his arms and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll apany you to a performance tomorrow. What do you say?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯ll be good. Thank you.¡± Jun Huang gave him a smile, which made his heart ache. The blood drawing process had weakened her so much. She was still graceful, but much less lively.


    She didn¡¯t care much about other people¡¯s opinions, but the pain in Nan Xun¡¯s eyes hit her hard. She silently swore to persevere and not disappoint those who¡¯d tried so hard to save her.


    The weather was nice the next day. Nan Xun took Jun Huang to a performance. The sun and the singing made Jun Huang drowsy. Afterwards, she had her blood drawn and took some medicine. Exhaustion set in and put her to sleep.


    Nan Xun had told Oleg Cragfiend that he¡¯d go to the snowy mountain with him today. He hadn¡¯t seen the lotus for himself even after all this time. Once Jun Huang fell asleep, he rushed to the mountain with the poison master.


    In a hurry, he hadn¡¯t put on a winter coat, but his inner energy kept him warm. They went straight to the cave the lotus was in. Nan Xun watched Oleg Cragfiend pour the blood over the flower from afar. The blood quickly seeped into the nt, giving it a faint crimson glow.


    ¡°She¡¯s getting weaker, but don¡¯t worry. The lotus is developing nicely and will soon reach maturity.¡±


    Nan Xun was a little embarrassed for having someone notice his worry, but he didn¡¯t dwell on it. He cordially expressed his gratitude to Oleg Cragfiend and asked him to take care of Jun Huang.


    When the lotus was about to reach maturity, Eastern Wu sent out their troops.


    After the emperor of Northern Qi died, the men Eastern Wu nted in Northern Qi brought the good news back. The new emperor was a young man who wouldn¡¯t pose much of a threat.


    Eastern Wu celebrated the news while Northern Qi was mourning for their loss. This was what they had been waiting for!


    The emperor of Eastern Wu had been getting impatient. Heughed when he heard the news and tore the peace treaty to pieces in the court for all to see. Fate was on their side!


    He immediately deployed the army. Although Nan Xun and Qi Yun had been prepared, they didn¡¯t expect Eastern Wu to invade so abruptly with such ferocity. The general stationed at the border had been informed, but he was caught off guard by the sudden ambush at night. Northern Qi lost a city as a result. Eastern Wu¡¯s morale was high, while Nan Xun grew even more resentful.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t wait to destroy Eastern Wu. His ire burned hotter when he heard that Eastern Wu soldiers had killed everyone in the city.


    He went straight to Nan Jihan and asked for his help. Nan Jihan agreed readily. This could be a mutually beneficial arrangement.


    Eastern Wu had gained a city in Nan Xun¡¯s absence. His soldiers needed a leader. In order to turn the tide around as soon as possible, Nan Xun must leave immediately. Jun Huang was still asleep when he departed. He didn¡¯t wake her and instead had Nan Jihan deliver a message for him before mounting a horse and ridding off with his men.


    Jun Huang woke up in the afternoon. The maid who¡¯d been staying by her side noticed how unfocused her eyes were. The maid cried, muffling her sob by covering her mouth.


    Jun Huang had gradually lost her vision. She could barely see anything. She¡¯d heard about Eastern Wu¡¯s invasion. She kept her condition from Nan Xun so that he wouldn¡¯t be too worried. She stayed in bed and never gave him a chance to discover her loss of eyesight.


    Nan Jihan was one of the few who knew. When he entered her room, she was sitting up with the maid¡¯s help. He sighed and draped the nket over her without a word.


    Jun Huang could tell who her visitor was. ¡°Why are you here? Did he... leave already?¡±


    Nan Jihan¡¯s heart ached. He put on a smile and nodded. Realizing that she couldn¡¯t see, he added, ¡°Yes, he came to visit you earlier, but you were asleep. He didn¡¯t want to disturb you, so he left.¡±

 Chapter 297 - Victorious

    <h4>Chapter 297: Victorious</h4>


    Jun Huang nodded. She knew Nan Xun¡¯s urgency was also for her sake. She coughed. ¡°I¡¯d like to write a letter to reassure him that I¡¯m alright.¡±


    ¡°But you ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Jun Huang knew what he wanted to say. She touched her eyes without thinking, a bitter smile tugging her lips. Nan Jihan swallowed his words. He ordered the maid to retrieve the writing instrument and helped Jun Huang to the desk. He guided her hands to the brush and the sheet of paper.


    Although Jun Huang couldn¡¯t see, her handwriting was still graceful. She told Nan Xun to take care of himself and think before he acted.


    Nan Xun had reached the border when he received Jun Huang¡¯s letter. He stood atop the fort, looking at the city they¡¯d lost from a distance. He clenched his fists, narrowing his eyes in deep thought.


    ¡°This subordinate is to me,¡± the officer in charge said, kneeling on the floor. ¡°My carelessness cost us the city.¡±


    Nan Xun looked down at him, his expression frigid. The others froze, thinking that Nan Xun would have the officer pay with his life.


    After a long stretch of silence, Nan Xun finally said, ¡°If you know you are to me, pick yourself up and fight! The next time Eastern Wu invades, we¡¯re going to not only send them fleeing, but also to reim what we¡¯ve lost.¡±


    His voice wasn¡¯t particrly loud, but his eyes were cold and his voice piercing, making everyone¡¯s blood boil. They were soldiers with great courage and will. They came to the border armored and wielding spears to defend their homnd. They were one, and they fought as a united front.


    ¡°Please give me another chance, general. This subordinate will not disappoint you.¡± The officer cupped his hands and dered with great conviction. The other soldiers echoed his words. Nan Xun¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but it was clear he was pleased by their devotion to their country.


    Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand returned with a letter addressed to Nan Xun. Nan Xun smiled at the familiar handwriting. The others widened their eyes at theirmander. They had never seen the stoic general smile so gently. For a moment, no one dared make a sound.


    The second inmand cleared his throat. Nan Xun only realized then how quiet they¡¯d be. He schooled his expression into one of indifference and left with his second inmand. Behind him, the soldiers erupted into surprised exims, but he was in too good a mood to care. He returned to the camp.


    ¡°When does the general think Eastern Wu will strike again?¡± The second inmand asked, trying not to stare at Nan Xun¡¯s smile.


    Nan Xun took a seat and tapped the table with his finger in pace with his heartbeats, the sound calming rather than aggravating.


    ¡°Tomorrow morning,¡± Nan Xun said with great confidence.


    The second inmand frowned. ¡°Why are you so certain, general?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve fought Eastern Wu before. They were able to gain an upper-hand this time only because I wasn¡¯t around. They must have heard about my arrival already. They¡¯ll think they stand a better chance of winning if theyunch an attack as soon as possible before we can get prepared.¡±


    The second inmand was still a little lost. He wasn¡¯t a particrly clever man, and he wasn¡¯t good at keeping his doubts to himself. ¡°General, did you and His Majesty deliberately let Eastern Wu take the city?¡±


    Nan Xun arched an eyebrow. ¡°Why would you say that?¡±


    ¡°We did lose people at theter stage of the battle, but to my knowledge, most of the civilians out of the city had been evacuated beforehand, and many of the dead were prisoners waiting for execution. They¡¯re sent their as part of a n, I just don¡¯t know what the n was.¡±


    The second inmandid out his observations.


    Nan Xun chuckled and said casually, ¡°We have to give Eastern Wu something to lure them in. Since the ancient times, people have deliberately let go of smaller fish in order to get the big one. We¡¯re just following our ancestors¡¯ example.¡±


    Someone called out for the second inmand before he could say anything. He walked away. Nan Xun looked at the young man¡¯s back, his smile dropping.


    He hadn¡¯t been informed of the plot beforehand and had believed the city was truly lost. He only noticed the signs when he arrived at the border. Then Ji Bo¡¯s letter arrived, describing his n in detail. Nan Xun didn¡¯t know how he should feel. Ji Bo was indeed both brave and clever. On the surface, Eastern Wu had ughtered many of Northern Qi¡¯s civilians unprovoked, which gave them justification to destroy Eastern Wu.


    Ji Bo had deftly put Northern Qi on the moral high ground, enabling them to enjoy both the glory and the gain.


    As Nan Xun predicted, Eastern Wu struck again the next morning. Seemingly intimidated by Nan Xun¡¯s spotless track record, they deployed as many as fifty thousand people this time.


    Nan Xun frowned as he looked over his soldiers. He never enjoyed watching the march from high above.


    ¡°General, Eastern Wu has crossed the border,¡± his second inmand said. Nan Xun looked over at the distance and noted the dust filling the air, signifying an army¡¯s arrival. Nan Xun smiled coldly and got off the city wall, mounting his horse and riding to the front of the troop. He gathered his officers and shouted, ¡°These barbarians have killed our people and destroyed our city. We¡¯re not going to let them live today. Kill!¡±


    ¡°Kill!¡± His soldiers were in high morale as they followed Nan Xun to the battlefield. From afar, soldiers wearing the color of their respective nation met in the middle and shed. Weapons clinked and pained cries rang out, shaking both heaven and earth.


    Nan Xun wielded his spear with great precision and ferocity like the hero he was, his face covered in his enemies¡¯ blood.


    Northern Qi was driven. Eastern Wu didn¡¯t expect such aggression and backed away again and again. Nan Xun¡¯s eagle eyes locked on Eastern Wu¡¯s general, which instilled the fear of death in him and prompted him to retreat. Nan Xun scoffed. He wasn¡¯t going to give the man the chance.


    Nan Xun leapt and stepped on his horse to propel himself, driving his spear through the general¡¯s heavy armor. The general widened his eyes in disbelief. His horse started and fled, throwing him off his back.


    The Eastern Wu soldiers were stunned and intimidated. They abandoned Northern Qi¡¯s city and retreated back to their territory. Nan Xun sounded the horn to call back his soldiers as well. He didn¡¯t intend to chase after their enemies. After all, they didn¡¯t know if Eastern Wu had set up ambushes.


    Eastern Wu¡¯s failure soon got out. Jun Huang was happy for Nan Xun, but also disappointed that she hadn¡¯t been there to witness it.


    Nan Xun led the army back to their camp. The soldiers were ready to celebrate. Nan Xun didn¡¯t stop them. He had wine brought to the camp and shared a few drinks with his soldiers. Theyughed and cheered in delight.


    The celebration was interrupted by Ji Bo¡¯s arrival.


    Nan Xun rose to his feet and asked, ¡°Why is the gentleman here?¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s gaze swept over the soldiers¡¯ wine bowls. He cupped his hands. ¡°His Majesty has heard about your victory. Worried that Your Highness may need help, he ordered me toe assist you as a strategist.¡±


    Nan Xun introduced Ji Bo to everyone. They were shocked when they heard who he was. Everyone knew of the great strategist. Him being sent here showed how much Qi Yun cared about the war.


    Nan Xun noted Ji Bo¡¯s urge to speak up. ¡°Is there something you¡¯d like to say?¡±


    Ji Bo nodded and said coolly, ¡°You¡¯ve been victorious, but what if Eastern Wu strikes back? You¡¯ve started drinking already. How are you going to fight then?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s expression clouded. His second inmand piped up, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Gentleman Ji Bo. We won¡¯t really get drunk, and Eastern Wu wouldn¡¯t be eager to strike again after the defeat. They don¡¯t have a death wish.¡±


    ¡°What if they do?¡± Ji Bo asked insistently. The soldiers fell silent. They awkwardly held onto their wine bowls, debating what they should do.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done well today,¡± Nan Xun downed his bowl and said. ¡°Go rest. We¡¯ll march out again after recuperating.¡±


    The soldiers sighed in relief and finished their wine. They couldn¡¯t have fled faster, afraid of being scolded by Ji Bo.


    Ji Bo was a schr. Although he had a great strategic mind, he was useless in a fight. However, he possessed a simr presence as Jun Huang, which intimidated and demanded obedience.


    As the second inmand said, Eastern Wu was too wary to make a move. This was exactly the right time for Northern Qi to strike. Nan Xun sought out Ji Bo to discuss his n.


    ¡°That¡¯s doable,¡± Ji Bo said. ¡°As I¡¯ve said, Eastern Wu made the first move. We¡¯re justified to strike back.¡±


    Nan Xun agreed.


    As a strategist, Ji Bo was more thorough. He added, ¡°However, we still need a detailed n, or we may be caught off guard.¡±


    Nan Xun smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll leave that in your capable hands.¡±

 Chapter 298 - Formidable Foe

    <h4>Chapter 298: Formidable Foe</h4>


    Ji Bo nned to attack a couple dayster. Nan Xun and the officers took the time to regroup their soldiers.


    Without giving Eastern Wu any time to recuperate, Nan Xun charged straight into Eastern Wu territory, vanquishing the enemies with such ferocity that they grew timid. The emperor of Eastern Wu panicked when he received the report.


    The third prince scoffed inwardly at the scared emperor, but he maintained a polite smile. He didn¡¯t want Eastern Wu to fall. ¡°Royal Father, we have to stop Northern Qi¡¯s advance. At the same time, we should send assassins to kill Nan Xun at the border.¡±


    The emperor turned to the third prince, hesitant. The other officials echoed the prince¡¯s sentiment, expressing their support for the n proposed.


    ¡°Royal Father doesn¡¯t have to worry,¡± the third prince said, ncing at the first prince. He was going to show everyone what he¡¯d got. ¡°This son will take care of it.¡±


    The emperor conceded in the end. Although he wasn¡¯t a particrly clever man, he was no coward. The enemies were right at their doorstep. He couldn¡¯t stand by and do anything.


    The third prince quickly arranged for the assassination. However, he didn¡¯t know that the House of Heavenly Fiends had been watching him and soon delivered the information to Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun huffed. ¡°I didn¡¯t think an emperor would resort to such measures. Howughable.¡±


    Ji Bo had gotten the information as well. He sat down next to Nan Xun and nced at the letters on the table. ¡°Your Highness must be on your guard. You know better than anyone the value of caution.¡±


    ¡°Besides, you should keep the safety of your soldiers in mind and don¡¯t let hubris get the better of you.¡± Ji Bo¡¯s tone was earnest.


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°Your advice is noted. I won¡¯t get reckless.¡±


    With that, Nan Xun slowed down his pace and grew more cautious. However, the more hot-headed soldiers within the troops considered that a sign of Nan Xun¡¯s fear for Eastern Wu.


    When the criticism reached Nan Xun¡¯s ears, Eastern Wuunched an attack. It wasn¡¯t the right time for Nan Xun to deal with dissenting voices in the army. He pushed the issue aside and led the troops to the frontline to eliminate their enemies. Their general fled while he could and returned to the imperial city for help.


    The emperor was intimidated by Nan Xun¡¯s seemingly unstoppable advances. The odds of them winning seemed slim. He slumped on the chair drenched in sweat. The room was oppressively silent.


    He was reminded of the old general who¡¯d resigned months ago. He rose to his feet and asked, ¡°Are any of you willing to persuade the old general to return?¡±


    Everyone knew who the emperor was referring to. The old general was a heroic figure. He¡¯d resigned because of his disapproval of Eastern Wu¡¯s destructive attack against Western Que. He didn¡¯t agree with his the emperor¡¯s ambition to conquer the world, believing that peace was only possible with different nations keeping each other at bay.


    It wouldn¡¯t be an easy task. The general was well-known for being stubborn and too prideful to listen to others.


    ¡°This son volunteers,¡± the third prince took a step forward and said after a deep breath.


    Everyone was astounded, but they kept their thoughts to themselves. The first prince was the only exception. He¡¯d always been at odds with his brother and wasn¡¯t going to let the opportunity to mock him go.¡°Third brother should think about what you can and can¡¯t do even though you¡¯re eager to prove yourself. It¡¯s going to make you look bad if you fail to persuade the general.¡±


    The third prince narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, big brother. I will get him to leave retirement no matter what.¡±


    The emperor knew about the tension between the two princes. He wasn¡¯t in the mood to listen to their petty argument. He rubbed at his forehead and tasked the third prince to seek out the general.


    The third prince wasn¡¯t entirely sure if he¡¯d made the right decision. He knew what kind of a man the old general was. He could only get prepared and try his best to convince the old man.


    He didn¡¯t immediately take actions after locating the old general. As a member of the royal family, he knew how impatience could lead to disaster.


    He visited the small vige the old general currently resided in. The residents were pure-hearted, and the vige was a rare utopia within Eastern Wu. However, due to its remoteness, the living condition was cruder. There was a stark contrast between the ce and the imperial city.


    News traveled fast in a smallmunity. Soon, many had heard about the prince¡¯s arrival. When he spread the information that he¡¯de for the old general, the vigers didn¡¯t let him take a step into the vige.


    The third prince was in no rush. He sat under a tree and waited. He knew from listening in on the locals¡¯ conversations that the general had helped the vige greatly and earned their respect.


    Soon, the general showed up. He was old, but still hale and hearty. Brute force alone wasn¡¯t going to win a war. The army needed a leader who had an eye for the big picture and could keep everyone safe, who was trusted among the soldiers. The old general was the perfect candidate.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, general. How have you been?¡± The third prince approached the general and greeted him with deference.


    The general scoffed. ¡°Why is Your Highness here?¡±


    ¡°Eastern Wu is at war with Northern Qi, but weck a strong leader. People are suffering and lives are lost. If the general refuses to help, Eastern Wu will fall. I know you questioned His Majesty¡¯s beliefs, and that you¡¯re sick of fighting. However, we don¡¯t have a choice. You know better than anyone how cruel and violent Northern Qi is. We¡¯ve signed a treaty, but they discarded it. Nan Xun has led his troops to attack our border cities. We have to...¡± The third prince stopped himself. He¡¯d said what he needed to say. He believed the general woulde to the conclusion himself.


    The vige was far from the imperial city. Even the most widely talked about issues wouldn¡¯t have spread here. The general wouldn¡¯t know who it was that broke the treaty. He had to ept his duty with so many people as witnesses.


    As the prince predicted, the general believed that Northern Qi was the one who instigated the war. He quickly got prepared and made his way to the border. The third prince put him in charge of the battles at the border and reported back to the emperor for him.


    The general¡¯s return rekindled hope in the soldiers. They sighed in relief, regaining their will to fight with the general as their backbone.


    Nan Xun got wind of the old general¡¯s return. He¡¯d be an obstacles they had to face.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t as experienced as the old general, but he was just as capable. He was brave but not reckless. The old general was merely another enemy he had to deal with.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t arrogant. He simply had confidence in his men. They stuck to their original n and attacked Eastern Wu¡¯s border every once in a while, keeping them on edge. Then theyunched an attack when their enemies had lost their calm.


    ¡°General, the old Eastern Wu general has arrived at the border. Our troops were attacking at the time. The Eastern Wu defense army had been close to falling apart, but then they suddenly recovered their morale and stopped us from advancing.¡± The second inmand respectively briefed Nan Xun on what was happening, his brows furrowed in concern.


    Then, a messenger arrived. ¡°General, Eastern Wu hasunched an attack. The formation they use is something we¡¯ve never seen before. Due to a reckless mistake, five thousand soldiers have died.¡±


    Nan Xun shot to his feet and hit the desk hard, scaring his men. He narrowed his eyes at his second inmand and the messenger and said coldly, ¡°They¡¯re being aggressive because they¡¯ve lost too many people and their morale is low. It¡¯s only natural that they¡¯ll want to regain their confidence through a quick victory. However, we¡¯re not going to let them get what they want. You two, go to the border and summon our troops back.¡±


    ¡°General, wouldn¡¯t that ¨C ¡±


    ¡°After that, immediately surround their army from both sides. Even if we can¡¯t capture the general, we must kill all their vanguards. Don¡¯t show any mercy.¡± Nan Xun¡¯s expression was dark, and his voice steely.


    The second inmand hesitated before asking, ¡°How do you know they¡¯ll fall for that, general? What if they retreat after we do so?¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t. They will chase after our army. They aren¡¯t going to give up so easily after getting a taste of victory. Even the old general won¡¯t be able to stop their vanguards from charging in the heat of the moment. Go make the arrangement. We¡¯ve lost five thousand. We have to at least kill all three thousand of their vanguards.¡±


    The second inmand finally realized what the general was trying to do. He rushed outside without dy. Nan Xun sat down on a hide-covered chair, his gaze deep and clouded.

 Chapter 299 - Hero of the Generation

    <h4>Chapter 299: Hero of the Generation</h4>


    Northern Qi would¡¯ve broken through Eastern Wu¡¯s first line of defense if not for the old general¡¯s sudden arrival. As it was, they could only face the new threat headon. Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t give up until Eastern Wu paid for their atrocities. That was his promise to Jun Huang.


    As he¡¯d predicted, the vanguards ignored the old general¡¯s advice and insisted on chasing after the Northern Qi army, falling right into Northern Qi¡¯s trap. No one survived the ambush.


    Eastern Wu might appear to have won on paper ¨C exchanging three thousand lives for five thousand of their enemies, but the old general knew he was the one who lost. Nan Xun had a keen understanding of psychology. Both of them werepetent leaders. Neither could get careless in their sh.


    Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand took a swig of his wine and spat at the soil, gritting his teeth as he said, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect someone like the old general to be serving Eastern Wu. What a waste.¡±


    After a few battles, it became evident that the old general was a formidable foe. The war hade to a gridlock. Neither side was able to gain the upperhand. The prolonged war continued to diminish their morale.


    The other officers echoed his sentiment. Nan Xun sat on the main seat and remained silent. After a thoughtful moment, Ji Bo spoke up, ¡°You have to be wary of the old general. He¡¯s studied war strategies and is adept at misleading his enemies. Moreover, he knows the territory here well. That¡¯s why he¡¯s able to deter our troops.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of the old general and how difficult it is to defeat him,¡± Nan Xun said. He looked calm, but anyone who knew him well could read the killing intent shing through his sharp eyes. ¡°Even so, we must defeat him.¡±


    Ji Bo paused and offered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. We aren¡¯t losing, either. Both sides have won our fair share of battles. The question is which of us can persevere. Moreover, our general is a genius in war who can see several moves ahead. Eastern Wu is still struggling to defend itself, but not for long.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why they¡¯re irritating,¡± the second inmandined and took a few more gulps of wine.


    Nan Xun dismissed them with a wave of his hand, his brows furrowed in annoyance. The officers nodded and left without a word, leaving Nan Xun and Ji Bo alone. Nan Xun made sure no one was around before beckoning Ji Bo to look at the map behind the screen.


    They talked about what they should do next. Ji Bo knew something about Sun Tzu¡¯s The Art of War. He could therefore provide some suggestions. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t a close-minded man. If anyone had better ideas than he did, he¡¯d listen.


    ¡°What are you worried about, Your Highness?¡± Ji Bo asked openly. It was clear from Nan Xun¡¯s face that he was concerned. At first he assumed Nan Xun was worried about Jun Huang, but after the time they spent together, he realized that Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t bring his emotions into his work.


    Nan Xun considered how he should put it. ¡°As you said, we¡¯re nowpeting with Eastern Wu in how long our supplies wouldst. They¡¯ve just been through a difficult battle, which consumed a lot of their resources. However, I worry that the general public will be displeased if the war continues for too long. After all, they are the ones who suffer the most during wartime.¡±


    Ji Bo fell silent. He understood Nan Xun¡¯s concerns, but what else could they do? It wasn¡¯t easy to defeat Eastern Wu, but people didn¡¯t care if it was easy. They only cared about the results.


    Nan Xun sighed and rubbed at his forehead in exhaustion. Ji Bo finally came up with an idea. After some hesitation, he said, ¡°We just have to quicken our pace. We¡¯ve broken into Eastern Wu¡¯s border. We mustn¡¯t back down in face of their resistance. We should spread words that Eastern Wu¡¯s emperor is cruel and untrustworthy. We¡¯ll deal with the generalter.¡±


    Nan Xun agreed. Since they couldn¡¯t readily defeat the old general, they¡¯d try to turn people¡¯s opinions around. Once the public were swayed, even the strongest army wouldn¡¯t be able to turn the tide of the war.


    Nan Xun had told Jun Huang about their problems in his letter. She didn¡¯t immediately respond and instead told the House of Heavenly Fiends to look into the general. She didn¡¯t believe anyone could bepletely without weakness. In her opinion, someone like the old general couldn¡¯t be defeated through brute force. They should identify his emotional vulnerability to gain his cooperation.


    As she expected, everyone had their weaknesses and ideals. The house of Heavenly Fiends found out about the general¡¯s resignation. She frowned as she listened to the servants read out the report. She couldn¡¯t see clearly enough to read it herself.


    It turned out that the general had been discontent when the emperor invaded Western Que and ruthlessly killed everyone. He resigned not long after. If the third prince hadn¡¯t imed to want the best for the people and put all the me on Northern Qi, the general wouldn¡¯t have returned to the border.


    Jun Huang scoffed. The third prince of Eastern Wu cared about nothing but the throne. What a shameful trick he¡¯d pulled this time.


    She delivered the information to Nan Xun. Although she had only written a few words, Nan Xun figured out what she meant readily. The old general was the key. All their problems would be resolved as long as they convinced the general to stop serving Eastern Wu. The question was how.


    Nan Xun stopped leading the troop himself after a few battles. He ordered his men to stay calm no matter what happened, creating the illusion that they were plotting something in order to stop Eastern Wu from making a move.


    Ji Bo and Nan Xun talked about how they should sway the old general. Honesty seemed to be the best policy here. The old general had seen all manners of people in his long years as a general. ndishment would only make him mad. In the end, being genuine always worked better.


    Nan Xun decided to sneak into Eastern Wu¡¯s camp. Before that, however, they needed a n to prepare for anything that might happen.


    Ji Bo thought it was too dangerous for Nan Xun to go himself. Too many things could go wrong. As the general, Nan Xun¡¯s safety was their priority.


    Nan Xun, however, believed it was a risk he had to take. He must show the old general he meant his offer. He¡¯d make the necessary arrangements. In the end, though, he acquiesced and took a few men with him as backup.


    It was chilly at night. Nan Xun roamed through the woods dressed in clothes for stealth, followed by a few shadow guards. Deep within the woods, they spotted the faint lighting from Eastern Wu¡¯s camp. Nan Xun motioned at the guards to wait for him and disappeared into the night.


    He quickly made his way to the fringe of the camp, his sharp gaze tracking the patrols. Once they had left, he snuck into the camp and hid in the shadows. He quickly located the old general¡¯s tent.


    Before he could move, footsteps came from behind him. He turned and saw a yawning soldier. The man had left his team to find something to eat and chanced upon Nan Xun. Nan Xun knocked him out with his knifehand before the soldier could make a sound.


    Nan Xun changed into his clothes and joined the patrols without anyone noticing.


    Near the general¡¯s tent, Nan Xun pretended to be ill and asked for a short break. The leader of the group told him to return soon and led the patrols away. Nan Xun moved to the back of the tent and took out a sharp knife to cut it. He rolled inside without making a sound. The general was reading a strategy book under candlelight.


    Nan Xun approached him and quickly jabbed at his acupuncture points to disable him. He then took the old general to the forest and removed the restrictions.


    Nan Xun watched coolly as the old general lunged at him. Before the general could touch him, two guards leapt out from the shadow and restrained him. Fury made his face red. He looked like he was going to explode.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Nan Xun snapped with a frown. ¡°Let him go.¡±


    The shadow guards didn¡¯t know why Nan Xun would make such an order, but they weren¡¯t going to disobey him. They let the general go without a word and backed away to watch the parameters.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± The general didn¡¯t strike again, but instead narrowed his eyes at Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun smiled. ¡°This gentleman is Nan Xun. Pleased to meet you, general.¡±


    The old general stilled. He¡¯d never seen Nan Xun in person before. The man was young and astoundingly graceful and strong. It was rare for someone his age to have reached such heights.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± The old general had known all kinds of people. He wasn¡¯t at all nervous about falling into Nan Xun¡¯s hands. He considered Nan Xun coldly, his presence intimidating.


    Nan Xun chuckled. Under the silver moon, he looked as if nothing in the world could put him down. The old general narrowed his eyes. Nan Xun smiled, unfazed by the man¡¯s scrutiny.


    Silence stretched until the general was at the end of his patience. After some deliberation, Nan Xun said, ¡°I hear that the general is a man of integrity, but do you really think Eastern Wu deserves your service?¡±


    The old general scoffed. ¡°Ha, you better think before you say anything. It won¡¯t help for you to try to sway me.¡±


    Nan Xun had been informed, so he wasn¡¯t mad at the general¡¯s attitude. He maintained a dignified smile and said, ¡°The third prince told you Northern Qi was the one who broke the peace treaty, didn¡¯t he?¡±

 Chapter 300 - Devoted Defender

    <h4>Chapter 300: Devoted Defender</h4>


    ¡°What? Are you going to deny that?¡± The old general scoffed, his eyes steely. ¡°I told you not to try to sway me.¡±


    ¡°You should know what I was trying to tell you, general,¡± Nan Xun said earnestly. He hadn¡¯t uttered any lies. ¡°It¡¯s not up to you and me to decide whether Northern Qi is at fault here. It¡¯s a matter between our two nations. Northern Qi has always been honest. If we were the one who cast the first stone, I wouldn¡¯t have sought you out. Your emperor, on the other hand, is a different story. I¡¯m sure you know that as well.¡±


    The old general had been doubting the third prince¡¯s words since he arrived at the border. People from Northern Qi in the area had often mentioned how Eastern Wu didn¡¯t honored their promise. It couldn¡¯t have been a simple rumor for so many people to believe it.


    The old general coughed in the chilling wind. He was old. No matter how healthy he was, he wasn¡¯t how he¡¯d been when he was young. Nan Xun looked at him for a while before sighing. ¡°Are you loyal to Eastern Wu, or its fool of an emperor? If it¡¯s the emperor you serve, this conversation can end here. However, I hear that the general is a man of integrity. I don¡¯t believe you are someone who¡¯ll be blinded by power. Am I wrong to assume that, general?¡±


    Nan Xun bluntly voiced his thoughts. He didn¡¯t want to waste too much time. They risked getting into trouble if the conversation dragged on and the soldiers realized their general was missing.


    The general frowned in deep thought, which gave Nan Xun hope that he¡¯d said something right. He added, ¡°You know better than anyone what kind of a man your emperor is. Are you willing to keep helping a tyrant exploit the regr folk? Do you want other countries to end up like Western Que? Overtime, you¡¯ll be nothing but a weapon for Eastern Wu. It¡¯s going to serve you better to join us. Northern Qi values talents. And our beliefs align with yours. It¡¯s better ¨C ¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just trying to get me to surrender,¡± the general sneered. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll let you? The emperor isn¡¯t a good leader, but I was born and raised in Eastern Wu. It¡¯s my duty to guard this country. Do you expect me to raise my weapon at my own people?¡±


    Nan Xun huffed. He didn¡¯t expect the general to be so stubborn. His response was cut short by noisesing from afar. The old general knew it was his men. He opened his mouth to call out for them to capture Nan Xun, but suddenly a sword was at his throat, the cold metal touching his skin.


    ¡°The general should know that I wouldn¡¯t have spent the time talking to you if I wanted your life,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Since you¡¯ve decided to serve an immoral master, I¡¯m not going to keep up with this talk. We¡¯ll meet again on battlefields. Of course, I hope you¡¯ll think about what I said today. Farewell.¡±


    He sheathed his sword and disappeared into the woods with his shadow guards.


    A few Eastern Wu soldiers had finally found the general. The leader of the group asked worriedly, ¡°General, are you alright?¡±


    The general nodded but didn¡¯t tell them the truth of what had happened. He imed to be getting some fresh air.


    Ji Bo was waiting outside when Nan Xun and the guards returned to the camp. He walked up to them and sighed in relief once he made sure Nan Xun wasn¡¯t hurt. He dismissed the other soldiers and followed after Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun was in a dark mood. He¡¯d wanted to recruit the general, but the man refused to see reason. He felt as if there was a weight over his chest he couldn¡¯t get rid of.


    Ji Boughed when he heard Nan Xun described what had happened. ¡°Your Highness should consider if the general would be worth recruiting if he readily agreed to your offer. It¡¯s a good thing that he turned you down.¡±


    ¡°So you knew the general wasn¡¯t going to say yes?¡± the second inmand approached them and asked. ¡°Then why did we seek him out?¡±


    Ji Bo turned to Nan Xun with a smile. After some contemtion, Nan Xun said, ¡°This is a test. We¡¯ve exposed the emperor¡¯s true nature and made the general question his decision. Then it¡¯ll be easier to do what we¡¯re gonna do.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Ji Bo was pleased. The admirable thing about Nan Xun was that he never let anger cloud his judgement.


    ¡°But he¡¯s only a general. There are countless talented people in Northern Qi. We don¡¯t need him. It¡¯ll be bad if he surrenders but harbors ulterior motives.¡± The second inmand was still worried, his forehead creased. Clearly he¡¯d been agonizing over this issue.


    Nan Xun shook his head. ¡°No, he won¡¯t submit to us so easily. Once he does, he¡¯ll devote all of himself to us. He¡¯s a principled man who¡¯s gained a lot of respect from other people. He considers it beneath him to lie to us.¡±


    Ji Bo agreed. The old general had made a name for himself at a young age. He was well known for having incorruptible integrity. People like him would never resort to deception. He wasn¡¯t going to surrender to Northern Qi if he didn¡¯t want to. They¡¯d show the general the truth with their actions.


    Jun Huang was worried about Nan Xun. No one was safe on battlefields. She¡¯d been on edge every day, worried that he¡¯d get hurt. Finally, she reached her limit. She sent for the House of Heavenly Fiends and told them to keep her updated about Nan Xun.


    Nan Jihan frowned when he heard, disapproving of Jun Huang¡¯s action. Her eyesight had beening and going. She should take care of herself and not let herself worry too much. She could disregard her health for Nan Xun, but he wouldn¡¯t let her. He¡¯d promised Nan Xun to keep her safe, and he¡¯d sworn to himself to do that as well.


    Their conversations always ended in arguments. Jun Huang¡¯s cold attitude bothered him, but he couldn¡¯t do anything to change that. He¡¯d thought about letting her do whatever she wanted, but he couldn¡¯t just not care about her.


    He sighed and gave up on convincing her. He asked Oleg Cragfiend to stay in the pce and check over Jun Huang every day. This time, Jun Huang conceded.


    Nan Xun knew Jun Huang was worried, but he didn¡¯t try to stop her from asking about him since she wouldn¡¯t be able to stop caring. It worried him that Jun Huang hadn¡¯t mentioned anything about her health, but there was nothing he could do. This was too critical a moment for him to just leave. He could only keep a few experts around him as a way to reassure Jun Huang.


    Qi Yun had been keeping an eye on the war. It pained him to hear that Jun Huang had been exchanging letters with Nan Xun still. During her absence, she¡¯d never once written him a letter. He knew she was being treated in Southern Mu, but why couldn¡¯t she write to him when she regrly wrote to Nan Xun?


    Jealousy and envy made his eyes sting. He forced himself to calm down and discussed with the courtiers about the current situation. He ordered to increase the amount of forces and supplies sent to the border. He¡¯d do anything to lessen Jun Huang¡¯s worry so that she could get cured soon. He wished she¡¯d remember what he¡¯d done when she returned andmended him for a job well done.


    After seeking out the general, the two nations had shed a few more times. Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to lead the charge, but Ji Bo insisted he must. They had to leave a good impression on the general. Nan Xun had no choice but tomand his army at the frontline.


    The general acted as if he had beenpletely unfazed. He spared no effort every time heunched an attack. Northern Qi, on the other hand, lost their aggression and opted for a more defensive approach.


    Other people assumed something had happened to Northern Qi. Some even told the general tounch a frontal attack, thinking they stood a good chance of winning. However, the old general knew better. He snorted every time someone told him Northern Qi was losing.


    Nan Xun¡¯s message was clear, but it wasn¡¯t easy to just give up on what he believed in.


    Nan Xun knew the general was wavering. Northern Qi continued to engage Eastern Wu in smaller battles every once in a while. He¡¯d ordered his men to be restrained and not to kill unnecessarily.


    Some asked what Nan Xun meant by that. He simply said Eastern Wu would run out of supplies soon, while Northern Qi still had an abundance. Eastern Wu would open their city gates to them sooner orter.


    That convinced the soldiers. Their morale became even higher.


    Nan Xun heard that the old general was going to personally lead the army in the next attack. After some deliberation, he decided to challenge the general to a duel. His men were concerned, but they couldn¡¯t change Nan Xun¡¯s mind. They turned to Ji Bo for help. However, the strategist agreed with Nan Xun this time and considered the n viable.


    It was the first time Nan Xun and the general met on the battlefield. Nan Xun held up a long spear as he rode a tall horse, the red cloak over his shoulders rolled in the air, his eyes sharp enough to deter others while his stoic face softened by a slight smile. He saw the white-haired general wielding a scimitar from afar.


    ¡°Is the general willing to duel with me?¡± Nan Xun asked with a smile.


    The general was no coward. He would not be deterred. Without a word, he rode toward Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun narrowed his eyes and sent the horse galloping. They met at the middle of the two armies. The scimitar and the spear shed, sending sparks into the air. The soldiers watching shielded their eyes reflexively.

 Chapter 301 - Blood Lotus Matured

    <h4>Chapter 301: Blood Lotus Matured</h4>


    With a twist of his torso, Nan Xun jumped onto horseback and stabbed at the old general with his spear. The old general leaned backward to dodge the attack and shed at Nan Xun¡¯s legs with his scimitar. Nan Xun leapt into the air and stepped on the de, knocking it away. He thennded on his horse and pulled at the reign to halt the horse.


    ¡°A word, general,¡± Nan Xun said in a deliberate pace, his tone polite.


    The general didn¡¯t immediately respond. After a long pause, he finally nodded.


    The two armies watched their respectivemanders leave with their mouths agape. Noticing that some Eastern Wu soldiers were about to follow after the two generals, Ji Bo scoffed and ordered the Northern Qi soldiers to intercept them. The two armies shed. Both suffered a good amount of casualties.


    Nan Xun and the general got off their horses near the river. Nan Xun made the same pitch again, bluntly urging the general to change sides.


    The old general was hesitant. He wanted to follow a wise leader, but his family was still in Eastern Wu. He shook his head. ¡°It is fate that we¡¯re on different sides. There¡¯s nothing we can do to change that.¡±


    There¡¯s something we¡¯re missing, Nan Xun thought. The old general had been swayed, but still he turned his offer down. Nan Xun was disappointed. Had he misjudged the general?


    ¡°If so, I have no reason to talk to you.¡± Nan Xun mounted his horse and looked down at the general without a word. He rode away. The general didn¡¯t stop him.


    Jun Huang soon heard about what had happened. Like Nan Xun, she had a feeling they were missing something. Whatever it was, she¡¯d need to ask the House of Heavenly Fiends to investigate.


    She requested for the organization¡¯s forces in Eastern Wu to look into the old general again. If they could find out what was stopping the general, they could help resolve the issues and prompt the general to surrender.


    While Qi Yun delivered rewards to the border to celebrate Nan Xun¡¯s victory, Eastern Wu had turned on the general. Although the general had won a few battles, he suffered more losses. Apart from the fact that the general hadn¡¯t fought for some time, the bigger problem was the ipetent soldiers Eastern Wu had recruited recently to replenish its force. By contrast, Northern Qi¡¯s soldiers had all trained under Nan Xun day and night before they took to battle.


    News about the general¡¯s losses reached Eastern Wu¡¯s emperor¡¯s ears and made him angry. He believed that the old general was merely humoring him. He captured the general¡¯s family, intending to use them as leverage against the general.


    The House of Heavenly Fiends soon delivered the information to Jun Huang. She believed this was their chance. She ordered to have the general¡¯s family rescued and kept safe in their operation base. Then she exined everything to Nan Xun.


    Realization dawned on Nan Xun. He knew now why the general had refused to submit. He cursed at Eastern Wu¡¯s emperor for hisck of integrity. The old general was a loyal and caring man. He would be an asset to Northern Qi.


    Nan Xun told Ji Bo he intended to meet the old general again. Ji Bo looked hesitant, but only told him to be careful in the end.


    Nan Xun knew what Ji Bo had left unsaid. Too many things had happened. The old general might not believe his words. However, he had made up his mind. He just had to be careful.


    He led the old general to the forest near Eastern Wu¡¯s camp again. Without preamble, Nan Xun said, ¡°I know why you turned my offer down. You¡¯re forced to stick with your tyrant of a leader.¡±


    The old general stared at Nan Xun inquisitively. Nan Xun continued, ¡°The general is a pure-hearted man. Although you weren¡¯t willing to help your emperor, your families were in his hands. You didn¡¯t have a choice. There¡¯s no need to worry now. My people have rescued your wife and other family members. They¡¯re ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t take you as such despicable man!¡± growled the old general.


    Nan Xun frowned. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you trying to use them against me? I¡¯ll kill you and go rescue them!¡± The general unsheathed his sword, intending to fight Nan Xun to the death. He didn¡¯t pull his punches at all. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t willing to fight him. He backed away and didn¡¯t even draw his sword.


    He¡¯d expected the general to be stubborn, but being subjected to such bullish attitude was different from imagining it. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t a merciful man. The old general was being a right fool. He was trying to help the general reunite with his family, and yet he jumped to the wrong conclusion so quickly. That killed thest of Nan Xun¡¯s hesitance.


    He narrowed his eyes and drew his sword to block the general¡¯s forceful cut. The general had once been a heroic man, but time spared no men. He wasn¡¯t as strong as he¡¯d been. Although he¡¯d put all his force behind every attack, he wasn¡¯t able to even scratch Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun¡¯s sword was as agile as a snake. He quickly knocked the general¡¯s de away and caught both his wrists from behind. ¡°How unwise of you to put words into my mouth without basis. I was trying to help you. Think about it, general. Where do you think I¡¯ve rescued your family from? You must know where your family had been staying. They disappeared right after your emperor¡¯s warning, didn¡¯t they?¡±


    Jun Huang had the sharpest tongue of all the people Nan Xun knew. After staying with her for so long, he¡¯d learned a thing or two about the art of persuasion. Besides, he was telling nothing but the truth, which made his words even more effective. The old general stilled and dejectedly dropped his sword.


    Nan Xun sighed. He¡¯d thought it would take longer to get the old general to see the truth. Fortunately the general was smart enough to arrive at the realization himself.


    If the fight continued, they might attract the Eastern Wu¡¯s soldiers. Nan Xun hade on his own. He had to think about his safety.


    ¡°Why did you do that? I¡¯m old. I can¡¯t help you much. You¡¯re not getting anything in return for your effort.¡± The old general turned around to face Nan Xun, an unreadable emotion shing through his hazy eyes. He was mourning his life as the defender of his nation.


    ¡°I can protect your family and let you reunite with them as long as you surrender,¡± promised Nan Xun. ¡°We value talented people, while Eastern Wu¡¯s emperor has lost his reason. If you care about the regr folk, give up on fighting and assist us in secret. We won¡¯t hurt the civilians in your country.¡±


    The old general stared at Nan Xun as if trying to read his thoughts. After a while, he nodded. He was willing to stop serving a tyrant.


    Jun Huang was getting weaker and paler. Her blindnesssted longer. She spent all her time in bed. Nan Jihan was concerned. He kept a closer eye on her so that she wouldn¡¯t tire herself.


    He knew Jun Huang had been worrying about Nan Xun and helping him from a distance despite her conditions. In the beginning, he¡¯d stayed out of it. However, she¡¯d spent even more time and effort on helping Nan Xun once the issue became more difficult to deal with, which caused her health to deteriorate. Nan Jihan had no choice but to put his people to watch Jun Huang and force her to rest regrly.


    The blood lotus finally matured. Oleg Cragfiend and Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t be happier. Nan Jihan personally followed the poison master to the mountain to extract the lotus. It was kept in a custom-made crystal box and delivered to the pce.


    One would have assumed a nt of mythical quality would have a blue glow, but the lotus¡¯s glow was blood red after it matured, which made the flower look even more alluring and captivating.


    There was no telling how many blood lotuses had been cultivated before, but it was the first time Oleg Cragfiend and Nan Jihan had seen a mature one. Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from the lotus. Oleg Cragfiend sighed and reminded him, ¡°I¡¯m going to make the medicine, Your Majesty.¡±


    Nan Jihan broke out from his trance and smiled awkwardly before he left the room, giving the poison master his privacy.


    Oleg Cragfiend carefully plucked the flower and put it in a white jade bowl with a few necessary ingredients. He made his way to the side pce.


    Jun Huang had just woken up. Her vision was still blurry and grey. She rubbed at her forehead to soothe her headache. She¡¯d thought it was the maid when footsteps came her way. The smell of medicine told her it was her master.


    ¡°What is it, master?¡± Jun Huang closed her eyes and asked with a smile. She couldn¡¯t see anyway.


    ¡°The blood lotus has matured, and I¡¯ve made you your medicine. Take it.¡± Oleg Cragfiend sat on the bed and fed Jun Huang the medicine.


    She couldn¡¯t take the medicine herself, so she let him help. The fragrance of the lotus hit her senses. It didn¡¯t smell at all of blood.


    The flower melted in her mouth and went down easily. It chilled her from the inside. Once she¡¯d taken all of the medicine, the cold became almost unbearable. Her head became heavy and she lost consciousness.

 Chapter 302 - Laying Low

    <h4>Chapter 302: Laying Low</h4>


    Nan Jihan happened to see Jun Huang copse when he entered. He rushed to her, but was waved away by Oleg Cragfiend. ¡°She needs some time to take in the medicine. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡±


    Nan Jihan let out a sigh of relief. He looked down at Jun Huang, at her fair skin and delicate features framed by silky hair. She radiated coldness because of the lotus she¡¯d consumed.


    ¡°Your Majesty, Northern Qi has delivered a message,¡± his personal eunuch went up to him and whispered.


    Nan Jihan frowned. He¡¯d exchanged a few letters with Nan Xuntely, but not often. This one had arrived earlier than usual. Something must have gone wrong.


    He couldn¡¯t figure out an exnation, but he was unwilling to leave Jun Huang. He wanted to be the first thing she saw when she woke up, and he wanted to see her recover.


    The eunuch couldn¡¯t argue with him. He had no choice but to ask the messenger to wait. The messenger, however, pulled a face and insisted that the matter was urgent. The eunuch took him to the side pce after some deliberation.


    Nan Jihan scowled and threw the eunuch a re. The eunuch meekly turned away and yed ignorant. With a sigh, Nan Jihan followed the messenger to the study. There were things he couldn¡¯t put aside as the ruler of the nation.


    ¡°Why are you in such a rush?¡± Nan Jihan asked coldly, gazing at the man from behind a teacup.


    ¡°There was a traitor in the army. Prince Nan went missing after an ambush. Please help us, Your Majesty.¡±


    Nan Jihan shot to his feet, dropping his teacup on the floor and widening his eyes. It took some time for him to recover. With a clouded look, he dismissed the messenger. He stopped his eunuch before he could leave and said, ¡°I failed to keep the servants out of earshot. Remind them not to spread any words. Otherwise you¡¯ll all be punished.¡±


    The eunuch shuddered and nodded before leaving gingerly. Nan Jihan stayed rooted to the spot for a long time. Finally, he sent for his men to look into Nan Xun¡¯s disappearance and put more people to keep an eye on Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang came to not long after. She opened her eyes slowly and realized that she was on her own. She propped herself up. Although she was still a little weak, there was an ease in her movement she hadn¡¯t felt for a long time. The poison in her body must have been cleansed.


    She rose and walked out of the building. Her maid was shocked and happy in equal measure to see her up and about. She told her that the soldiers in the backyard had been sent by Nan Jihan to protect her. Jun Huang assumed Nan Jihan was merely feeling paranoid.


    ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful day. I¡¯ve been staying in bed for a long time. It¡¯s getting boring. I¡¯d like to go for a walk in the royal garden.¡±


    Jun Huang spoke with a smile. The maid agreed and retrieved a cloak for her before following her to the garden.


    Flowers bloomed all around the garden as if it¡¯d been spring. Jun Huang walked leisurely, her face soft and her eyes calm.


    ¡°It¡¯s infuriating that she looks down on everyone just because she¡¯s beautiful,¡± Consort Li said to another consort. ¡°His Majesty has been frequenting her residence for the past few days. Is she really a fox spirit?¡±


    The other consort is a shrewd one. She covered a smile. ¡°Perhaps she is. You¡¯ve suffered because of her a while ago. It must be karma that she fell ill.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I hear that His Majesty was with her when Northern Qi¡¯s messenger came. If Prince Nan Xun hadn¡¯t gone missing, His Majesty would still be by her side.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t care about their insults, but she paled and panicked when she heard about Nan Xun¡¯s disappearance. She knew it was very likely to be real.


    She went off to seek out Nan Jihan, but ran into Nan Guyue first. The princess looked at her worriedly, her brows furrowed. Her expression was telling enough.


    Jun Huang stared at her without a word, but didn¡¯t act out like the siblings had worried she would. She took a deep breath and managed to smile at the princess. ¡°Tell me the truth.¡±


    Nan Guyue wanted to tell her to not push herself, but Jun Huang shook her head. She was fine. She just wanted an answer.


    Nan Guyue knew Jun Huang was clever and terrifyinglyposed. Most of the time, she looked like a goddess stumbling upon the mortal world, every minute change of her expression captivating. Even now, with her pale face and the dark shadow under her eyes, she was still more beautiful than most people.


    Nan Guyue sighed. She couldn¡¯t stand Jun Huang¡¯s cool gaze. After making sure that no one was around, she nodded and said, ¡°As you¡¯ve heard, Nan Xun went missing because of a traitor in the army. But don¡¯t worry too much. No news is good news in this situation, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Jun Huang felt as if all her blood had drained out of her body, her face bing as pale as a sheet. Nan Guyue quickly put an arm around her to support her. Jun Huang had just woken up. Nothing should happen to her.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°Please do me a favor, princess.¡± Despite her paleplexion, Jun Huang was still stunning. The pain in her eyes made Nan Guyue¡¯s throat constrict. She knew what Jun Huang would ask for, but she couldn¡¯t turn her down.


    ¡°Have you thought it through?¡± Nan Guyue managed to ask.


    Jun Huang nodded without hesitation. ¡°I must seek him out. Even if you refuse to help, I¡¯ll find a way to do it myself. Since fate has brought you to me, I hope you¡¯ll understand my reasons and help me leave the pce. No matter what happens, I¡¯ll take full responsibility.¡±


    Nan Guyue frowned. ¡°Stop that. Of course I¡¯ll help you. I¡¯ll make the arrangements for you. But not now. You¡¯ve just woken up and are still vulnerable. The long journey is going to be dangerous for you. You must rest and recover first. I¡¯ll take care of the preparations during this time.¡±


    ¡°What has happened has happened. You can¡¯t change the past. I know you¡¯re seekingfort for yourself, but your healthes first. I hope you¡¯ll understand.¡±


    After a long pause, Jun Huang nodded.


    A few days passed. Nan Guyue honored her promise and arranged for Jun Huagn to travel to the border. As soon as she reached her destination, though, a group of men took her away. She could tell they were under Nan Xun¡¯smand. She kept quiet on the way, holding onto her yearning for Nan Xun.


    As she expected, the men respectfully led her to Nan Xun. It turned out that Nan Xun had been notified when Jun Huang left Southern Mu. However, he had to stay in hiding, so he took her to him in this way.


    Jun Huang smiled softly, looking at Nan Xun from afar. Nan Xun missed her dearly after the time they¡¯d been apart. He rushed to pull her into his arms. He¡¯d been dreaming about this moment.


    He exined what happened. There was indeed a mole in the army, but he¡¯d discovered the mole before anything bad could happen. It was his n to pretend to fall into Eastern Wu¡¯s trap.


    Jun Huang finally rxed, but she was unwilling to be apart with Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want her to leave, either. They moved into a small vige at the border. Nan Xun kept an eye on the battles and nned ordingly, while Jun Huang took care of the chores and sometimes apanied him to walk around the area.


    The locals didn¡¯t know who they were. They looked just like any regr couple. The only thing special about them was the way they fit together. The beautiful woman and the handsome man made the perfect pair. The neighbors often teased them for their intimacy. Jun Huang always lowered her eyes and smiled. Nan Xun knew she was feeling shy.


    There was a pagoda tree in the vige which Nan Xun and Jun Haung often sat under. Jun Huangy in his arms, watching the fire and smoke of battles from a distance. asionally, Nan Xun would talk to her about what was happening on the battlefields. Jun Huang listened attentively, silently wishing for peace to descend, even for a little while.


    ¡°Do you me me foring to find you so suddenly?¡± Jun Huang asked, her voice so soft it could be lost in the wind.


    Nan Xun lowered his head and dropped a kiss on her forehead. ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± He chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m pleasantly surprised. My time here seemed endless before you came, but with you here, with my beloved by my side, nothing seems too arduous to endure. I like a simple life with you.¡±


    He paused. ¡°Everything is going ording to our n. I was worried you¡¯d be bored.¡±


    ¡°Why would I be bored when you¡¯re with me?¡± Jun Huang said slowly. ¡°I only hope the war can end soon. The horror it brought made my heart ache. All the regr people want is peace.¡±

 Chapter 303 - Eliminating Traitors

    <h4>Chapter 303: Eliminating Traitors</h4>


    Nan Xun got busier, and he received more visitors. Jun Huang was often left on her own. She sometimes passed the time by looking at the clouds in the sky.


    When Nan Xun came out to find Jun Huang, she was deep in thought with a hand supporting her head. He put his arms around her from behind, framing her slim body. ¡°I n to bring the old general back together to his family.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to face him. She knew that Nan Xun wanted the best for the old man despite his calm tone. ¡°And?¡±


    Nan Xun met her eyes and took in every change in her expression. ¡°The general is a great hero of our generation, but he is old. It doesn¡¯t seem right to force him to stay at the war-ravaged border. I¡¯ve decided to send him and his family to a peaceful ce to live the rest of their lives. What do you think?¡±


    Jun Huang gave his n some consideration. ¡°Go ahead. The general¡¯s family is still in Eastern Wu, protected by people I¡¯ve assigned. They¡¯ll be happy to reunite with the general. However, it¡¯s not going to be easy to get them out of Eastern Wu. Do you have a n?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± responded Nan Xun. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded without a word. They stayed in the garden until night fell andmps were lit before returning to their temporary home.


    Nan Xun¡¯s shadow guard showed up out of nowhere. Jun Huang was going to leave the room, but Nan Xun caught her arm to stop her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡±


    The shadow guard knew Jun Huang. He wasn¡¯t going to argue after Nan Xun had given his permission. ¡°General, we caught a man sneaking into your tentst night. Mister Ji Bo interrogated him and found out that he was working for Eastern Wu. He was also the man who tried to kill you.¡±


    ¡°Is he from Eastern Wu?¡± Nan Xun asked.


    The shadow guard shook his head. ¡°He isn¡¯t. He confessed to being one of our own and had been seduced by the rewards Eastern Wu promised him. After interrogation, he gave us a few more names. Mister Ji Bo had them arrested. What does the general intend to do with them?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t expect the problem to be resolved so quickly. He¡¯d been away for some time, and the traitors had been caught. It seemed as if things wereing to an end. However, they all knew things were only getting started.


    Nan Xun narrowed his sharp eyes and said coldly, ¡°Tell Mister Ji Bo to tighten the control over the army. Since we¡¯ve identified the traitors, we should use this opportunity to deal with those who harbor malicious intentions as well.¡±


    The old general¡¯s family was soon taken to the border by the House of Heavenly Fiends. The organization had suffered some casualties, but all his family members were safe. He burst into tears when he saw his wife and children, silently pledging to pay Nan Xun back for his help.


    The old general imed to have killed Nan Xun. All of Eastern Wu rejoiced for the good news. He used the opportunity to resign from his duty. The Eastern Wu emperor was unwilling to let him go, but the general insisted.


    The emperor had no choice but to let the general leave. He did try to capture the general¡¯s family again as hostage, but this time, Nan Xun was prepared. With his help, the general sessfully fled with his family and went into hiding in a remote vige. He wanted to live the rest of his life free of violence and bloodshed.


    News about Nan Xun¡¯s ¡°death¡± reached the Northern Qi army as well. Morale plummeted, and many were thinking of abandoning their post.


    Nan Xun was their backbone. As long as he lived, they feared nothing. His death made the soldiers panic. They were as good as dead without theirmander.


    ¡°Is the general really dead?¡± It wasn¡¯t the first time the second inmand asked Ji Bo the question. He couldn¡¯t believe the brave and unbeatable man would be killed so easily. His eyes went red and he gritted his teeth hard enough to make a squeak.


    Ji Bo nced at the second inmand and looked back down at the map on the table. He sighed. ¡°We can¡¯t know for sure, but... if the old general said so, it¡¯s a real possibility.¡±


    The second inmand paled, feeling a lump in his throat. He was a great fighter who had stayed at the border for so long his face turned red, but now it seemed he was on the verge of tears.


    Ji Bo looked at him quietly. ¡°We mustn¡¯t be without a leader. What do you n to do?¡±


    The second inmand looked up at Ji Bo like he was looking at his worst enemy. ¡°What the hell do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know what I mean? Are you not willing to take his ce? Prince Nan may be dead. If the enemies attack now, we¡¯ll be in big trouble. You should request to be the general-in-chief and get everyone through this turbulent time.¡±


    As soon as Ji Bo finished, the second inmand grabbed him by the cor, his arms trembling in anger and his tendons popping up with the sheer force he was using.


    ¡°Have you heard yourself? We don¡¯t know if the general is dead yet, and you¡¯re already trying to find a new master? Don¡¯t forget how well the general has treated you! How can you do that to him?!¡±


    He looked like a hurt beast with his bloodshot eyes, ready to tear out his enemies¡¯ throat.


    Ji Bo calmly met his gaze and chuckled. He broke the second inmand¡¯s hold in his moment of surprise and said, ¡°Prince Nan is fortunate to have a confidante like you.¡±


    The second inmandughed sharply and took a couple steps back, shaking his head. ¡°You¡¯re wrong. You don¡¯t know how much the general has helped me. Everything I havees from him. He treats me like family. How can I betray him? Besides, the only man who can be Northern Qi¡¯s general is Nan Xun. No one can rece him.¡±


    Ji Bo looked at him with appreciation and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Prince Nan has told me you are the only one who will never betray him. Anyone can be a traitor, but not you. This gentleman has assumed that Prince Nan¡¯s faith in you was blind. I tested your loyalty so that we may proceed with our n. I hope you¡¯ll forgive me.¡±


    The second inmand visibly brightened when he figured out what Ji Bo meant. He took Ji Bo¡¯s wristpulsively. ¡°Do you mean the general is still alive?¡±


    Ji Bo looked at the nervous young man, then at their surroundings. Once he made sure no one was around, he exined what he and Nan Xun were nning. The second inmand sighed in relief, his features softening.


    ¡°But you have to keep this a secret,¡± Ji Bo said seriously and went on to exin his reasoning. ¡°Although you don¡¯t intend to rece Nan Xun, there are dissenting voices in the troops. They have to be dealt with. Prince Nan has faked his death so that we can root out the potential traitors before they grow enough to harm us.¡±


    Despite being a soldier all his life, the second inmand could tell there were a few officers who weren¡¯t entirely loyal. There was no telling how many there were exactly, but this would be an opportunity to identify them.


    He nodded and promised, ¡°Of course. However, I hope you¡¯ll tell me everything in future operations. I wish to contribute as well.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t be long from now. I need your help tonight.¡± Ji Bo¡¯s voice was cold enough to chill the bones.


    Night fell. North wind swept through the camp, bringing dust into the air. Ji Bo sat in his tent drinking tea with a calm expression. The man sitting across from him put on a servile smile, but his hand was on the sword at his waist as a silent threat.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you let the others join us as well?¡± Ji Bo put down his tea cup and asked, arching an eyebrow and curving his lips into a mocking smile.


    The man broke intoughter. ¡°It¡¯s said that the gentleman is a rare talent. I can tell you are indeed clever. You must know what I¡¯m here for, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°What if I say I don¡¯t know?¡± Ji Bo met the man¡¯s gaze, his voice steely and proud. He resembled a beast lurking in the dark with the backdrop of a brewing storm outside.


    Silence stretched. Another man entered the tent. The two of them bore a resemnce ¨C brothers. The wind he brought in lifted the tail of Ji Bo¡¯s turquoise robe.


    His expression was still calm even when the two men raised their swords at him. He smiled, amused, unaffected by their threat.


    ¡°We don¡¯t intend to lie to you, and you don¡¯t need any exnation from us. We only have one question: Are you willing to write a letter to Prince Qi Yun and ask him to make us the general-in-chief?¡± The man stared at Ji Bo, his eyes filled with a great hunger for power.


    Ji Bo covered augh. ¡°In what way do you think you can match up to General Nan Xun?¡±

 Chapter 304 - Heroine

    <h4>Chapter 304: Heroine</h4>


    The two men face clouded before they gave Ji Bo a ferocious grin. ¡°We might not be as good as the general, but he¡¯s dead. Rest assured, we won¡¯t forget about you once we attain power. You¡¯ll get anything you wish for.¡±..


    ¡°What if General Nan Xun is still alive?¡± Ji Bo asked coldly.


    ¡°Once we be the generals, we¡¯ll make sure he¡¯s dead.¡± The two men narrowed their eyes, their dark expression illuminated by candlelight.


    Ji Bo¡¯s gaze remained steady and calm. Now he knew the two men had been the ones stirring up trouble in the army, which made them Nan Xun¡¯s targets. Their greed had gotten the better of them. They foolishly asked for more despite the power they already held.


    Ji Bo scoffed and shot to his feet. ¡°You aren¡¯t getting out of here. Since you harbor such thoughts, there¡¯s no room for you in the army.¡±


    He made a gesture, and soldiers lurking around the tent swarmed in. Realizing their mistakes, the two men paled and tried to take Ji Bo hostage, but they were stopped by the second inmand before they could do anything.


    They realized they¡¯d been dancing to Ji Bo¡¯s tune as soon as they saw the second inmand. Their faces went red in rage. It was impossible for them to escape now. The second inmand brought them to his subordinates.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± the second inmand turned to Ji Bo and asked worriedly.


    Ji Bo waved a hand in the air and sighed in relief, copsing onto the divan with his gaze fixed on something beside him. The second inmand waited for everyone to leave before asking him what to do next.


    ¡°ording to Prince Nan, the most effective way is to execute them in public,¡± Ji Bo said in a cold voice. There was a sh of emotion in his eyes that vanished too quickly for the second inmand to catch.


    The second inmand nodded and went off to prepare for tomorrow. Once he was out of the tent, one of Nan Xun¡¯s guards walked out of the shadow.


    Ji Bo was clever and brave, but he was also a schr who couldn¡¯t fight. Since they were dealing with ruthless men who wouldn¡¯t even blink before they killed, Nan Xun had assigned a shadow guard to protect Ji Bo. The guard also acted as their messenger.


    ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Mister Ji Bo,¡± said the guard. ¡°Prince Nan will be sure to express his gratitude himself once he returns.¡±


    ¡°I hear that Jun Huang is with him now,¡± Ji Bo said, ncing at the guard. ¡°I wonder if she¡¯s been cured yet. Tell them not to worry. I can handle the situation here.¡±


    The shadow guard was surprised that Ji Bo knew that without ever leaving the camp. It was a good thing Ji Bo was their friend rather than an enemy. It¡¯d be a great challenge to face such a foe.


    Early the next morning, the second inmand brought the two officers to the center of the camp. The soldiers looked on with surprise. The two men looked in pain, and their bodies were covered in wounds. They¡¯d clearly been punished.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Who knows? Weren¡¯t they fine yesterday?¡±


    ¡°I hear something happenedst night.¡±


    The soldiers spected among themselves, trying and failing to figure out what was happening. The second inmand looked at them coldly and only rxed a little when Ji Bo showed up. He walked to the strategist and said in a voice that could reach everyone in the camp, ¡°These two attempted to capture Mister Ji Bo as hostagest night. It was shameful of them to do that while the general is missing. They¡¯ve also colluded Eastern Wu to work against us. What do you think we should do to them, Mister Ji Bo?¡±


    The two men exchanged a nce. They hadn¡¯t realized the second inmand had found out about their connections to the moles as well. They could¡¯ve sworn they¡¯d cleaned up their messes.


    The soldiers looked at them with shock. So that was what had happened. They red at the kneeling officers with venom in their eyes. If there were things they could throw, the two men would¡¯ve been knocked out.


    Ji Bo leveled the two men with a cold stare, his gaze so frosty it made them shudder. The second inmand had never seen the usually friendly strategist like this before. It made him a little nervous.


    ¡°Since we¡¯ve identified their crimes, they shall be punished ording to the militaryw. Show no mercy. Open your eyes and see for yourself what would befall anyone attempting the same thing... you¡¯d wish for the mercy of a quick death.¡± Ji Bo walked away, his steely presence invoking the image of a rakshasa from hell.


    The second inmand was suddenly reminded of Jun Huang. The two strategists both had an inherent air of intimidation to them.


    He shifted his gaze to the men kneeling on the ground and said to the executioner, ¡°Tear them to pieces with five horses and throw their body parts to the wolves.¡± Ignoring the pleas for mercy, the second inmand left.


    The news soon reached Nan Xun and Jun Huang. Her only reaction was a slight frown. When Nan Xun asked, she simply smiled and exined, ¡°They have to pay for their actions. People like them deserve to die.¡±


    ¡°Our heroine is indeed no lesser than any men. You¡¯re still the girl I know.¡± Qi Yun pped and approached them with a smile. Nan Xun and Jun Huang was surprised by his sudden arrival.


    Jun Huang pulled away from Nan Xun¡¯s arms and asked with a smile, ¡°Why are you here? Have you dealt with your business in the court?¡±


    Qi Yun nodded and briefed her on what had happened. He then turned to Nan Xun with disapproval in his eyes. ¡°There is a war going on. How worthy of envy it is for Royal Brother to still be enjoying your time with Jun Huang.¡±


    ¡°If you want such a life, there are plenty of women for you to choose from,¡± Nan Xun said, throwing him a warning nce.


    Qi Yun knew what Nan Xun meant. He wanted to say Jun Huang was the one he wanted, but he knew that if he did, he couldn¡¯t even be her friend anymore.


    He sighed. ¡°I came to the border because Ji Bo said they needed a leader to keep the soldiers under control. I decided to check on Jun Huang as well.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± Nan Xun said faintly. ¡°You should go to Ji Bo as soon as possible. Things aren¡¯t looking good now. On the surface, it seems that Northern Qi has gained the upper hand, but there is a great turbulence hidden underneath. Ji Bo and my second inmand are the only people keeping the soldiers from acting out. If you arrive at the camp, morale will improve greatly. I have other things to take care of and have to stay a little longer.¡±


    Qi Yun tried to decipher if there was any hidden meaning in Nan Xun¡¯s words. He nodded in the end. He knew what the right thing to do was. Before he left, he said what he¡¯d been meaning to say, ¡°Royal Brother has made a risky move.¡±


    Nan Xun smiled. ¡°You know as well as I do that one can¡¯t catch a tiger cub without venturing into a tiger¡¯s den. I had to do that to identify the traitors.¡±


    Qi Yun fell silent. Ji Bo¡¯s messenger hade urging him again. He had no choice but to leave, turning back to look at Jun Huang once every three steps. Once he¡¯d left, Jun Huang walked up to Nan Xun, her heart feeling heavy for his concerned look.


    ¡°I like the life we lead here,¡± she said with a smile, looking up at him. ¡°After my family is avenged and things have settled, we¡¯ll take my brother to a hidden corner of the world and live our lives in peace.¡±


    Nan Xun looked down at her bright smile. He shared her concern that he¡¯d be suspected for exceeding the emperor in reputation. He didn¡¯t like the arguments that would arise, and he didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to get dragged into the storm with him. He sighed in relief at her suggestion.


    ¡°That¡¯ll be good. Wherever you want to go, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Nan Xun stroked her silky dark hair, his eyes adoring.


    Not long after they started enjoying each other¡¯spany, Oleg Cragfiend came.


    Jun Huang heard the noises when she was reading books in the backyard. She grabbed her sword. Before she could draw it, she saw that it was her master.


    She was surprised to see him. ¡°Master.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend scoffed. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re fine and don¡¯t need my treatment anymore after the poison is cleansed?¡±


    Nan Xun was befuddled by the poison master¡¯s words. He realized what that was about when he saw the way Jun Huang lowered her eyes guiltily. ¡°Did youe here without telling anyone?¡±


    Jun Huang shut her mouth and closed her eyes, refusing to have the conversation.


    She should be resting after the poison was cleansed, and yet she¡¯d carelessly disregarded her health. Nan Xun felt his heart seized up in fear. He echoed Oleg Cragfiend sentiment and reprimanded her for being reckless.


    Jun Huang was fine with being scolded by her master, but not Nan Xun as well. She stormed away but lost consciousness before she could go far.


    Nan Xun nced at Oleg Cragfiend in panic and rushed up to Jun Huang to pick her up. He carried her into the garden, cing her on the divan. Oleg Cragfiend chased after them and took her pulse.

 Chapter 305 - Wedding

    <h4>Chapter 305: Wedding</h4>


    Oleg Cragfiend¡¯s expression darkened, which worried Nan Xun. Once the poison master dropped Jun Huang¡¯s wrist, Nan Xun asked, ¡°How is she? Is her life in danger? Hasn¡¯t she been cured? Is there any residual poison in her system?¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend nced at Nan Xun coolly. ¡°If you think only life-threatening ailment is worthy of your attention ¨C ¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. Please forgive me for failing to express myself properly due to my concern. I had a feeling that she wasn¡¯t entirely healthy the past couple of days. I lost my calm when she fainted.¡± Nan Xun exined awkwardly. He didn¡¯t expect Oleg Cragfiend to take him as such a cold person. If it¡¯d been anyone else, he wouldn¡¯t have said anything, but it was Jun Huang¡¯s master. He had to put aside his pride and defend himself.


    Oleg Cragfiend didn¡¯t want to start an argument. He knew what Nan Xun actually meant. He was just too angry at Jun Huang for disregarding her health and lost his calm in the heat of the moment. He sighed. ¡°As you can see, she¡¯s not entirely recovered yet. She fainted because she was overwhelmed by emotions, which told us there was a problem still. It may not be life-threatening, but we have to treat it seriously.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure what her prognosis is. We have to wait and observe to identify the cause.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded after a long bemused pause.


    Jun Huang came to not long after. She felt lightheaded. Nan Xun helped her sit up. Her face was heartbreakingly pale and sickly.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡± Jun Huang asked calmly with her eyes locked on her master.


    Nan Xun responded before Oleg Cragfiend could, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll be fine as long as you rest well for the next few days.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled and nced at Nan Xun with piercing eyes. Nan Xun¡¯s breath hitched. Jun Huang had always been level-headed, but sometimes she still surprised him with her keen observation.


    She knew Nan Xun wasn¡¯t telling the truth. ¡°You don¡¯t have to lie to me. It¡¯ll just make me feel useless. Is my life in danger?¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend frowned. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting off? Don¡¯t think too much. You aren¡¯t in a good condition, but it¡¯s not going to threaten your life. I can help you recover.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend bid her farewell and walked outside with Nan Xun at his tail. He¡¯d decided to go search for rare medicinal herbs for Jun Huang. He told Nan Xun to take good care of her.


    Nan Xun saw the poison master off and returned to the room to find Jun Huang standing by the window looking into the distance, her expression unreadable. Her face was so pale it seemed almost translucent. It broke his heart.


    Nan Xun walked up to her and put his arms around her slim body, whispering, ¡°Will you marry me, Jun Huang?¡±


    Jun Huang turned to him, trying to discern his intentions. Nan Xun met her gaze openly, his eyes filled with adoration. With the willow catkins flying in the air as their backdrop, they looked like a match made in heaven.


    It took some time for Jun Huang to recover from her surprise. She took a deep breath and asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to lie to her. ¡°It¡¯s said that marriage can drive away bad luck. Perhaps you¡¯ll get better after we get married.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to force the marriage on you just so I can recover,¡± Jun Huang said with a frown. ¡°How am I going to live with that?¡±


    Nan Xun caught her fingers, his heart skipping, and said in a loving voice, ¡°We love each other. Why should we care about formalities? Besides, I can¡¯t wait to have you as my wife. I hope you¡¯ll give me a chance.¡±


    Jun Huang felt a lump in her throat. She looked up at Nan Xun. There were a million words threatening to burst out, but in the end, shey her head against his chest silently with a smile, listening to his strong heartbeats.


    A woman¡¯s bashfulness was conserved for the one meant for her. Even the usuallyposed Jun Huang couldn¡¯t stop herself from blushing. Her eyes lit up with such pure joy it was difficult to look away. Many would have willingly devote their lives to her.


    ¡°I wish to take your hands till our hair turn grey. My feelings for you will not change.¡± Nan Xun whispered into Jun Huang¡¯s ears, his words not of desires, but of deep love and intimacy. They weren¡¯t meant to put red in her cheeks but to express his true feelings.


    Jun Huang smiled and looked up at Nan Xun, her expression calm, but her eyes filled with love. ¡°I wish your heart is aligned with mine always.¡±


    Qi Yun soon heard about Nan Xun and Jun Huang¡¯s uing wedding. In panic, he rushed to visit them from the border city. Before he stepped into the premise, he heard the two of them chatting andughing.


    He slowed down his pace and gently opened the door. They were ying a game of go. Jun Huang sat crookedly on a divan with a ck stone in her hand, her delicate and fair fingers look even more alluring against the dark color.


    Jun Huang was winning. Sheughed and teased Nan Xun for being bad at the game. Nan Xun dly epted the remark and handed her a cup of hot tea, reminding her not to drink it too quickly.


    All his attention was on Jun Huang. No wonder he couldn¡¯t y the game properly.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re here, how about a game?¡± Jun Huang noticed Qi Yun first. Or perhaps they had both noticed him and simply kept quiet about it.


    Nan Xun rose to let him take a seat. Qi Yun could only take the offer.


    The man in charge of nning the wedding walked in, saying that he had some details to confirm with Nan Xun. Since Jun Huang clearly had something to tell Qi Yun, Nan Xun nodded and left with the man, but not before telling her to take care of herself and ask for help should she feel ill.


    Jun Huang snorted fondly at his nagging and saw him off. When she turned back, Qi Yun was staring at her. She paused and smiled at him.


    ¡°You must have heard that Nan Xun and I are getting married,¡± Jun Huang stated rather than asked.


    Qi Yun nodded. He roughly sorted the stones and made his first move before looking up at Jun Huang. He started to say something, but for reasons unbeknownst to him, he stopped himself short and couldn¡¯t recover the right words.


    As if she could understand his feelings, Jun Huang chuckled and lowered her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s going to happen sooner orter. We love each other, and we¡¯ve been through a lot together. Since the opportunity has presented itself, we don¡¯t want to wait any longer.¡±


    ¡°Is this really what you want?¡± Qi Yun knew he had no right to question her, but he couldn¡¯t stop himself. He wanted her to give it another consideration and don¡¯t get carried away by emotions.


    Jun Huangughed, her eyes twinkling and her lips curved. ¡°I¡¯m still a woman. It¡¯s only natural I¡¯ll like to get married to the man I love. Do you take me as a naive girl? I know what I want and what¡¯s good for me, so please don¡¯t try to change my mind. I¡¯m in a good mood and don¡¯t want to resent anyone for saying the wrong things. Do you get what I mean?¡±


    Qi Yun opened his mouth, but then swallowed his words. He sighed and ced another stone. With a deep inhale, he nodded, both to her question and to reality. ¡°We¡¯ve known each other since we were little. I¡¯m not going to stop you from getting what you truly want. Just remember that there¡¯s someone else who¡¯s willing to protect you.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s smile grew brighter hearing Qi Yun¡¯s eptance. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask you for a favor.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°We both want you to witness our marriage,¡± she said. ¡°Are you willing to?¡±


    Qi Yun widened his eyes. After the shock came a bitter feeling. His eyes stung. He knew Jun Huang was a decisive person, but he didn¡¯t expect her to cut all the feelings he harbored for her in this way. He wanted to say no, but the hopeful look in her eyes made him pause. Say yes, a voice said in his head. Even if that¡¯ll hurt you.


    He took a deep breath and smiled. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Jun Huang sighed in relief and visibly rxed. She started coughing. Qi Yun hurriedly pped her on the back to help her breathe.


    The vigers were unusually friendly. When they heard that Nan Xun and Jun Huang were getting married, they offered to help at no cost. Some were even more passionate about the wedding than Nan Xun¡¯s personal guards. In no time, they¡¯d prepared for a simple but heartwarming wedding.


    The day before the wedding, Jun Huang was not allowed to see Nan Xun. She had a pleasant chat with a group of young women. They shared their views about their ideal partner. They wanted the men they loved to ride a horse to marry them one day.


    The next morning, Jun Huang was woken up by the other girls at the crack of dawn. An older woman, who was the one to dress and put makeup on all the brides in the vige, hade as well. She brought the wedding gown she¡¯d kept in a hidden corner of her closet and offered it to Jun Huang. The dress was adorned with patterns of phoenix embroidered with golden threads.

 Chapter 306 - Ever-changing Climate

    <h4>Chapter 306: Ever-changing Climate</h4>


    Sitting before a bronze mirror, Jun Huang let the girls put makeup on her face and draw a red dot between her eyebrows. She lowered her eyes with a faint smile tugging her lips. The girls gasped and crowed once she put on the wedding gown and the phoenix cap.


    ¡°You¡¯re the most beautiful bride I¡¯ve seen,¡± marveled the older woman. ¡°The groom is fortunate to marry a beauty like you.¡±


    Jun Huang bashfully lowered her head without a word.


    Nan Xun emerged in a red robe followed by a group of men joking about stealing the bride. The girlsughed and bypassed the usual procedure to urge Jun Huang out of the room.


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he saw Jun Huang. He stared at her shy smile dumbly, overwhelmed by joy.


    Complicated rituals for formality¡¯s sake didn¡¯t suit them. Jun Huang and Nan Xun went straight to bowing to the heaven and earth then at each other with Qi Yun as their witness. She was then brought to the newlywed bedroom, while Nan Xun was surrounded by men trying to get him drunk.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to make Jun Huang wait. Night had fallen. He was eager to leave. The guests teased him for letting his libido do the thinking for him.


    Qi Yun sat at the table farthest from the crowd and gulped down cups after cups of wine on his own, detached from the celebration. His subordinates worried that he¡¯d drink too much and get sick, but they didn¡¯t dare say anything facing his dark expression.


    The men only let Nan Xun go after he¡¯d downed a few cups of wine. With a bright and content smile, he ordered the servants to look after the guests and made his way to the bedroom.


    He didn¡¯t immediately entered. Instead, he took a deep breath and drank a cup of tea to sober himself up. He only opened the door once the smell of alcohol had faded. Under the wavering candlelight, Jun Huang¡¯s eyes were as bright as stars. Her lips were curved into an intoxicating smile.


    She¡¯d taken off her cap. Her silky dark hair ran down her back and waved in the breeze. She was still dressed in the fiery red wedding gown. Her eyes were adoring when they settled on Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun tried his best to control himself. He retrieved the cups of wine prepared for the newlyweds and handed Jun Huang a cup. She took it with a smile, her eyes bright. With their arms crossed, they drank the wine. The clear liquid went down easily, leaving a sweetness in their mouths.


    When they put down the cups, a burst ofughter came from outside the room. Jun Huang blushed awkwardly. Nan Xun did what he should, clearing his throat and going outside to tell the guests Jun Huang wasn¡¯t feeling well, asking them to skip the part where they yed tricks on the couple[1]. The vigers considerately went back to the main hall to drink and have fun.


    Jun Huang had never thought that she¡¯d one day be married to someone. It all felt like a fever dream.


    Nan Xun could tell what she was thinking. He smiled and put out the candles before going back to Jun Huang.


    Red dress and robe scattered on the floor. Their hair tangled on the bed. They passed the night in the heat of the other¡¯s body.


    At dawn, Nan Xun woke up to his wife at his side. Overwhelmed by his love for Jun Huang, he left a feather-light kiss on her forehead.


    Jun Huang opened her eyes slowly and smiled when she saw him.


    They intertwined their fingers without a word. Volumes were spoken in their shared silence.


    Nan Xun helped Jun Huang get changed and took her to the backyard to get some sunlight. She sat on a divan and didn¡¯t feel like moving with the warm sun shining on her sore body.


    Nan Xun¡¯s shadow guard approached them and bowed to him respectfully. ¡°Your Highness, Prince Qi Yun has left with his people earlier.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. ¡°Did he leave me a message?¡±


    The shadow guard shook his head. Nan Xun looked at the frowning Jun Huang and dismissed the guard after a brief bemused pause. He knelt before Jun Huang with a smile, caught her fingers, and dropped a kiss on her fingertip.


    Jun Huang met his gaze, her eyes softened.


    ¡°It¡¯s better for him to leave,¡± Nan Xun offered. He didn¡¯t want to see her frown. ¡°If he stays, we¡¯ll just feel ufortable. Him leaving means he¡¯s sorted through his feelings. Don¡¯t worry yourself sick.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled and sighed, looking up at the sky. She didn¡¯t know Qi Yun¡¯s true feelings for her and instead interpreted his jealousy as him being upset about losing a childhood friend to someone else.


    Nan Xun rxed once Jun Huang stopped worrying. He understood why Qi Yun would leave so suddenly. He was impressed and pleased with the young prince¡¯s decisiveness.


    ¡°Alright, get some more sun and go back to rest if it gets cold. You have to take care of yourself. The rest can wait after your recovery.¡± Nan Xun put a robe around her shoulders before leaving to attend to his business.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to be left alone. The next few days, she insisted on going to work with Nan Xun, leaving home early and returningte at night. Nan Xun sighed in resignation and gave in.


    They fit into the vige well. Sometimes, they¡¯d go out for a walk after dinner. When they ran into their neighbors, they always greeted and exchanged pleasantries with them. They were the perfect couple worthy of envy in the locals¡¯ eyes.


    The war showed signs of settling down. With the old general out of the picture and Qi Yun boosting Northern Qi¡¯s morale, the army defeated Eastern Wu again and again. Finally, Eastern Wu¡¯s emperor realized something was wrong.


    ¡°His Majesty, we¡¯ve suffered another loss, this time with great casualties. If this continues, we¡¯ll ¨C ¡± The acting general cupped his hands and knelt on the floor. He was panicking inside, but he had to brief the emperor about what was happening on the battlefields.


    The emperor narrowed his eyes. With a scoff, he grabbed the teacup and threw it at the general¡¯s head. Blood streamed down and covered half of his face. The maids and eunuchs cowered and dropped to their knees without a word.


    The general covered his wound with one hand, gritting his teeth. The emperor rose to his feet with an unreadable expression.


    The third prince got wind of the news and hurried to the pce. He hesitated over if he should tell his father about his findings.


    The emperor¡¯s scowl rxed somewhat. He took a deep breath and sat back down. ¡°Have you found the old general?¡±


    The third prince dropped to his knees. ¡°This son hasn¡¯t located the old general. I¡¯ve looked everywhere, but found nothing. This son suspects that someone else is helping him...¡±


    ¡°Useless! Don¡¯t try to excuse your failure!¡± The emperor kicked the third prince in the abdomen. The prince winced and covered his stomach with a pale face, groaning in pain. The emperor didn¡¯t show any sign of sympathy and instead continued to scold him for being ipetent.


    The third prince ground his teeth together and balled his hands into fists, his nails burrowing into his palms. The pain didn¡¯t register. His resentment for his father, on the other hand, festered and grew. He kept his head low, but scoffed inwardly. I¡¯ve endured this treatment for a long time. I can do it a little longer.


    ¡°In this subordinate¡¯s opinion, it¡¯s likely the old general has been taken away,¡± the general said carefully with a hand covering his forehead. ¡°I hear he left the camp a few times when he was there, which gave him the opportunity to talk to someone from Northern Qi. He must have nned the extraction of his family. It¡¯ll be difficult to locate him now.¡±


    The emperor threw him a cold re and huffed. ¡°Did he think he can run away? Did he think we don¡¯t have anyone else to rece him with?¡±


    ¡°His Majesty, what we have to do now is to solve the problems we¡¯re facing. Northern Qi has been unstoppable recently. We¡¯re running out of supplies. There¡¯s no telling how much longer we canst.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s mood took a further downturn. He smashed various items in his rage. None of the people present dared speak up lest they get themselves in trouble.


    Crisp pping came from outside the door. The emperor frowned. Every guard got prepared to fight.


    The door opened and out came a man wearing a mask. His eyes were sharp, and veins popped out on the hand he gripped his sword with.


    The emperor and everyone else were caught off guard. Someone called out for the guards to protect the emperor. The masked man was soon surrounded.


    The third prince narrowed his eyes as he considered the man, wondering who he was and what he was here for.


    The masked man nced at the guards and scoffed. ¡°Is this how you wee your guests, Your Majesty?¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± The emperor had gradually regained his calm. He hadn¡¯t be the emperor without a decently strong will. He put aside his shock and quietly observed the man, trying to discern his identity.


    The man didn¡¯t seem eager to talk. The emperor looked at the guards and waved a hand to dismiss them.


    ¡°You mustn¡¯t, Your Majesty. We don¡¯t know yet if he¡¯s friend or foe. If he does something to harm Your Majesty ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I think he¡¯s on our side,¡± the emperor said, his tone deadpan but forceful. The guards had no choice but to hold their tongues. They were then asked to leave the room.


    The emperor looked at the masked man. ¡°What is the purpose of your unannounced visit?¡±


    1. For traditional Chinese wedding, there¡¯s a part where the guests would barge into the newlywed¡¯s room and do things like hitting the groom or coaching the couple through having sex. There were a lot of weird and harmful practices throughout history, mostly targeted at women.

 Chapter 307 - Aid

    <h4>Chapter 307: Aid</h4>


    ¡°What if I say I can help Eastern Wu turn the tide? Would Your Majesty wee me then?¡± The masked man¡¯s words sounded like they were uttered with a smile. Something about his tone demanded trust. His aggressive presence vanished without a trace, making him seem like a regr man.


    The emperor looked at the man, his eyes inquisitive. If the man was bothered by the scrutiny, he didn¡¯t show it.


    After a long stretch of silence, the man scoffed and turned to leave. The emperor frowned and stopped him. ¡°Why are you helping me? Who are you, and what do you want?¡±


    The manughed, but his smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. This close, he seemed to radiate coldness. The emperor suddenly felt his mouth turn dry.


    ¡°There are things Your Majesty is better off not knowing. We¡¯ll see each other again.¡± The masked man left without looking back and disappeared without a trace.


    ¡°Your Highness, Mister Ji Bo is asking for you,¡± a shadow guard entered the room and said respectfully.


    Nan Xun looked up at the guard and thought for a moment before putting down the bowl of medicine in his hands. He wiped Jun Huang¡¯s mouth with a handkerchief and said, ¡°Tell him toe in.¡±


    Ji Bo followed the guard into the room and frowned when he saw Jun Huang lying on the bed. He heard that her poison had been cleansed, but it didn¡¯t seem like she¡¯dpletely recovered.


    ¡°Are you well?¡± he asked gently.


    Jun Huang nodded with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you for your concern.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything the gentleman needs?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Ji Bo wondered how he should word his question. If he asked what he wanted to ask, Nan Xun and Jun Huang would no doubt be worried. He sighed and pulled a chair for himself. He gave them the usual spiel, congratting them for their marriage.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun knew Ji Bo had something else he wanted to say. They smiled and waited for him to get to his point.


    It didn¡¯t seem like Ji Bo was going to do that anytime soon, though. Noting Jun Huang¡¯s exhaustion and not wanting to stop her from resting, Nan Xun interrupted Ji Bo with a cough and said, ¡°The gentleman may be frank with us. There¡¯s no need for you to beat around the bush.¡±


    Ji Bo coughed awkwardly. Nan Xun had seen through him. Jun Huang¡¯s muffledugh made him even more embarrassed.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, really,¡± Ji Bo finally said. ¡°I¡¯m just wondering what the two of you n to do after everything.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. His expression was reced with a smile when he turned to Jun Huang. ¡°We¡¯ll leave for a peacefulnd and spend the rest of our lives together. Neither of us want to endure being apart again.¡±


    Ji Bo paused. He had a feeling that would be Nan Xun¡¯s answer, but he still felt a sense of resignation when he heard it from Nan Xun. He smiled wryly. ¡°You two truly have no desire for power.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not something we should covet,¡± Nan Xun said with a smile, his eyes bright like stars as they settled on Jun Huang. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s rare enough for a couple to be able to live a life together. Why would we ask for more?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s smile slipped. She could hear what Ji Bo had left unsaid. After the war between Northern Qi and Eastern Wu, the world would be in chaos. That was when talented people would be needed the most. However, she no longer wanted to be the one to pull the strings. She simply wanted to spend her life with Nan Xun.


    Ji Bo waved a hand in the air with a smile and had his belongings moved into the house. Clearly he¡¯s decided to stay for long term. When asked, he only said the scenery was nice and his business at the border was about finished. He¡¯d like to stay and enjoy the view.


    Ji Bo had led a nomad life. He gave up his freedom because he shared the same ambition as Jun Huang. Jun Huang and Nan Xun didn¡¯t object to his action and instead prepared a room for him.


    Days passed without any events. Jun Huang and Nan Xun remained close. They weren¡¯t passionate like most newlyweds, but theirs was a bond that didn¡¯t break easily. They were close friends,panions, and also soulmates. There was a resemnce between the way they acted and talked. Their intimacy was worthy of envy.


    Just when Jun Huang was starting to forget about the chaos around them, problems arose within the Northern Qi¡¯s army.


    The shadow guard Nan Xun had assigned to keep watch on the soldiers came back covered in wounds. Jun Huang knew things were bad as soon as she saw him. She immediately sent for Nan Xun, who was talking to Ji Bo in the backyard.


    ¡°What¡¯s the emergency?¡± Nan Xun rushed to Jun Huang, thinking something had happened to her. He sighed in relief when he saw that she wasn¡¯t hurt. His gaze turned cold when he spotted the shadow guard lying on the divan.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t say anything. She didn¡¯t need to. She knew Nan Xun could tell something big had happened. She stayed with him out of worry, intending to shoulder with him whatever was toe.


    Nan Xun took a deep breath and went up to support the guard, who had been trying to bow to Nan Xun despite his inability to stay upright. ¡°What happened?¡±


    The shadow guard coughed, his face turning a shade paler. He steadied himself and responded, ¡°Our army had been unstoppable, seemingly close to taking Eastern Wu down. However, things changed suddenly. Eastern Wu easily countered all our strategies like they knew our ns beforehand...¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe to me sooner?¡± Nan Xun leveled the guard with an icy re, his presence terrifying. It was an air of intimidation inherent to him that no one could defend against.


    The shadow guard lowered his head. ¡°We thought it was a coincidence, but then it happened again and again. The second inmand then sent me too seek you out.¡±


    ¡°What do you think is happening?¡± Nan Xun stared at the guard with piercing eyes. The guard broke into cold sweat and almost copsed out of fear. He could only focus on breathing and wiping away his sweat.


    Jun Huang listened to their conversation intently. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t interrupt them. After all she was no expert in warfare. She might be clever, but she knew little about how to win a war. However, the man¡¯s words made her curious.


    She rested her chin on her hand and considered the shadow guard. In the end, she concluded that the shadow guard wasn¡¯t working against them. For one, he was seriously injured. Moreover, he¡¯d been Nan Xun¡¯s confidante for a long time and never done anything untowards. However...


    ¡°There must be a reason why Northern Qi keeps losing, but how about you? Why are you injured? Did you fight with the army?¡± Jun Huang voiced her questions.


    The shadow guard shook his head. ¡°This subordinate has been hiding in the dark. The soldiers are the ones fighting the battle. I couldn¡¯t even if I wanted to.¡± He paused. ¡°As for my injury... I was pursued by people trying to kill me on my way here. A careless mistake put me in this condition.¡±


    Jun Huang shot to her feet, knocking off a teacup on the table in her haste. In the silent room, the sound of the tea dripping was almost offensively loud.


    She exchanged a nce with Nan Xun.


    ¡°There must be another traitor in the army,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°He¡¯s smart enough to not fall for the trap you set up. Since he made a move on your shadow guard, he must already suspect that you¡¯re alive. He¡¯s not going to be easy to deal with.¡±


    Her tone was paced and calm, but her words were a wakeup call. Everyone could hear her unspoken words. The shadow guard widened his eyes in apprehension.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t think of another exnation. She sighed. ¡°It¡¯s still spection. We need to investigate in order to get an answer. You all have to be careful from now on. He¡¯s going to find clues about you faking death soon.¡±


    Nan Xun huffed and went up to Jun Huang, giving her a reassuring smile. He turned to the shadow guard and said coldly, ¡°Then I can¡¯t stay here. He¡¯ll track me down sooner orter. We might as well make a move first to catch him and whoever is behind him off guard.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the n?¡±


    ¡°Get your wounds treated and rush back to the camp,¡± Nan Xun ordered the guard. ¡°Tell my second inmand to spread the news that you¡¯ve found me, and that I¡¯ll return soon.¡±


    The shadow guard nodded without a question and left with the help of a few servants. Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang and took her hands, struggling toe up with something to say.


    Jun Huang chuckled, her eyes curved like the moon, and patted his handsfortingly. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m an unreasonable woman? You have important business to attend to. I want to be your support, not your burden. Don¡¯t think too much.¡±


    ¡°I promised you a peaceful life, but...¡±

 Chapter 308 - Ambush

    <h4>Chapter 308: Ambush</h4>


    ¡°How can you be med? You¡¯ve given me days ofpanionship and peace. It¡¯s good enough for me.¡± Jun Huang continued with a decisiveness that was rare for most women, ¡°It¡¯s only right for you to return to the army. We don¡¯t know who is pulling the strings, which is exactly why we must stay calm and cautious. The most important thing now is to keep the army under control.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart grew heavier. Jun Huang had always been understanding, but her calm eptance still surprised him. He didn¡¯t know if he should be d or sad. Nevertheless, words weren¡¯t going to mean much now. he would make time for her after things were settled.


    Ji Bo wasn¡¯t surprised that Nan Xun was returning to the army. When Nan Xun sought him out, they had a serious discussion about what would happen next.


    Early the next morning, Nan Xun led everyone back to the camp. The officers cheered and celebrated his arrival like he was a ray of light shining through a dark day. Nan Xun stood tall as he gave them a pep talk.


    Returning to his tent, he saw Jun Huang, dressed in regr soldier armor, sitting at a table reading books. She looked a little ridiculous, but he couldn¡¯t find it in himself to feel amused.


    Hearing footsteps approaching, Jun Huang nced at him and went back to reading. Nan Xun didn¡¯t mind. He held her from behind and rested his chin on her head, breathing in the faint fragranceing from her hair. ¡°Originally I was going to leave you in the vige, but I worried that there might be dangers. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s the right thing to do to bring you here. I hope you won¡¯t me me.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled without a word, but Nan Xun had learned to read her nonverbal expressions. He looked at her delicate profile, idly considering teasing her, but before he could reach out, Ji Bo¡¯s voice came from outside the tent. Nan Xun put his hand down and cleared his throat before calling Ji Bo toe in.


    Ji Bo cupped his hands. He didn¡¯t mind Jun Huang¡¯s presence as he asked, ¡°What does Your Highness n to do?¡±


    ¡°Catch them off guard with a swift attack and be done with it.¡± Nan Xun¡¯s answer was brief and to the point. Ji Bo thought for a moment and nodded in approval. He didn¡¯t ask any questions since Nan Xun didn¡¯t seem eager to exin.


    He excused himself, leaving Nan Xun and Jun Huang in the tent. Jun Huang put down her book and asked quietly, ¡°Do you n tounch an attack tonight?¡±


    Surprise shed through Nan Xun¡¯s eyes. He went up to Jun Huang. ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to catch them off guard, so you¡¯reunching an attack before they can get prepared. They¡¯re going to hear about your return soon, which will make them wary and prompt them to n ordingly. You also said you wanted to eliminate them with one swift attack. That won¡¯t be possible if they are prepared. Therefore, it¡¯s best that you move out tonight.¡± Jun Huang arched a challenging eyebrow at him. ¡°Am I right?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s usual stoic look softened. ¡°My wife is indeed smart and talented. No one in the world knows me better than you do.¡±


    Jun Huang started when she heard Nan Xun call her his wife, but she quickly recovered. Her smile dropped and she said worriedly, ¡°It¡¯s best that you make a move tonight, but... it¡¯s still going to be dangerous. I know you aren¡¯t going to take me with you. I¡¯ll be worried, however. Please remember not to be hasty. Look out for ambush and protect yourself.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll return safe and victorious,¡± Nan Xun promised, wrapping his fingers around Jun Huang¡¯s arm.


    Jun Huang looked down at his hand and smiled at him. After a pause, she said in a low voice, ¡°Godspeed.¡±


    She walked out of the tent. Nan Xun quietly watched her go. Only she could draw his eyes even in a set of armors he¡¯d gotten familiar with for years.


    Only after she was out of his sight did his smile drop. His eyes turned icy ¨C it was a side of him he hadn¡¯t showed and didn¡¯t want to show Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun summoned his shadow guard. ¡°Have someone follow her to keep her safe. If anything happens, you¡¯ll be held ountable.¡±


    The shadow guard made a sound of assent and vanished. Nan Xun went off to prepare for the attack.


    Night fell. Nan Xun led a troop to Eastern Wu¡¯s territory. He scoffed and took a bow from his personal guard. He shot at the soldier on the watchtower before he could react. The arrow split through the air, and he was dead. Nan Xun motioned at the soldiers behind him to split up and surround the camp from both sides. Unfortunately, they were soon discovered.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t n to stay for arge scale battle. He and his men killed Eastern Wu¡¯s vanguards and vanished into the night before their main force could charge out.


    The surprise attack caught Eastern Wu off guard, sessfully putting their enemies on edge. Nan Xun led the troops back to the camp. When he jumped off the horse, he spotted Jun Huang waiting for him. It warmed his heart. He wanted nothing but to pull her into his arms now, but he knew he had to control himself and not bring any troubles to Jun Huang.


    Once he¡¯d handed the horse to a soldier, he took Jun Huang into his tent. Jun Huang hurriedly checked him for wounds. Nan Xun caught her hands and shook his head. ¡°I¡®m not hurt. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Jun Huang sighed in relief. Noting his grave expression, she asked with a frown, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Our ambush tonight is sessful. That tells us one thing: there¡¯s a mole in our ranks. I didn¡¯t want to believe it, but it¡¯s the only exnation. If Eastern Wu truly has the ability to predict our moves, why was there no resistance this time? I¡¯ve intentionally keep my men in the dark about the ambush, and look what happened.¡±


    ¡°The men I¡¯ve assigned to keep an eye on Eastern Wu also stopped sending us intels. Something must have happened to them. They may be dead.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s face tightened. They¡¯d been plotting against Eastern Wu, but now it suddenly dawned on them that they weren¡¯t the chess yers, but one of the pawns. The mastermind behind everything was still an unknown entity to them.


    It was imperative for them to find the mole. If they didn¡¯t, none of their ns would work, and Northern Qi might continue to lose.


    Jun Huang thought quietly. Suddenly, she looked up and said seriously, ¡°If so, I¡¯d like to go to Eastern Wu to investigate.¡±


    Nan Xun started and shook his head without hesitation. ¡°No, you¡¯re not going. There are a lot of people who can do that in the army. You haven¡¯t fully recovered yet. How am I going to let you take the risk? I know you want to help me, but you have to consider what you can do. You¡¯re talented and clever, but you¡¯re a woman who hasn¡¯t received systematic training. It doesn¡¯t make sense for you to take on the task.¡±


    Jun Huang looked back at Nan Xun calmly. Nan Xun quieted down. He¡¯d forgotten how stubborn Jun Huang could be. She wouldn¡¯t change her mind just because other people said so. If he went on, he¡¯d be hurting their rtionship for nothing.


    Nan Xun thought back to their previous arguments. He didn¡¯t know what he should do.


    ¡°I understand your concerns, but I¡¯ve thought it through. I¡¯ve been to Eastern Wu before, and I can always ask for the House of Heavenly Fiends for help.¡± Jun Huang added, ¡°Brute force isn¡¯t the important thing for this task. A strategic mind and an unwavering level head are. If you think about it logically, am I not the best candidate for the mission?¡±


    Nan Xun sighed. He knew Jun Huang was trying to persuade him, but what she said was true. Given the circumstances, she was his best option. However, he didn¡¯t want her to take the risk.


    Jun Huang patted his shoulderfortingly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of myself and return as soon as I find out the truth. It won¡¯t take long.¡±


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯te up with a counter argument. He sighed in resignation and nodded in the end. He wanted to spend some time with her before her departure, but Jun Huang pulled away as soon as he reached out for her.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to run into our hidden foe, so it¡¯s best I leave tonight. I¡¯ll be able to sneak through Eastern Wu¡¯s camp, which will save me the trouble of a detour.¡±


    ¡°I know there¡¯s nothing I can say to change your mind, but are you really going to go on your own? We don¡¯t know what¡¯s going to happen. I fear you may run into something unexpected.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t care how panicked he sounded. Nothing scared him more than knowing Jun Huang was in danger.

 Chapter 309 - Unexpected Danger

    <h4>Chapter 309: Unexpected Danger</h4>


    Jun Huang chuckled, herugh deste like the night wind. Nan Xun pursed his lips without a word, his eyes filled with reluctance. Jun Huang lowered her head and didn¡¯t say anything.


    They stayed like that for some time until they couldn¡¯t afford to. Jun Huang met Nan Xun¡¯s gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about me after my departure.¡±


    ¡°You are my wife,¡± Nan Xun replied. ¡°How can I not worry for you? My only wish is for you to put your safety first and return as soon as you can.¡±


    Jun Huang schooled her expression and took a deep breath. She gave Nan Xun a final nod before walking out of the tent. She ran into Ji Bo on her way to the stable. He was dressed in a silver robe.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Ji Bo turned to her when he heard her footsteps and arched an eyebrow at her.


    Jun Huang came to a stop. ¡°I¡¯m just going back to the vige to retrieve something. It¡¯s easier for me to go at night because of my identity. You know that as well. Why haven¡¯t you gone to sleep?¡±


    Ji Bo didn¡¯t question her exnation. He looked up at the sky and said after a pause, ¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep. Figure I can use the time to observe the stars like people used to do in ancient times.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes shed, trying to decipher Ji Bo¡¯s words, but couldn¡¯t identify any hidden meaning. ¡°See anything interesting?¡±


    She averted her gaze when Ji Bo turned to her, her lips curved. Ji Bo shook his head. ¡°Nothing. You should go and return soon. That¡¯ll lower the risk of running into trouble.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and walked away. When she paused and turned to check, Ji Bo had disappeared already, leaving only the moon as herpanion. She frowned. Something was bothering her, but she couldn¡¯t pinpoint the source.


    She sighed. Perhaps she was being overly sensitive. She made her way to the stable and rxed when she was sure that no one was watching. She picked a white horse with a meek temper, sorted out its reign, and mounted it. She looked over at the camp from afar, letting out a sigh. She then nudged the horse to direct it into a narrow path.


    Nan Xun had told her about the route. She soon reached the outskirts of the Eastern Wu camp. She could hear noisesing from a distance, but she wasn¡¯t going to stay and check what¡¯s making the noises. Keeping her guard up, she traversed the area with gritted teeth, doing all she could to not make any sound.


    The city gate entered her view. She got off the horse and looked up at the dawning sky. She quickly took off her armor and changed into a green robe, disguising as a schr to avoid attracting attention.


    Not long after she was ready, the city gate opened. There was now more traffic in the area. Jun Huang left her horse at a ry station outside the city and paid them to take care of it for her. She then took out a foldable fan and walked to the gate.


    Security check had be stricter these couple of days. Jun Huang let them search her. She¡¯d hidden everything that might expose her real identity.


    ¡°Get in.¡± A soldier pushed her through the gate. She stumbled and almost fell. Fortunately, a young man near her caught her.


    Jun Huang frowned. Did every Eastern Wu soldier act like that? She pushed aside her anger and thanked the man who had helped her before walking away.


    She didn¡¯t immediately visit the House of Heavenly Fiends¡¯ operation base. She¡¯d just entered the city. She didn¡¯t want any eyes on her. She wandered around the city like a regr tourist for some time and only made her way to the tavern in the afternoon.


    There were a lot of patrons from different walks of life. Some dressed expensively, and others dressed in peasants¡¯ clothes. They provided good cover for her. She looked up at the sign and waved her fan.


    ¡°Are you seeking a ce to rest?¡± a clerk ran up to her and asked with a smile.


    Jun Huang considered the clerk and realized that he¡¯d assumed she was a regr patron. She nodded with a smile and walked into the tavern.


    Out of her view, the clerk stared after her for a moment. He was a young man. He¡¯d seen many powerful people in the tavern, but not someone as beautiful as Jun Huang. Her smile made him feel lightheaded.


    When he recovered from his trance, Jun Huang had disappeared into the tavern. He hurriedly chased after her and asked, ¡°Where is the esteemed guest from? What is your business here? Are you on your own, or have you invited friends?¡±


    The clerk babbled away. Jun Huang turned to him and said quietly, ¡°Just me. Serve me your specialties and find me a booth. I don¡¯t want to sit with other people. It¡¯s too noisy.¡±


    The clerk nodded in understanding. This must be a scion from an important family. He took her to a booth on the third floor. ¡°This is a quiet ce. No one will bother you. Would you like a songstress to perform for you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Jun Huang said, annoyed by the clerk¡¯s eagerness. He noticed her reaction and left with an awkward smile.


    Delicacies were soon brought to the table. Jun Huang frowned and turned to the clerk. ¡°I¡¯d like to talk to your superior.¡±


    The clerk didn¡¯t know why she¡¯d suddenly look so cold. He didn¡¯t dare make her wait, worried that he¡¯d done something wrong. If he was to me, he¡¯d lose his job.


    ¡°One moment, please.¡± The clerk ran off.


    Jun Huang ced her chopsticks on the table and rose to her feet, looking out of the window at the street below.


    The clerk returned with the owner of the tavern. The owner looked at the graceful man who didn¡¯t look at all like someone who would stir up trouble for no good reason. He asked for confirmation from the clerk before approaching Jun Huang and clearing his throat. ¡°What can I help you with? Have we done something to anger you?¡°


    Jun Huang turned around with a faint smile, but it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. She picked up her chopsticks and pointed at one of the dishes. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this dish cannot be consumed along with the fish. What is the meaning of this?¡±


    The owner rushed to the table and, indeed, the cooks had made a mistake, serving dishes that shed with each other. He smiled apologetically. ¡°Something must have gone wrong in the kitchen. I hope you¡¯ll forgive us. As an apology, this meal is our treat.¡±


    The clerk stood at the door, too nervous to get any closer. He didn¡¯t expect the graceful scion to have such a sharp tongue. It intimidated him.


    ¡°I hear the tavern has a treasure ¨C a jade hidden in the stomach of a fish. Is it true?¡± Jun Huang asked in a voice only the two of them could hear.


    The owner looked at her in surprise. Jun Huang smiled an impable smile at him. He nodded in the end and patted her on the shoulder. They exchanged a nce.


    The owner took a step back and turned to call out for the clerk. ¡°The gentleman is my friend. Lead him to the backyard after he finished his meal.¡±


    The clerk was confused, but he nodded. Jun Huang sat back down at the table and started eating. The way she moved was graceful and pleasing to the eyes.


    After some time, Jun Huang put away her bowl and chopsticks and rose to walk out of the door. She nodded at the clerk, who hurriedly led her to the backyard.


    They walked through the winding hallway and came to an open ce. Suddenly, there was a sound of air splitting. Before she could turn around, something hit her head and she copsed to the ground, unconscious.


    There was no telling how much time had passed until Jun Huang came to. The pain in her head gradually subsided. Warily, she kept her eyes shut and maintained her posture as she listened for any sounds.


    There were footsteps outside, and a faint rustling. After a long time, she opened her eyes. Both her arms and legs were tied. She struggled to sit up and realized she was in a firewood storage.


    She noticed an unmoving manying not far from her. He dressed just like the owner of the tavern, but he wasn¡¯t that man. Realization dawned on her. She carefully moved toward him and kicked him. He winced and squirmed before finally waking up.


    His eyes lit up when he saw Jun Huang, but dimmed as soon as he noticed that she was tied up as well.


    Jun Huang frowned and rose to her feet with the support of the wall. She then pushed herself to jump toward the tavern owner through her pain from being tied up by hemp rope and strained herself to take off the cloth stopping him from talking.


    He spat, feeling a little better. After considering Jun Huang for a long while, he asked warily, ¡°Are you sent by Prince Nan Xun?¡±

 Chapter 310 - Conspiracy

    <h4>Chapter 310: Conspiracy</h4>


    Her spection was proven right when the owner mentioned Nan Xun. She nodded. ¡°I was sent by him.¡±


    The owner sighed. ¡°You must have realized that our operation base has been upied by other people. The owner you met is an imposter. They must be waiting for Prince Nan¡¯s people to arrive.¡±


    Jun Huang hade to that conclusion earlier. What she didn¡¯t get was why the real owner was still alive and kept here. Weren¡¯t they worried that the owner would flee or be rescued?


    Jun Huang asked the question. The owner paused and looked around to make sure no one was listening before leaning closer to Jun Huang to exin. ¡°They haven¡¯t killed me because I¡¯ve hidden a good fortune somewhere. They are looking for it.¡±


    The owner sounded proud of himself for being clever.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t rain on his parade. She looked at the room full of firewood. There was only a door and a window that was too high up for them to reach in this state. She cursed at herself for being careless, but she didn¡¯t let it show. She couldn¡¯t be sure that the man was trustworthy. She had to keep some secrets to herself.


    She silently considered the man, who didn¡¯t seem at all bothered as he exined what had happened in the tavern. Jun Huang thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Do you have any idea how we¡¯re going to escape? We can¡¯t stay here forever, can we?¡±


    The owner nodded in understanding and said quietly, ¡°Be patient. We¡¯ll be able to escape.¡±


    A door creaked. Jun Huang and the owner exchanged a nce before shey down like she was still unconscious and he put the cloth back into his mouth.


    She closed her eyes and held her breath. There were footsteps approaching. She snuck a nce and saw a burly man with aggressive features entering the room with food in his hand. He put the te on the floor and approached them.


    Jun Huang froze. She wasn¡¯t a coward, but things weren¡¯t looking good. She stayed absolutely still and shut her eyes.


    The man didn¡¯te to her and instead made his way to the real tavern owner. She was both relieved and nervous.


    The man held the owner up by the cors and patted his cheek. ¡°Still resisting? Haven¡¯t you had enough pain?¡±


    The owner struggled and protested, but his words were muffled and unintelligible. The man didn¡¯t care what he was saying. He punched the owner right in the stomach. The owner grunted and paled.


    ¡°Where did you hide it?¡± The man threw him to the floor and, without giving him any breathing room, kicked his torso. Color drained from his face further.


    Jun Huang tensed and prepared to move, but the owner gave her a pointed look and shook his head. She stayed put with her brows furrowed. The man¡¯s action was in line with the owner¡¯s story. The lingering doubt in her mind disappeared.


    The man failed to get anything from the owner. He kicked him again to vent his anger and only stopped when the owner was about to ckout. He spat out a curse before walking away.


    Once they were left alone, Jun Huang struggled to sit up and moved toward the owner, asking in a worried tone, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    The owner opened his eyes and grinned, the movement pulling a muscle and making him grunt in pain. Hey on the floor for a long time before nudging the cloth out of his mouth with his tongue. He exhaled deeply. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m used to it. They take their anger out on me every once in a while. Don¡¯t be reckless, or you¡¯ll get yourself hurt without being of any help.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. The owner¡¯s words made sense.


    Three days passed. The owner never once mentioned leaving, but Jun Huang was patient. Although their kidnappers came to beat up the owner every three hours to interrogate him, they never oncey a finger on her. Jun Huang wanted to stop them, but there was nothing she could do. She had to stay calm in this situation and waited for an opening.


    She wasn¡¯t a reckless person. It was in her nature to beposed.


    The third day afternoon, the door mmed open, startling both Jun Huang and the owner. The whole group hade this time with wooden sticks in their hands. The torment was going to be even worse today.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes twitched. Before she could think properly, the owner was held up by two men and dragged to the center of the room. The leader of the group scoffed and asked him where the treasure was again. The owner refused to answer.


    Infuriated by the owner¡¯s stubbornness, the leader hit him in the stomach with the wooden stick without hesitation. The owner grunted, and Jun Huang had had enough.


    ¡°What are you trying to do? If you kill him, you¡¯ll never get what you want. Don¡¯t you understand that?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t stand it. Her morals didn¡¯t allow her to watch someone suffer and do nothing.


    The men were surprised that she¡¯d suddenly spoken up. The owner blinked at Jun Huang, trying to stop her from talking. He¡¯d told her not to take a stand for him.


    However, Jun Huang scoffed and looked at the kidnappers derisively. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re trying to find, but what you¡¯re doing is unforgivable. Why must you resort to violence when you can have a civil negotiation?¡± She scoffed. ¡°You fear the strong and exploit the vulnerable. How shameful.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you sure have a mouth on you. You better shut it. If you dare spout off any more nonsense, we¡¯ll beat you up as well.¡±


    The leader walked up to Jun Huang and yanked her hair upward. ¡°We haven¡¯t done anything to you simply because it¡¯s not going to benefit us. If you¡¯re looking for a beat up, we¡¯ll grant you your wish.¡±


    Jun Huang paled in pain. She saw the owner shaking his head at her over the man¡¯s shoulders. The owner¡¯s reaction made her even angrier. He wasn¡¯t doing anything! If he didn¡¯t intend to save himself, she wasn¡¯t going to stand up for him.


    She took a deep breath and shot a re at the leader. He let go of her hair. She turned her back to the owner¡¯s torment, which also caused her to miss the exchange of nces between the owner and the leader of the gang.


    This time, the torturested longer. Perhaps it had something to do with Jun Huang¡¯s intervention. When the men left, Jun Huang turned around to see the ownerying on the floor, seemingly at the brink of death.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know how to describe this messy ball of emotions in her chest. She gritted her teeth andy down to sleep.


    Night had fallen when she woke up. She heard the owner talking to someone. She tensed and maintained her breathing pattern, pretending to be asleep.


    The conversation ended. Sweat streamed down from her forehead. Her entire body went taut. She cursed at the rope keeping her restrained.


    Not long after, the owner knelt before her and patted her cheek with a sigh. She widened her eyes, which were bright and steely in the dark, temporarily transfixing the owner.


    He cleared his throat. ¡°Since you¡¯re up, there¡¯s no need to pretend to be asleep. Come with me.¡±


    He untied her. Jun Huang was on high alert once she regained her freedom. She tightened her jaw to endure the numbing pain in her legs from ack of cirction and narrowed her eyes at the owner inquisitively.


    The owner didn¡¯t intend to exin. He threw her a cool nce and opened the door. In came a few men. He led those men to a hidden trapdoor opening to the cer. A click, and a set of stairs emerged.


    The owner motioned at his men to take everything out of the cer. One after another, a good number of wine barrels were carried outside.


    Jun Huang frowned. Were those the treasure the kidnappers were looking for?


    The owner peeled off the seal on one of the barrels. There was a faint glow of gold under the dim light.


    Realization struck her. She inhaled deeply and approached the barrels, widening her eyes when she got a good look. There were real gold and silver hidden inside, and the amount was considerable. No wonder the kidnappers were so eager to find the owner¡¯s hidden fortune.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jun Huang asked in a steely voice. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that they¡¯re gonna see all these? They¡¯ll kill you after taking the barrels.¡±

 Chapter 311 - The Grand Chancellor’s Daughter

    <h4>Chapter 311: The Grand Chancellor¡¯s Daughter</h4>


    Surprise shed through the tavern owner¡¯s face. He quickly put on a friendly smile and led Jun Huang to a wine barrel big enough for two people to fit in. He climbed into the half filled barrel and whispered, ¡°Get in. I¡¯ll tell you the rest on our way out.¡±


    Jun Huang was hesitant, but she knew she couldn¡¯t stay behind. She nodded and climbed into the barrel as well. The owner pulled at her to stay down. They were submerged in wine chest down.


    ¡°The wine is being delivered to a wealthy man outside the city,¡± the owner said in a low voice. ¡°As soon as we get out, we¡¯ll be able to escape.¡±


    Before Jun Huang could say anything, the barrel shook, and some wine got into her mouth. She frowned, trying her best to push aside her difort.


    The ground beneath them shook and trembled. Jun Huang had no choice but to follow their lead, waiting to see what they were nning to do.


    In the dark, the owner noted Jun Huang¡¯s furrowed brows. She was still doubting him. After some consideration, he cleared his throat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We were caught off guard and didn¡¯t have the time toe up with a better n. My sincere apologies for causing you any difort.¡±


    Jun Huang waved a dismissive hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine. What exactly happened?¡±


    ¡°Ah, our operation base was upied by some strangers a while ago. I don¡¯t know who they are, and I have no leads to follow. It¡¯s taken a lot of work and days of waiting for our kidnappers to rx their guard enough for my people to knock them out with poison. We worry that they might have aplices within the city, so we came up with a n to get us out of the gate.¡±


    The owner¡¯s exnation made a lot of sense. Jun Huang nodded in understanding. She was starting to get light-headed. It must be the wine. Soon, she lost consciousness leaning against the barrel.


    Jun Huang opened her eyes. Her head felt like it was splitting. She propped herself up and stared dumbly at her surroundings. She was in an elegant and luxurious room. All the flowing silk made it seem as if she¡¯d stumbled into a celestial realm.


    She rubbed at her forehead and got off the bed, having no clue what was going on. She went up to the window and looked outside. She was on the second floor of a building. The flowers in the garden bloomed prettily, which made her feel a little less nervous.


    She looked down at her clothes, her hair running down her chest as she bent, and frowned at the white silk dress she was wearing.


    Where was she, and... who was she?


    The door creaked. She whirled around and looked cautiously at the two maids dressed in pink. It was evident they were working for an important family. One of them was holding a bowl of water, the other, some clothes.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you summon these servants to serve you, mydy?¡± The one with the sharper features put down the bowl and asked quietly.


    Jun Huang was even more confused by the way the maid addressed her. The maid didn¡¯t give her much time to think before approaching. She took a step back but quickly stopped herself.


    She knew she mustn¡¯t do anything reckless. She didn¡¯t know what was going on, and she didn¡¯t know what the maids wanted. She might put herself at risk by resisting. Since the maids didn¡¯t seem intending to hurt her, she allowed herself to rx. For some reason, everything around her felt wrong, but she didn¡¯t remember why.


    She silently let the maids help her get changed. The turquoise dress entuated her eyes and made her look more graceful. Even without doing anything to her long hair, she was stunning enough.


    The two maids paused and led her to a bronze mirror. They made quick work of her hair and soon, her hair was tied and a dangling ornament was put on her head. They also put on a thinyer of rouge on her face, making herplexion healthier.


    She quirked her lips. The maids crowed andplimented her for her good looks. Jun Huang maintained a calm expression, but in her mind there was a whirlwind of questions. If she was the daughter of the family, why did the two maids seem like they were seeing her for the first time?


    The maids didn¡¯t know what she was thinking. They schooled their expressions into polite indifference and helped her up. One of them retrieved a cloak and put it around her shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s time to greet the mistress. She¡¯s been waiting for you.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and nodded, her lips curved into an aloof smile. ¡°Then lead the way, please.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s our duty, mydy.¡± The maid chuckled. The other maid, who¡¯d been quiet the whole time, nudged her with her elbow in warning, which didn¡¯t escape Jun Huang¡¯s attention. Doubt grew further in her mind, but she couldn¡¯t figure out what was happening. She averted her gaze and let the two maids take her away.


    They made their way through the winding hallway and past the leisure garden into the beautiful backyard. Finally they entered a building bigger than the one she¡¯d been in. The walls were red and the roof curving upward. It was a work of art in architecture.


    One of the maids knocked on the door, and out came an old caretaker. She muttered a few words to the maid and turned to Jun Huang. Jun Huang nodded at her with a smile, watching the old woman walk back into the building.


    The old caretaker returned not long after and made a gesture to invite Jun Huang in, telling the maid to wait outside. Jun Huang entered the building. All around her were furniture and items decorated with gold. The family was obviously wealthy.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± the old housekeeper said respectfully.


    Jun Huang looked up at her and nodded. She then pushed the wooden door open and click! The door opened. Inside, there was an expensively dressed woman. Her eyes were soft when they settled on Jun Huang.


    She rose and approached Jun Huang, taking her hands in hers.


    Jun Huang frowned and backed away reflexively, but the woman¡¯s misty eyes made her pause. She didn¡¯t want to hurt her feelings.


    ¡°Greetings, madam.¡± Jun Huang knew this woman must be the mistress of the manor ¨C her ¡°mother¡±. However, she couldn¡¯t make herself call her that.


    The mistress paused and burst into tears. Jun Huang widened her eyes and struggled tofort her. The mistress caught her hands again.


    ¡°My child, what happened to you? I¡¯m your mother!¡± She cried like she was in physical pain. Jun Huang pursed her lips, her eyes stung.


    ¡°Mother,¡± finally, she uttered.


    The mistress cried tears of joy and wiped her face with a silk handkerchief. She took a deep breath to steady herself, gently wrapping her arms around Jun Huang and patting her on the back. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m fine now.¡±


    The door opened. The old caretaker entered. The woman¡¯s tears had dried. She cleared her throat and looked at the caretaker. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Madam, it¡¯s time for lunch. The young masters and mistresses have been waiting.¡± The old caretaker spoke with her head lowered. It was the way servants in important families acted.


    The woman nodded and turned to Jun Huang, her expression warm. ¡°You must be hungry. Let¡¯s go to the dining hall.¡±


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t felt her hunger, but it awoke once food was mentioned. She nodded with a smile and helped the mistress into the dining hall. She sat down next to her ¡°mother.¡± Everyone at the table greeted the mistress , but no one even spared a nce for Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang grew even more confused. If she was one of the daughters in the family, why would these people be so cold to her and didn¡¯t seem to even recognize her?


    No one could give her an answer. She kept her head down and focused on eating, but she could barely taste anything. The mistress put food in her te every now and then. Jun Huang epted the gesture with a stilted smile. The mistress looked at her with a caring expression like a mother would a daughter.


    The mistress was doing everything right in showing her love, but something bothered Jun Huang. She just didn¡¯t know what it was.


    Afterwards, Jun Huang followed the mistress to the garden for a walk. She didn¡¯t say anything. Once the mistress was tired, she halted and beckoned a maid over. ¡°This is the maid who¡¯s grown up with you. If you have any questions, you can ask her. She¡¯ll tell you everything she knows.¡±


    There was something deliberate about the mistress¡¯s words. Jun Huang frowned. Before she could form a clear thought, the mistress left with her servants, leaving Jun Huang with the maid.


    ¡°It¡¯s windy, mydy,¡± said the maid. ¡°You aren¡¯t feeling well now. Let¡¯s return to your room.¡±


    Jun Huang gave her a brief nce and a slight smile. With the maid¡¯s help, she made her way to her building.


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯t received any message from Jun Huang since they parted. His instinct told him something had gone wrong. It unsettled him.


    Ji Bo sat on the chair watching Nan Xun pacing around the room with a deep frown. He sighed. ¡°What is making you nervous, Your Highness?¡±

 Chapter 312 - Loss of Memory

    <h4>Chapter 312: Loss of Memory</h4>


    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard from Jun Huang ever since she left,¡± Nan Xun said worriedly, his brows furrowed. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have let her go. She hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet. What if something happens to her?¡±


    Ji Bo paused. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Your Highness. She¡¯s clever, and fate will help those who are on the right side of history.¡±


    Inside her residence, Jun Huang told the maid to rx and sit down. The maid didn¡¯t dare to. She stood rigidly with sweat covering her forehead.


    Jun Hunag nced at the maid and didn¡¯t force the issue. She turned around and walked up to the divan. Books of ancient text scattered atop, and there was unfinished needlework on the table.


    She sat down on the divan and asked quietly, ¡°Are all these mine?¡±


    The maid jerked up and breathed out slowly, her expression rxing as she approached Jun Huang with a nod. ¡°They are. You¡¯re good with needles, and you¡¯re smart. You¡¯ve memorized the Four Books and Five ssics, and reread them every once in a while. You were reading the books before the ident.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and tried to recall the memory, but came out nk. She rubbed at her forehead to soothe her headache. In her pain, she failed to notice how deliberately the items in the room had been ced.


    ¡°Are you alright, mydy?¡± the maid asked in panic.


    Jun Huang ignored her difort and waved a dismissive hand. When the pain finally subsided, she looked up at the maid and chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯d like a cup of water.¡±


    The maid was worried, but she couldn¡¯t disobey Jun Huang. She nodded and went off to retrieve some tea.


    Jun Huang¡¯s smile dropped. She picked up the needle, but she hadn¡¯t a clue what she should do with it. She identally pricked her finger in her attempt. The maid called out in shock when she returned and quickly put the teapot on the table before using a silk handkerchief to wrap up Jun Huang¡¯s injured finger.


    ¡°Are you sure I can do this?¡± Jun Huang asked nonchntly, arching an eyebrow.


    The maid paused and stared dumbly at Jun Huang for a moment. ¡°You were good at it. You must have slipped because you aren¡¯t feeling well.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t I remember anything?¡± Jun Huang asked bluntly. ¡°Since I have the time, tell me the story.¡±


    A strange look shed through the maid¡¯s face as if she was contemting something, but then she rxed. ¡°You¡¯re the Grand Chancellor¡¯s beautiful and talented daughter, mydy. You¡¯ve been staying at home for years. Some time ago, you fell into a pond and got injured. You had been ina for many days until you woke up.¡±


    ¡°I fell into a pond?¡±


    ¡°You did. As for the memory loss, you must have hit your head. That¡¯s nothing to be worried about. You¡¯ll recover after a while. No one will question you for that.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and finally nodded. She was feeling a little tired. She rose to her feet andy down on the bed with the maid¡¯s help.


    When she woke up, the night had fallen. There wasn¡¯t anyone around. She stayed there in deep thought, but she couldn¡¯t form any concrete thoughts. She had a feeling she had forgotten something very important.


    ¡°Are you awake, mydy?¡± the maid called out from the door. She lit themp in the room and walked to the bed.


    Jun Huang sat up and nodded at the maid. The maid asked if she¡¯d like to have dinner in the dining hall. Jun Huang shook her head and said she¡¯d just eat something in the room.


    After dinner, the maid brought her a dress. When asked, she exined that Jun Huang would be going out with her mother tomorrow. Jun Huang dismissed the maid and sat idly on the bed.


    Perhaps she was still ill. She fell asleep without lying down. It was morning when she woke up. The maid entered the room to help her cleaned up and get changed.


    ¡°I forgot to ask, where are we going today?¡± Jun Huang asked when the maid wasbing her hair.


    The maid was gentle with her hair like it was something to be protected. ¡°Your mother was worried you¡¯d never wake up, so she asked for Buddha¡¯s blessing in the temple. Now that you¡¯ve regained consciousness, she¡¯s going to express her gratitude to the Buddha.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded in understanding.


    Soon, the maid had finished dressing Jun Huang up. The pink dress suited her. She stared at the bronze mirror, listening to the maidplimenting her. Something seemed to be missing.


    No, someone. Someone who used to whisper sweet things in her ear.


    The mistress sent for them. Jun Huang took a deep breath and walked outside. The sun was so bright it made her dizzy. She reflexively covered her eyes with her hand. The maid hurriedly shielded her with an umbre.


    The mistress was standing before a coach. She walked up to Jun Huang with a gentle smile. ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡±


    ¡°Apologies for making you worry, mother,¡± Jun Huang said softly, her eyes lowered. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll recover in a few days.¡±


    The mistress patted her on the back of her hand, content. ¡°That¡¯s good. Don¡¯t push yourself too hard. Take all the time you need to rest, alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow mother¡¯s advice.¡±


    ¡°Alright, get into the coach and let us go to the temple. If we visitter, there will be too many people for us to have a good time.¡±


    The mistress climbed into the coach. Jun Huang followed after her and got in with the help of the servants. She sat down next to the mistress.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t say anything. She was curious about the view outside, but before she could part the curtains, the woman stopped her, saying that ady shouldn¡¯t let her face be seen in public. Jun Huang paused andplied.


    It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the temple. The air was filled with smoke. The monks¡¯ chanting wisped through the buildings. It was peaceful.


    ¡°Follow me closely,¡± the mistress said, turning to face her. ¡°This isn¡¯t the manor. It¡¯ll kill me if something happens to you again.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded gently and gave her a smile, following her into the temple.


    They didn¡¯t immediately went to pay tribute to the Buhdda. The mistress first led her to where the abbot lived. An old man walked out to wee them, his features gentle and his hands put together in greeting. ¡°This must be your daughter. She seems to have recovered well. You shouldn¡¯t be too worried, madam. It¡¯s bad for your health.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for letting me pray that day and have her return from death,¡± said the mistress. ¡°I was really scared then. That¡¯s why I took her here to see the gods. Both to express our gratitude and to pray for a lifetime of peace.¡±


    The abbot didn¡¯t argue. He led them to the main hall outside. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what to do. She could only follow the mistress¡¯s lead and paid tribute to the various gods worshipped here. Many of them she hadn¡¯t even heard of.


    She was almost relieved when they were done. She had nned to rest in the back garden of the temple, but the mistress turned her down immediately. The woman took her back to the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor and ordered a few servants to take her to rest.


    Jun Huang was tired. Before she realized it, she was already back in her residence. Something felt wrong, but the mistress¡¯s care seemed earnest. Perhaps too earnest.


    She sat there for a long time, trying to sort through her thoughts. If she had merely lost her memory, why did the room she¡¯d been staying in felt so foreign to her?


    She couldn¡¯t figure out an answer. Her headache grew intense and shey down on her bed. She¡¯d get some rest before doing anything else.


    At midnight, she suddenly heard someone calling out for her. She¡¯d thought she was dreaming, but then she felt an intense gaze boring into her. She widened her eyes and saw the silhouette of a man standing by her bed.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± She was wide awake. Fear overtook her and cold sweat drenched her clothes. Her eyes were bright as stars in the dark. Fear drained the color from her face, and her fingers trembled as she clutched her nket, preparing for dangers to strike.


    Yin Yun worried that he¡¯d scared her. He hurried to exin, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, princess. It¡¯s Yin Yun. Don¡¯t you remember? I¡¯m Prince Jun Hao¡¯s personal shadow guard. We¡¯ve seen each other before in the pce.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned in confusion. ¡°What did you call me? Princess?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, princess?¡± Yin Yun realized that something was wrong. He went up to take Jun Huang¡¯s wrist, but she pped him before he could touch her. It took some time for him to recover from his shock. He quickly lit themp.


    Jun Huang stared at the regr-looking man. She remembered nothing about him.


    Her frown unsettled Yin Yun.


    Her face was pale as she considered him. Once she made sure he wouldn¡¯t hurt her, she calmed herself down and rubbed at her temple. ¡°Tell me everything.¡±

 Chapter 313 - Growing Doubt

    <h4>Chapter 313: Growing Doubt</h4>


    ¡°I¡¯ve been hiding in Eastern Wu with the prince, looking for an opportunity to help you,¡± said Yin Yun. ¡°In a moment of carelessness, I lost him. Iter found out that he¡¯d been kidnapped. I started looking for him while maintaining a low profile, and I found you instead at the temple. I wanted to approach you, but there were too many people guarding you. Therefore I followed you to this manor and waited until you were alone to show myself.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have any other choices,¡± Yin Yun admitted, his eyes earnest. ¡°I need your advice, princess.¡±


    Jun Huang was quiet for a moment before she looked up at him. ¡°Do you expect me to just believe you?¡±


    Yin Yun widened his eyes in shock. How could Jun Huang not recognize him? He opened his mouth but couldn¡¯t utter a word.


    Jun Huang silently thought over what had happened the past couple of days, then she looked up at Yin Yun. She could tell he wasn¡¯t going to hurt her. Taking into consideration her ¡°mother¡¯s¡± attitude and the way other people in the manor looked at her, she could tell something was wrong. She wasn¡¯t dense. She simply didn¡¯t want to jump to conclusions knowing only Yin Yun¡¯s side of the story.


    ¡°You should leave first. I have other business to attend to. When the timees, I¡¯ll send you a message.¡± Jun Huang quickly calmed herself, maintaining an aloof facade.


    Yin Yun didn¡¯t know what was going on, but he knew he had to be cautious. He nodded and handed Jun Huang a signal re. ¡°Light this if you need me, princess. I¡¯lle as soon as I can.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and watched him leave. Shey on the bed wide awake, feeling chilled to the bones.


    She hunched her back and curled into herself. Her head was filled with a mess of tangled thoughts. Finally, she fell asleep.


    At dawn, she opened her eyes to stream of sunlighting through the window. She stared at it for some time before getting up and changed. When she opened the door, she saw a group of maids rushing downstairs. She didn¡¯t recognize any of them.


    What happenedst night made her question everything. She kept an eye on her surroundings at all times.


    After breakfast, the maid who¡¯d been quietly following her noted her unusual behavior and asked, ¡°Is something the matter, mydy?¡±


    Jun Huang turned to the maid and put down the scroll in her hand with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m getting bored and ustrophobic. I¡¯ll like to get some fresh air.¡±


    The maid looked hesitant, which didn¡¯t escape Jun Huang¡¯s attention. She lowered her eyes and tightened her lips. ¡°What? I can¡¯t even go for a walk?¡±


    ¡°Mydy misunderstood. It¡¯s just that you¡¯ve just recovered. This servant worries that you¡¯ll catch another cold. Your mother will be most displeased then.¡± The maid sounded sincere. If Jun Huang hadn¡¯t already doubted her, she wouldn¡¯t have suspected a thing. As it was, her doubt festered.


    She huffed and swept the book to the floor, gazing coldly at the maid. The maid dropped down to her knees in fear, too afraid to say anything.


    ¡°I hear you¡¯ve been with me since I was little,¡± Jun Huang said, slowly but fiercely. ¡°Do you make it a habit to challenge me?¡±


    The maid tensed and bowed down to Jun Huang with tears streaming down her face. ¡°This servant isn¡¯t the disloyal sort. I¡¯ve never and would never challenge your authority!¡±


    ¡°If so, I¡¯m going out.¡± Jun Huang stared at the maid, her eyes sharp and icy, which made her seem like apletely different person from her usual graceful self. The maid shuddered in fear.


    Jun Huang had been polite the past few days rather than snobbish like the other youngdies. The maid had thought she didn¡¯t have a temper. Today, though, the maid had stepped on andmine. If she didn¡¯t do anything now to save herself, she¡¯d be considered a disobedient servant, the consequences of which she couldn¡¯t bear.


    ¡°You may do as you wish, mydy,¡± the maid said carefully, looking up at Jun Huang. ¡°It¡¯s cold, though, and I¡¯m worried for your health. Please let me retrieve a thick cloak for you first.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t intend to push the maid too hard. She nodded quietly and watched the maid go. A momentter, the maid returned with a cloak. Her gentle expression and rxed gait made Jun Huang suspicious.


    She observed the maid without hiding her intention, which unsettled the maid. Jun Huang then took the cloak without a word and walked outside.


    The manor was beautiful. Jun Huang ran into many servants on her way. She didn¡¯t recognize any of them. If she¡¯d lived here for more than a dozen years, should all of them feel likeplete strangers to her?


    Upbeat chatter came from the garden. The maid looked ahead and said, ¡°It¡¯s your sisters, mydy. Should we go greet them?¡±


    Jun Huang paused and nodded with a smile. ¡°Since they¡¯re my siblings, of course I should go have a chat with them. I can¡¯t ignore everyone I used to know, can I?¡±


    The maid smiled awkwardly. ¡°As you wish, mydy.¡±


    The girls didn¡¯t seem at all surprised when they saw Jun Huang. The mistress had notified them in advance.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t recovered yet, sister.¡± The youngest girl of the group went up to Jun Huang with an aloof but polite smile. ¡°Why are you outside?¡±


    Other people might not be able to spot the ws of her performance, but it was in Jun Huang¡¯s nature to read people. She didn¡¯t let it show that she¡¯d noticed anything and put on a faint smile. ¡°Staying in my room all day isn¡¯t going to help me get better. I might as welle out for a walk. I wonder what you¡¯re doing. Why did you never visit me?¡±


    Everyone smiled awkwardly in response. Two older girls approached Jun Huang. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, little sister. We wanted to visit you, but mother told us to let you rest.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Jun Huang raised an eyebrow and stared at the young women. Her expression was calm, but her inherent presence made them feel exposed.


    It was thanks to their years of practice in controlling their emotions as daughters of an important family that they were able to keep up the friendly facade. ¡°If not, we¡¯d have visited you already.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you.¡± Jun Huang chuckled, the steel in her eyes fading. She hummed and sat down on the unimed empress chair. ¡°I¡¯ll have a short rest here if you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Our teacher must have arrived, though. We¡¯re going to our ss. Have a good rest. We¡¯ll be on our way.¡± The oldest girl ordered the servants to replenish the hot tea and desserts before leading the group away.


    Jun Huang¡¯s smile dropped once they left. She stared at the koi fish in the pond in contemtion. The maid didn¡¯t know what she was thinking, but didn¡¯t dare say anything.


    Exhaustion set in. Jun Huangy down on the chair and closed her eyes. The maid sighed in relief and jogged away.


    When Jun Huang woke up, the sun had sunk under the horizon. The sky was dark. The garden looked colorless, deste. She rose to her feet and gazed into the distance.


    ¡°It¡¯s time for dinner, mydy,¡± the maid went up to her and said quietly. ¡°Your mother asked for you to join them.¡±


    Jun Huang looked at her. ¡°Where did you go?¡±


    The maid stilled for a split second, which Jun Huang took note of but didn¡¯t bring up. She yed with the teacup in her hand and said, ¡°I was going to ask you for fresh tea, but you weren¡¯t here. Something else required your attention?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the housekeeper asked for this servant. Apologies for failing to be here for you, mydy. I hope you¡¯ll forgive me.¡± The maid sighed in relief, her cheeks regaining their color. She helped Jun Huang up and followed her to the dining hall.


    Once Jun Huang was seated, her ¡°sisters¡± approached her and exchanged some smalltalk with her. The mistress ordered the servants to prepare some hot tea and personally handed a cup to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang nced at her and quietly epted the cup, taking a sip. ¡°I like the tea, mother. I¡¯m d you know my preferences.¡±


    The mistress beamed, oblivious to what Jun Huang was implying. ¡°Of course I do! Tea is one of the few things you actually prefer. All our finest tea is yours.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled without a word. The room was silent as the servants served the dishes. The mistress invited Jun Huang to sit next to her, asionally asking Jun Huang if there were things she particrly liked. Jun Huang didn¡¯t answer and instead stared at the mistress. The deference the mistress showed her was curious.


    Her train of thought was interrupted when the mistress put sometro into her bowl. Jun Huang jerked her head up. ¡°Don¡¯t you know I¡¯m allergic totro, mother?¡±

 Chapter 314 - Facade

    <h4>Chapter 314: Facade</h4>


    ¡°Oh, right, it¡¯s your sister who likestro,¡± the mistress quickly recovered and said with an embarrassed smile, but the surprise and panic shing through her eyes didn¡¯t escape Jun Huang¡¯s notice.


    As if to prove her im, the mistress put sometro into the te of the girl next to her. The girl pursed her lips. It was clear she didn¡¯t liketro, either, but after ncing at her mother, she took a deep breath and nodded with a stilted smile. ¡°That¡¯s right. I lovetro. Mother must have gotten us mixed up.¡±


    She ate thetro with a slight frown.


    Jun Huang watched them silently, her expression impassive, but in truth, she was a little hurt. She¡¯d thought these people were her family. However, there were too many signs for her to believe their lies.


    Her appetite lost, she put away her chopsticks and managed a smile. ¡°I¡¯m tired. Please excuse me.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± The woman rose to her feet and walked her out with the other girls. Jun Huang¡¯s chest tightened and she smiled ruefully. ¡°We¡¯re a family. You don¡¯t have to walk me out.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve forgotten to tell you,¡± the woman quickly came up with a lie. ¡°It¡¯s a little habit of ours.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and made her way to her residence with a few servants in tow. She dismissed them, iming to be tired, and spent some time contemting what she should do next. Then she opened the window and lit the signal re the man had given herst night.


    After about a quarter of an hour, Yin Yun showed up outside the building. His mastery of martial arts allowed him to make his way upstairs undetected and enter Jun Huang¡¯s room.


    Jun Huang considered him quietly. She knew she wasn¡¯t who everyone said she was, but she didn¡¯t entirely trust Yin Yun. Nheless, the man was her only source of information. If she brought the issue to the mistress, she wouldn¡¯t get an answer and may instead put herself in danger.


    Yin Yun patiently waited for Jun Huang to speak up, his presence quiet and steady, which eased Jun Huang¡¯s nerves. ¡°You called me princess. Will you tell me who I am?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re Jun Huang, the princess of Western Que. Our homnd has been destroyed by Eastern Wu. You have a great strategic mind and have been working to avenge our homnd. This subordinate and Prince Jun Hao were hiding in Eastern Wu, intending to provide you with inside help...¡±


    Yin Yun told Jun Huang everything. She stared at him owlishly, first shocked and in denial of the reality he¡¯d painted, but then seeing the truth in his words. She forced herself to calm down.


    ¡°Did you find Jun Hao?¡± She¡¯d decided to stay put at the moment. However, she was worried about her brother, despite not remembering anything about him.


    Yin Yun nodded. ¡°This subordinate suspects that the prince is being kept in the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor. However, the manor is too heavily-guarded, and there are ces I can¡¯t enter, which impeded my search.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She could tell Yin Yun was telling the truth. ¡°It¡¯s the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor. Of course it¡¯ll be more heavily-guarded than other ces. You should stay hidden. I¡¯ll try to gather some information.¡±


    Yin Yun rxed and vanished into the night. Jun Huang slumped over her divan. Just when she was about to fall asleep, her personal maid entered. She jerked up and stared at her.


    The maid interpreted Jun Huang¡¯s reaction as being startled. She ced a book on the table and exined, ¡°This is the book you told me to find for you, mydy. It was delivered earlier.¡±


    Jun Huang hid the alertness in her eyes and nodded.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay and have a chat with me?¡± she asked, beckoning the maid over.


    The maid couldn¡¯t possibly say no. She nodded and walked up to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang maintained a calm front to avoid alerting the maid, and the maid answered her questions seemingly without holding anything back. Their conversation was normal, if not pleasant. Jun Huang soon got the maid to talk about theyout of the manor. The maid didn¡¯t notice anything wrong.


    It turned out no one was allowed to get near the back of the manor. When asked, the maid only said it was the master¡¯s order. She didn¡¯t know why it was a forbidden area, and no one dared ask. She reminded Jun Huang to not get too curious. Jun Huang nodded with a smile.


    ¡°It¡¯ste,¡± the maid said, looking outside the window at the moon. ¡°You should rest, mydy.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled. ¡°Alright.¡±


    The maid helped Jun Huang settle on the bed and left the room, but not before reminding Jun Huang again to not go against the rules in the manor. Jun Huang humored her with a nod, but she¡¯d decided to go have a look with Yin Yun.


    Early the next morning, Jun Huang woke up to a woman sitting by her bed. She started and realized that it was the mistress. She frowned and asked, ¡°Why are you here this early in the morning, mother? Is something the matter?¡±


    The mistress shook her head and stroked Jun Huang¡¯s hair, her eyes tender. Jun Huang would have been moved if she knew nothing, but now she simply felt ufortable. She suppressed the feelings to maintain a civil facade.


    ¡°I hear that you¡¯ve been coughing at night,¡± whispered the mistress. ¡°You must be ill. I¡¯ve sent for a royal doctor. Let him check on youter.¡±


    Jun Huang paused. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide,¡± the mistress said earnestly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you let the doctor make sure you¡¯re alright? They aren¡¯t going to do you any harm, and it¡¯ll make me feel better.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and nodded. With a gentle expression, the mistress said she¡¯d like to do her hair since she had the time today. Jun Huang was reluctant, but obliged in the end.


    Sitting before the mirror feeling the mistress¡¯s gentle hands on her hair, Jun Huang sighed inwardly, her heart aching. It wouldn¡¯t be such a bad thing if this life had been real, but s, it wasn¡¯t. It was never meant to be.


    The mistress looked down at Jun Huang¡¯s beautiful face, her shoulders slumped. Pain shed through her eyes and quickly disappeared.


    The maid knocked on the door. ¡°The doctor is here, madam.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be out in a minute.¡± The mistress put a hairpin in Jun Huang¡¯s hair and gave her a onceover before nodding. The two of them made their way to the main hall.


    The doctor was over fifty. He bowed slightly to the mistress and nodded at Jun Huang. After exchanging a few words with them, he had a handkerchief put over Jun Huagn¡¯s wrist and took her pulse.


    The doctor bombarded her with a barrage of questions, which made Jun Huang dizzy. When she recovered, he¡¯d already left.


    She was going to leave as well, but the mistress said the servants were preparing her medicine and told her to take it before she went.


    For some reason, the thought of having medicine made her ufortable, but the constant scrutiny from the mistress prevented her from throwing it away. She had no choice but to finish the bowl of medicine with a grimace.


    The mistress assumed Jun Huang¡¯s reluctance came from a dislike of its taste. She offered, ¡°Good medicine is often bitter. It¡¯s necessary for your recovery. If you find it difficult to swallow, I¡¯ll have someone retrieve candied dates for you.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded, touched despite the circumstances. At the same time, however, she was even more wary. The mistress was shrewder than she anticipated. She bid her farewell and walked out of the building.


    The sun was nice outside. She came to a halt and turned to her maids. ¡°I¡¯d like to take a walk on my own. Prepare some desserts for me and leave them in the pavillion. I¡¯ll be there in a moment.¡±


    The maids exchanged a nce. They remembered their mistress telling them not to push Jun Huang too hard. They nodded and walked away.


    Jun Huang sighed in relief. She made sure no one was around before sneaking into the kitchen. It was empty since it was way past mealtime. She could smell the medicine. She found a pot and took off the lid. Inside was the residual of medicine she¡¯d just taken. She collected the residual with a handkerchief and left the kitchen like nothing had happened.


    After staying in the pavilion for a short while, she imed to be ill and returned to her room. She summoned Yin Yun and handed him the residual. ¡°Check what medicine this is.¡±


    Yin Yun left with a simple nod. Jun Huang sat on her bed in deep thought. She should find a way to recover her memory.


    Meanwhile, Nan Xun could barely contain his worry since he hadn¡¯t heard from Jun Huang at all. After some deliberation, he sent a message to the House of Heavenly Fiends, asking them to locate Jun Huang. They, however, told him that Jun Huang had gone missing.


    Regret overpowered even his panic. He stayed rooted to his seat, oblivious to Ji Bo¡¯s entrance.


    ¡°Is Your Highness still worried about Jun Huang?¡± Ji Bo asked carefully.


    Nan Xun nced at him and lowered his eyes without a word, a bitter smile tugging his lips. Ji Bo sighed and took a step forward. ¡°We can send someone to look for her. This isn¡¯t the time for you to get distracted. We don¡¯t want that affecting our war effort.¡±


    Nan Xun had been in a dark mood. Ji Bo¡¯s titudes didn¡¯t help. He responded in a sharp tone, ¡°The war may be the most important thing in your eyes, but for me, it¡¯s Jun Huang. Besides, I know more about what¡¯s happening on the battlefields now. I don¡¯t need you to do my job. Please go if you don¡¯t have anything important to say.¡±

 Chapter 315 - The Truth

    <h4>Chapter 315: The Truth</h4>


    Ji Bo nced at Nan Xun. He knew why Nan Xun was worried, so he didn¡¯t take his words personally. He walked away shaking his head.


    Seemingly provoked by Ji Bo¡¯s words, Nan Xun had be even more ferocious and unstoppable in the next few battles. He sent Eastern Wu fleeing like a man possessed.


    The Eastern Wu pce was silent. The officials didn¡¯t dare utter a word lest they anger the emperor. They exchanged nces without a word.


    ¡°Cats got your tongue?!¡± The emperor swept everything on the table off and red at the officials. ¡°What do I pay you for?! Northern Qi is right at our doorstep. Do you think they¡¯re going to stop without breaking into the imperial city?¡±


    ¡°This son believes it¡¯d be unwise to fight them headon,¡± the first prince said timidly. ¡°Northern Qi is powerful. If we insist on fighting them, we¡¯ll end up losing the entire Eastern Wu. We might as well seek a peaceful resolution. They may be willing to work with us. Then we¡¯ll get some time to recuperate and make aebackter.¡±


    His words did make sense, but he¡¯d been sweating profusely due to his nerves, which made him look pathetic.


    The emperor had been thinking about doing exactly that, but as an emperor he couldn¡¯t possibly make such a proposal. He was relieved that his first son had done it for him, but he didn¡¯t immediately respond and instead told everything to consider the idea.


    The courtiers weren¡¯t blind to the reality. It was shameful to submit to Northern Qi, but there was no ce for pride in survival. They had to first think about keeping Eastern Wu from being destroyed.


    The next day, they sent delegates to Northern Qi seeking peace.


    Nan Xun heard about the delegates and concluded that Eastern Wu didn¡¯t have the power to fight back anymore. He intended to keep advancing, but he couldn¡¯t just keep the delegates from entering their territory. Before they could reach Northern Qi¡¯s imperial city, though, Nan Xun sent a letter to Qi Yun.


    They both wanted to destroy Eastern Wu, but the Northern Qi officials believed peace was the better option and tried to pressure Qi Yun into summoning the army back. Qi Yun didn¡¯t want to oblige, but the courtiers were united in this decision. Qi Yun had no choice but to make the order, but he implied that generals enjoyed their autonomy at the border, urging Nan Xun to do what he wanted to do.


    Nan Xun got his message loud and clear and advanced until they reached the gate to the imperial city. Qi Yun would have wanted them to keep going. However, Jun Huang was somewhere in the imperial city. Nan Xun didn¡¯t want her to get hurt, so he stopped and had the troops pull back twenty miles, which allowed Eastern Wu some room to breathe. He sent a group to report back to the imperial court, while he disguised himself and snuck into the city.


    Yin Yun soon found out what the medicine was. He entered Jun Huang¡¯s room without getting detected and ced the residue on the table.


    ¡°Did you find anything?¡± Jun Huang asked with a grave expression.


    Yin Yun nodded. ¡°I sought out an old master and had him look at the medicine. It contains a hallucinogen, but all the other ingredients are good for the human body.¡±


    Yin Yun tried to make his words less blunt. It was admirable that Jun Huang was able to stay so calm even when being deceived by everyone around her.


    Jun Huang sighed in relief. She¡¯d thought the medicine was only meant to harm her, but that turned out not to be true. However, it could still cause her great trouble. She didn¡¯t show any reactions on the surface, but she¡¯d made a decision in her head.


    She opened the door to check outside. The maid was asleep and didn¡¯t seem likely to wake up anytime soon. She closed the door and got right down to business.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you about the back of the manor being suspicious,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°Have you found anything?¡±


    Yin Yun nodded. ¡°From the sheer number of guards stationed at the back, this subordinate believes that must be where the prince is kept. I didn¡¯t want to alert the guards, so I haven¡¯t made a move. From what I could tell, though, those guards aren¡¯t the regr types.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded in agreement. There must be something hidden in the back. Otherwise the heavy defense wouldn¡¯t be necessary. Even if it wasn¡¯t Jun Hao, it¡¯d be a secret worthy of their attention.


    She narrowed her eyes. ¡°If so, we¡¯ll check in a few days.¡±


    Yin Yun considered Jun Huang silently. Although her face was pale, her presence demanded respect. People like her shone too brightly to be overlooked. She hadn¡¯t lost the inherent air of nobility to her as the princess of Western Que, and she¡¯d be closer and closer to her former self the past couple days. People like her were bound for greatness. It was unfortunate she was born a woman in this time.


    Jun Huang sat down on the bed and started flipping through a book, as if forgetting about his existence. Yin Yun got her silent message. He opened the window and jumped outside.


    The maid knocked. Jun Huang took a deep breath and put down the book in her hand. She nced at the still open window and called out, ¡°Come in.¡±


    The maid entered the room. She was facing Jun Huang, but her eyes darted around looking for something before settling on Jun Huang¡¯s face, trying to spot any unusual signs. Jun Huang was unfazed by her attention. After a moment, Jun Huang smiled and asked, ¡°What are you looking for?¡±


    The maid averted her gaze and cleared her throat. ¡°I seem to have heard someone talking in the room, so I came to check. Have you noticed anything or anyone, mydy?¡±


    Jun Huang was amused by the maid¡¯s careful demeanor, but she wasn¡¯t going to let it show. She paused and asked with feign surprise, ¡°Who? What are you talking about?¡±


    The maid stared at Jun Huang, trying to discern if her words were true, but a young girl like her wouldn¡¯t be able to see through Jun Huang¡¯s calm mask. She wasn¡¯t entirely convinced, but she didn¡¯t want to risk making Jun Huang unhappy.


    ¡°Nothing. I thought you were looking for me, so I came. Since my presence isn¡¯t needed, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± She bowed to Jun Huang and left.


    Jun Huang¡¯s smile dropped once the maid was out of her view. She narrowed her eyes in contemtion and scoffed. Once her eyes started to get sore, she retired to her bed.


    The maid waited until themp in Jun Huang¡¯s room went out before walking around the building with a candle in her hand. She walked to the ce directly outside Jun Huang¡¯s window and checked the bushes. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. There were no footprints like she¡¯d expected.


    The matter was too important for her to ignore. After some deliberation, she put out the candle and made her way to the mistress¡¯s residence. She was going to tell the mistress everything she noticed today. Then she wouldn¡¯t be med should something happen in the future.


    Once he¡¯d entered the imperial city, Nan Xun followed his memory to the inn he¡¯d gone to with Jun Huangst time. It¡¯d been Yin Yun and Jun Hao¡¯s hiding spot. He suspected Jun Huang might have gone into hiding there.


    To his surprise, the inn had be a brothel. Women of various styles walked the premise. As the night fell, scions of important family came to have their fun. The air was buzzing with energy.


    Nan Xun stood at the door, only broken out of his trance when one of the women approached him.


    ¡°Is the gentleman looking for a good time?¡± She batted her eyshes at him, the smell of cosmetics too strong to be pleasant.


    Nan Xun took a step back. ¡°I remember there being an inn here thest time I visited. How did it get reced by a brothel?¡±


    The woman gave him an incredulous nce, but seeing how handsome he was, she replied, ¡°The brothel has been here for some time. I hear the inn went out of business, but the exact details of what has happened is beyond a woman like me. Don¡¯t you think so as well?¡± She swayed her hips as she got closer to Nan Xun, her gaze heated. She tried seducing him in every way short of throwing herself into his arms.


    ¡°My apologies, I have something important to do.¡± Nan Xun stopped her from getting close and turned to leave, ignoring her pitiful look. He made his way to the operation base he¡¯d lost contact with.


    It took some time for him to find it. It worried him how dark the whole ce looked. The operation base had been disguised as a tavern. This should be its peak hour. Why would it be so quiet?


    He quickened his pace but kept his guard up. The door was shut. He stopped himself before knocking on the door and instead went to the back. Without hesitation, he vaulted over the wall.


    Inside, it was even more eerily quiet. There was no human activity at all. He slowly made his way to the back, exercising the greatest caution.


    Something was very wrong. There was no one inside, leaving only codes he used tomunicate with his men etched into the walls. Every sign pointed to the base being attacked and raided, but there wasn¡¯t anything telling him who the attackers were.


    He stumbled upon something as he walked. With the moon as his light source, he located the item and picked it up. His pupils contracted when he got a good look.

 Chapter 316 - Unexpected Meeting

    <h4>Chapter 316: Unexpected Meeting</h4>


    It was a palm-sized token Nan Xun couldn¡¯t be more familiar with ¨C he had one very simr to it. He¡¯dmented on how unique the tokens of House of Heavenly Fiends were ¨C like a patch of delicately crafted cloud. From the dirt umted over the token, it was clear it¡¯d been here for a while. He trembled and sweat in debilitating dread, copsing to the stone stairs like all strength had drained out of his body.


    He debated over if he should give the token another look. Maybe he¡¯d misjudged. Maybe it wasn¡¯t Jun Huang¡¯s.


    The mistress hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet when the maid arrived at her residence. Normally, she wasn¡¯t allowed to visit her master sote at night, but her nervous expression gave the caretaker pause. The caretaker told the maid to wait outside and entered to notify the mistress.


    The mistress put down a Buddhist prayer beads bracelet when the caretaker entered. The beads were polished from years of handling and shone prettily under the candlelight.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± the mistress asked with a nce at the old caretaker and took a sip of tea.


    ¡°It¡¯s the maid serving our esteemed guest, madam. She said she had something important to tell you. She seems genuine, so I came to notify you immediately. If the mistress doesn¡¯t want to see her, I¡¯ll dismiss her.¡±


    The mistress paused and decided to hear the maid out. ¡°Tell her toe in.¡±


    The old caretaker nodded and walked away. Soon, the maid entered the room. She looked nervous as she knelt and bowed to the mistress. ¡°Madam, I heard someone talking in her room tonight.¡±


    She told the mistress everything. The mistress¡¯s face clouded. The maid got more and more nervous as she spoke, worried that the mistress would punish her.


    The mistress wasn¡¯t an unreasonable person. She nodded and said, ¡°Good. You did the right thing by telling me. Go back and keep a close eye on her. If you hear anything else, don¡¯t let her notice. Just tell me about it.¡±


    The maid nodded and left. The mistress thought back to how Jun Huang had acted these days. She hadn¡¯t realized it before, but once she put some thought to it, she started to see the warning signs.


    She finished her cup of tea and put on a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. She had to keep a closer eye on Jun Huang.


    She assigned more people to Jun Huang under the guise of keeping her safe, but Jun Huang wasn¡¯t fooled. The mistress must have noticed her wariness. The added guards were to keep her under control.


    She huffed. The mistress was more cautious than she¡¯d expected. The webs of maniption around her were starting to manifest, but she couldn¡¯t yet get the big picture. Unfortunately, the best she could do was to wait for an opening.


    Days passed without Jun Huang seeing Yin Yun. They exchanged messages every day. Finally, the opportunity presented itself.


    Without hesitation, Jun Huang jumped out of the window. She had thought she¡¯d get hurt, but shended on her two feet easily. Before she had the time to question that, Yin Yun hade and threw her a look. The two disappeared into the bushes.


    There was a path hidden in the overgrowth. Jun Huang crouched down and followed Yin Yun to the back of the Grand Chancellor manor. He stopped her from advancing when they reached their destination.


    Yin Yun pointed at the approaching guard and sighed in relief. He snuck past the guard and made sure no one else was around before beckoning Jun Huang over.


    They carefully made their way to the entrance of the back building. The door was shut with six guards stationed in the area. They had their arms crossed and were clearly well trained. Jun Huang and Yin Yun had to act smartly.


    ¡°There are too many of them,¡± Jun Huang said calmly with her back to the wall. ¡°If we just barge in, many will be alerted to our presence. Then we won¡¯t be able to get Jun Hao out even if we find him, and we¡¯ll be in great danger. We should first find out if there are more guards in the building.¡±


    Yin Yun nodded in agreement. ¡°But the guards are a problem. They¡¯re split into pairs and covered the entire area. We don¡¯t have a chance to get inside.¡±


    ¡°We have to figure out something.¡± Jun Huang forced herself to calm down, but no solution came to her. Her forehead creased in contemtion.


    ¡°Ah, I remember seeing another entrance leading into the building,¡± Yin Yun said suddenly, pping his forehead. ¡°It¡¯s big enough to fit a person, and there¡¯s only one guard there. We can easily take him down.¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head with a grave expression. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem right. If you saw only one man standing guard, there must be many more inside. It¡¯s a trap to lure people in.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, princess?¡± Yin Yun asked.


    Jun Huang huffed. ¡°No such design w should be seen in the Grand Chancellor manor. Why would they expose their vulnerability like that? If we can spot it, they must have known already as well. It has to be a deliberate design.¡±


    Yin Yun nodded in realization. That took them back to ground zero.


    Suddenly, there were footsteps approaching. They whirled around, alerted. A man was rushing toward them.


    Nan Xun hurriedly pulled Jun Huang into his arms, his heart pounding almost painfully. All the hard work he put into locating her was worth it at this moment.


    Jun Huang widened her eyes when she was wrapped in the man¡¯s arms. She struggled to push him away once she recovered from the shock.


    Yin Yun thought they had been spotted by the guards. Eager to protect his master, he sped his hand on Nan Xun¡¯s shoulder, forcing him to let go of Jun Huang.


    Before Nan Xun could react, Yin Yun threw a punch at him. Nan Xun dodged it by a hair and, before Yin Yun could throw another punch, retaliated in kind.


    Yin Yun wasn¡¯t as fast as Nan Xun was, and the punchnded. Jun Huang hurriedly ran up to Nan Xun, intending to fight him off, but Nan Xun quickly stopped his attack when he saw her.


    Jun Huang looked at him questioningly. Yin Yun quickly stepped between them. Thinking that Yin Yun was going to hurt Jun Huang, Nan Xun drew his sword, and Yin Yun followed suit.


    Their des shed, the sound sharp and grating. Jun Huang struggled to find an opening to do something, anything.


    Footsteps came. Jun Huang narrowed her eyes. They must belong to the guards in the manor. She took a deep breath and throw herself between the two men.


    They both halted their swords in panic. Nan Xun grabbed her shoulders, his eyes red. ¡°What are you thinking? Do you know how dangerous that is? You¡¯d have died if I hadn¡¯t pulled back in time!¡±


    Jun Huang considered him and managed a smile. ¡°Are you on our side?¡±


    Nan Xun frowned without a word. Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to wait for his response. The footsteps were quickly getting close. They had to get out of here. She took a deep breath and grabbed Nan Xun and Yin Yun with each hand, leading them through the hidden path to her residence.


    For some reason, the two men remained antagonistic to each other. Jun Huang was puzzled, but it wasn¡¯t of any importance to her at the moment.


    ¡°We need to get inside,¡± Jun Huang said calmly, pointing at the window on the second floor. ¡°The rest can wait.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and picked her up. With a push of his foot, he flew in through the second floor window. Yin Yun was right after them. Jun Huang didn¡¯t have time to think about why Nan Xun¡¯s embrace felt so familiar to her. She pulled away from him and shut the window.


    Guards wereing. She calmed herself and ignored the tension between the two men. She looked around her room and led them behind the screen. She frowned, agonizing how she should hide them..


    Perhaps the mistress had foreseen something like this happening. That was why there wasn¡¯t anything the two men could hide in. They had to go somewhere else. She wouldn¡¯t be able to exin their presence otherwise.


    Nan Xun chuckled and, without another word, jumped onto the roof, keeping himself out of sight. Yin Yun followed his lead and hid on the other side of the roof.


    Jun Huang sighed in relief. There were peopleing up the stairs. She quickly jumped onto her bed and pretended to be sound asleep.

 Chapter 317 - Willful Promise

    <h4> Chapter 317: Willful Promise</h4>


    ¡°Have you heard anything suspicious?¡± a man asked from outside the door. ¡°Has thedy left the room?¡±


    ¡°She hasn¡¯t,¡± answered the maid, befuddled. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did something happen?¡±


    The man briefly described the situation and brought a group of men to the door, seemingly intending to enter and search around.


    Jun Huang felt a headache brewing. She knew Nan Xun and Qi Yun had hidden themselves well, but she didn¡¯t dare to rx her guard. She took a deep breath and rose to her feet, calling out through the door, ¡°What¡¯s themotion about? Is something the matter?¡±


    She could see the silhouette of the men outside. Her icy gaze fixed on them and her tone turned steely. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you notify me before barging in?¡±


    The men were surprised. They knew there was a young mistress living in this building, but they hadn¡¯t been allowed near the area as mere guards. They heard she was beautiful and polite. Her assertive side was unexpected.


    ¡°They¡¯re just guards, mydy. They rushed in to eliminate the threat before it could scare you.¡± The maid had been with Jun Huang for a few days. She knew Jun Huang¡¯s true nature. She didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to take her anger out on her.


    Jun Huang knew the mistress must have told them to check her ce first should anything happen, but she wasn¡¯t going to let them get what they wanted. She scoffed. ¡°No one¡¯s here. Are you not going to believe my words?¡±


    ¡°Of course we believe you, mydy,¡± a servant quickly said, worried that Jun Huang would make a scene. ¡°I¡¯m sure no one would havee close to your room. We¡¯ll take our leave.¡±


    The maid nodded and led the guards away. At the door, she shook her head and added, ¡°The intruders are unlikely to be here. We¡¯ve been keeping watch outside her room. No one has entered, and she hasn¡¯t left even once. Perhaps the intruders have fled.¡±


    The leading guard nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead. ¡°You¡¯re right. However, the mistress has ordered us to keep her safe. That¡¯s the only reason why we¡¯vee. It may be unwise for us to leave now.¡±


    ¡°Still, you don¡¯t know her temper. She¡¯s not as meek as we thought she was. Although she hasn¡¯t fully recovered, she¡¯s clever. It¡¯s better we avoid offending her. Maybe one day that¡¯ll end up benefiting us. Offending her may get us killed.¡±


    The maid¡¯s expression was grave. The guard knew the risks involved as well. He nodded and led his people away.


    The maid was still a little concerned. Jun Huang¡¯s ce in the manor was unclear, but she knew nothing should happen to her. Otherwise, the maid¡¯s head would roll.


    After some deliberation, she decided to check on Jun Huang.


    She knocked. Jun Huang got the door with expression so steely it intimidated the maid. The maid looked around and found nothing out of the ordinary. She smiled awkwardly before backing away.


    Jun Huang could tell what the maid was thinking. She narrowed her eyes at the door for a long time. When she turned back, Nan Xun and Yin Yun had silently re-entered her room.


    Without sparing even a nce at Yin Yun, Nan Xun walked up to Jun Huang. She knew she should put some distance between them, but her instinct told her otherwise. Staying close to the man seemed like an ingrained habit.


    She looked at Nan Xun calmly. Nan Xun felt as if he was stabbed in the heart. She¡¯d never looked at him so coldly ever since they confessed their feelings for each other.


    She looked at him like he was a stranger. It worried and pained him.


    ¡°You... are you alright?¡± he finally managed to say.


    Jun Huang frowned. What did he mean by that? She nodded and answered in a polite but aloof tone, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you for your concern. May I ask who you are?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s pupils contracted. He took a step forward and stared at Jun Huang. ¡°You don¡¯t know who I am?!¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t answer. She had a feeling she was close to the man, but she didn¡¯t know how close. She was treading on thin ice. She must watch everything she said now.


    She smiled slightly at Nan Xun and said nonchntly, ¡°I was sick and lost my memory. I hope you¡¯ll forgive me for that.¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you who I am, Jun Huang,¡± Nan Xun said with great conviction, his eyes zing. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you¡¯ve forgotten about our past, but remember this: I¡¯m your husband, and you¡¯re my wife. Although I didn¡¯t get to hold a grand ceremony for you, we did get married with many as witnesses. You can¡¯t just cut me off because you don¡¯t remember me.¡±


    Jun Huang looked at him, trying to discern if he was telling the truth. The pain and love in his eyes made her heart skip.


    She was surprised by his statement, but staying in his proximity seemed like the most natural thing in the world. In fact, she trusted him. She trusted that he would never hurt her, but she didn¡¯t know why.


    ¡°I¡¯m Nan Xun from Northern Qi. I¡¯m the man you¡¯re going to spend your life with. Don¡¯t forget that again.¡± Nan Xun stared at Jun Huang with his brows closely knitted, unwilling to miss any changes in her expression.


    Jun Huang met his eyes squarely. Nan Xun¡¯s willful remark made her want tough, and she did. She considered him for some time before nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±


    ¡°Princess, we don¡¯t know if he¡¯s telling the truth,¡± said Yin Yun. ¡°How can you trust him so easily? What if he has malintent...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my line,¡± Nan Xun said with steel and hidden killing intent in his voice, his gaze hardening as it settled on Yin Yun. ¡°Who are you? Why are you here? What are you trying to do?¡±


    Jun Huang sighed inwardly when the two men got at it again. She pulled at Nan Xun¡¯s sleeve and stepped between them. ¡°He¡¯s Yin Yun from Western Que. He¡¯s been guarding my brother.¡±


    Nan Xun had heard of him. Thest time he saw the man, it was a fleeting nce, and Yin Yun was in disguise. That was why he hadn¡¯t recognized the guard. He finally pushed aside his biases and hostility for Yin Yun after Jun Huang¡¯s introduction.


    ¡°It¡¯s inappropriate for a guard to share a room with your master. You know my rtionship with your princess now. You aren¡¯t needed here. An added person will only make us a bigger target. You should leave. I¡¯ll keep her safe.¡± Nan Xun made the order like he was the master here. Jun Huang widened her eyes slightly in surprise.


    Yin Yun nced at her, taking her silence as an agreement. After their brief exchange of blows, he knew Nan Xun was telling the truth when he said he could protect Jun Huang. Moreover, the graceful man didn¡¯t seem like someone who would tell a lie like that.


    Yin Yun left without a word.


    With another person as buffer, Jun Huang could still maintain herposure. Now that she was alone in the room with Nan Xun, she started to get nervous. She couldn¡¯t stay calm when Nan Xun looked at her with such adoration in his eyes...


    She struggled toe up with something to do. She sighed and sat on the divan, picking up a book to read and forcing herself to ignore Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun had been keeping an eye on her. He knew her enough to understand every little gesture of hers. Her unease was telling.


    He walked up to her. Jun Huang looked up at him and tried to stay calm, but her heart pounded violently when he knelt down before her.


    ¡°Tell me what happened, Jun Huang. Are you telling the truth? You¡¯ve forgotten me? Or are you distancing yourself from me for reasons out of your control?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t notice how unsteady his voice was. His throat felt tight as he held onto Jun Huang¡¯s cool hands. He worried that she¡¯d vanish the moment he let go.


    Jun Huang frowned. She¡¯d dropped the book when Nan Xun took her hands, but she didn¡¯t care how it¡¯d be dirtied when she saw his red eyes. It made her heart ache.


    Without thinking, she reached out to touch his eyelids, her cool fingers gentle. Nan Xun stared at her without looking away even once.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you,¡± Jun Huang said slowly and calmly, but something about her tone broke his heart. ¡°I don¡¯t remember my past, and, ¨C it may be hard to believe ¨C I don¡¯t remember you.¡±


    ¡°I woke up in this room. Everyone told me I was the Grand Chancellor¡¯s daughter. I believed them at first. They said my memory loss is due to the ident where I fell into the pond. If Yin Yun hadn¡¯t showed up, I may still be under the spell of the mistress¡¯s caring words.¡±


    ¡°He told me about myself. I started getting suspicious. There are too many signs... Theyter put hallucinogen in medicine for me to take. That¡¯s telling enough. Unfortunately, I¡¯m trapped in this manor. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on outside. I don¡¯t remember who I am. There¡¯s so little I can do...¡±


    Jun Huang exined what had happened calmly, her lips curved into a faint smile, but it made Nan Xun¡¯s heart ache even more. He couldn¡¯t help but pull her into his arms.

 Chapter 318 - Clues

    <h4>Chapter 318: Clues</h4>


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s going to be alright,¡± Nan Xun said gently, his heart aching for Jun Huang. ¡°The truth will be out one day. I¡¯ll stay with you and keep you safe.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled into his chest. She¡¯d been on constant alert these days. She forgot she was just a regr woman who shouldn¡¯t be subjected to such pressure but had the weight forced on her. She was tired, but there hadn¡¯t been a ce for her to rest.


    Then, Nan Xun showed up.


    She had doubted if she truly knew Yin Yun, and even now she would think carefully before telling Yin Yun anything. Nan Xun, however, had her unconditional trust as soon as she saw him. A voice in her head told her that it was in her nature to trust him.


    Nan Xun was warmed by the fact that Jun Huang trusted him even when she had lost her memory. That was the basis of their rtionship. It was a bond that was uniquely theirs.


    Jun Huang closed her eyes,ying in Nan Xun¡¯s arms and breathing in the familiar andforting smell. She wasn¡¯t exactly tired, but she couldn¡¯t pull away from the warmth of his embrace.


    ¡°The night is still young,¡± she said. ¡°Tell me about us. Maybe then I¡¯ll remember.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded in agreement, but he didn¡¯t want to burden her further. Thus he told her about their more lighthearted adventures, the fun stories. The heavy memories, he kept to himself.


    However, Jun Huang was too observant to be fooled. She could tell he was holding back.


    She lowered her eyes and cut him off with a sigh. ¡°If you¡¯re my husband, there shouldn¡¯t be any lies between us.¡±


    Nan Xun met her serious gaze, his heart pounding. He¡¯d forgotten how observant she was. Perhaps she could answer the questions he had no answer to.


    ¡°I went to the operation base when I first came to Eastern Wu,¡± he started.


    Jun Huang had been told why she was here. She nodded in response. Nan Xun took out a token, which put a frown on Jun Huang¡¯s face.


    It looked familiar, but she didn¡¯t know why due to her memory loss. She waited for Nan Xun to exin.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been focusing on the Grand Chancellor manor. We don¡¯t know why they gave you the new identity and who the mastermind is. We also don¡¯t know what they¡¯ve been doing. However, I realize that the House of Heavenly Fiends is also nning something. We can¡¯t trust anyone. The only thing we can do is to stay away from the chaos.¡± Nan Xun frowned. He didn¡¯t like what he was proposing.


    Jun Huang listened intently and quickly sorted through her thoughts. She knew what Nan Xun was thinking.


    She chuckled and sighed, ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to get me involved, but I am in it already. We don¡¯t know what they¡¯re nning. To find out the truth, we have to take a risk. Since we can¡¯t run away from the storm, why don¡¯t we face it head-on?¡±


    Nan Xun smiled wryly, caressing her silky hair. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have to shoulder the responsibility. The world is falling into chaos. There¡¯s nothing people want more than to abandon their duty and run away. Why must you go where the trouble is? Why don¡¯t you let others take on the task? That¡¯ll be so much easier for you.¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to avoid dangers, but I can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Jun Hao is missing,¡± she admitted. She didn¡¯t intend to hide anything from him. ¡°Yin Yun ran into me in his search for my brother. We¡¯ve been trying to locate him since then. Our theory is that he¡¯s being kept at the back of the manor. We were going to scout the area when you showed up.¡±


    Nan Xun pondered on the thread connecting the previous incidents. The clues pointed him to the House of Heavenly Fiends. Once he put the organization as his prime suspect, things became clearer. They¡¯d been covering up truth and making moves in secret.


    It defied logic that such a powerful organization wouldn¡¯t be able to find Jun Huang when Yin Yun could. It got him thinking.


    What role did the organization y? What was their n?


    Nan Xun frowned. He had identified the questions, but he didn¡¯t know what the answers were.


    Jun Huang pulled away from his arms. She was getting tired, so she opened her mouth to ask Nan Xun to leave.


    As if reading her mind, Nan Xun cut in, ¡°It¡¯ste, and I have nowhere to go. You don¡¯t want me to sleep on the street, do you? Would you mind taking me in for the night? I won¡¯t do anything untowards.¡±


    His serious promise made Jun Huang blush. She cleared her throat andy down on her bed, deliberately ignoring him.


    Nan Xun chuckled. He loved seeing her bashful reaction. It took him back to the day they got married. His mouth went dry. Heughed silently and climbed onto the bed. Jun Huang had taken the side to the wall, leaving half of the bed unupied.


    Nan Xun looked at her softly. Taking off his outer robe and shoes, hey down next to her. He could smell a faint fragrance from her. He turned to her and smiled.


    He reached under the nket and took her hand. She tensed and shot him a nce. Seeing his bright smile, she frowned but didn¡¯t break out of his grip, silently allowing him the intimacy.


    Nan Xun inched closer and pulled her into his arms. He was aroused by the warm and soft body against him, but he didn¡¯t want to hurt her. He thus didn¡¯t go any further.


    Jun Huangy still in his embrace, but rxed once she realized he didn¡¯t n to do anything. She fell into a deep slumber.


    Nan Xun shook his head with a smile, listening to her quiet breathing. ¡°I¡¯d be mad if you could fall asleep so easily next to someone else, but it¡¯s me who¡¯s sharing your bed now. You¡¯re safe. Sleep tight.¡± He dropped a light kiss on her hair and closed his eyes.


    He woke up before the sun rose. Everything was still dark and fuzzy outside. Jun Huang was a solid weight in his arms, He snuck away to get on with his day, as quietly as he¡¯d been when he entered the room.


    Jun Huang woke up in the morning. She could hear birds chirping in the distance. She opened her eyes and stared at the silk canopy, then at the empty side of the bed.


    She put her hand over where Nan Xun had been. There was no warmth left, as ifst night had been a fever dream.


    She felt a pang of loss andy there for a long while before sitting up. The jade amulet on the pillow next to hers caught her eyes. Its color was pure, its quality fine. It must have been left by Nan Xun. She chuckled, her heart fluttering.


    The maid¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts. She frowned but quickly pushed away her annoyance. She got changed and hid the jade amulet inside her dress.


    ¡°Are you awake, mydy?¡± asked the maid again.


    Jun Huang opened the door with an impassive expression. The maid was relieved to see that Jun Huang wasn¡¯t angry. Shebed her hair and put on makeup for her before saying, ¡°The mistress has sent a message saying that a friend gave her some desserts, which made her think of you. She asked you to visit her after waking up. Breakfast is ready as well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. I should spend some time with mother.¡± Jun Huang seemed agreeable. The maid couldn¡¯t tell if that was a pretense and what Jun Huang was thinking. However, she was a mere servant. She wasn¡¯t in any ce to ask questions, so she kept quiet.


    Once she was ready, Jun Huang made her way to the mistress¡¯s residence. The older woman was sitting at a stone table in the garden. Jun Huang quickened her pace and greeted the mistress with a smile.


    ¡°Mother looks good today,¡± she said after taking a seat. ¡°Has something good happened?¡±


    The mistress touched her face reflexively and only realized Jun Huang was teasing her when the girl and the servants muffled theirughs. She scolded them with feigned anger and told Jun Huang to try the desserts.


    There was an inherent grace to the way Jun Huang moved even when she was eating. It was pleasant and rxing to just watch her. The mistress looked at her,menting what it could¡¯ve been if Jun Huang had been her real daughter.


    Jun Huang noticed the mistress staring at her when she looked up. She blinked and smiled warmly. ¡°What are you thinking, mother?¡±


    The mistress gave her an awkward smile and said with fake nonchnce, ¡°I hear an assassin has broken into the manor yesterday. Are you alright? You haven¡¯t run into anyone strange, have you?¡±


    ¡°Assassin? Really?¡± Jun Huang widened her eyes and yed ignorant. Then she pretended toe to a realization. ¡°I heard noises from outside my room after I went to bed yesterday, but the voice was intelligible. I didn¡¯t understand what was going on. So that¡¯s what it was. However, there are many servants and guards in the manor. How can any assassins break in? What if something bad happens?¡±

 Chapter 319 - Medical Treatment

    <h4>Chapter 319: Medical Treatment</h4>


    The mistress stared at Jun Huang, trying to discern the truth to her words. Her tone was earnest, though, and her expression genuine..


    No one her age would be shrewd enough to lie so convincingly, the mistress thought. Besides, the maid had said Jun Huang hadn¡¯t left her room. It was only natural she¡¯d be in the dark about the intruder.


    She rxed and shared the desserts with Jun Huang. When her youngest daughter came up to them, she patted Jun Huang on the back of her hand. ¡°You must be bored being stuck in the manor. Why don¡¯t you go out with your sisters today and have some fun?¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and nodded. ¡°Mother is right. I¡¯ll go find themter.¡±


    ¡°Remember to take your maid with you.¡±!


    Jun Huang nodded. She knew the mistress was testing her. Since she was getting sick of the interior of her room, it wouldn¡¯t hurt for her to go outside.


    When she reached the lotus pond not far from the manor with her maid, the girls wereughing and having fun, abandoning their usualposure and paying no attention to their dirtied dresses and discolored shoes.


    ¡°Older sister is here!¡± the youngest mistress of the Grand Chancellor said, giving the other girls around her a pointed look. They stopped what they were doing and gave Jun Huang an awkward smile, but didn¡¯t take even a step toward her.


    Jun Huang took in their reaction but kept her thoughts to herself. She approached them and greeted everyone. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    One of the girls smiled stiltedly. ¡°We¡¯re flying kites, but I hear you¡¯ve just recovered and wouldn¡¯t be suited for such activities. That¡¯s why...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I¡¯m just bored. Don¡¯t mind me. I¡¯ll take a stroll myself.¡±


    She turned to look at the wilted lotuses, her gentle smile dropping when no one was looking and her eyes turning frosty.


    The maid approached her. ¡°Mydy, have a seat if you¡¯re tired. I hear your little sister brought some desserts and a book. You can have a look. We don¡¯t want anything to happen to you when you stand here on your own.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded agreeably and sat down in the pavilion. She flipped through the book casually and had some sweets. It was just a folktale. Nothing valuable to be gained. She put it down.


    She yawned. Her head was throbbing with pain.


    After some time, she fell asleep lying on the table. Drifting in and out of consciousness, she heard the girls talking about her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it. She isn¡¯t rted to the Grand Chancellor. Why is she living in the manor?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I hear the mistress treats her with more care than she does with you, her youngest daughter. I wonder why that is.¡±


    ¡°Ha, she¡¯s nobody. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s so great about her other than her pretty face. She doesn¡¯t deserve the mistress¡¯s favor.¡±


    Jun Huang opened her eyes, her gaze frigid. The women¡¯s words were mocking and harsh, but she only found themughable. They didn¡¯t dare question her in person, so instead, they talked behind her back.


    ¡°Stop it,¡± the young mistress rushed out when her friends got carried away. ¡°If she hears you and tells mother, I¡¯ll be in trouble.¡±


    She nced at Jun Huang and sighed in relief when she saw that Jun Huang was still asleep.


    ¡°Why should the beloved daughter of the Grand Chancellor be afraid of her? Who is she to unt favors she doesn¡¯t deserve?¡±


    The girls who were close to the young mistress were displeased. They didn¡¯t like Jun Huang.


    The young mistress wasn¡¯t a fan of Jun Huang, either, but she didn¡¯t dare say anything. She pulled her friends to the side and shook her head at them. ¡°I don¡¯t know who she is, and my parents never say anything. However, I know she¡¯s not someone we can offend. If I make her unhappy, I¡¯ll be punished.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t care about the rest of their conversation. Her head was splitting and her face was pale. She rubbed at her temples. She was just as confused about her identity.


    The conversation died down. Then the maid approached her and patted her shoulder. Jun Huang pretended to just wake up and ask quietly, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s getting dark, mydy, and it may rainter,¡± said the maid. ¡°The young mistress and the others have left already. We should go as well.¡±


    Jun Huang looked around and huffed inwardly. There was indeed no one else around. She nodded and followed the maid to the coach awaiting them.


    She shut herself in her room as soon as she returned to the manor. The maid assumed that she was tired, so she didn¡¯t bother her. She reminded the other servants to be quiet as well.


    In reality, Jun Huang was deep in thought sitting on the bed, supporting her chin. Her gait waszy, but not tired.


    She had a few bites for dinner and excused herself iming to be feeling ill. Upon returning to her bedroom, she opened the window. The harsh cold wind prompted her to put on another robe. Then she curled into herself on her bed like she had in the morning, waiting for the man to arrive.


    As she expected, Nan Xun came near midnight. He stepped on the cold wall and easily scaled to the second floor. He was first worried about the open window, but then he chuckled at his realization.


    He walked to Jun Huang bed. She had been dozing off. The familiar smell in the air woke her up. She jerked awake, meeting Nan Xun¡¯s crinkling eyes. She was momentarily lost before she cleared her throat and put some distance between them.


    ¡°It¡¯ste. Why didn¡¯t you close the window? And you should be sleeping.¡± Nan Xun teasingly said, ¡°Or perhaps you¡¯re waiting for me?¡±


    He expected the easily embarrassed Jun Huang to blush, but instead, all emotions drained from her face, and she gave him a solemn nod.


    ¡°I am waiting for you. I can¡¯t stand not having any answers. It¡¯s torturous to be in the dark. So I¡¯d like to ask if you have any idea how I can regain my memory.¡± Jun Huang looked him straight in the eyes, her gaze serious and intent. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t possibly say no to her, and the thought never once crossed his mind.


    He nodded. ¡°We don¡¯t know what went wrong. The most important thing now is to understand what¡¯s been done to you and how you¡¯ve been recovering. The rest we¡¯ll discusster.¡±


    ¡°So what¡¯s next?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun lowered his eyes in contemtion. He¡¯d heard of a widely-respected doctor when he was in the imperial city. Many had sought him out for help. His clinic might be worth a try.


    He told her what he thought. She was hesitant. She looked outside the window. The manor was filled with patrolling guards. Their number had grown substantially ever since what happened yesterday.


    Nan Xun knew what she was worried about. ¡°I don¡¯t have any troubles dealing with them. I can easily take you away if I want. The only reason I haven¡¯t is the situation we¡¯re in. It¡¯s safer for you to stay than to leave with me. No one in this manor intends to hurt you, at least for now. Outside the walls, things are unpredictable. I don¡¯t want to risk your safety.¡±


    Jun Huang was touched. Perhaps he was the only person who still put her safety first.


    ¡°Anything else?¡± Nan Xun asked with a slight frown.


    Jun Huang broke out of her trance and nodded. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen next after we leave? We can¡¯t get out of the manor during daytime, but at night, no clinics will be open. All your hard work will be for nothing.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not something you should worry about. I¡¯ve made the necessary arrangements. Even if you hadn¡¯t asked me for help, I¡¯d break you out.¡± Without giving her a chance to argue, Nan Xun added, ¡°We can go tonight. I¡¯ll get you out of here.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Jun Huang pushed aside all her reservation. She got prepared and followed Nan Xun to the window. He surveyed the area carefully, getting a good grasp on the patrolling patterns. Now was the best time for them to leave.


    Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang and was met with her unwavering gaze. Perhaps not even she realized how soft her eyes were. He quirked his lips into a secret smile. He wasn¡¯t going to break the moment by mentioning it.


    He gathered her into his arms. She nced at him and quickly lowered her eyes. Nan Xun leaned into her and whispered, ¡°Hold on tight. We¡¯re sneaking out as soon as wend. We¡¯ll be fine after evading the guards and leaving the manor.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded, holding onto Nan Xun¡¯s shirt. His expression turned serious as his sharp eyes took in the environment. He jumped with Jun Huang in his arms and broke his fall with a push of his feet,nding without making the slightest noise. He took Jun Huang¡¯s hand and led her to hide behind a wall.


    Jun Huang was shocked by his fluid movement. Before she could say anything, Nan Xun covered her mouth. She stared at his face in the dark, her eyes wide.

 Chapter 320 - Asking for Help

    <h4>Chapter 320: Asking for Help</h4>


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t notice Jun Huang¡¯s reaction. He stared intently at the guards passing through and only rxed after they were out of their view. He softened when he noticed the nervousness in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Scared?¡± he croaked. Jun Huang shook her head awkwardly and pulled away from his hand.


    Nan Xun pursed his lips, realizing how inappropriate his action had been. Jun Huang had lost her memory. She remembered nothing about their rtionship. It only made sense for her to be caught off guard by what he did.


    He helped her up and whispered, ¡°Follow me closely. We must leave before the next group of patrolse.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and followed him to the wall. Nan Xun helped her to the other side before vaulting over himself. They rxed after they¡¯d gotten away from the manor. Nan Xun didn¡¯t realize that he was sweating. Jun Huang took note of it and reached for her handkerchief, but thought better of it, worried that Nan Xun would find that inappropriate.


    They soon reached a clinic near the city gate. Being so close to the gate, both Jun Huang and Nan Xun were worried about alerting the guards standing watch. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t supposed to be here, and Jun Huang was now ying the role of the Grand Chancellor¡¯s daughter, which meant she shouldn¡¯t be running around in public.


    Nan Xun told her to wait for him in the alleyway. He smoothed out his stealth clothes and walked up to the door to the clinic, tapping out a series of code. Soon, footsteps could be heard approaching. The door opened, revealing a grey-haired old man with a robe around his shoulders. He looked at Nan Xun with a smile.


    ¡°Come in,¡± said the old man, his voice matching his age, and the years leaving deep wrinkles on his face. There was something creepy about the way he looked at night, but Nan Xun didn¡¯t notice anything wrong. He nodded and beckoned Jun Huang over.


    She took a deep breath and entered the room. The old man shut the door behind them and invited Jun Huang to take a seat. He sat down across from her, reaching out to take her pulse.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her, doctor?¡± Nan Xun asked nervously at the old man¡¯s hesitant expression.


    The old man sighed. ¡°To be honest with you, I didn¡¯t find anything wrong with her. I can tell she¡¯s recovered from a serious ailment.¡±


    Nan Xun paused, feeling both relieved and worried. He didn¡¯t know if that counted as good news or bad news. The trip had been all for nothing, and they were back at square one in terms of figuring out what the Grand Chancellor¡¯s family was trying to do.


    After bidding the old man farewell, Nan Xun led Jun Huang back to the manor. It waste, but the street wasn¡¯tpletely empty. Drunken scions could be seen wobbling towards their homes with the help of their friends.


    Jun Huang¡¯s hair flew and tangled in the air, swept up by the wind. She maintained a steady pace, unfazed by what had happened. Nan Xun stayed shoulder to shoulder with her, walking at the same pace as her. She cast her eyes downward at the road. Her dress moved as she walked.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t stand the silence anymore. When no one was around, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you back to the manor. You¡¯re still easily exhausted. It won¡¯t do you any good to run around with me. It¡¯s better for you to stay in the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor for the time being. I¡¯ll look for your master. Perhaps he¡¯ll be able to answer our questions.¡±


    Jun Huang stopped to look at him and finally nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Yin Yun will be protecting me in secret. And people in the manor aren¡¯t going to hurt me just yet.¡± Her voice grew quiet as she muttered, ¡°Just don¡¯t take too long before youe back for me.¡±


    Her words were so faint it was as if they would be scattered by a slight breeze. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t be more pleased by her request. He wanted nothing more than to hold her.


    He reached out for her, but she took a step back before he could touch her, her eyes growing distant. ¡°Let¡¯s return.¡±


    It pained Nan Xun to see her being so distant. He knew why Jun Huang acted the way she did, but he couldn¡¯t help being frustrated.


    It had taken a long time for him to get her to open up, to break her cold mask, to make her fall in love with him. Although Jun Huang was never particrly passionate even after they got together, she hadn¡¯t been so cold to him for a long time.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t miss the sh of sadness in his eyes, but she pretended to not see it. She continued to walk with a polite smile.


    Soon, they reached the manor. Nan Xun sighed and took Jun Huang to the other side of the wall. They avoided the guards and returned to Jun Huang¡¯s room.


    Nan Xun pulled away before Jun Huang did, which surprised her. She looked up at him questioningly. He paused and finally said, ¡°Take care of myself. Always, always put your safety first. Don¡¯t get reckless. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±


    He vanished into the night.


    Jun Huang stared at the direction he¡¯d left in. Finally, she quirked a smile and retired to her bed.


    After that, Jun Huang yed the ignorant young woman in the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor. Her good looks helped, and her naturally calm eyes didn¡¯t hurt. The mistress had suspected Jun Huang of having found out the truth, but the way she actedter told her otherwise. Jun Huang managed to deceive the mistress.


    Nan Xun had been in a dark mood since he left Jun Huang. There was nothing he wanted more than to take Jun Huang away and never return. However, there was no ce for selfish desires in the current world. Everyone was part of the chess game. No one could stay out of the impending storm.


    He¡¯d stayed near the manor to make sure Jun Huang wasn¡¯t in any danger before he left to seek out Oleg Cragfiend. Due to his suspicion of the House of Heavenly Fiends, he assigned his own men to look for the poison master. He also ordered a few men to keep an eye on the organization.


    If dangers were inevitable, it was best to get prepared. Then he¡¯d be able to react quickly.


    His shadowguard soon returned with news. He said thest time Oleg Cragfiend had been seen was in Southern Mu. Without hesitation, he got on his horse and rode.


    Instead of starting searching immediately, Nan Xun entered the pce as a delegate and requested an audience with Nan Jihan. The eunuch had doubts, but he told Nan Jihan about Nan Xun¡¯s arrival.


    Nan Jihan had always been jealous of Nan Xun. Jun Huang refused to stay with him, and yet Nan Xun had won her over so easily. He would love to just kick Nan Xun out, but he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to do that. He took a deep breath to calm himself before letting Nan Xun in.


    ¡°What is Prince Nan here for this time?¡± Nan Jihan asked frivolously, supporting his chin with a hand as he stared at Nan Xun. ¡°Here to brag about her chasing after you? Do you think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve put her through?¡±


    He scoffed. ¡°She hid the fact that she¡¯d gone blind because of the poison so that you wouldn¡¯t feel guilty. She ran after you right after her poison was cleansed. What have you done for her other than being a burden to her, forcing her toe up with ns for you?¡±


    ¡°And now she¡¯s hurt again. Can you protect her or not? If you can¡¯t, you should leave her be. Don¡¯t get her in any more trouble!¡±


    Nan Jihan hadn¡¯t nned to get physical, but he got angrier as he spoke. He rose to his feet and grabbed Nan Xun by the cor, ring at him.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t in a good state. He felt even more guilty hearing that Jun Huang had hidden her temporary blindness from him and insisted on writing him letters. However, Nan Jihan was in no ce to question him or tell him to give up. He would make amends to Jun Huang after things were settled. Anything she wanted, he¡¯d give.


    Still, he had to control his temper since he was the one asking for help here. He gritted his teeth and swallowed his words. Nan Jihan felt as if he was hitting a ball of wool.


    He took a deep breath and let go of Nan Xun, raising an eyebrow. ¡°What? Did I say anything wrong?¡±


    After a long pause, Nan Xun finally said, ¡°I don¡¯t care if you want to insult me or hit me. It¡¯s about her safety. I hope you¡¯ll push aside your grievances and help me.¡±


    Nan Jihan stared at the general. He didn¡¯t expect the infable fighter in war to lower his pride for the woman he loved, asking for help from a once rival.


    Nan Jihan was no saint, but he wasn¡¯tpletely cold-blooded. His throat felt tight at Nan Xun¡¯s show of weakness. He closed his eyes and looked up at Nan Xun, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯d help if I could, but Oleg Cragfiend has left Southern Mu. I don¡¯t know where he is now.¡±

 Chapter 321 - Disguise as a Servant

    <h4>Chapter 321: Disguise as a Servant</h4>


    After a brief pause, Nan Xun twisted his lips into a sharp, mocking smile and took a couple steps backward, his eyes zing with rage. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be so petty, Nan Jihan. You don¡¯t deserve your title. Good, enjoy your time on the throne.¡±


    He turned to leave, his movement so sharp it was as if he was dering Nan Jihan his enemy if they ever met again.


    Nan Jihan sighed, watching him walk away.


    Oleg Cragfiend entered the main hall and sat down on a divan. He poured himself a cup of tea, savoring the vor.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get why you¡¯re not willing to help. Isn¡¯t she your disciple? Aren¡¯t you worried about her condition?¡± Nan Jihan furrowed his brows. He¡¯d been conditioned to worry about Jun Huang¡¯s health when she was at her weakest. He worried that she¡¯d still be as ill the next time they met. He couldn¡¯t stop his frustration from seeping into his tone.


    Oleg Cragfiend nced at him. ¡°You didn¡¯t sound particrly eager for me to help Nan Xun.¡±


    Nan Jihan scratched his head awkwardly and admitted, ¡°I don¡¯t like Nan Xun. I don¡¯t like how little he¡¯s done for Baiyu even after all the sacrifice she¡¯s made for him. However, you must know that I... don¡¯t want her to suffer. I was simply venting my anger. Of course I want her to get better. Why don¡¯t you help her?¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend gave him a meaningful look and shook his head. ¡°Things are moreplicated than it seems. We can no longer be of help.¡±


    His words didn¡¯t make sense to Nan Jihan. After a long pause, Oleg Cragfiend sighed and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. The poison has been cleansed from her system, and from my diagnosisst time, she¡¯s weakened, but not in any real danger. The fact that Nan Xun hade himself rather than sent a servant proves my point.¡±


    ¡°But why are you unwilling to leave with Nan Xun?¡± Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t figure out an answer. Why would the poison master ask him to tell Nan Xun he¡¯d already left knowing what Nan Xun hade for?


    Oleg Cragfiend nced at his thoughtful expression and walked up to the window, looking at the gathering clouds outside. After a pause, he said gravely, ¡°There is someone we can¡¯t see watching him.¡±


    Nan Jihan was even more confused, but Oleg Cragfiend didn¡¯t seem willing to exin. They stood there in silentpany.


    Nan Xun¡¯s anger gradually died down after leaving the pce. He stayed the night at the ry station and immediately set out for Eastern Wu. He was too concerned to leave Jun Huang to deal with those with unknown agenda on her own. He decided to stay to protect her and keep herpany.


    He didn¡¯t just barge into the manor like he hadst time. Instead, he came up with a n.


    He was lucky that the manor was looking for servants. Anyone interested were weed to apply for the job.


    He was going to get it no matter what he had to do. He changed into some cheap clothes and made himself look like an average peasant before entering the manor with a group of applicants.


    After a round of selection, Nan Xun and the remaining candidates were led to the main building of the manor. The housekeeper would make the final judgement. He raised an eyebrow at the dozen of men standing in the courtyard. He patted each of their muscr shoulders and nodded.


    ¡°What are you good at?¡± the housekeeper asked Nan Xun, considering him like he would amodity.


    Nan Xun lowered his eyes and responded respectfully, ¡°I¡¯m poor and know only how to do crude manual work. I¡¯m not as talented as the others here, but, um, my mother said I¡¯m a thorough sweeper.¡±


    The housekeeper looked at the brown-nose of a servant standing next to him, who rushed to the housekeeper with a servile smile and said, ¡°What a coincidence. The young mistress is in need of a good sweeper. And this one is built sturdy. If dangers strike, he¡¯ll make a good human shield.¡±


    ¡°Have you done a background check?¡± the housekeeper asked, stroking his beard.


    The servant nodded. ¡°I have. He¡¯s a simple and honest man. Nothing suspicious about his background.¡±


    The housekeeper rxed and patted Nan Xun on the shoulder. ¡°Follow the servant to thedy¡¯s residence. She happens to need a sweeper. However, you know what you¡¯re getting into. You better watch yourself. You¡¯ll be rewarded for doing your job well.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and followed after the servant, his lips curved into a smile after he turned around. It wasn¡¯t difficult for a prince like him to forge a credible identity. And he¡¯d found out beforehand that there was a vacancy at Jun Huang¡¯s residence for a sweeper.


    They soon reached their destination. The servant didn¡¯t leave until he¡¯d given Nan Xun some pointers and warnings. Nan Xun didn¡¯t immediately seek out Jun Huang and instead focused on sweeping the fallen leaves in the garden.


    Jun Huang saw a servant sweeping the ground from the corner of her eye when she went on a walk with her maid in tow. There was something familiar about him that made here to a halt. Her eyes widened slightly when she got a good look at his face. She almostughed.


    The maid quickly exined, ¡°The housekeeper said he¡¯s new. He¡¯ll be on cleaning duty starting today. You may pretend he doesn¡¯t exist, mydy.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t feel like resting now. Prepare some food for me. I¡¯ll take a seat here.¡± Jun Huang motioned at the maid to get going. The maid hesitated, but in the end nodded and left without a word.


    Once she was out of earshot, Jun Huang walked up to Nan Xun andughed, her eyes crinkling and her brows curved, her smile stunning under the sun. Nan Xun looked around to make sure no one was around before putting down the broom and pulling her to the side. He rxed after making sure she was alright.


    ¡°Don¡¯t attract any attention,¡± Nan Xun said.


    Jun Huang nodded, her smile deepening. ¡°I know. I just didn¡¯t expect you to do something like this. Aren¡¯t you a prince? It¡¯s weird you¡¯ll be sweeping here, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Nan Xun gave her a pointed look and she quickly schooled her expression into one of indifference. The maid walked up to them with a te of desserts. She ced it on the stone table and looked over at them. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, mydy?¡±


    Jun Huang steadied herself and gave the maid an appropriate smile. ¡°Nothing. I just want to see if the new servant can do his job well. If not, I¡¯ll have him reced.¡±


    The maid smiled in understanding. ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry, mydy. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll test him for you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t have anything better to do. I can watch him sweep myself. Go back to what you were doing. I¡¯ll return to my room myself when I get tired.¡± Jun Huang gave the maid a calm butmanding nce. The maid nodded and reminded the servants to keep an eye on Jun Huang. They were to notify her immediately if anything unusual happened.


    Jun Huang smiled and walked up to Nan Xun. ¡°Get me a chair.¡±


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t sure what exactly she was going to do, but he nodded and walked into the building to get a chair. Before he could pick up a stool, Jun Huang pointed at the empress chair in the corner and said, ¡°I want that.¡±


    Nan Xun raised an eyebrow at her and nodded. He didn¡¯t even break a sweat as he moved the empress chair into the backyard. Jun Huang took a seat and idly watched Nan Xun pick up the broom.


    Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t be a good general if he still didn¡¯t get what Jun Huang was doing. He smiled with fond resignation and started sweeping.


    She rested her chin on her palm, trying to see what he¡¯d done wrong. As expected, Nan Xun might be an experienced fighter, but sweeping waspletely foreign to him. He did a decent enough job, but it wasn¡¯t that difficult to spot his mistakes.


    ¡°There, leaves you haven¡¯t cleaned up.¡±


    ¡°If every servant works like you do, the manor would be paying a fortune for nothing but poor service.¡±


    ¡°Pay more attention! If you don¡¯t do a better job, I¡¯m going to tell the housekeeper to rece you.¡±


    Jun Huang kept picking on him, but her smile was as bright as the sun. Nan Xun was somewhat exasperated, but he wanted her to keep smiling. He thus made mistakes deliberately and let Jun Haung had her fun. He was happy as long as she was.


    Yin Yun watched them from a hidden corner. Something about their interaction caught his eye, but he didn¡¯t know what it was. It was just odd to see someone as untouchable as a goddess like Jun Huang acting so much like a regr woman. It was akin to seeing a celestial falling to the mundane world, unable to return to heaven again. She... lost that air of aloofness to her.


    However, he knew it wasn¡¯t a bad thing for Jun Huang to recover her humanity. No one had been able to melt the ice encasing her heart before. She was fortunate to encounter a man who could make her happy for the rest of her life.


    He sighed and walked away without making any sounds. No one even knew he¡¯d been there.


    The next few days, Jun Huang often stayed in the garden ordering Nan Xun around. The youngest mistress of the manor, who hade to visit her with the maid leading the way, happened to witness her doing that.

 Chapter 322 - Pretty Frigid Eyes

    <h4>Chapter 322: Pretty Frigid Eyes</h4>


    The young mistress wasn¡¯t good at masking her feelings. Her surprise was evident on her face.


    Noting that Nan Xun had stopped sweeping, Jun Huang frowned and asked, ¡°Why did you stop?¡±


    ¡°This is one of the young mistresses, isn¡¯t she?¡± Nan Xun asked with an innocent smile, which made Jun Huang feel a pang of unreasonable jealousy. She turned to the young mistress and shifted her gaze to the maid. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Sister, I ¨C mother has sent for a tailor to make clothes for us. I thought you¡¯d want some new dresses as well, so I came to find you.¡± As the Grand Chancellor¡¯s daughter, she may be inexperienced, but not naive. She quickly recovered from her surprise.


    Jun Huang huffed and turned away. ¡°I appreciate the thought, but I don¡¯t need any.¡± She reeled in her cold presence and softened her expression. It was as if her earlier attitude had been an illusion. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I won¡¯t be keeping you, sister.¡±


    The young mistress left without arguing. She wasn¡¯t afraid of Jun Huang, but she could tell she wouldn¡¯t be able to change Jun Huang¡¯s mind. Besides, why would she waste her time on an outsider?


    The maid frowned at Nan Xun but didn¡¯t say anything. She put on a smile as she approached Jun Huang. ¡°It¡¯s getting dark, mydy. It may rainter. Let¡¯s get inside.¡±


    Jun Huang nced at the cloudy sky and nodded after a bemused pause. Without giving Nan Xun another nce, she entered her residence.


    It didn¡¯t seem like a big deal, but the young mistress couldn¡¯t get Jun Huang¡¯s carefree smile out of her head. Why would someone as aloof as Jun Huang act so differently because of a servant? The other girls teased her for being preupied with some man. With a blush, she told them about what she saw today.


    The oldest of them rested her chin on her palm and smiled. ¡°What¡¯s so surprising about that? Remember, we may not know her true identity, but from the way she holds herself it¡¯s clear she¡¯s from an important family. She may not have interacted with servants before. She¡¯s just curious.¡±


    Her theory was good enough for the other girls. They went off and got on with their lives, leaving only the first young mistress and the second young mistress in the room. They were the smartest among the girls. They stayed behind out of unspoken agreement.


    ¡°Do you really believe in what you said?¡± the second young mistress asked sharply.


    The first young mistress gave her a brief nce and took a sip of tea. ¡°Watch your tongue, or mother will punish you if she hears.¡±


    The second young mistress pouted. She knew she shouldn¡¯t say anything. ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°She has nothing to do with us. Why should you care so much about her? If you suspect anything, we¡¯ll pay her a visit and see for ourselves.¡±


    A crack of thunder pierced through the sky. Scared and surprised shrieks could be heard outside the building. The first young mistress stayed by the window, unfazed.


    On a sunny day, the first young mistress and the other girls made their way to Jun Huang¡¯s residence. The first young mistress had put a few people to keep watch on Jun Huang. Indeed, she was friendly with the new servant and often teased him, which made the young mistress and her sisters curious. What was it about the servant that melted Jun Huang¡¯s cold facade?


    When they arrived, Jun Huang was slumped on the empress chair with a peach shortbread in her hand. She smiled and sometimes pretended to be angry as she ordered Nan Xun to sweep the fallen leaves. She seemed to be having fun.


    ¡°What have the young mistressese for?¡± The maid hurriedly went up to them. Jun Huang, who had her back to them, pulled a long face and put away the shortbread. She put on a stilted smile and turned to the unwanted guests.


    ¡°We hear that there¡¯s an interesting servant at sister¡¯s ce, so we came to have a look,¡± said the second young mistress. They all stared at Nan Xun and gave him a once-over.


    Nan Xun was dressed in a short robe and his long hair was tied behind his head. He had a broom in his hand and he¡¯d put on an unassuming expression, but it didn¡¯t stop him from being remarkably handsome.


    ¡°Is he your type, sister?¡± asked the second young mistress. ¡°He¡¯s good looking, but unfortunately that¡¯s his only strength. Looks aren¡¯t everything, sister.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± agreed the youngest mistress. ¡°I heard you scolding him the other day. There¡¯s no reason for you to keep a sweeper who doesn¡¯t know how to sweep properly. You should just kick him out.¡±


    Jun Huang told herself to stay calm and ignore their words, but the girls grew harsher and even ordered Nan Xun around, picking on him. Her smile dropped and she knocked the teapot off the table.


    The sharp shattering sound rendered the girls silent. They turned to Jun Huang in surprise, unsure what she meant by that. Jun Huang ignored them and pointed at Nan Xun. ¡°Clean it up.¡±


    Once Nan Xun was on his knee before the shattered pieces, she continued at a deliberate pace, ¡°Look at where you are and know who you should listen to. If you fail to see your mistake, I won¡¯t keep you here. You should just leave with them.¡±


    It was obvious her words weren¡¯t directed at Nan Xun, but at the girls. As the Grand Chancellor¡¯s daughters, they couldn¡¯t stand such humiliation. They opened their mouths to protest.


    The first young mistress, being the most experienced in dealing with people, stopped them from talking and took a deep breath, ncing at Jun Huang with deliberate casualness. ¡°What did you mean, little sister?¡±


    Jun Huang stared coldly at the first young mistress. She was tired of pretending, but she managed to keep her anger under control. ¡°Big sister should be smart enough to figure out what I meant,¡± she said with a scoff. ¡°I¡¯m telling you that my servants are my business. I don¡¯t need you pointing fingers.¡±


    ¡°This is a simple matter. You should just stay out of it, and everyone will be happy. It¡¯s not so difficult to understand, is it?¡±


    ¡°You should leave if you don¡¯t have anything important to say. Nothing¡¯s stopping you.¡±


    She curtsied gracefully, her eyes icy and her voicemanding.


    Silence stretched. The girls wanted to talk back, but they knew they¡¯d end up losing the arguments to Jun Huang¡¯s silver tongue. The first young mistress put on a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes and led her sisters away.


    Afterwards, the maid approached Jun Huang with a frown. ¡°Mydy, you shouldn¡¯t have done that. We ¨C ¡±


    ¡°What?¡± asked Jun Huang, her lips stretched into a mocking smile. ¡°Should I have taken the humiliation meekly?¡±


    The maid pouted and stopped talking, displeased with being subjected to anger she didn¡¯t deserve. Jun Huang rubbed at her forehead tiredly and went back to her room after dismissing the maid and Nan Xun.


    She had an undisturbed rest in the afternoon. When she woke up, the sun had set. The maid entered the room and sighed in relief when she saw that Jun Huang was up. ¡°It¡¯s time for dinner, mydy. The mistress told us to join her.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and followed the maid to the dining hall. She could feel the tension in the air when she entered, but she yed ignorant and sat down next to the mistress.


    ¡°Apologies for making mother and sisters wait,¡± she said, looking at her fake family.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite alright,¡± the mistress said, asking earnestly, ¡°Are you feeling better after resting?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded without a word and stayed silent throughout the meal.


    The other girls left the dining hall after finishing eating. When Jun Huang put down her chopsticks, she was left alone with the mistress. She knew what this was about, but she wasn¡¯t going to initiate the conversation.


    The mistress couldn¡¯t stand the silence. She took Jun Huang¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°Is it true that you¡¯ve be close to a servant at your residence?¡±


    ¡°Not close, but he¡¯s a likable one.¡± Jun Huang lowered her eyes, her tone serious, but out of the mistress¡¯s view, her lips were curved into a secret smile.


    The mistress knew about everything that had happened. Even if the girls hadn¡¯t told their mother, Jun Huang¡¯s maid would. Jun Huang, however, was curious what had been said about her rtionship with Nan Xun.


    ¡°It¡¯s natural for someone level-headed like you to find a straightforward man endearing, but that mustn¡¯t go further. You know your ce. You can¡¯t get together with a servant. It¡¯s the way of the world for people of simr status to pair up...¡± The mistress had made her point clear enough.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect that to be the mistress¡¯s spection. She masked her surprise and nodded once the mistress finished with her spiel. ¡°I understand, mother,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°I won¡¯t do anything inappropriate, and I¡¯ll keep my distance. I¡¯m not going to make any more trouble for you.¡±


    The mistress sighed and caressed Jun Huang¡¯s hair. Jun Huang noticed the pitying look shing through her eyes, but she didn¡¯tment on it.


    They stayed in the dining hall exchanging small talk like real mother and daughter. The mistress continued to test Jun Huang¡¯s attitude toward Nan Xun, and Jun Huang deftly resolve her doubt. The mistress assumed Jun Huang had recognized that she and the servant belonged to different worlds. She didn¡¯t keep Jun Huang any longer and told her to have a good night.

 Chapter 323 - The Right Man

    <h4>Chapter 323: The Right Man</h4>


    Meanwhile, in the servants¡¯ dormitory, Nan Xun was with a few other servants he¡¯d gotten to know the past few days. The men talked about which of the young mistresses was the most beautiful. Most of them were young men, but they got as obscene as the most lecherous scums. If any women were present, they¡¯d have died from mortification.


    A young man with mouse like features nudged Nan Xun with his elbow, his smile scious. ¡°Brother, I hear that thedy you¡¯re serving now is the prettiest, but I haven¡¯t confirmed the rumors myself. Tell us, is she as beautiful as she¡¯s said to be?¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. He didn¡¯t like listening to others fantasizing about Jun Huang. Someone as graceful as her shouldn¡¯t be tarnished by such carnal and vulgar remarks.


    An older servant spoke up before Nan Xun could make his anger known. He grinned, showing his yellowed teeth, and said, ¡°Oh, another toad salivating after a swan! You never even have a chance to get close to any young mistresses. Very few are allowed the privilege of seeing the goddess likedies of the manor!¡±


    His bellowingughter rang in the room.


    Nan Xun took a deep breath to suppress his anger and put on a stilted smile. ¡°You keep going. I¡¯m going to get some fresh air.¡±


    He turned to leave. The men continued to make improperments. Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t be able to stop himself from beating them all up if he stayed. He walked away and went to have a look at the back building.


    He put aside the infuriating conversation and snuck away with the night as his cover. He looked at his servant uniform. After a brief pause, he made a detour to the kitchen to get some wine and made his way to the entrance to the back building.


    ¡°Who are you? Why are you here?¡± The guard watching the door stopped him, his brows furrowed in alert.


    Nan Xun presented him with the wine. ¡°The housekeeper asked me to deliver you and the others this as rewards for your hard work.¡±


    The guard¡¯s eyes lit up in excitement as he took the wine from Nan Xun. Clearly it¡¯d been a while since thest time he had a drink.


    Nan Xun doubled over and let out a fake pained cry. ¡°Ow, my stomach hurts. Is there a toilet around?¡±


    The guard¡¯s attention was on the fine wine. He pointed at the back. ¡°Just turn east once you get inside. Don¡¯t take too long.¡±


    He joined the other guards and started drinking.


    Nan Xun made an assenting noise and rushed inside. He¡¯d found out beforehand that the only toilet in the area was in the building. That was why the guard let him through.


    He turned east and disappeared into the shadow. He quickly surveyed the interior. The building was empty and eerily quiet.


    He didn¡¯t stay long in case something went wrong. He rushed out and greeted the guard watching the door before making his way back to the dorm.


    The yellowed-teeth man nced at him, scratching his head. ¡°Where did you go?¡±


    ¡°Nature¡¯s call,¡± he said. Noting that the old man seemed to havee out from the toilet, he added, ¡°But the toilet was upied, so I went to another one.¡±


    The old man nodded and walked inside with Nan Xun. They had a brief chat before going to bed.


    At midnight, Nan Xun woke up in the dark. The thunderous snores made it impossible to sleep. Nan Xun put on his clothes and snuck outside.


    The night was silent save for the faint chirps of insects. Every once in a while there would be patrols. Nan Xun quickly made his way to Jun Huang¡¯s residence. As per their agreement in the morning, Jun Huang had left her window open.


    When he entered her room, she was wide awake with Yin Yun standing by her side. They seemed to be waiting for him. He got to the point and exined what he¡¯d found.


    For a moment, no one talked. Finally, Jun Huang broke the silence. ¡°We must have alerted themst time. How troublesome.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned. ¡°The one pulling the strings?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded, her expression grave. Nan Xun shared her feelings. They¡¯d finally located Jun Hao, but the back building had now been emptied. It was clearly a trap for them.


    Jun Hao must have been moved elsewhere. It wouldn¡¯t be easy to track him down.


    ¡°Is it possible that the back building has always been empty?¡± Nan Xun suggested. ¡°Or maybe what was hidden there had never been Jun Hao?¡±


    Jun Huang nced at Yin Yun. ¡°It is possible, but the ce is too heavily guarded for Yin Yun and I to get in to check.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯lle up with a new n,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°The next few days, Yin Yun will take my ce in the manor to fend off suspicion while I look for Jun Hao and investigate what has happened to the operation base.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded in agreement. Yin Yun was as good a fighter as Nan Xun, but Nan Xun was a prince and Northern Qi¡¯s general-in-chief. He had people he could trust to aid him. The n made sense.


    ¡°That¡¯s the only thing we can do at the moment.¡±


    Nan Xun exchanged a few words with Yin Yun before leaving Jun Huang¡¯s room. He got out of the manorte at night and had Yin Yun take his ce.


    Early the next morning, Jun Huang woke up and went downstairs as usual. The man sweeping the garden had Nan Xun¡¯s face, but it only took two steps for her to remember that Nan Xun had left.


    Although she¡¯d agreed to Nan Xun¡¯s n without hesitationst night, she couldn¡¯t help missing the man right after he left. Her heart felt heavy. Even though Yin Yun had put on Nan Xun¡¯s face, he wasn¡¯t him. She kept her distance from him instead of staying in the garden like she had been doing.


    The mistress was relieved to hear her change of behavior. Jun Huang had made the right decision. However, she started worrying about Jun Huang¡¯s future partner. What if Jun Huang ended up falling for the wrong man?


    The old caretaker was worried when she saw the troubled look on the mistress¡¯s face. ¡°Are you alright, madam?¡±


    The mistress shook her head and confessed her concerns. The caretaker paused and suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you find a good husband for her yourself, madam? There are many scions from esteemed families in Eastern Wu. There will be someone who¡¯s right for her.¡±


    The mistress was convinced. There was a banquet in a few days. She could use the opportunity to find potential husbands for Jun Huang. With her mind made up, she told the old caretaker to send for the tailor, having a new dress made for Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t paying any attention to her surroundings when she was dragged off to have her measurements taken. When asked what had happened, she never answered. She went on with her life like a lifeless ghoul.


    The day of the banquet soon arrived. The mistress arranged for a few maids to give Jun Huang a makeover. Jun Huang was surprised, but she managed to hide it. She wondered what the mistress was nning.


    Afterwards, the mistress entered her room, her eyes tender and pleased. ¡°You¡¯ve always been beautiful. Now you¡¯re even more stunning.¡±


    ¡°Mother is too kind.¡± Jun Huang lowered her head, hiding the suspicious glint in her eyes. The mistress patted her on the back of her hand and led her outside. On their way to the banquet, she told Jun Huang where they were going. The other girls had gone to the venue already. She told Jun Huang to rx and pretended she was at home.


    Jun Huang covered her surprise. She had to be a fool to not know what the mistress was trying to do. She suppressed her annoyance. The mistress wasn¡¯t going to force her to marry anyone if she didn¡¯t want to, was she?


    She put on a faint smile and entered the door. Inside, the banquet hall was extravagantly adorned, fitting for a banquet held by esteemed families. It was a sight to behold.


    The mistress greeted everyone they ran into with an ease that made it obvious she was no stranger to such events. Jun Huang was born with an unusual calmness. She held herself with grace and dignity, unfazed by the scrutiny from other guests.


    ¡°This must be your daughter,¡± one of the mistress¡¯s friends said with a smile. ¡°She¡¯s beautiful. No wonder you never take her to these gatherings.¡±


    The mistress puffed up her chest like she was the one beingplimented. She showed Jun Huang around and ran into the third young mistress. ¡°Where are the others?¡±


    The third young mistress smiled. ¡°They¡¯re mingling. Don¡¯t worry, mother.¡±


    The mistress frowned slightly, but she knew her other daughters must be looking for a good husband as well. She let them to it.


    The third young mistress sighed in relief and hooked her arm around Jun Huang¡¯s with a beam. ¡°Mother, I¡¯ll introduce sister to the other guests. You should stay and talk to the other mistresses.¡±


    ¡°Alright, but you have to keep a close eye on her. She¡¯s never attended a banquet before. If something happens to her, I¡¯ll hold you responsible.¡± The mistress had wanted to talk to her friends. She only stayed with Jun Huang because she was concerned. It¡¯d be good for her daughter to take Jun Huang to meet the scions in attendance. She didn¡¯t know any of the young men that well, after all.

 Chapter 324 - Jealousy

    <h4>Chapter 324: Jealousy</h4>


    The third young mistress led Jun Huang away. Jun Huang was befuddled by her enthusiasm, but quickly realized what was going on when she was led to a young man.


    She knew the third young mistress had a fiance. Jun Huang was just here so that the young mistress could spend time with him.


    The third young mistress introduced them and chatted giddily with her fiance, her cheeks flushed. Jun Huang quietly sat by their sides. She seemed untouchable and detached from the hubbub of noises around her. It was difficult to now be drawn to her.


    The young man stared at Jun Huang, ignoring his future wife. ¡°Have you found a husband yet?¡± he asked.


    The third young mistress huffed when she caught him staring. Jun Huang¡¯s aloof expression did nothing to quell her growing resentment.


    ¡°Why?¡± asked the third young mistress, barely containing her fury. ¡°Have you set your eyes on my sister?¡±


    ¡°Third sister misunderstood,¡± Jun Huang spoke up. ¡°Brother-inw obviously loves you. I won¡¯t be a bother to you. Please excuse me.¡±


    She rose and walked away.


    Perhaps she isn¡¯t so bad, thought the third young mistress, but then she noticed that her fiance was still staring at Jun Huang. She shot to her feet and snapped at him before storming away.


    Her fiance was a scion from an important family. He didn¡¯t care if the third young mistress was angry. He huffed and left her go.


    Jun Huang took a stroll outside, bored. She didn¡¯t like how the man had looked at her. She couldn¡¯t help thinking of Nan Xun.


    ¡°Mydy, the mistress is leaving for the manor,¡± her maid came up to her and said. ¡°Are you going with her?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and followed her to the coach parked outside. The mistress helped her in and asked, ¡°Have you met anyone you like? I can make arrangements for you.¡±


    ¡°Mother is very kind, but there¡¯s no such person,¡± admitted Jun Huang.


    The other young mistresses had arrived at the manor at about the same time. Jun Huang had nned to return straight to her residence, but she was stopped by the third young mistress.


    Before she could say anything, the third young mistress pointed at her and shouted, ¡°Shameless girl! How dare you do that to me?! I introduced you to the other guests out of kindness, and yet you openly seduced my fiance!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Do you even know any shame?!¡± The second young mistress had always disliked Jun Huang. She grew even more resentful of her hearing her sister¡¯s story.


    Jun Huang scoffed. She might be naturally calm, but no one would be happy being subjected to such insults. She suppressed her anger since the mistress was here and put on a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, sisters. I haven¡¯t done anything of that sorts.¡±


    ¡°You dare talk back?!¡± snapped the third young mistress. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have fought with him if not for you! I was just introducing you! Who knows you¡¯d stoop so low as to try stealing my husband?!¡±


    She¡¯d gotten so obsessed that she refused to listen to reason. She raised her hand to p Jun Huang.


    The mistress had been silent, but she caught her daughter¡¯s hand and pped her, stunning everyone, especially the third young mistress and Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect the mistress to go that far for her, and the young mistress couldn¡¯t believe her mother would hit her for an outsider. She covered her face and sobbed. ¡°Mother, she¡¯s not part of ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± the mistress snapped, her voice calm but steely. ¡°Have you not done enough to embarrass yourself? Go back to your room and don¡¯te out without my permission.¡±


    The third young mistress didn¡¯t dare talk back at her mother despite her ire. She stormed away without a word.


    The other girls shot Jun Huang a venomous re and left as well. Jun Huang frowned. She didn¡¯t expect things to go this way.


    ¡°You must be tired, child. Go back and rest.¡± The mistress patted Jun Huang¡¯s shoulder, her scowl reced by a faint,forting smile.


    Jun Huang masked her emotions and made an assenting noise with her eyes lowered. She turned to leave, but realized that she shouldn¡¯t walk away without saying anything. After some deliberation, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t be too concerned, mother. I have nothing to do with that man, and I don¡¯t want anything to do with him. Third sister lost her calm because she loves that man too much. I¡¯m not too bothered by what she said. Mother shouldn¡¯t be too angry.¡±


    The mistress smiled and gave her an apologetic look. After seeing Jun Huang off, she made her way to the back of the manor to deal with what had happened.


    Jun Huang noted the sh of guilt in the woman¡¯s eyes. It made her even more curious about her identity.


    Her being the princess of Western Que should be a secret. Those in the manor couldn¡¯t have known. Even if they did, they shouldn¡¯t be treating her with such care. What else was she apart from the princess of Western Que?


    She was getting a headache trying to figure out an answer. She sighed and rubbed at her temple, returning to her room to rest.


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯t found anything useful so far. Whoever was behind Jun Hao¡¯s kidnapping had been cautious. It¡¯d take time for him to track them down.


    He decided to take a short break at a teahouse. He¡¯d bring some tea for Jun Huang if it was good.


    His peace was disturbed by amotion outside the door. He frowned in annoyance.


    Tea was meant to be savored in quiet. He¡¯d intentionally picked the most high ss teahouse in the city. And yet it was as chaotic as any regr establishments were. His mood was thoroughly ruined.


    He wasn¡¯t so unreasonable that he¡¯d me the shop for that, but the group of men sat down close enough that he couldn¡¯t escape their conversation.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know how beautiful the daughter of the Grand Chancellor is,¡± said the fiance of the third young mistress. He was a yboy who knew many beautiful women intimately. People called him Gentleman Li. ¡°A smile from her can captivate the soul.¡±


    ¡°Are you talking about the young mistress who¡¯s only entered the public sphere recently?¡± asked another man.


    Gentleman Li nodded andughed without restraint. ¡°I saw her during the banquet a few days ago. A nce was enough for me to be drawn. I thought our paths would never pass, but then she came up to me.¡±


    ¡°You aren¡¯t going to fool us! Everyone knows the mistress is protective of her daughter. She wouldn¡¯t have let you go after her. Besides, aren¡¯t you the third young mistress¡¯s fiance? Are you going to marry the mysteriousdy as your concubine?¡±


    The othersughed.


    Gentleman Li didn¡¯t seem bothered. ¡°You know what the banquet was for. She must have picked me as well. You¡¯re right, though. The third young mistress is vtile. I have to find a way to marry the mysterious girl first. Someone like her shouldn¡¯t be a concubine.¡±


    Nan Xun drank silently, his eyes dark.


    He put down his cup and nced at Gentleman Li. The young man was nothing but a lecherous scum. He scoffed and walked away, leaving the teahouse after paying the bill.


    Outside, the weather was nice. He resumed his investigation and didn¡¯t return to the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor until night fell. Without notifying Yin Yun, he snuck into Jun Huang¡¯s room.


    Jun Huang heard him when she was reading under the candlelight. She looked up and smiled at him, putting the book away. ¡°Did you find anything?¡±


    Nan Xun silently approached her and took in the questioning look in her eyes. He chuckled.


    Ah, how could he have doubted her?


    He¡¯d fallen for her beauty and grace. Of course there would be others captivated by her as well. He shouldn¡¯t have doubted her just because of a man¡¯s boasting words.


    His silence prompted Jun Huang to ask, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I hear a young mistress of this manor met a gentleman named Li during the matchmaking banquet,¡± Nan Xun said teasingly. ¡°The two hit it off immediately. The young mistress is going to ept Gentleman Li¡¯s proposal soon. Is that true?¡±


    Jun Huang blinked and snorted when she realized that Nan Xun was jealous. It made herugh.


    ¡°What a ridiculous story. Where did you hear that?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t make it up. Gentleman Li said himself he¡¯d abandon the third young mistress and marry you instead.¡± Nan Xun wasn¡¯t as jealous as he¡¯d made it out to be, but he couldn¡¯t stand hearing someone talk about Jun Huang like that.


    Jun Huang chuckled. Sheforted him and told him what had actually happened that day. Then she asked, ¡°How about you? Have you found anything?¡±


    Nan Xun sighed, his brows furrowed. ¡°I haven¡¯t found anything about Jun Hao. Someone has been erasing their tracks very effectively.¡±


    ¡°No rush. We have to be patient and think carefully what we should do. There¡¯s got to be a better solution.¡± Jun Huang was calm. She patiently thought about their situation with a slight crease on her forehead.


    Nan Xun nodded in agreement. ¡°The fact that we can¡¯t find anything makes things even more suspicious. I¡¯ll find him sooner orter. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

 Chapter 325 - Night Attack

    <h4>Chapter 325: Night Attack</h4>


    Jun Huang managed a stilted smile and exhaled deeply. ¡°How about what happened to your operation base?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve been investigating in the area the past few days and finally found evidence backing up my theory. Members of the House of Heavenly Fiends had been to the neighborhood days before the operation base was discovered. They must be involved somehow.¡±


    He added as if remembering something, ¡°Do you remember the token of the House of Heavenly Fiends?¡±


    Jun Huang shook her head, befuddled. ¡°What token? The one you showed me the other day?¡±


    ¡°No. You have one yourself that¡¯s identical to mine.¡± Nan Xun took out his and handed it to Jun Huang. He exined how they¡¯d acquired the tokens.


    Jun Huang was silent as she listened to his story. She remembered nothing about the trial they¡¯d gone through, and she hadn¡¯t seen any such tokens when she woke up. Nan Xun took note of it when she voiced her doubts. He wondered where her token was.


    That got him thinking. Had it been a coincidence for him and Jun Huang to undergo the trial, or had it been part of a grand n? What did it mean for Jun Huang to lose her token?


    Things were getting even more confusing. Nan Xun could feel a headache brewing. There were too many threads for him to investigate.


    Jun Huang was deep in thought, her fists clenched and her nails biting into her palms. Veins popped out from her forehead. She looked like a woman possessed.


    Nan Xun widened his eyes, noting her abnormal reactions. He wrapped his arms tight around her.


    The warmth woke Jun Huang from her trance. She looked at him with unfocused eyes and finally said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s throat felt tight. He shook his head and sighed in relief once Jun Huang recovered her senses. ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s all fine. You don¡¯t have to worry too much. Overthinking can dy your recovery. We don¡¯t want you thinking yourself into a corner.¡±


    Jun Huang was sensitive enough to hear the fear in his voice. She nodded, but herck of memory still made her feel insecure.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s gettingte. You should rest. I¡¯ll tell you if I find anything.¡± Nan Xun picked Jun Huang up and gently ced her on the bed, tucking her in.


    He didn¡¯t immediately leave the room and instead stayed by her bed, holding her hand. Jun Huang¡¯s heart slowly calmed. Exhaustion set in. She soon fell into a peaceful slumber, her breathing slow and steady.


    Nan Xun watched her silently. She looked beautiful and untouchable in her sleep. He nted a dry kiss on her delicate hand and put out themp for her. He stopped to take a final look at Jun Huang when he reached the window.


    Moonlight covered the room in a thinyer of silver. His yearning for her grew impossibly stronger. However, he couldn¡¯t stay. He shifted his gaze to the bright moon and disappeared into the night.


    The moon was still distant, and the wind cold. No trace had been left from his visit.


    The sun had just risen when Jun Huang woke up. She looked out of the window, feeling a sense of loss and yearning.


    Meanwhile, Nan Xun had made his way to the base of the House of Heavenly Fiends. There was no telling if his visit was expected. The old man in charge went through a myriad of expressions. Nan Xun yed ignorant.


    ¡°I came to ask about Jun Hao,¡± Nan Xun said nonchntly, ying it as a regr request for updates.


    The old man nodded and got a confirmation from one of his subordinates. ¡°He¡¯s safe.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyebrows jumped up briefly. He wondered if the old man was lying to him, or telling him that Jun Hao hadn¡¯t been hurt by his kidnappers.


    He nodded without a word and turned to leave. The old man stopped him and leveled him with a piercing gaze that would expose all artifices.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just wondering why Your Highness is here,¡± the old man said with a smile. ¡°Do you need our help?¡±


    Nan Xun met his gaze like he was looking at his soul. He smiled. ¡°Northern Qi and Eastern Wu are currently in a negotiation for peace, the result of which no one can predict. I can¡¯t stay idle and do nothing, so I came to find out more about Eastern Wu. It¡¯s always been said that one must know their enemies to be victorious.¡±


    The old manughed heartily, stroking his beard. They maintained the normalcy of a civil conversation. Neither had tried to break the illusion.


    Nan Xun was getting tired of talking in riddles. He cupped his hands and said, ¡°Please excuse me then. And I hope you can keep an eye on Jun Hao.¡±


    The old man nodded with a wide smile and walked Nan Xun out of their base. Once outside, he asked again, ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t need any help, Your Highness? Eastern Wu isn¡¯t what it was before. Everyone is in danger. If someone with unknown agenda ¨C ¡±


    ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I¡¯m good,¡± Nan Xun cut in. ¡°They are no threat to me. Besides, I didn¡¯te alone. There¡¯s no need for you to worry.¡±


    He walked away. The old man looked at him with an unreadable expression.


    Nan Xun soon left the House of Heavenly Fiends¡¯ territory. The shadowguard who had been following him approached him and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried they¡¯ll expose you, Your Highness? If you¡¯re discovered, the emperor will take the opportunity to fight back. We don¡¯t have enough people with us to turn things around in that case.¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t tell the emperor,¡± Nan Xun said calmly, looking at the direction he¡¯de from. ¡°They still think I¡¯ve only just arrived at Eastern Wu. They won¡¯t contact the authority until they know more. Besides, it¡¯s not going to do them any good to expose me.¡±


    ¡°You must be on your guard, Your Highness,¡± the shadowguard said worriedly.


    Nan Xun nodded in understanding. He wasn¡¯t prone to overconfidence, but there was no use worrying about the unknown. He could only stay cautious.


    He kept his thoughts to himself when he returned to Jun Huang.


    He¡¯d been preupied. It worried Jun Huang. After some hesitation, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind? Have something happened?¡±


    Nan Xun met her eyes and shook his head in the end. He didn¡¯t want her to think too much. It was too tiring. Sometimes, ignorance was bliss.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t push. She lowered her eyes and said, ¡°I hear the mountain behind the manor is beautiful at night. Let¡¯s take a walkter.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded in agreement. After dinner, they snuck out of the manor and went into the mountain. Jun Huang took a deep breath, enjoying the rare sense of liberation. Nan Xun looked at her with crinkling eyes. He¡¯d like this moment tost forever.


    Jun Huang turned to him. Her dark hair flew in the air, swept up by the night wind. Her clothes rustled and danced to the silent tune. She slowly approached Nan Xun with a small smile. ¡°If there¡¯s something troubling you, tell me. You don¡¯t have to keep it to yourself. Maybe I can help.¡±


    Nan Xun was warmed by her eagerness. Before he could say anything, an unnatural rustling sound came from the woods. He frowned, his eyes turning sharp.


    Jun Huang could feel the tension in the air. It took some time for her to recover. Nan Xun pulled her to the side and hid her. ¡°Stay here and don¡¯te out.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. She knew there was nothing she could do now. Without her memory, she was nothing but a burden.


    After making sure Jun Huang was out of harm¡¯s way, Nan Xun drew his sword and rushed to intercept the dozen of men dressed in ck. Their eyes looked almost metallic in the dark, which could instill fear in regr people with a mere nce. Only those who had taken countless lives had eyes like theirs.


    Nan Xun considered them coldly. The men came out of hiding since they¡¯d been spotted. Their des looked blindingly bright under the moonlight. Strangely, Jun Huang didn¡¯t fear them. It was as if she¡¯d been through this several times.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Nan Xun had a feeling that these men were sent by the House of Heavenly Fiends, but he didn¡¯t raise the question now. He wasn¡¯t entirely sure about his spection, and he was hesitant to bring up the House of Heavenly Fiends before Jun Huang.


    The men didn¡¯t intend to chit chat. They drew their swords without a word. Nan Xun narrowed his eyes and backed away when one of their des was about to cut him. With a twist of his torso, he kicked the wielder in the arm, breaking his bones. The man dropped his sword in pain and fell to his knees, holding onto his arm.


    The other men widened their eyes in shock, but quickly recovered. They exchanged a nce before charging at Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun raised his sword. Before the first attack couldnd, he twirled his wrist and stabbed the man¡¯s stomach. He huffed and pulled his sword out. The man copsed as blood gushed out of the wound.

 Chapter 326 - Pleading for Forgiveness

    <h4>Chapter 326: Pleading for Forgiveness</h4>


    Before anyone could react, Nan Xun kicked the man away and deftly kept everyone else from getting close. They came to the realization that this mission wouldn¡¯t be a simple one.


    Nan Xun clearly had the upper hand, but Jun Huang couldn¡¯t stop herself from worrying for him. A mere spectator might find the battle thrilling. Jun Huang, however, noticed only how close the des were to Nan Xun. Soon, her hair was drenched with sweat.


    Suddenly, there was rustling behind her. She whirled around and saw a pair of dark, focused eyes. She tried to run, but the man easily caught her by her wrist and pulled her close, putting a dagger to her throat to stop her from struggling.


    ¡°Halt, or she dies,¡± the man croaked, his grating voice echoed in the woods.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t keep his calm when he saw the dagger threatening to cut her throat. He tightened his grip around his sword and held his breath, his eyes fixed on her.


    Jun Huang frowned, her expression unreadable. Nan Xun hesitated. He didn¡¯t want her to get hurt. His concerns stopped him from making a move.


    Noting his hesitation, the men decided to catch Nan Xun alive. Nan Xun, meanwhile, had made up his mind to drop his weapon in exchange for Jun Huang¡¯s safety.


    Jun Huang was overwhelmed by waves of memories. Dark alleyways, cries of the dying, the woods at night. The images blurred together in her head. The wind was deafening by her ears.


    She remembered something. She had once been caught as a hostage against Nan Xun. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the way Nan Xun had looked at her then.


    She opened her eyes. Nan Xun backed away from his enemies, weighed down by his concern for her. The attackers advanced and kept close to him.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath to calm herself. She could tell the man holding her hostage was focusing on Nan Xun as well. She gritted her teeth and bit the man¡¯s hand hard. The man dropped the dagger in pain. She stomped on his foot and pulled away.


    The man quickly recovered and drew his long sword to attack Jun Huang, grounding his teeth together. Jun Huang bent backward, dodging the sh by a hair. Before the man could make another attack, she rolled away and picked up the dagger from the ground.


    Seeing that Jun Huang had gotten away, Nan Xun made quick work of the assassins circling around him and rushed to Jun Huang.


    The man wielded a long sword, while Jun Huang only had a dagger. If they fought, it was clear who the winner would be.


    Seeing that Nan Xun hade this way, the man shed at Jun Huang again. She blocked the de with her dagger, but it was too small to be effective. It flew out of her hand, cutting off a strand of her hair.


    Nan Xun got close enough to throw his sword just in time, the de burying into the man¡¯s chest. The man widened his eyes and copsed to the ground.


    Jun Huang dropped to her knees like all the fight had left her suddenly. She took a deep breath,wiping off the sweat covering her forehead.


    Nan Xun helped her up and, before Jun Huang could speak, snapped, ¡°You¡¯re too reckless! If I¡¯d been a little slower, you¡¯d have died!¡±


    Jun Huang knew how much danger she¡¯d been in, but his words hit her where she was most tender. She didn¡¯t want to be his burden, didn¡¯t want him to get hurt because of her. And yet he dismissed her attempt so easily.


    Her eyes stung. She averted her gaze. Nan Xun didn¡¯t know why she was angry. They had had their fair share of arguments before, but Jun Huang rarely treated him so coldly. In panic, he stepped to face her and grabbed her shoulders. ¡°I... didn¡¯t mean to snap at you. I just don¡¯t want you to get hurt.¡±


    Jun Huang refused to say anything or even looked at him. The moon shone on her face and made her look even colder. It scared Nan Xun in ways he couldn¡¯t exin. It was as if she¡¯d disappear if he didn¡¯t catch her.


    Nan Xun stepped to her front again and said, ¡°I apologize. It¡¯s all my fault.¡±


    Jun Huang finally met his gaze, but her expression was still impassive. ¡°Your Highness can do no wrong. I¡¯m the reckless one. I¡¯ll never trouble you again.¡±


    Nan Xun paused, a little thrilled by her attitude. That was how Jun Huang had treated him before. Had she recovered her memory?


    He realized that he was wrong, though, when he looked at her eyes. Heughed bitterly, disappointed, but he still had to say something to quell her anger. It took a moment for him toe up with something. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried about dragging me down. You were thinking about my safety when you were held hostage, which I appreciate. I¡¯m d you care about me. However, you¡¯re the most important thing in my eyes. Not even my life is worth enough to ¨C ¡±


    Jun Huang covered his mouth to stop his nonsense, her brows furrowed. ¡°Stop that! Don¡¯t talk about yourself like you¡¯re expendable. I don¡¯t like it.¡±


    ¡°Like you, I simply don¡¯t want you to get hurt.¡± Nan Xun took her hands. ¡°I always worry, Jun Huang. I worry you¡¯ll get hurt because of my carelessness. Please, for the peace of my mind, always put your safety first.¡±


    ¡°I get it.¡± Jun Huang softened and cracked a small smile at his earnest request. Nan Xun sighed in relief. He knew being forceful wouldn¡¯t do him any good. Jun Huang had a big heart and responded better to emotional pleas.


    He decided it was best for him to put aside his pride and beg her for forgiveness. The pitiful look shed with his sculpted and handsome face. Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    Her eyes crinkled and her face rxed, her lips pulled into a genuine smile. She was beautiful, her brightugh intoxicating. Nan Xun stared at her, entranced.


    Jun Huang fixed her hair and looked up after she¡¯d finally stoppedughing. Nan Xun was still staring at her.


    She arched an eyebrow and grinned. ¡°Is there something on my face? A flower blooming, perhaps? Why are you still staring at me?¡±


    ¡°Nothing of the mundane world canpare to you,¡± Nan Xun said without thinking. ¡°If you were a flower, you¡¯d be the blood lotus in Southern Mu, found only in the snowy mountains and standing tall and proud in istion.¡±


    They both fell silent after that. Jun Huang looked at Nan Xun owlishly, who realized btedly he¡¯d voiced his thoughts and embarrassed himself.


    He cleared his throat and turned away, but his reddened earlobes didn¡¯t escape Jun Huang¡¯s attention. She felt warmed, her heart fluttering.


    She wasn¡¯t going tough at him for that. She took a deep breath and asked, ¡°Do you know who those people are?¡±


    Nan Xun was hesitant, but in the end, he decided to tell her the truth. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize them, but I suspect the House of Heavenly Fiends to be involved. I visited their operation base earlier today and talked to the old man in charge. They were suspicious. They must have realized why I went there and decided to take us out.¡±


    Jun Huang considered his words. Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t lie to her, so she didn¡¯t doubt anything he said. She contemted on the kind of an organization the House of Heavenly Fiends was. She wondered if it was somehow connected to her identity.


    Neither of them had an answer. The fact that Jun Hao was still missing stopped them from dwelling on the issue.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go back first. This isn¡¯t exactly a safe ce.¡± Nan Xun looked around. There was no telling how many assassins had been deployed. They made it out intact this time, but it was better not to tempt fate by staying.


    Jun Huang nodded and followed Nan Xun back to the manor. When they entered through the window, there was a man inside. They rxed when they got a good look and realized it was Yin Yun.


    ¡°Where were you?¡± Yin Yun frowned. He could smell blood from them.


    Nan Xun gave Jun Huang a look and told Yin Yun the truth. Yin Yun didn¡¯t say anything, but it was clear he was displeased. Nan Xun knew he¡¯d put Jun Huang in danger, so he didn¡¯t attempt to defend himself.


    Jun Huang noticed the tension between them. She coughed and said to Nan Xun, ¡°It¡¯s worrying that Jun Hao is still missing. Do you have any ideas? We can¡¯t just stay here and wait for clues to drop in ourp, can we?¡±

 Chapter 327 - Deep in the Alleyway

    <h4>Chapter 327: Deep in the Alleyway</h4>


    Nan Xun nodded and turned to Yin Yun. ¡°What have you found in the manor?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been watching members of the family,¡± said Yin Yun. ¡°I noticed something strange about the Grand Chancellor.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Everyday after work, he¡¯ll leave the manor for some time. I asked around. The servants said the Grand Chancellor has started doing that recently. No one knows where he¡¯s going or why.¡± Yin Yun exined his findings.


    Jun Huang nced at Nan Xun. She was pretty sure the Grand Chancellor must have been the one who moved Jun Hao. He left the manor every day to check on him.


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes bemusedly. They¡¯d have to follow the Grand Chancellor and see for themselves.


    She kept quiet about it. They couldn¡¯t afford to alert the Grand Chancellor. She had to observe him some more and waited for an opening.


    The next few days, Jun Huang kept an eye on the Grand Chancellor and sometimes chatted with him. He¡¯d always been polite to her and made time to talk to her. Her eloquence surprised the Grand Chancellor. On the surface, they seemed like a father and daughter with a close rtionship.


    The mistress was pleased. She asked her husband to make more time for Jun Huang, which Jun Huang pretended to not notice.


    She soon figured out the Grand Chancellor¡¯s schedule. The day she decided to follow the Grand Chancellor, she dismissed her servants first, saying that she was going to the study to seek her ¡°father¡± out. The servants left her be.


    She spotted the Grand Chancellor inside the study. She didn¡¯t enter the door and instead hid in the shadows. The Grand Chancellor left the study and made his way outside. He hadn¡¯t brought any servants or guards with him, which made it easier for Jun Huang to stalk him.


    She carefully stayed out of sight. The Grand Chancellor was cautious, looking around every now and then to make sure he wasn¡¯t followed. To avoid detection, Jun Huang didn¡¯t get too close to him.


    They made many turns and finally arrived at a deep alleyway. There was a small house inside. Jun Huang stayed away and observed from behind arge tree.


    Suddenly, someone approached her. She whirled around. Nan Xun quickly covered her mouth to stop her from making any sounds.


    Jun Huang rxed when she saw that it was him. Nan Xun shook his head at her and pointed at the house.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± whispered Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun pulled her closer and didn¡¯t immediately respond. Jun Huang frowned, worried that Nan Xun was angry at her for making a move without telling him.


    He chuckled and assured her, ¡°I know you¡¯ll do this, so I¡¯ve been keeping an eye on you. It turns out my worry isn¡¯t unfounded.¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes. ¡°I... didn¡¯t mean to leave you in the dark.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Nan Xun said reassuringly, stopping her from thinking too much. ¡°This is a rare opportunity. You don¡¯t have the time to get prepared. It¡¯s reasonable for you to think on your feet.¡±


    The Grand Chancellor walked out of the house. Nan Xun ttened himself to the tree and pulled Jun Huang closer, keeping both of them out of the Grand Chancellor¡¯s line of sight.


    He let go of Jun Huang after the Grand Chancellor was far enough away. They vaulted over the wall and entered the small quadranglepound, which wasposed of a good number of houses.


    ¡°You¡¯re clever enough to see through everything,¡± Jun Huang said admiringly. Nan Xun paused and couldn¡¯t help feeling a little proud.


    ¡°I¡¯m just prepared,¡± he said, controlling his excitement. ¡°Remember to always be careful, especially when I¡¯m not around.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°I will. Don¡¯t worry.¡± She looked up at Nan Xun and smiled softly, uncharacteristically meek.


    A chuckle escaped Nan Xun¡¯s mouth. She¡¯d always been calm and collected. This was a side of her he had never seen. It fascinated him.


    He ruffled her hair. ¡°I¡¯m going to fall for you again if you smile like that once more.¡±


    Jun Huang started and realized that Nan Xun was teasing her. She red at him and kicked at him. Unfortunately she missed and lost her bnce. Nan Xun quickly caught her wrist.


    He sighed in relief once she¡¯d regained her bnce. He took a step back, identally knocking into a jug. The sound was almost deafening in the silence.


    Someone opened the door and rushed out, alerted by the noise. Nan Xun managed to pull Jun Huang to a corner and hold her close to stay out of sight. Another set of footsteps approached them.


    ¡°Who was it?¡± a man called out.


    Nan Xun frowned and, struck with inspiration, mimicked the sound of a cat.


    ¡°Just a stray,¡± the other man said, patting hispanion¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t be so tense. We¡¯ve remained undetected so far. We aren¡¯t going to be discovered so suddenly.¡±


    The man nodded and returned to the building. Nan Xun and Jun Huang exchanged a knowing look.


    ¡°Jun Hao must be here,¡± said Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°There must be more than two guards. We should find him quickly.¡±


    ¡°Alright, follow me.¡±


    Nan Xun took her hand and carefully went through the different rooms. Both of them kept their breathing silent as they quietly navigated the house. Nan Xun took point and surveyed the rooms carefully. Many of them were empty. Some were upied by a couple guards who were resting and killing time.


    There were too many rooms. It wouldn¡¯t help for them to stick together. After some discussion, they decided to each take a side of the hallway and went in the same direction.


    In one of the rooms Nan Xun went through, there was a woman breastfeeding a child. The childy in her arms, their face obscured. Nan Xun averted his eyes from the woman¡¯s bare skin and kept going.


    Jun Huang noticed Nan Xun¡¯s pause, but since he hadn¡¯t said anything, she assumed there was nothing unusual. She kept searching as well.


    They¡¯d gone through every room lining this hallway. Jun Huang was getting agitated. ¡°Let¡¯s check the other side.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and trailed after her, but then quickly turned back to where they¡¯de from.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jun Huang turned to him in question.


    ¡°Something¡¯s not right,¡± muttered Nan Xun. He rushed back to one of the rooms he¡¯d checked. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what that was about, but she kept close to him.


    Without hesitation, Nan Xun pushed the door open. The woman turned to the door when she heard the creak and widened her eyes, but Nan Xun knocked her out with a hit to the nape of her neck before she could make a sound.


    The woman slumped on the chair. When Jun Huang entered the door, Nan Xun was carefully holding a boy in his arms. He looked to be seven, or at most eight. Something about the boy was familiar to her, but she couldn¡¯t remember anything.


    Nan Xun gave her a nce. ¡°I saw her feeding the boy and didn¡¯t think too much of it, but upon reconsideration, it¡¯s odd for this room to be upied by civilians when the others aren¡¯t. I get suspicious...¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t need him to continue. She made sure the woman was still breathing before shifting her focus to the boy in Nan Xun¡¯s arms.


    Nan Xun looked at her, then at Jun Hao. He shook his head. ¡°We haven¡¯t been loud, but I don¡¯t want to risk alerting anyone by staying. Let¡¯s leave thepound first.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and followed after Nan Xun. They snuck to where the wall was the shortest. Nan Xun was holding a boy. It was better to be more cautious than they¡¯d been when they entered


    Nan Xun was going to take Jun Hao out ande back for Jun Huang, but she thought that was too much hassle, and she didn¡¯t want Jun Hao to be left alone. She shook her head and said she¡¯d climb over herself.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t argue. Jun Huang was stubborn, and she had a point. It would be risky to leave Jun Hao outside unsupervised. He brought the boy to the other side of the wall.


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and held her dress up so that she could step on the bricks and climb onto the wall. Up here, she could see everything happening in thepound. Just when she was going to jump down, she saw someoneing her way. Her pupils contracted.


    Nan Xun could tell from her reaction that someone wasing. He quickly pulled Jun Huang down by her ankles and covered her mouth before she could yelp in surprise.


    Jun Huang leaned against him with her heart in her throat. She could hear her blood pumping in her ears. They stayed close to the wall, listening for any unusual sounds. Only when the footsteps faded away did Nan Xun let go of Jun Huang. She gasped for air, knocking her own chest.

 Chapter 328 - Near Miss

    <h4>Chapter 328: Near Miss</h4>


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart clenched when he saw the sweat covering Jun Huang¡¯s forehead. He wiped it off for her. ¡°Scared?¡±


    Jun Huang waved a dismissive hand and looked at Jun Hao silently. Nan Xun was a little worried that Jun Hao was still unconscious, but he didn¡¯t let it show. ¡°Do you recognize him?¡±


    Jun Huang nced at him before carefully considering Jun Hao. She shook her head. ¡°I do think he looks familiar. It¡¯s like we¡¯ve known each other for a long time. However, I don¡¯t recall anything.¡±


    That didn¡¯t surprise Nan Xun, but he was still a little disappointed. He sighed. ¡°It¡¯s alright that you can¡¯t remember now. You will eventually.¡±


    A pause, and Jun Huang asked, ¡°Does that make you sad?¡±


    Her tone was gentle and careful. Nan Xun gazed deeply into her eyes and chuckled, ruffling her hair. ¡°Of course I am, but that doesn¡¯t change anything. I¡¯m not going to leave you. I¡¯ll wait until you remember your past, or find some way to help you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll recover your memory sooner orter.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me you remembered bits and pieces? You just need something to trigger your memory. You do know Jun Hao. You simply ¨C ¡± Nan Xun stopped himself and lowered his eyes, his expression a little dejected.


    He was d that Jun Huang had remembered something, but after that came a sense of loss. He wanted her to remember everything about him.


    He told himself to be patient.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get out of here first.¡± Nan Xun carried Jun Hao with one hand and took Jun Huang¡¯s wrist with the other. They made their way out of the alley and reached Nan Xun¡¯s temporary residence.


    Nan Xun ced Jun Hao on the bed. Jun Huang pursed her lips staring at the pale boy, her heart aching.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what he could do to make things better. In the end, he left the siblings alone and ordered a shadowguard to get a doctor.


    When Jun Huang came out of the room, she¡¯d put on her calm mask again. It was as if her pain had all been an illusion.


    ¡°It¡¯s time for me to return,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°If I get exposed, it¡¯ll be troublesome.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and patted her shoulder reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s safe here. My shadowguards will protect him. No one can take Jun Hao away. Now, we have to return to make sure those in the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor don¡¯t notice anything wrong. The rest can wait.¡±


    ¡°Mydy, we¡¯ve been looking for you. Why are you here?¡± The maid found ¡°Jun Huang¡± in a pavilion. She frowned and jogged up to her.


    Jun Huang looked back at the maid, her eyes dark and unreadable. She lowered her gaze and smiled. ¡°I was bored, so I came without telling you. Apologies for making you worry.¡±


    For some reason, the maid felt there was something odd about Jun Huang today. She was usually cold and unapproachable. It wasn¡¯t like her to say what she¡¯d said. However, She didn¡¯t look any different.


    Jun Huang frowned in response to the maid¡¯s open stare. The maid quickly lowered her eyes, showing Jun Huang the utmost respect.


    When no one was looking, ¡°Jun Huang¡± let out a long breath. Under her sleeve, her palms were covered in sweat.


    It was silent for a moment. She sat down and poured herself a cup of tea. A hint of sweetness lingered in her mouth after the bitter taste.


    Catching the maid sneaking nces at her, she stared at the maid and scoffed. ¡°What have I done to warrant such scrutiny from you?¡±


    The maid dropped down to her knees and shuddered. Everyone knew the mistress had pped the third young mistress for Jun Huang. In their eyes, the third mistress had done nothing wrong, and yet she was the one being punished. They knew what the implications were and considered Jun Huang someone they mustn¡¯t offend.


    The maid didn¡¯t dare get up without Jun Huang¡¯s say-so. She stayed kneeling on the cold bluestone. The others watched and did nothing, too afraid to speak up for the maid.


    It was getting dark. A pageboy from the front building rushed to them. ¡°Mydy, master asked you to join them for dinner. He said it was rare for everyone in the family to be here. It¡¯d be nice to share a meal together.¡±


    ¡°Jun Huang¡± nodded and rose to her feet. She nced at the maid and scoffed. ¡°Do you need me to help you up?¡±


    The maid got to her feet and stayed by Jun Huang¡¯s side, suppressing her pain.


    ¡°Jun Huang¡± was panicking a little. She knew the real Jun Huang didn¡¯t treat her servants like this, but if she did nothing, the maid would notice something wrong. She might as well intimidate the maid so that the maid wouldn¡¯t be watching her.


    As she¡¯d nned, the maid wasn¡¯t even focused on her on their way to the dining hall. When they reached their destination, the others had already arrived. They greeted Jun Huang with forced politeness.


    ¡°Jun Huang¡± smiled awkwardly and tried her best to keep up with the conversation. Still, maintaining the front was enough to make her sweat. She covered her mouth and coughed, her face turning pale. The mistress started and worriedly took her hand.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, my child? Feeling sick?¡±


    ¡°Jun Huang¡± lowered her eyes and pulled away, hiding her hand under her sleeve to prevent the mistress from noticing the callouses umted from years of sword wielding. She coughed again and said weakly, ¡°I must have caught a cold from staying in the pavilion for too long. I don¡¯t feel too good. Please excuse me. I don¡¯t want to ruin the mood.¡±


    The Grand Chancellor frowned deeply. He motioned at the servants to help her back to her residence. The mistress was angry at them for not taking good enough care of her. ¡°Jun Huang¡± spent some time talking her out of punishing the servants.


    She made her way out with the maid¡¯s help and returned to her room, telling the maid to leave her alone. She knew the mistress had sent for a doctor. She worried that the real Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t be able to return before the doctor arrived.


    Cold sweat streamed down her face. She opened the door and looked outside. The darkness didn¡¯t make her feel any better.


    She took off her mask, revealing a stoic and masculine face.


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun rushed back to the manorter than they¡¯d expected because of Jun Hao. Jun Huang was worried that Yin Yun might have gotten exposed. Although he was a master of disguise, at the end of the day he was a man. He wouldn¡¯t be able to y a woman perfectly.


    Yin Yun should be having dinner with the Grand Chancellor as her, but when they passed by her residence, themp was lit. Both Jun Huang and Nan Xun panicked a little. Had Yin Yun been discovered?


    They quickly calmed down and snuck close to the building out of everyone¡¯s sight. They entered the room through the window.


    Yin Yun sighed in relief when he saw them. He rushed to Jun Huang. ¡°Long story short, I imed to be sick to avoid getting exposed. However, the mistress insisted on getting a doctor out of worry. He¡¯ll arrive soon. It¡¯s fortunate that you¡¯ve returned.¡±


    Jun Huang quickly grasped the situation. She nodded and said in concern, ¡°I¡¯m not sick, though. The doctor will notice that.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Yin Yun took out a small ceramic bottle and opened the lid. Out rolled a round pill. ¡°This can make you weak and disturb your energy. You¡¯ll go back to normal afterwards. No side effects.¡±


    Voices could be heard from outside. Jun Huang threw her reservation out of the window and swallowed the pill. She put on some makeup to make her look even more ill. Her legs went weak after taking a few steps.


    Nan Xun hurriedly caught her and ced her on the bed. He didn¡¯t me Yin Yun. The pill was doing what it was supposed to do. As the voices got closer, he quickly tucked her under the nket and went into hiding with Yin Yun.


    The door opened. Jun Huang looked up and saw the mistress leading a doctor into the room. The mistress hurried to the bed, surprised by how ill she looked. She took Jun Huang¡¯s cold fingers and asked worriedly, ¡°How are you, my child?¡±


    Jun Huang gave her a sickly smile and shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, mother. I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll be alright after some rest.¡±


    She covered her mouth and coughed.


    The doctor put a handkerchief over her wrist and took her pulse. He thought for a moment with a hand idly stroking his beard. ¡°Her old illness rpsed, and she¡¯s caught a slight cold. The coldness shed with the heat in her body and disrupted her system.¡±


    He sighed. ¡°She would be fine after some rest. It¡¯s best that she stay in the room until she recovers. Have some bird¡¯s nest soup every day. I¡¯ll also write up a prescription for her. She should recover in a few days.¡±


    He got prepared to leave. The mistress gave the maid a pointed look, silently telling her to walk the doctor out.

 Chapter 329 - Intimacy

    <h4>Chapter 329: Intimacy</h4>


    The mistress was the only other person left in the room. She took Jun Huang¡¯s hand and frowned. ¡°You should¡¯ve stayed indoors. What are you going to do if your illness hassting effects? We¡¯ve done all we could to help you recover, but all our work has been undone. You don¡¯t want to be riddled with illness in the future, do you?¡±


    Her forehead creased in concern, her tone reprimanding. Nan Xun balled his hands into fists and scowled. It was hypocritical of the woman to say such things.


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and made a sound of assent. She didn¡¯t want to risk exposing her fake illness.


    ¡°I just want the best for you,¡± the mistress said, letting out a sigh at Jun Huang¡¯s meek look. She stroked her hair and looked at her with sympathetic eyes. ¡°If you don¡¯t recover, I¡¯m going to be worried.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at her and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind. It¡¯s my fault for getting careless with myself. As your daughter I should¡¯ve shouldered your burden rather than making you worry. I...¡±


    She choked out a heartbreaking sob.


    Nan Xun clenched his fists and took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he recalled the way Jun Huang used to snuggle close to him in a moment of weakness. The destruction of Western Que had always been her biggest regret. It turned a carefree princess into a woman driven by revenge, her naturally caring heart hardened by hatred.


    He knew better than anyone how tired Jun Huang had been. Too many things were weighing her down, keeping her on edge.


    Perhaps it wasn¡¯t such a bad thing for her to lose her memory. However, family remained her biggest weakness. Even though she didn¡¯t remember, she ached for the loved ones she¡¯d lost.


    The mistress looked at her pityingly and wiped her tears with an embroidered handkerchief. ¡°Don¡¯t say such things.¡± She sighed. ¡°The only thing I want is for you to be well. Remember that, and take care of yourself.¡±


    Although the mistress wasn¡¯t her real mother, Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help feeling touched. She took a deep breath and rested her head on the mistress¡¯s shoulder. It took some time for her to recover herposure.


    The mistress sighed in relief and patted her back reassuringly.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine now, mother.¡± Jun Huang sat up. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You haven¡¯t eaten yet because of me. You should have something and rest well.¡±


    The mistress nodded and sighed again. She gently touched Jun Huang¡¯s sharp cheekbone. After saying a few moreforting words, she left.


    Jun Huang quickly masked the emotions in her eyes. The tears on her face were in stark contrast with her cold expression.


    She closed her eyes and breathed out slowly, as if to push out all her painful feelings. When she opened her eyes, Yin Yun and Nan Xun hade back to her room.


    Nan Xun retrieved a handkerchief and wiped away her tears for her. He took her cold fingers.


    Jun Huang looked at him and spoke up, ¡°You should go. I worry that Jun Hao may not be safe on his own. I¡¯ll feel better with you by his side.¡±


    Nan Xun gave her a hurt look and said with something like envy, ¡°You used to worry about me as well, but now you¡¯re driving me away for someone you don¡¯t remember. It breaks my heart.¡±


    He averted his gaze and looked at Yin Yun. ¡°Besides, isn¡¯t Yin Yun your brother¡¯s personal guard? He has more of a personal investment in Jun Hao, and Jun Hao will be happier seeing him.¡±


    Yin Yun¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You¡¯ve found the prince?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s smile deepened. He nodded. ¡°We have. He¡¯s kept in a safe ce, but the ones guarding him are all strangers to him. He was still unconscious when we left. He¡¯s going to be scared when he wakes up to a strange environment. He doesn¡¯t know me, and Jun Huang hasn¡¯t regained her memory. He might not react well to that since he¡¯s still young. That leaves you the best candidate. Will you go and keep him safe?¡±


    Yin Yun nodded, silentlymending Nan Xun for his consideration. In a fit of excitement, he shot to his feet and jumped out of the window without consulting Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang stared at the window, caught off guard by his sudden departure. When she turned back, Nan Xun was watching her without blinking.


    His eyes had always been dark like a bottomless pond, hiding a wealth of histories, unreadable, but captivating. She felt as if she was going to fall into them with no chance of getting out.


    Their gazes met and locked. Jun Huang¡¯s eyes were almost terrifyingly beautiful, reflecting a vibrant and vast world, untouchable, but gentle. The two traits shouldn¡¯t be able to coexist, but they did.


    Nan Xun caressed her slightly hollowed cheek, his gaze tender and adoring. Jun Huang blushed, her heart skipping a beat. Gone was the pale shade her face had turned because of the pill. Red spread from her cheeks down to her neck. Her eyes went misty and alluring.


    Nan Xun¡¯s fingers danced lightly along her face, tickling. It mortified Jun Huang. She knew about her rtionship with Nan Xun, but she didn¡¯t remember their past. This was way too intimate a gesture for her to take.


    ¡°You ¨C You¡¯re acting like a lewd man! You ¨C your desires are ¨C ¡± Jun Huang stammered and struggled to form aplete sentence. She lowered her head bashfully, her face covered by her dark hair. Nan Xun bit down augh.


    ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for a while. We¡¯re practically an old married couple. I don¡¯t know what to do with you when you¡¯re like this. What¡¯s wrong about me wanting to get close to my wife?¡± Nan Xun teased, his eyes crinkling.


    Jun Huang looked up at him. Something unreadable in her eyes made Nan Xun nervous. He dropped his smile and straightened his back.


    Finally, Jun Huang said, ¡°You always talk about our past, but I don¡¯t remember anything. I don¡¯t know how you feel... Do you love the Jun Huang you remember, or me, who have lost all my memory?¡±


    Nan Xun stared at her in surprise. He didn¡¯t expect such words toe out of Jun Huang¡¯s mouth. She¡¯d been a dignified and proud woman with a smile that could captivate a city, but made untouchable by her inherent steely presence. After losing her memory, she became more human, personable.


    Jun Huangughed bitterly. ¡°Is it so difficult to answer? Or would the Jun Huang you know never ask such a question?¡±


    She was right, which made Nan Xun even more nervous. He struggled to find the right answer, troubled by her insistence.


    After a long pause, he said, ¡°You are the same person, Jun Huang. You¡¯re the woman I fell in love with.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not true.¡± She smiled ruefully. ¡°Both you and Yin Yun told me the Jun Huang you knew were brave and clever. She was a strong woman who could hold her own. I, however, can¡¯t do anything. I¡¯m nothing but a burden to both of you.¡±


    Nan Xun was stunned, troubled by her criticism for herself. He sighed and pulled her into his arms. ¡°Such nonsense, you silly girl,¡± he said, his voice soft like a sigh. ¡°I love you. No matter what you¡¯ve be, that¡¯s never going to change. No one can ever rece you. Don¡¯t think too much. Just stay by my side.¡±


    Nan Xun knew where her pessimism came from. Too many people had hurled insults since her loss of memory. Her pride was bruised, which led to her doubting herself.


    He couldn¡¯t bear seeing her so dejected. Remembering that Jun Huang was ticklish, he started tickling her.


    She bit down herugh and tried to pull away. Nan Xun kept his arms tight around her torso and stopped her from dodging him. She ended up with flushed cheeks and tears in her eyes. Nan Xun swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.


    ¡°Alright, knock it off,¡± Jun Huang said without heat, panting tiredly in his arms. ¡°We¡¯ll be in trouble if someone hears us. How am I going to exin you?¡±


    Nan Xun let go of her and carefully wiped away the tears in her eyes. He¡¯d aplished his goal of distracting Jun Huang.

 Chapter 330 - Siblings Reunion

    <h4>Chapter 330: Siblings Reunion</h4>


    Jun Huang tilted her head up. Under the candlelight, her eyes shone with tears threatening to fall, but she blinked it away.


    Nan Xun sighed and covered her eyes. He¡¯d always loved them, so unmatched in their beauty. But at the same time, her eyes had turned cold because of all the tragedies she¡¯d witnessed.


    ¡°You are my wife no matter what, Jun Huang. I won¡¯t ever let go of you.¡± He gazed at her deeply, gently expressing his love for her. ¡°I¡¯m willing to be alone for three lives in exchange for a lifetime with you. I don¡¯t care what others think. You¡¯re the only one for me.¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes. During their brief time together, Nan Xun had always been proud and dignified despite the asional jest he made, and there was an inherent air of steeliness to him. She never thought he would be capable of such tender words.


    She lowered her eyes. Is this how you used to treat the woman I was?


    She didn¡¯t voice her question. It was too hurtful, and she knew Nan Xun¡¯s confession had been for her benefit. Her earlier self-doubt did seem uncharacteristic of her. She never considered herself a sentimental woman, and yet she was so anxious because of a man.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what she was thinking about. He held her hand and warmed her fingers up with the heat of his palms.


    Broken out of her trance, Jun Huang gave him a small smile, but didn¡¯t say anything.


    Nan Xun considered her room. Jun Huang wasn¡¯t bothered by that. She walked up to the window and looked out at the scenery, pale and almost lifeless. It made her feel cold just by looking at it.


    She turned and fell into a warm embrace. Chuckling, she took a step away from Nan Xun, who took a step forward to keep close to her.


    ¡°Look outside. The moon cast a silver glow and the world radiates such coldness it¡¯s even visible,¡± Nan Xun said quietly, his tone pleading. ¡°If I go now, I¡¯m going to catch a cold. Then I won¡¯t be able toe visit you.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned in contemtion, her lips pursed and her unreadable eyes downcast. Nan Xun waited for her answer patiently.


    If she kicked him out, he wouldn¡¯tin. It was good enough for him to watch Jun Huang, even from afar. He considered himself lucky.


    Still, he got nervous when Jun Huang looked up at him. He held his breath like a man awaiting the verdict of his trial.


    Jun Huangughed and closed the window. ¡°It¡¯s pretty windy today, and Yin Yun and Jun Hao are at your ce. You won¡¯t have a ce to stay. And I ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Yes, your brother has Yin Yun, and you should have me to guard you,¡± Nan Xun said with a grin. He knew Jun Huang would be too bashful to openly ask him to stay.


    With a blush, she huffed andy down on her bed.


    It had been an eventful day. Her temples started throbbing once exhaustion set in. She closed her eyes, seemingly having fallen asleep.


    Nan Xun gingerlyy down next to her. Before he could put his arms around her, she opened her eyes.


    They were bright and steely like the stars in the sky. Nan Xun awkwardly pulled his hands back, struggling toe up with something to say.


    Jun Huang was surprised by hisck of exnation. She nced at him and raised an eyebrow. Nan Xun was preupied and didn¡¯t seem to notice.


    They stayed silent for a long time before Jun Huang said, ¡°I thought I was tired, but I couldn¡¯t fall asleep. Would you mind telling me about our past? Maybe that¡¯ll jog my memory.¡±


    Nan Xun smiled wryly and patted her head with a sigh. ¡°If so, I¡¯ll tell you everything... Since you want to know, there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t tell you about our past. You don¡¯t have to dwell on it. Just let things happen on their own. I won¡¯t me you even if you don¡¯t remember anything. Your healthes first.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and turned to him, waiting for him to start. Nan Xun chuckled at her hopeful expression and started talking about their story.


    It was a long and captivating one. Jun Huang listened with rapt attention, but only in the way one would a thrilling tale. Slowly, her breathing grew long and slow until she fell asleep.


    Nan Xun stopped talking and looked at her, his eyes filled with adoration. She looked peaceful in her sleep. It slowed his heart and made him feel as if theing storm had nothing to do with them.


    He leaned over and dropped a light kiss on her forehead before falling asleep with Jun Huang¡¯s hand in his.


    Early the next morning, Jun Huang woke up to Nan Xun sitting by the bed and looking at her. She blinked the haziness out of her eyes and cleared her throat as she sat up.


    ¡°After breakfast,e back to your room, and I¡¯ll take you to Jun Hao,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°He must have woken up by now.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded, excited despite herself. She had breakfast delivered to her room and dismissed the maids, iming to want peace as she recovered. The mistress had also ordered them to not bother Jun Huang these couple of days, which made it easier for Jun Huang to leave with Nan Xun.


    They snuck past the guards in the manor and made their way to Nan Xun¡¯s safehouse. Jun Huang seemed calm and collected, but Nan Xun knew she was anything but.


    Noting that Nan Xun was looking at her, Jun Huang asked with a frown, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°When you see him... don¡¯t let Jun Hao know what happened to you. He¡¯s still a naive boy. It¡¯ll do more harm than good for him to know everything. There¡¯s no reason to make him worry. What do you say?¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Jun Huang nodded. Nan Xun patted her shoulder reassuringly. The warmth made her feel less like she was going to break from the seams.


    Jun Hao turned to her from the bed when she opened the door. His eyes lit up when he saw her. Jun Huang¡¯s chest tightened.


    ¡°Big sister, I know you¡¯ll find me!¡± Jun Hao jumped off the bed and threw himself at Jun Huang, holding tightly to her. His whole body trembled with excitement and joy, his hands clutching her sleeves and refusing to let go.


    Jun Huang was caught off guard. She looked down at her brother. His teary eyes made her feel even more helpless. As she¡¯d done many times in the past, she reflexively turned to Nan Xun for help when she didn¡¯t know what to do. Nan Xun snorted fondly.


    He patted Jun Hao on the shoulder, who looked up at Nan Xun, his eyes red and pitiful.


    Nan Xun bent down and sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t cling to her. Your sister has been ill. She¡¯s finally recovered somewhat. If you keep pressuring her, she may get sick again.¡±


    With some hesitation, he continued, ¡°You should all speak your mind now. There¡¯s no telling how much time we¡¯ll have. You must have a lot of things to tell each other. We¡¯re all on the same side here. There¡¯s no need for you to hold back.¡±


    Jun Hao burst into tears, bawling so hard it broke everyone¡¯s heart.


    It¡¯s a good thing we¡¯ve kept what happened to Jun Huang from him, Nan Xun thought. Or the boy is going to cry even harder.


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart ached for Jun Hao. The familial bond between them remained despite her loss of memory.


    ¡°Alright, stop crying. You look terrible when you cry.¡± She swallowed down a sob. Her eyes stung. It pained her to hear Jun Huang crying out for his big sister.


    Jun Hao was still a child. It was only natural that he wouldn¡¯t be able to let go of the sister he¡¯d been apart from for so long. No matter what Jun Huang did, she couldn¡¯t make him stop crying. Eventually, she held him tight and started sobbing as well, affected by his outburst.


    Nan Xun sighed. He didn¡¯t want to be a bother, so he walked out of the room, giving them their privacy.


    Yin Yun rushed up to him. The faint wailinging from the room made his heart ache, but he didn¡¯t dare barge in.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked.


    Nan Xun closed the door behind him after a final nce. ¡°It¡¯s natural for them to react that way after reuniting with their only family,¡± he said with a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s better to let them be than to have them suppress their feelings.¡±

 Chapter 331 - The Next Step

    <h4>Chapter 331: The Next Step</h4>


    Yin Yun silently agreed. The two men walked away from the room.


    ¡°How¡¯s Jun Hao?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    ¡°The doctor said he would be fine,¡± responded Yin Yun. ¡°However, a lot has happened. That¡¯s why the boy is so insecure.¡°


    Nan Xun understood. Jun Hao was young. Of course he¡¯d be afraid after being kidnapped. He¡¯d been keeping himself together until Jun Huang showed up. The sight of his big sister broke his control.


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Crying is better than having his emotions bottled up.¡±


    Yin Yun nodded without a word. They waited in each other¡¯s silentpany.


    Eventually, Jun Huang came to her senses and stopped crying. She looked at the still sobbing Jun Hao, a little embarrassed. She didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Jun Hao looked up at her and asked like a kicked puppy, ¡°Are you leaving again, big sister?¡±


    He pouted. His face was still red from crying, and his eyes too. He looked pitiful, and his words were heartbreaking.


    Jun Huang sighed and wiped his tears away. ¡°You¡¯ve heard howplicated the situation is,¡± she finally said. ¡°I can¡¯t take you with me. Wait here and be a good boy. I¡¯m never going to abandon you. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Jun Hao clutched at her sleeve without a word. Jun Huang sighed again. ¡°You¡¯re a big boy now. You have to be brave. Stay here. I¡¯ll have Yin Yun keep youpany. Can you do that?¡±


    ¡°You promise toe back for me?¡± Jun Huang asked after a long pause, staring at Jun Huang.


    Her eyes stung again. She took a deep breath and looked away, nodding and blinking away the tears. ¡°I promise. You should rest some more.¡±


    She ced Jun Hao on the bed. The boy hadn¡¯t been sleeping well. With Jun Huang here, he immediately fell into a peaceful slumber.


    Jun Huang watched him for a long time, letting the pain in her chest settle. She stood up. After another nce at Jun Hao, she sighed and walked out of the door.


    Nan Xun exchanged a nce with Yin Yun and walked up to her.


    ¡°He¡¯s asleep now,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°Take good care of him, Yin Yun. Nan Xun and I will return to the manor. It¡¯s not safe for us to stay outside.¡±


    Her eyes were still red, but she¡¯d regained herposure. Nan Xun and Yin Yun therefore weren¡¯t too concerned about her.


    Yin Yun nodded and promised to take care of Jun Hao, telling her not to be worried. Nan Xun led her out of the house without a word.


    They returned to the manor and back to Jun Huang¡¯s room. She sat down on her bed, looking outside the window, deep in thought.


    Nan Xun watched her quietly. He wanted to offer herfort, but came up short when trying to find the right words.


    Jun Huang turned to him. ¡°You said you¡¯d find a way to restore my memory. Any news on that front? When will I be able to recover?¡±


    Nan Xun paused. ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily a good thing for you to get your memory back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind,¡± she said, her eyes burning with fire. ¡°I won¡¯t me you for whatever pain it¡¯ll bring me. I don¡¯t want to live in the dark anymore.¡±


    Nan Xun sighed and nodded in understanding. ¡°I¡¯ll help you. However, that can¡¯t be rushed. Give me some time.¡±


    Nan Xun put his men to look for Oleg Cragfiend. His action was noticeable if one knew what to look for. Nan Jihan soon got wind of it. He had a cup of tea in his hand when he received the news. His fingers trembled and the cup dropped.


    He shot to his feet and snapped at the eunuch, ¡°Get Oleg Cragfiend!¡±


    The eunuch nodded and hurried away. He soon came back with Oleg Cragfiend in tow. The poison master raised an eyebrow when he saw how pale Nan Jihan was. ¡°What¡¯s the emergency, Your Majesty?¡±


    Nan Jihan silently handed the letter to Oleg Cragfiend, who frowned as he read it.


    ¡°She must have been in actual danger. Otherwise, why would Nan Xun put in so much effort to look for you?¡± Nan Jihan huffed out a bitterugh. ¡°Thest time we saw him, he did seem urgent. And yet we turned him away... If something happens to Feng Baiyu, I... I¡¯ll never forgive myself.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend didn¡¯t immediately respond. He didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang¡¯s condition to get worse. There was an urgency to Nan Xun¡¯s action... she must have been seriously ill.


    The possibility made him lose all his calm. He rushed outside before anyone could react and packed his belongings. He ran into Nan Jihan¡¯s personal eunuch as soon as he left the pce.


    ¡°His Majesty knows the journey to Eastern Wu won¡¯t be an easy one,¡± said the eunuch. ¡°A coach has been arranged for you. Please don¡¯t turn him down. Miss Feng¡¯s safetyes first.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend didn¡¯t have any time to waste, so he epted Nan Jihan¡¯s offer and followed the eunuch to the coach. He immediately told the rider to depart.


    Nan Jihan looked at Oleg Cragfiend from a distance, his expression unreadable.


    ¡°Have you given up on her, brother?¡± Nan Guyue asked, walking up to Nan Jihan and watching the departing coach.


    Nan Jihanughed ruefully. ¡°What else am I going to do? Their bond is strong. We both know how much they care about each other. I used to think my life will be fulfilled as long as I can have her by my side, but after chasing her for so long, she must feel nothing but annoyance for me.¡±


    He sighed, his eyes glinting with loneliness. ¡°She¡¯s willing to give up everything for Nan Xun. I have to be truly shameless to keep trying to break them apart. It¡¯s better that I leave them be. I¡¯m fine as long as she¡¯s happy.¡±


    ¡°Do you really think so?¡± Nan Guyue looked at him, noting every change in his expression.


    Nan Jihan tilted his head to look at his sister, his gaze so lifeless it made Nan Guyue shudder. But then he smiled. It was bitter, but there was a sense of release to it. ¡°What if I still have feelings for her? She¡¯s never going to pick me. If I let go and let them be happy, maybe...¡± His voice turned so faint the rest of his sentence almost got lost in the wind. ¡°... maybe she¡¯ll remember me as a good man.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend rushed to Eastern Wu without dy. He immediately sought Nan Xun out. Nan Xun was surprised to see the poison master. He¡¯d been trying to find the old man for so long. Who knew the only thing it took to make him show up was to make him worry?


    The n wouldn¡¯t have worked if the poison master didn¡¯t care about Jun Huang so much.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not waste our time talking,¡± Oleg Cragfiend said without ceremony. ¡°Take me to Jun Huang.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He¡¯d made the necessary arrangements. He just needed the old man to work with him. After a brief discussion, they agreed on the n.


    At dusk the next day, Nan Xun had Oleg Cragfiend disguised as a produce vendor and took him to the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor as a servant. Oleg Cragfiend tensed up once he stepped into the foreign manor, while Nan Xun navigated through the premise with surprising ease.


    The servants in Jun Huang¡¯s residence had been dismissed earlier. Nan Xun took Oleg Cragfiend to her room without any difficulty.


    When they entered, Jun Huang was sitting on her bed leisurely. Oleg Cragfiend frowned. This wasn¡¯t what he expected.


    It suddenly dawned on him that while Nan Xun had acted worried, he hadn¡¯t said anything about Jun Huang¡¯s condition. He was the one who assumed Jun Huang was seriously ill. Now that he finally knew the truth, he had no choice but to keep it to himself.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what Nan Xun had done. She didn¡¯t react at all when she saw her master.


    Nan Xun exined briefly what had happened.


    Oleg Cragfiend quietly took Jun Huang¡¯s pulse. He nodded when he heard that Jun Huang wanted her memory back. ¡°I know what to do. However, I hear you¡¯ve taken medicine recently. What I¡¯m going to give you can¡¯t be mixed with other herbs. There may be shing effects. Give me the residue of the medicine you¡¯ve taken and let me check.¡±


    Jun Huang happened to have it. She pointed at the bronze mirror, telling Nan Xun where the residue was hidden. Nan Xun retrieved it handed it to the poison master.


    Oleg Cragfiend had a whiff with his eyes closed and nodded.

 Chapter 332 - Dissolution of Marriage

    <h4>Chapter 332: Dissolution of Marriage</h4>


    ¡°I¡¯ll work on the medicine.¡± With that, Oleg Cragfiend turned and left the room, leaving Jun Huang and Nan Xun alone.


    ¡°Your master is a great doctor,¡± assured Nan Xun. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯ll restore your memory.¡±


    Perhaps it was Nan Xun¡¯sforting words, or the inherent trust and familiarity she had with her master. Subconsciously, she believed her master would be able to cure her. It brightened her mood considerably.


    Morning came. Jun Huang was invited by the mistress to get some fresh air in the garden. Jun Huang bathed in the warm sunlight, her expression rxed when she thought about how she¡¯d soon recover her memory. She looked stunning.


    The mistress was surprised by her good mood. She asked with a smile, ¡°You seem happier these days. Have something good happened to you? Care to share?¡±


    Jun Huang dropped her smile and turned to the mistress. She scoffed inwardly when she remembered the young mistresses who¡¯d picked on Nan Xun.


    She lowered her eyes and said quietly, ¡°I was just reminded of something amusing.¡±


    Intrigued, the mistress asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Jun Huang paused, making the mistress curious, and finally said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to trouble mother, but it¡¯s embarrassing...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. You may be frank with me. No need to suppress yourself.¡± The mistress patted her hand reassuringly despite not knowing what she was going to say.


    ¡°To be honest with you, mother, third sister¡¯s fianc¨¦ has been contacting me, sending me books and letters and iming that he wanted to be with me. It¡¯sughable how shameless he can be. I didn¡¯t want to bother mother with this, but upon reconsideration, it¡¯d be worse if I say nothing. So...¡± Jun Huang lowered her eyes, her voice troubled.


    The mistress scowled, trying her best to tamp down her fury. She took a deep breath and tried rxing her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t fall for empty words, my child. Men like him are not to be trusted. Don¡¯t be clouded by your emotions.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded agreeably. ¡°I do find him undependable as well. It¡¯s such a hassle. But don¡¯t worry, mother. I don¡¯t feel anything for him.¡±


    The mistress¡¯s anger subsided. Even though she was still bothered, she wouldn¡¯t direct that at Jun Huang. She could feel a headache brewing. She rose to her feet and excused herself.


    Jun Huangzily poured herself a cup of tea, watching the mistress walk away. She slowly drank her tea. The taste was first bitter, then sweet. Such was the way of life.


    The mistress went to find the third young mistress and led her out of the manor without a word. The young mistress was confused, but she obediently followed her mother to the Li Manor.


    The mistress didn¡¯t intend to waste any time. She sought out Master Li and exined that she was here to terminate the marriage arrangement between the third young mistress and Gentleman Li. Neither expected the sudden turn of events.


    The mistress didn¡¯t give Gentleman Li an opportunity to exin. She scoffed. ¡°Gentleman Li doesn¡¯t take my daughter seriously, and my girl is too good for you. I hope you won¡¯t bother us anymore. This is your final warning.¡±


    She dragged her daughter away.


    It took some time for the third young mistress to recover from her shock. She broke out of her mother¡¯s grip and stared at her. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, mother? Have you thought about my feelings before you broke off the marriage? I love him! You know that! Why would you do such a thing?¡±


    The mistress calmly let her daughter vent and sighed at the sobbing girl. She pulled her into her arms. ¡°I just want the best for you, my child. Do you know he¡¯s been chasing after your sister after the banquet? If she hasn¡¯t told me, I wouldn¡¯t have known what an unreliable man he is!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re a respectful family,¡± offered the mistress. ¡°How can we let such a shameless man deceive us?¡±


    The third young mistress twisted her lips into an angry smile, her eyes brimming with tears. She took a deep breath and pulled out of her mother¡¯s embrace, walking away from her like a soulless carcass. The mistress sighed.


    The third young mistress didn¡¯t return to her room. Instead, she sat in a pavilion and sneered as she thought back to what had happened. The resentment in her heart grew until she couldn¡¯t contain it anymore. She shot to her feet and rushed toward Jun Huang¡¯s residence.


    Jun Huang was reading in the backyard when she heard themotion. With a frown, she looked up and saw the third young mistress¡¯s angry scowl. She put on a smile and greeted her.


    ¡°What¡¯s the asion, third sister?¡± Jun Huang asked. ¡°I should be the one visiting you.¡±


    The third young mistress sneered, eyes shooting daggers at Jun Huang. The guard who came with the third young mistress stepped between the two of them, worried that they would get into a fight and get hurt, which he would be held responsible for.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d do that! How can you be so cruel?! Do you fancy yourself a real young mistress with the liberty to do anything you want?¡±


    ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll believe that Brother Li has been chasing after you? A slut like you tells only lies! You must be the one who tried to seduce him!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re no better than a woman working in brothels!¡±


    The third young mistress had been blinded by anger. She was so focused on humiliating Jun Huang she didn¡¯t even know what she was talking about.


    Jun Huang held herself with dignity and looked up at her, ignoring the insults thrown her way like she was a bystander.


    Her calm reaction stoked the third young mistress¡¯s ire. She lunged at Jun Huang. Fortunately, the guard had been watching them. He quickly stopped the young mistress from getting to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang put down her tea cup and looked at the young mistress. ¡°I¡¯ll wee you if you¡¯re here to see me, third sister, but I don¡¯t know what to do when you tantly nder me. You¡¯ve crossed a line.¡±


    ¡°Ha, trying to attract sympathy now?¡± The third young mistress¡¯s eyes were red. She bared her teeth like she was prepared to tear Jun Huang to pieces. ¡°Do you take everyone as a fool? I know what you¡¯ve done! Stop lying! People like you deserve everyone¡¯s scorn!¡±


    Eyes steely, Jun Huang took her cup and sshed the tea at the third young mistress. Everyone was shocked by her sudden outburst.


    Unfazed by the disbelieving looks thrown her way, Jun Huang sat back down on the empress chair and poured herself another cup of tea. She nced at the third young mistress. There were tea leaves on her face, and her hair stuck to her skin. The amber liquid dripped down from her chin, tainting her pink dress. She was a mess.


    ¡°I only show respect for you because you¡¯re my older sister, but I can¡¯t ignore what you¡¯ve said,¡± Jun Huang said, her voice quiet but steely. ¡°Are you drunk? Is that why you couldn¡¯t control your tongue? If someone hears you, they¡¯ll spread rumors. A girl as clever as you should know that, right?¡±


    The third young mistress seemed to havee to her senses. She paused, her face going through a myriad of expressions. In the end, she stormed away with a scoff. The servants scattered as well.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t worried that the maid would tell on her to the mistress. She¡¯d taken the verbal abuse for long enough, and for reasons she couldn¡¯t be sure of, the mistress had been remarkably tolerant of her. Perhaps it was due to the conspiracy she was a part of.


    Nan Xun soon heard about their argument. With a dark look in his eyes, he sought out Jun Huang.


    ¡°When did all that happen?¡± He took Jun Huang¡¯s arm, forcing her to look at him. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me? Has that man been trying to win you over?¡±


    Subjected to Nan Xun¡¯s fierce gaze, Jun Huang couldn¡¯t be as calm as she had been facing the third young mistress. She averted her eyes and said carefully, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. The third young mistress dide to me, but she hadn¡¯t seeded in doing anything. In fact, I hear that she was punished by the mistress.¡±


    Her trying to evade the real question made Nan Xun even angrier, but he didn¡¯t want to take it out on her. He took a deep breath and started tickling her again.


    She pleaded for him to stop with tears in her eyes, ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll tell you!¡±


    Nan Xun let go, his eyes locked on her. Jun Huang steadied her breathing and wiped away her tears. ¡°He¡¯s only sent a few letters to me. I don¡¯t like him, so I have the letters burned without even reading them. I didn¡¯t tell you because there wasn¡¯t a need.¡±


    Nan Xun knew Jun Huang was worried that he¡¯d get jealous and do something reckless to jeopardize their n. He sighed and pulled her into his arms.


    He¡¯d been trying to n his next move. He¡¯d been in Eastern Wu for a while, but many things remained unresolved. He couldn¡¯t drag this on any longer. Since he couldn¡¯t yet figure out what was happening with the House of Heavenly Fiends, he¡¯d take care of other issues first.

 Chapter 333 - Sleight of Hands

    <h4>Chapter 333: Sleight of Hands</h4>


    Nan Xun came to Eastern Wu also to identify Eastern Wu¡¯s weaknesses so that he could defeat them once and for all, fulfilling Jun Huang¡¯s goal. However, he¡¯d been putting that on hold.


    There were too many things for him to do, none of which had seen any significant progress. Eastern Wu must have a weakness. It was just difficult to spot.


    ¡°I understand your concern, but remember, nothing, not even my personal matter, is more important to me than you are. Whatever happens, you have to tell me.¡±


    ¡°Take the man as an example, you could¡¯ve just told me about him,¡± Nan Xun said quietly. ¡°I can easily take care of a lecherous scum. There¡¯s no need for you to get him out of the picture in such a roundabout way.¡±


    Jun Huang was touched, but she didn¡¯t let it show. After a pause, she said, ¡°Why should you be concerned with something so trivial? I don¡¯t like him. I can deal with him myself.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s faint smile wasn¡¯t like her usual smile. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t known for his attention to detail, but she wasn¡¯t even trying to hide her emotions from him. He could easily see the glint in her eyes. His heart fluttered.


    He knew Jun Huang could deal with her own problems, but he cared about her too much. He wanted nothing but to always be her support, to make it so she¡¯d never have to do anything alone.


    He didn¡¯t voice his thoughts and instead stroked her hair gently.


    ¡°I hear the third young mistress has insulted you earlier,¡± he finally said, breaking the silence. ¡°I don¡¯t know how other people will react, but you don¡¯t have to worry. If Gentleman Li harasses you again, just tell me.¡±


    Jun Huang knew Nan Xun would get frustrated if she argued again, so she nodded.


    Oleg Cragfiend soon developed the medicine. Nan Xun almost couldn¡¯t believe how easy it was. He stood rooted to the spot and only came to his senses when his shadowguard called out for him. He immediately went to where Oleg Cragfiend had been staying.


    Oleg Cragfiend put down his writing brush and handed Nan Xun the sheet of paper. Nan Xun took it and frowned. ¡°Many of the ingredients can¡¯t be found in Eastern Wu. It won¡¯t be easy to gather all of them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I give you the list now,¡± Oleg Cragfiend said bluntly. ¡°These are what you need to restore her memory. Do with it what you will.¡±


    Nan Xun fell silent. He didn¡¯t want to disappoint Jun Huang. He beckoned his shadowguard over and had him gather the necessary herbs. No matter how arduous it¡¯d be and how muchnd he¡¯d have to cover, he mustplete the mission.


    The shadowguard memorized all the ingredients on the list and departed at night. Nan Xun had thought that he wouldn¡¯t be back until after a few days, but he returned the next day at night. Nan Xun was surprised to see him.


    ¡°The emperor of Southern Mu delivered the ingredients,¡± said the shadowguard.


    Nan Xun frowned. He didn¡¯t want Nan Jihan to get close to Jun Huang again, but the man was doing a good thing, and Jun Huang couldn¡¯t wait any longer. There was no reason for him to turn Nan Jihan¡¯s generous offer away.


    His hesitation was cut short when Oleg Cragfiend opened the door. The old master didn¡¯t look surprised when he saw the herbs. ¡°I sent a message to Nan Jihan as well. He¡¯s an emperor after all. He has some power. It¡¯d have taken more than a month for you to collect all the ingredients. We might as well seek help from those with greater influence.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned but didn¡¯t make his displease known. He knew it wouldn¡¯t do anything good.


    ¡°However,¡± started Oleg Cragfiend.


    ¡°What?¡± Nan Xun asked, pushing aside his grievances.


    ¡°I hear Yin Yun said that the mistress is shrewder than her appearance suggests. It¡¯s clear what she and her family have been trying to do by adding hallucinogen in the medicine they give Jun Huang. Everyday, they keep watch on Jun Huang to make sure she takes the medicine. It may be troublesome to swap out the medicine, but we must do that to avoid shing effects.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend wasn¡¯t trying to put Nan Xun down. He was simply raising the question they would have to face.


    Nan Xun frowned in deep thought. He knew the poison master was right, but he didn¡¯t have a ready solution.


    Oleg Cragfiend sighed in understanding and shook his head. ¡°That¡¯ll require further consideration. Take some time to n.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend walked away, giving Nan Xun his privacy. He thought for a long time. He¡¯d need to take some risks to help Jun Huang recover.


    Oleg Cragfiend soon delivered Nan Xun the recipe of the medicine. Nan Xun had made up his mind what he was going to do.


    He sent for Yin Yun, who knew how much he cared about Jun Huang. ¡°If you need anything from me, I¡¯ll help. I¡¯ll do anything to help the princess get her memory back.¡±


    Nan Xun snorted and waved a hand in the air. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to do anything drastic. However, I won¡¯t be able to prepare the medicine after going to the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor. I need you to do it here and deliver the medicine to the manor. The rest I¡¯ll take care of.¡±


    Yin Yun nodded without any arguments. Nan Xun soon returned to the manor and told Jun Huang about his n. She nodded in understanding.


    Yin Yun delivered the medicine to Nan Xun himself without being detected. Nan Xun poured it into a bowl that was identical to the bowl Jun Huang¡¯s medicine usually came in and hid it near the door.


    No sooner had they gotten everything prepared than someone knocked on the door. Jun Huang and Nan Xun exchanged a nce. He nodded and got the door.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± In came the mistress¡¯s old caretaker. She frowned at Nan Xun disapprovingly.


    Nan Xun smiled. ¡°The young mistress was tired, and I happened to know a thing or two about giving a massage. I came to help release the tension in her muscles.¡±


    The caretaker scowled harder. Jun Huang spoke up, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. He¡¯s telling the truth.¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t me this old servant for intervening, mydy,¡± the old woman said gravely. ¡°Men and women have to keep a polite distance from each other. It¡¯s inappropriate for him to stay in your room.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned, annoyed. She wasn¡¯t an unreasonable person, but it bothered her to hear the old caretaker talk about Nan Xun like he was something that would taint her simply by sharing a space with her.


    She scoffed. ¡°The housekeeper hired him because he¡¯s strong enough to be a guard. Being a servant is beneath him. I¡¯ve been thinking about making him my bodyguard. I¡¯ll tell mother myself. You don¡¯t have to be too concerned.¡±


    The caretaker could tell Jun Huang would get mad if she kept pushing. She pursed her lips and had a servant bring the medicine into the room. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about thatter. You should take the medicine first, mydy.¡±


    Nan Xun took the bowl from the servant and frowned after taking a whiff. ¡°The medicine is too bitter for the young mistress. Haven¡¯t you prepared her some candied dates?¡±


    The caretaker btedly realized that she¡¯d forgotten to do that. She sent the servant away to retrieve some and stayed with Jun Huang. Jun Huang nced at Nan Xun and read the unspoken words in his eyes. She rose to her feet.


    ¡°Nanny, I got something I think would suit you yesterday. Why don¡¯t youe have a look?¡± She walked to the other side of the room. The caretaker couldn¡¯t resist her curiosity and followed after Jun Huang.


    When no one was looking, Nan Xun quickly swapped the two bowls of medicine and ced the one he¡¯d prepared on the table.


    That was when the old caretaker turned around. Everything looked to be in order. There wasn¡¯t any ripples over the surface of the medicine. She looked back at Jun Huang, oblivious to what Nan Xun had done.


    Jun Huang took out a premium jade thumb ring, its color a stunning turquoise like the sky after rain. She handed it to the caretaker with a smile, who widened her eyes, stunned, unsure if she should ept the gift.


    ¡°You should take it, nanny. The color suits you. It¡¯s a little too mature for me.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s tone was earnest and convincing.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll ept it with gratitude.¡± The old caretaker had wanted the thumb ring the moment sheid eyes on it. She couldn¡¯t turn Jun Huang down after Jun Huang made another offer. She interpreted that as Jun Huang asking for her to keep Nan Xun¡¯s presence a secret. Sheplied without resisting.


    The servant had returned with some candied dates. Jun Huang ate one after finishing the medicine. After making sure she¡¯d taken the medicine, the old caretaker left with the servant.


    Jun Huang¡¯s smile dropped as soon as they were out of the door. That was close. Sweat broke out of her forehead. Her heart still pounded when she thought about what they had done.


    Nan Xun wished there was an easier way to restore her memory, but there wasn¡¯t. What he had to do next was to give Jun Huang a performance to jog her memory. Then he¡¯d take her away from the manor. Things would be simpler after that.

 Chapter 334 - Palace Banquet

    <h4>Chapter 334: Pce Banquet</h4>


    Nan Xun had been getting busier, not only because of Jun Huang, but also because of his investigation on Eastern Wu. Some tasks were too tricky to leave in others¡¯ hands.


    Oleg Cragfiend had been staying at Nan Xun¡¯s residence. He spent most of his time developing different medicines to help Jun Huang while keeping an eye on Jun Hao. He¡¯de to know Nan Xun better.


    The general was indeed deeply in love with Jun Huang, and the same was true for her. Despite herck of memory, Nan Xun was still the person she trusted the most. They couldmunicate with only a nce.


    A match made in heaven, so to speak.


    Today, Yin Yun had again taken Nan Xun¡¯s ce in the manor. Nan Xun was off dealing with god-knows-what.


    It was getting dark. Oleg Cragfiend looked outside and decided to go to rest, but then he heard that Nan Xun was back. Since he had the time, he sought out Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun was resting with his eyes closed. It was clear he¡¯d spent his day hard at work. Oleg Cragfiend sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve been busy. Don¡¯t worry too much about Jun Huang. Yin Yun will take care of her.¡±


    Nan Xun opened his eyes and nced at Oleg Cragfiend. After a long pause, he finally said, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of everything. There¡¯s no need for you to be worried.¡±


    ¡°I know you can, but don¡¯t forget that Jun Huang doesn¡¯t have her memory now,¡± Oleg Cragfiend said seriously, fed up with Nan Xun¡¯s stubbornness. ¡°I don¡¯t want her to get hurt again. There¡¯s someone in your circle manipting everything. We don¡¯t know what he wants. Can you guarantee that whoever it is won¡¯t hurt her?¡±


    Nan Xun narrowed his eyes, his expression turning cold. ¡°I know. I¡¯ve been trying to root them out. I won¡¯t let anything happen to Jun Huang.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend wasn¡¯t in a ce to say much as an outsider, and Nan Xun did take very good care of Jun Huang. Although there was a hidden force following Nan Xun around, he had been perfectly in control. Oleg Cragfiend stopped arguing and left Nan Xun to it.


    Nan Xun was in a dark mood on his way to the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor. He was stopped by the maid before he could enter.


    He frowned and led the maid to a dark corner. She took a deep breath. ¡°There¡¯s a banquet in the pce tomorrow. The mistress will take your girl with her.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and handed her a letter. She quickly rxed and rushed away.


    Nan Xun looked at her with an impassive expression.


    There were two ways to buy someone¡¯s cooperation ¨C profit, and favors. Nan Xun had been trying to bribe Jun Huang¡¯s personal maid, but to no avail. He was ready to give up when he discovered that the maid had a lover outside the manor. They adored each other, but rarely had the chance to meet. She could only catch a glimpse of him when she had the opportunity to leave the manor.


    Nan Xun told her he could help. The maid didn¡¯t know about his true identity. She thought Nan Xun and Jun Huang were lovers who couldn¡¯t be together openly, which reminded her of herself. In the end, she acquiesced and kept Nan Xun¡¯s meetings with Jun Huang a secret. Nan Xun would arrange for the maid and her lover to meet every now and then and yed messenger for them.


    He waited outside for a moment before entering the room. Jun Huang was picking clothes for tomorrow. He sat down at the table and poured himself a cup of tea.


    Jun Huang put down the turquoise dress in her hand and looked up to see Nan Xun sitting not far from her. He had a frown on his face, making his dark mood apparent. She couldn¡¯t tell what was bothering him.


    She walked up to him and asked gently, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind? Did you encounter something troublesome?¡±


    Nan Xun stared at her and put away his concerns. He smiled. ¡°Nothing important. It¡¯s just the banquet you¡¯re going to tomorrow. I worry that some aristocrats will be stunned by your beauty and ask for your hand. Then the mistress may marry you away.¡±


    His tone was serious. Jun Huang lowered her head and snorted, missing the sh of adoration and amusement in his eyes. She thought Nan Xun¡¯s jealousy was real. She rested her head on her palm and tried toe up with an assurance, but to no avail. Her shoulders slumped dejectedly.


    The maid knocked and only entered once Jun Huang answered her. Noting the awkward atmosphere in the room, she silently ced the dresses bundled in her arms on the table.


    ¡°What are these?¡± asked Jun Huang, looking up at the maid.


    ¡°Nanny told me to deliver them to you,¡± answered the maid. ¡°The mistress had them tailor-maid for you a few days ago. They arrived today. She said you should pick one for tomorrow, mydy.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. The first one she picked up was a turquoise dress. Before she could try it on, Nan Xun took it and threw it at the bed. Faced with Jun Huang¡¯s questioning look, he exined, ¡°It¡¯s not a good choice.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t going to tell her how beautiful she looked wearing that. After a pause, he said, ¡°Every woman in the pce will be dressed in vibrant colors at the banquet. If you wear that, you¡¯ll be the leaves to their flowers.¡±


    He sounded so sincere Jun Huang didn¡¯t notice anything wrong. She picked a dress of a more vibrant color, but Nan Xun grabbed it and threw it away again. ¡°Not that either.¡±


    He kept vetoing her choice. Jun Huang might have believed his exnation in the beginning, but she soon realized what he was doing. She shot him a re. ¡°Then what should I wear?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes shifted between the best looking dress and the ugliest one, which didn¡¯t escape Jun Huang¡¯s attention. She got his unspoken message and marched toward Nan Xun. Before he could react, she stepped on his foot.


    Nan Xun winced and got kicked out of the room. ¡°You¡¯re the worst! I¡¯ll pick the dress myself. I don¡¯t need you taking up space here.¡± She shut the door and ignored Nan Xun¡¯s insistent knocking.


    The maid covered augh. After that came a great sense of mncholy. When would she get to spend her time freely with her lover?


    She lowered her eyes and sighed. Jun Huang was still trying to pick out a dress. She kept what she had witnessed to herself.


    Jun Huang finally settled on a in looking dress. She sighed at her reflection in the mirror.


    Her sleep that night was peaceful. When she woke up, Nan Xun was right at her bed. She blinked at him, puzzled. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°There aren¡¯t enough guards to spare for the banquet today. The housekeeper thinks I¡¯ll do a decent job, so he told me to go with you.¡± Nan Xun didn¡¯t directly answer her question. He asked which dress she was going to put on. It seemed that what Jun Huang said yesterday had some effects. He didn¡¯t say a word of objection.


    The maid came to style her hair, but then Jun Huang insisted on putting on makeup herself. The maid left without arguing.


    Jun Huang sat before the mirror, carefully outlining her eyebrows. Nan Xun was concerned. Some of the guests might have seen Jun Huang before. He worried that someone would recognize her, then they would be in a world of trouble. He kept telling Jun Huang to put more makeup on.


    Jun Huang understood his worries, but she didn¡¯t think someone would remember a woman like her. However, Nan Xun insisted. She had no choice but to apply a liberal amount of makeup on her face.


    Her delicate eyebrows were turned thick. Heavy rouge hid the brightness of her big eyes, and her cheeks were too red from the blush applied. Her lips were also too aggressively red.


    She had a hard time looking at her own reflection. The makeup made her look hideous.


    Nan Xun was finally satisfied. He patted her shoulder reassuringly. ¡°It¡¯s just one day. I remember how stunning the real you are.¡±


    Jun Huang pouted in resignation and looked away from the mirror. The maid widened her eyes when she entered the room. She ran away muffling herugh.


    ¡°See, she got scared away,¡± Jun Huang said teasingly. ¡°Rest assured, no one will recognize me or get any closer to me.¡±


    Nan Xun yed ignorant and led Jun Huang outside. The others were shocked to see her as well.


    The mistress frowned when she saw how strange Jun Huang looked. It was inappropriate and hard on the eyes, but she couldn¡¯t say anything because of who Jun Huang was. It must have been because of what happened with Gentleman Li, she thought. That¡¯s why she¡¯s unwilling to show her face in public.


    ¡°Look at her!¡± eximed the youngest young mistress,ughing and pointing at Jun Huang. ¡°Why does she look like that?¡±


    The third young mistress was still resentful of Jun Huang. She wasn¡¯t going to let the opportunity to insult Jun Huang slip. ¡°Ha, she must have realized how inappropriate her real appearance is for such a formal asion. She¡¯s whoring for attention.¡±


    ¡°Has your maid not been doing her job?¡± the first young mistress asked. Her tone was gentle, but there was an underlying taunt that Jun Huang could hear as clear as day.


    Jun Huang looked at her sisters and smiled. ¡°What happenedst time taught me something. I hide my real face because I don¡¯t want to be used of stealing men from any of you again.¡± She raised an eyebrow. Her tone made it sound as if she was joking.


    Those who understood what she was implying scowled. The third young mistress, especially, wanted nothing but to strangle Jun Huang, but she was stopped by the first young mistress¡¯s re. She froze and gritted her teeth at Jun Huang.

 Chapter 335 - Burning Hatred

    <h4>Chapter 335: Burning Hatred</h4>


    The young masters of the manorughed and jeered at her rudely. Jun Huang smiled in response. ¡°I¡¯m just having fun. I understand why sisters said what you said. I hope you¡¯ll forgive me.¡±


    The young masters and mistressesughed even harder. The third young mistress huffed. ¡°You may be having fun, but you¡¯re embarrassing the family. Don¡¯t you feel ashamed? We¡¯re going to be the butt of the joke...¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± The mistress rubbed at her temples. She was fed up with the insults. She threw them a re and snapped, ¡°We¡¯re a family. Must you talk to her with such aggression? That¡¯s what people will mock us for if they know. She¡¯s never attended such a banquet. You should¡¯ve offered her guidance, not mockery.¡±


    Jun Huang listened intently and said with lowered eyes, ¡°I understand, mother. We don¡¯t have a lot of time, though. How about... I stay at home? I don¡¯t want to embarrass mother...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. Who¡¯s going to judge us? Just follow me and ignore the others.¡± The mistress led Jun Huang to the waiting coach. Jun Huang kept her eyes downcast, seemingly dejected.


    The mistress tried her best to cheer her up and finally made her crack a smile. Jun Huang kept up a pleasant conversation with her, listening to the mistress talk with her lips curved, but her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes.


    Once the coach came to a halt, the mistress and Jun Huang got off. Jun Huang nced at Nan Xun, who had his gaze kept forward, but in fact was only paying attention to Jun Huang. Even in this state, he found her more beautiful than any celestials.


    The mistress called out for Jun Huang. She looked away and followed the mistress to the pce.


    They ran into other guests on the way. They wore fine dress and delicate makeup. The silver essories in their hair were eye-catching. They all covered their mouths andughed when they saw Jun Huang, pointing and mocking her with hurtful words.


    Jun Huang turned a blind eye to that, while the mistress couldn¡¯t help feeling embarrassed. Nevertheless, she had to introduce Jun Huang to them. ¡°This is my daughter. She¡¯s prone to illness and has been living in the manor for years. She doesn¡¯t understand the rules of the real world. I hope you¡¯ll be kind to her.¡±


    They smiled awkwardly, understanding the mistress unspoken warning. Jun Huang stood by the mistress with an impassive expression, unfazed by her surroundings.


    Bored, she turned around, but didn¡¯t see Nan Xun. She remembered him saying that he had matters to take care of. He must have left to do that.


    A sense of loss rose from her heart, unbidden, but she didn¡¯t let it show. She continued to listen to other people make small talk and exchange boastful words, keeping her disappointment to herself.


    ¡°I remember your daughter,¡± a woman spoke up. ¡°She didn¡¯t look like thisst time. What happened?¡±


    Jun Huang threw a nce at the woman. They must have met at thest banquet. She lowered her eyes and looked away.


    The mistress smiled awkwardly, at a loss of what to say. The woman seemed to have realized something. ¡°Can it be that she¡¯s so beautiful you have her hide it to avoid attracting jealousy?¡±


    The others paused and broke intoughter. The reasoning itself was incredulous. The mistress cleared her throat without a word, her expression darkening.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t care about being theughing stock. She shrugged and didn¡¯t pay any attention to their conversation.


    Later, a eunuch walked out from the main pce. In a high-pitched voice, he eximed, ¡°Let the banquetmence! Please,e inside.¡±


    The guests entered the pce. The mistress nced at Jun Huang and patted the back of her hand reassuringly, silently telling her to ignore other people¡¯s words. Jun Huang nodded in acknowledgement and followed her to the pce.


    Inside was all gold gilding and extravagant decorations. Silk curtains were put up for the asion, creating a stunning scene. Jun Huang stayed close to the mistress, scoffing inwardly. What a wasteful man the emperor of Eastern Wu was.


    Once seated, Jun Huang calmly told her maid to pour a cup of tea for her. She quietly observed the other guests.


    ¡°We should¡¯ve held the banquet earlier,¡± the man dressed in dragon robe said with augh from his throne. ¡°Unfortunately too many things have happenedtely, so the banquet didn¡¯t happen until now. At least it¡¯s not toote yet.¡±


    The Royal Uncle agreed, ¡°Your Majesty is right. It¡¯s never toote to hold a banquet such as this.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, to be honest with you, these have been the best few years of my life. It¡¯s fate that I was able to defeat Western Que...¡± The emperor gulped down some wine and pontificated about how he destroyed Western Que, his smile wide and prideful. The others obediently reacted to everything he said.


    Jun Huang narrowed her eyes at the power-hungry men of Eastern Wu, her chest tight with anger. She balled her hands up and gritted her teeth.


    ¡°However, only a saint can avoid making mistakes. We¡¯ve seeded in invading Western Que, but our people lost their sense of security as a result. And we made some wrong decisions. It¡¯s unwise of us to wage war against Northern Qi. I understand why you¡¯d be dissatisfied. However, we¡¯ve struck a deal with Northern Qi again. The war is halted. Once we recuperate and get prepared, we¡¯ll deploy our troops. The world will be ours.¡±


    He downed his cup of wine. The others were excited by the future he painted. They drank and cheered.


    It might seem like the emperor regretted his reckless decision, but reading between the lines, it was clear he wanted to conquer the world sooner orter. The others were thrilled, but Jun Huang had to bite back a scoff.


    She didn¡¯t remember the destruction of Western Que, but the emperor¡¯s words awakened her fury. She tightened her jaw. Fortunately, her makeup was thick enough to cover up her ire. The others could only tell that she was agitated.


    The mistress nced at her and frowned. ¡°This isn¡¯t the manor. You have to watch your every move. Don¡¯t break any rules. Remember, you are the daughter of the Grand Chancellor. You have to keep up the image.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and managed a smile. ¡°Mother is right. I¡¯m simply feeling smothered. I¡¯ll like to use the restroom.¡±


    The mistress had the maid lead Jun Huang outside. She stood in the hallway. She hadn¡¯t drunk anything, and yet she felt dizzy. She rubbed at her forehead, which helped a little.


    ¡°We can¡¯t stay outside for too long, young mistress,¡± muttered the maid. ¡°This is the pce after all.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. After she got her anger in control, she returned to the main hall with the maid. When she sat down, the emperor was still talking about Western Que.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know how beautiful the empress of Western Que was. She was the most stunning woman in all four countries and could captivate a city with her good looks. The sight of her was a delight in itself. Someone like her should only exist in the realm of the celestials.¡±


    He looked up at the ceiling, a tear falling from the corner of his eye as if in mourning. ¡°I wanted to spare her and take her in, but she insisted on following the emperor of Western Que to death. Well, it¡¯s said that beautiful women often live a short life. She¡¯s no exception.¡±


    People seemed entranced by his tale, but Jun Huang didn¡¯t buy it. Men like him were selfish to a fault. He wasn¡¯t going to go soft for a woman. His poor excuse of a story was ridiculous and insulting.


    ¡°I hear that the princess of Western Que was just as beautiful. Is that true?¡± One of the officials¡¯ son had forgotten his manner due to alcohol and piped up.


    The emperor didn¡¯t get angry. He was in a good mood. He stroked his chin and nodded with a sigh. ¡°She was just as beautiful. Unfortunately, she was in the wrong ce at the wrong time, and stubbornly refused to surrender. Otherwise, I¡¯d have taken her into my harem as well. You weren¡¯t there when she fell off the cliff. It was truly heartbreaking.¡±


    ¡°However, there are some smart people in Western Que. The fifth prince is a good example. If not for him...¡± Inebriated, the emperor lost his filter. ¡°Western Que was a good ce. So many beautiful women. Their soft and alluring bodies knew not the touch of a man...¡±


    The guests awkwardly drank their wine and didn¡¯t respond.


    Jun Huang closed her eyes. Suddenly, a few images shed through her mind. The glory of Western Que burned away by fire. The emperor of Eastern Wu put his filthy hands on a stunning woman dressed in phoenix robe, her cap knocked to the floor with a clink. The woman¡¯s eyes turned red. She followed the man on the throne to death...


    Cries pierced through what little peace remained. All around her were destruction and deaths. The sky turned crimson, as if dyed by the blood shed. Red river flowed through thend. The metallic smell permeated the air.


    The city fell, and lives were lost.


    Jun Huang clenched her fists, veins popping out of her forehead. She wanted nothing but to kill the greedy man. When she opened her eyes, they were steely and brimming with tears. She blinked them away.


    No one noticed the fury burning in her eyes. The emperor had stopped talking about Western Que, but as usual, dancers had been invited to give the guests a good show. No one was paying attention to Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun showed up and held onto her shoulder from behind. She turned around and breathed out in relief when she saw who it was.


    Nan Xun sighed when he noted the sh of murderous intent in her eyes. He whispered a few words offort to her.


    Finally, she was able to control herself. She shook her head and told him she was alright.

 Chapter 336 - Dancer Assassins

    <h4>Chapter 336: Dancer Assassins</h4>


    A group of women in pink dresses emerged, their bodies alluring and their movement captivating. Their faces were covered in red silk, revealing their crinkling eyes. Their unclothed waist swayed as they walked. The silk they wore danced in the air and the bell on their ankles rang with a hypnotizing rhythm.


    A faint fragrance permeated the air. Those who had gotten some alcohol into their systemughed without restraint. The emperor of Eastern Wu hadpletely forgotten himself and drummed a pair of chopsticks against the jade te in concert with the dance, making a stato of clinks.


    Something about the scene alerted Jun Huang. She frowned, trying to figure out what it was. Nan Xun chuckled. He could almost read her mind. He stayed silent and pretended to be oblivious when she turned to him.


    Jun Huang¡¯s gaze shifted to the dancer at the middle. Her eyes widened. Before any words could leave her mouth, she noticed something glinting around the dancer¡¯s waist.


    ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with that one,¡± Jun Huang said, making sure not to let anyone overhear.


    Nan Xun raised an eyebrow. ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°Look at her calves,¡± she said. ¡°They¡¯re obviously stronger than herpanions¡¯. Although she¡¯s purposefully made her movement softer, she¡¯s rigid. She also has a bendable sword wrapped around her waist. She¡¯s up to something.¡±


    Nan Xun looked at her and smiled without a word. Jun Huang calmly watched everything y out as an outsider.


    As soon as the performance reached a crescendo, the dancer Jun Huang had suspected drew her sword and stabbed at the emperor of Eastern Wu. The other dancers unsheathed their swords as well, their gaze frigid. They were ready to strike.


    That Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect. She¡¯d thought only one of them was an assassin.


    Everything happened too quickly for the guests to react. However, the emperor wasn¡¯tpletely useless. With his pupils contracted, he picked up a jade te and threw it at the first dancer to attack before her de could reach him. While she dodged, he leapt to the side and unsheathed his bodyguard¡¯s sword, shing at the dancer.


    She dodged it by a hair, but the de still managed to cut her skin. Crimson blood streamed down her arm and dyed her pink dress red, but she gritted her teeth and kept going.


    The other dancers charged at the officials in attendance. Jun Huang hurriedly moved away. Nan Xun kept her safe as they retreated to an unupied corner. While Jun Huang was observing everyone, Nan Xun leaned closer and whispered, ¡°Things have only just started. Stay here and enjoy the show.¡±


    His breaths hit her neck, warm and tickling.


    Jun Huang heard his unspoken words. She turned to him and saw the smile on his face. Realization dawned on her.


    Nan Xun turned away from her inquisitive look and focused on their surroundings. He didn¡¯t want anyone to hurt Jun Huang by mistake.


    The main hall was in chaos. The sound of des shing pierced through the air. The leading dancer charged at the emperor again, and the emperor gave as good as he took. Neither were able to gain the upperhand.


    Finally, the guards outside heard themotion and entered the main hall to help. They quickly subdued all the dancers. A man dressed like the general flew to the emperor and apprehended the lead dancer. She shed at him, but the general hit her arm with a knifehand strike first. She cried out in pain. Her sword dropped to the floor with a clink.


    The general had amazing strength. He threw her off the throne. She flew a great distance beforending. Fate had not been kind to her.


    Her back hit a table. She muffled a cry and struggled to get up. Soldiers quickly trapped her with their spears. The dancer smiled sharply, ignoring the blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. She stared at the emperor with eyes so vicious they sent a shudder down one¡¯s spine.


    ¡°Do you really think you can gain the world? A despicable man like you?¡±


    ¡°You indulge in carnal desires and rule over your nation with an iron grip. You¡¯re lecherous and ipetent. If someone like you gain the world, it¡¯ll be a great misfortune to all. When you die, you should be banished to the eighteenth level of hell, never to be given a new life...¡±


    Before the dancer was finished with her speech, the emperor gave the general a pointed look, who nodded and hit her stomach with a staff. She staggered and copsed to the floor, holding onto where she was hit.


    Blood rushed out of her mouth. Her face turned as pale as a sheet.


    ¡°Where did youe from, fool? If you dare spout off any more nonsense, there will be nothing left of you to bury.¡±


    The general then hit her back. She managed to keep herself upright with her elbows.


    Her eyes zed with hatred, the fury chilling and frigid. She met the emperor¡¯s gaze and said clearly, ¡°Do you deny the fact that you¡¯re lecherous? I was a peasant woman married to a loving husband. You killed him and forcefully took me to the pce. You threatened me with my children and had me... sleep with you. What did you do next? You had my children killed! They all died at your hands! Have they ever visited you in the small hours of the night?¡±


    Her voice grew deeper and deeper until it was but a hellish growl. The emperor was caught off guard. Although no one dared say anything before him, he knew they were all judging him.


    He widened his eyes and took the wooden staff from the general to hit the dancer with all his might. She fell into a puddle of her own blood, battered and weakened, curling into herself and crying out in pain. Then, in a frail voice, she continued, ¡°I¡¯ve waited so long to avenge my family and have you pay with your blood...¡±


    Suddenly, she shot to her feet and lunged at the emperor. He staggered back and snapped at his guards, ¡°Stop her! Take her down!¡±


    The guards raised their spears at her. Like a woman possessed, she kept going even after the spears had buried into her torso, her blood gushing out and painting her dress back. She kept her gaze focused on the emperor. Before she took herst breath, a vibrant smile bloomed on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? I¡¯ve long given you a medicine that made you infertile... You can¡¯t have your own offspring...¡±


    Blood gushed out of her mouth and sttered all over the emperor¡¯s face. He widened his eyes at the dancer as her head drooped lifelessly. Her dying words rang in his head.


    Surprised, Jun Huang shifted her gaze to the princes and princesses in the room. Further inspection told her they bore no resemnce to the emperor. The implications were clear.


    The emperor stood rooted to the spot and considered his sons. Doubt festered in his heart. He¡¯d remembered the dancer. She was someone he¡¯d met when he first became the emperor. She was known as the tender beauty of her homnd, pretty, and caring. It was love at first sight. He wanted to take her to the pce. Hearing that she¡¯d married already made him burn with jealousy. He had her husband killed and her children kidnapped before taking her to the pce.


    He¡¯d been using her children as leverage for herpliance. It didn¡¯t take long before he started to resent her children as well and had them killed. Somehow, the woman got wind of it. They had a fight. The next day, however, the woman seemed to have calmed down. She stopped turning him away.


    He¡¯d thought the woman had surrendered to him, and he didn¡¯t object when the woman said she wanted to learn how to fight to protect herself. That turned out to be part of her revenge n.


    He¡¯d considered himself superior to everyone else. He didn¡¯t take the possibility that none of his children were his well.


    ¡°Get me a royal doctor!¡± he eximed, his eyes red.


    Everyone looked at him in surprise. His personal eunuch didn¡¯t dare make him wait. He quickly retrieved the doctor the emperor trusted the most. It seemed that a test of blood was in order.


    The consorts were scared witless. They exchanged a worried nce. Eventually, the most favored one took a step forward and said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t be so angry, Your Majesty. Women like her insist on stirring up troubles even after death. Who knows if she was telling the truth? Don¡¯t let that anger you to the point of making yourself ill. Of course your children are yours. There¡¯s no need for a test.¡±


    The emperor threw her a fierce nce. Her knees went weak and she almost fell to the floor. It was only her maid¡¯s timely support that stopped her from making a scene.


    ¡°If so, there¡¯s no harm in having a test,¡± the emperor said coldly.


    The empress, who had been silent, spoke up, ¡°Your Majesty is right. What she suggested is a great humiliation if true. Even if her words are false, we should prove it to everyone. The easiest way to do that is a paternity test.¡±


    She¡¯d thought it was her fault that she¡¯d never given birth to a child. If her family hadn¡¯t been powerful, she¡¯d have been reced by another consort. The woman¡¯s im was a wake up call. With a cruel smile, she waited for a good show.


    The consorts¡¯ expression grew ashen. They¡¯d mocked the empress for not having a child. They didn¡¯t expect things to turn out this way. If they had known, they¡¯d have done things differently.


    The royal doctor soon arrived. The princes were in despair. They clung to the hope that they were the emperor¡¯s sons after all and gritted their teeth as they squeezed out blood from their fingers.


    The emperor was still burning with fury. He was going to see for himself if he¡¯d raised children he wasn¡¯t a father to for years due to the consorts¡¯ deceit.

 Chapter 337 - Hidden Corner

    <h4>Chapter 337: Hidden Corner</h4>


    One by one, the princes took the test. However, none of their blood mixed with the emperor¡¯s. The onlookers sucked in a breath. The emperor felt his blood boil.


    Worried, the royal doctor rushed to the emperor and helped him breathe. He didn¡¯t expect that none of the princes was the emperor¡¯s. His fingers trembled slightly.


    The son of the most favored consort could barely believe his eyes. He stared at the bowl. The two drops of blood refused to mix, illustrating theirck of biological connection. His clothes were drenched and his face was pale.


    After a pause, he looked up. Before anyone could react, he grabbed a guard¡¯s sword and attacked the emperor. His intention was clear.


    The emperor was quick enough to react, catching a glimpse of the de from the corner of his eye. He raised his sword to block the attack and kicked the prince in the stomach. The prince fell to the floor. The guards quickly restrained the other princes.


    The emperor didn¡¯t anticipated that the son he¡¯d raised for years would even think about killing him. His pupils contracted and his eyes turned bloodshot.


    What had happened went beyond everyone¡¯s expectations. They didn¡¯t know what they should do. Not everyone should be privy to such scandals about the royal family. They kept their mouth shut lest they anger the emperor or get caught in the crossfire.


    A low chuckle broke the silence. It sounded almost offensive in the silent main hall. The emperor had been struggling to control his anger. Theugh tipped him over. His gaze swept over everyone in attendance. It seemed as if they were all mocking him.


    He growled and shed at everyone around him. A few eunuchs got hit by his de and cried out in pain, holding onto their injured arms.


    The main hall fell into chaos. The emperor seemed to have lost all senses and reasons and attacked everyone like a mad dog. The guests scattered and fled, but didn¡¯t dare fight back.


    The emperor¡¯s personal eunuch was too afraid to get closer. He looked at his master from afar and tried tofort him. ¡°You must calm down, Your Majesty. You ¨C ¡±


    His words were cut short by the emperor¡¯s sword. The de hit the eunuch¡¯s fat cheek and left a long bloody cut. The open wound was an ugly sight. Before the eunuch could react, another shnded on his arm, cutting off a piece of flesh. The macabre scene further driven everyone to hysteria.


    The emperor marched toward his consorts. They had all grown up in esteemed families and couldn¡¯t take the blood and gore. Some with weaker will had already lost consciousness.


    The emperorughed cruelly. With a bloodthirsty smile, he grabbed one of the women¡¯s hair and yanked. The consort cried out in pain as her hair got torn off her scalp. Blood gushed out from the spot and streamed down her forehead. Her face became as pale as a ghost¡¯s.


    Jun Huang watched everything y out from a distance. An indescribable feeling filled her heart. She sighed and turned around. Nan Xun didn¡¯t seem at all affected. Even as an outsider, she couldn¡¯t help being stunned. Her calm mask was cracking. Nan Xun, however, looked they way he¡¯d always been. It was as if he¡¯d foreseen everything.


    Realization dawned on Jun Huang. She regained herposure and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, ¡°Is this your doing? Have you nned everything?¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m not that powerful. I simply help things along.¡±


    His tone was casual, but Jun Huang wasn¡¯t convinced. She silently swore to never anger Nan Xun and shed some metaphorical tears for the emperor of Eastern Wu.


    It was trulyughable for an emperor to end up like this.


    Arge group of people rushed into the pce. Jun Huang didn¡¯t recognize any of them. She turned to ask Nan Xun who they were. He said they were the royal n of Eastern Wu. Jun Huang nodded. They were the only ones who could get the situation under control.


    The leader of the group was a grey-haired elderly man. There was an inherent air of nobility to him, and his eyes were chillingly piercing. He surveyed the room and finally settled his gaze on the emperor, who had been subdued by his men. He scoffed faintly.


    ¡°What happened today must not leave this room,¡± said the patriarch of the royal n, his voice frigid. ¡°Otherwise the royal family will not let you off the hook. Watch your tongue.¡±


    All the guests nodded obediently, too afraid to question his order.


    The patriarch threw a derisive re at the tied up emperor and pursed his lips. He had someone get him a chair. Once seated, he cleared his throat and said, ¡°All officials above the second grade,e forth.¡±


    The officials exchanged a nce but didn¡¯t dare disobey. They rushed forward and dropped to their knees, awaiting the old man¡¯s order.


    ¡°His Majesty has fallen seriously ill. In order to keep everything in order, you must work together and deal with affairs of the court. Do you hear me?¡±


    His voice wasn¡¯t loud or urgent, but the main hall was so quiet, everyone had heard what he¡¯d said and understood the reason behind his words.


    Jun Huang believed the emperor¡¯s ¡°illness¡± would soon be known all around Eastern Wu, not by ident, but by the patriarch¡¯s design.


    The banquet ended in an unexpected manner. The guest had arrived joyous and cheerful, but left with a heavy heart. They kept everything that had happened a secret to avoid getting in trouble.


    The patriarch didn¡¯t make things unnecessarily difficult for them. He waved a hand to dismiss everyone. Jun Huang threw the emperor a nce. In the end, she sighed silently and followed the mistress back to the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor.


    No one said anything on their way back home. The young mistresses and masters had a lot of questions, but were stopped short by the mistress¡¯s fierce re.


    ¡°You¡¯re too young to understand the gravity of what happened,¡± the mistress said seriously as soon as they stepped into the manor, her eyes focusing on them. ¡°No matter what, do not say a word of what you witnessed. Pretend that nothing happened. Understand?¡±


    They nodded, too intimidated by the mistress¡¯s grim expression to ask any questions. The mistress allowed herself to rx. She waved them away. ¡°You must be tired. Go to bed.¡±


    With that, she left with the old caretaker.


    Back to her residence, Jun Huang curled on her bed and looked out of the window at the cloudy sky, her chin rested on her palm. A storm wasing. She didn¡¯t know how she knew, but it put a weight on her mind nheless.


    She reached out for her cup of tea, but instead felt a hand. She jerked up and only rxed when she saw that it was Nan Xun¡¯s. Her pale face regained its usual color.


    Realizing that he¡¯d scared Jun Huang, Nan Xun put his hand over her back to soothe her. After a while, Jun Huang gestured at him to tell him that she was alright. Still, she appeared to be weighed down by her concerns.


    Nan Xun poured her a cup of tea and asked quietly, ¡°Still thinking about what happened today?¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t n to hide it from Nan Xun. She nodded and asked what she¡¯d been meaning to ask. ¡°Things like these should have been kept as the top most secret. ording to the dancer, she¡¯d been trapped in the pce ever since she was taken away, surrounded by the emperor¡¯s people. How did you find out about her?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand how an outsider would be able to get wind of such secret affairs happening in the pce. The emperor didn¡¯t even know himself.¡±


    ¡°I got the information from the House of Heavenly Fiends,¡± Nan Xun said without going into the details.


    Jun Huang remembered Nan Xun saying that there was little the House of Heavenly Fiends didn¡¯t know. There was no telling what the organization was nning. Still, such a scandal wasn¡¯t difficult to find out for them.


    Exhaustion set in once her question was answered. She yawned, her eyes shining with tears. Nan Xun took her into his arms on impulse and picked her up before she could react.


    The sudden elevation startled Jun Huang. She reflexively put her arms around Nan Xun¡¯s neck. He chuckled, the sound putting a faint blush on her cheeks. He stopped himself from teasing her. He knew she would be embarrassed.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s gettingte. A lot happened today. You should sleep.¡± Nan Xun gently ced Jun Huang on the bed. She nodded, looking up at Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun reached out to touch her nose and cover her eyes. Quietly, he murmured, ¡°Sleep tight.¡±


    She closed her eyes, listening to his tender voice, her eyshes tickling his palm. A warmth that shouldn¡¯t be possible for a stoic general to feel rose from his heart and spread through his body.


    He sighed, his lips curved into a smile. When he pulled his hand away from Jun Huang¡¯s eyes, she¡¯d already fallen asleep, her breathing long and steady. She must have been exhausted.


    Nan Xun watched her quietly. Sleep eluded him. He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the House of Heavenly Fiends.


    He was sure that there was something wrong with the organization, but he didn¡¯t know what it was. It frustrated him that he hadn¡¯t been able to find anything useful.


    After sitting by Jun Huang¡¯s bed for a long time, he let out a breath and snuck away from the manor. Through an alleyway, he reached one of his hideouts.

 Chapter 338 - Nightmare at Midnight

    <h4>Chapter 338: Nightmare at Midnight</h4>


    Outside, the house was unassuming, but through one of the doors and down the stairs was a hidden interrogation room, which could instill fear with its appearance alone. Dried blood tainted the already weathered walls. The floor radiated bone-chilling coldness. The sound of whipping rang and echoed.


    Nan Xun made his way to the depth of the room. A man was tied to a pir. Surrounding him were a few of Nan Xun¡¯s confidantes. His most trusted shadowguard brandished a whip. He bowled respectfully when he saw Nan Xun. ¡°This man is difficult to break. I¡¯ve whipped him for an hour, but he said nothing.¡±


    Nan Xun scoffed and narrowed his eyes at the unkempt man. Without warning, he sshed the barrel of salt water at him.


    ¡°Agh!¡±


    ¡°Hm? How does it feel to get salt water in your wounds?¡± Nan Xun picked up a thin iron rod and lifted the man¡¯s chin, forcing him to look up.


    The man was a spy who had infiltrated Nan Xun¡¯s circle. It¡¯d taken Nan Xun a lot of hard work to finally root him out. He¡¯d been a good looking man, but now all his clothes were tattered, and his once well-groomed hair covered his face messily. The salt water drenched his hair, making it stick to his face, which was covered in bloody gashes.


    Caught off guard, the man hadn¡¯t close his eyes in time. They burned painfully. He gritted his teeth, unwilling to say anything.


    Nan Xun smiled sharply and crossed his arms. ¡°It¡¯s said that one¡¯s fingers are connected to his heart,¡± he said coldly. ¡°You¡¯ve been so stubborn. Do you want to know what it feels like to have your heart stabbed?¡±


    The man opened his eyes, which were bloodshot from the salt water. Without a word, he red at Nan Xun venomously.


    The shadowguard frowned and gripped the man¡¯s hair, smashing his head into the pir. The man muffled a cry but didn¡¯t say anything. He wasn¡¯t going to tell them who his master was.


    The shadowguard cursed. ¡°He¡¯s not going to talk.¡±


    Nan Xun scoffed, his eyes growing dark. He gave one of his men a pointed look, who handed him a small hammer without missing a beat. Nan Xun felt the weight in his hand, his smile growing colder.


    Without a word, he hit the man¡¯s toe with the hammer. The nail turned a purplish red immediately as blood rushed under it. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant sight, but Nan Xun didn¡¯t seem at all affected. Without giving the man any time to recover, he hit the same toe again.


    He could hear bones cracking. The man paled, but his pride didn¡¯t allow him to break.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to waste his time on the man. He handed the hammer to his shadowguard. ¡°Go on. Hit him until he speaks.¡±


    He took a step back and looked down at the man.


    The only sounds in the room were of hammer hitting fragile bones and the man¡¯s pained grunt. When Nan Xun told the shadowguard to stop, the man¡¯s feet was a bloody mess. A few nails had fallen off. And he was close to losing consciousness.


    With a fierce expression, Nan Xun pinched the man¡¯s chin and forced him to look at him. ¡°This is yourst chance. If you refuse to talk, you¡¯ll be in a world of pain.¡±


    The man¡¯s face had gone blue, and he was trembling, his face covered in sweat and tears. Finally intimidated, the man sucked in a few breaths and stammered his answer. Finally, Nan Xun understood his motives ¨C to rebuild Tianyu, a destroyed dynasty.


    It was a sleepless night. Nan Xun grimly ordered his men to investigate. Soon, he found out that there were a group of people who refused to ept the destruction of the Tianyu Dynasty. They¡¯d been trying to rebuild it ever since, and had created a good number of organizations to do it. Nan Xun scowled. He had a feeling that this was but the tip of the iceberg.


    Jun Huang had been sleeping soundly until she felt Nan Xun¡¯s absence. What happened earlier in the day put her in a long and unbelievably realistic dream.


    She stood over awn, her view blurry. She rubbed at her eyes, but it hurt. She sucked in a breath and trembled.


    ¡°Go, princess. The army had broken through the city gate. If we don¡¯t leave now, we¡¯ll never be able to.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to the source of the voice. An old caretaker was dragging a young woman who shared her face. She knew instinctively that the lost looking girl was her, but in the past.


    ¡°Go?¡± muttered the girl. ¡°To where?¡±


    The old caretaker was on the verge of tears. She helped the girl up and made her way through the panicking crowd. ¡°This way. You¡¯ll be fine once you flee the pce.¡±


    She grabbed a handful of dust and rubbed it all over the girl¡¯s face, covering up her stunning beauty.


    The girl didn¡¯t recover from her numbness until they walked some distance. She widened her eyes and pushed the caretaker away, who fell to the ground and stared up at her.


    The girl shook her head and backed away. ¡°No, I can¡¯t just leave. I have to find Jun Hao and mother. I have to find Royal Father.¡±


    She turned around and ran toward the pce, now obscured by smoke.


    Jun Huang felt her chest tightened. She looked into the distance and approached the old caretaker, trying to help her up. Before she could do so, an arrow came out of nowhere and buried into the old woman¡¯s chest. The old caretaker widened her eyes and muttered something intelligible before copsing to the ground.


    It all happened so suddenly. Jun Huang gasped and backed away, catching a glimpse of the girl from the corner of her eye. Curiosity got the better of her. She ran after the girl.


    The path was littered with dead bodies and disembodied heads. There was a branching river of crimson blood flowing through the ce.


    ¡°Let go! Let go of me!¡±


    There was a sharp scream. Suddenly, the space opened up. She arrived at a spacious hall and saw the girl. She was restrained by a few maids and eunuchs, stopping her from going forward. Before her, among the mess of burning silk curtains, sat a proud and dignified woman. There was a striking resemnce between her and the girl.


    Her clothes were tattered. In her arms was a man dressed in dragon robe. The bright yellow was tinted by the crimson red of his blood. The woman looked at him with unfocused eyes, caressing his face with long and delicate fingers. A hint of warmth shed through her gaze.


    ¡°Heavens! The building is crashing down!¡± A eunuch shouted. He grabbed the young woman and ran outside. Then it happened. The pce copsed with a loud thud. Dust mixed with sparks hit the girl¡¯s eyes.


    Jun Huang felt her heart clench in sympathy. She took a few steps back and covered her chest. Her forehead was covered in sweat.


    The girl shrieked and almost fainted. A few guards and maids took her away. Jun Huang stood rooted to the spot. She didn¡¯t know what she should do. A voice told her to stay.


    She droned around the burning pce without a clear destination. She saw the Eastern Wu army break in and stab the eunuchs with their spears. The gushing blood was enough to dye thend beneath them red. She saw soldiers with revolting smile assaulted the young maids before breaking their necks, leaving their naked body exposed to the zing fire.


    It shook her to the very core. She ran as fast as she could. Everything whipped past her with great speed. She knew she was dreaming. She wanted to wake up. However, the nightmare wasn¡¯t going to let her go easily.


    All she could hear was theughter of the Eastern Wu soldiers and the screams of the eunuchs and maids. She ran and ran, wanting nothing but to leave the nightmare behind and return to Nan Xun.


    She jerked awake and panted, staring at the canopy of the bed. Sweat streamed down from her neck. She touched her face and felt something wet.


    She was crying.


    She sat up and stared into the distance. Finally, a reprieve. She was no longer dreaming.


    She tried to move her arms. They were sore. She¡¯d been asleep, but nightmares had gued her throughout the night. It didn¡¯t leave her feeling restful. She was exhausted but very much awake. She rubbed at her forehead and got off the bed, pouring herself a cup of tea and taking a sip.


    Outside the window, chilling gust whipped and shrieked. The sun had risen, but it was raining. Jun Huang looked into the distance until she was interrupted by someone knocking on her door. She cleared her throat and said, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Nan Xun walked in with her breakfast and didn¡¯t notice anything wrong until he ced the tray on the table and looked up. She looked tired and sick.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nan Xun walked up to her and asked worriedly. ¡°You didn¡¯t sleep well?¡±


    Jun Huang lowered her eyes and shook her head as she put the teacup on the table. Realization dawned on Nan Xun when he saw her trembling fingers. He took her hand and pulled her close.


    He could feel her shudder and the coldness radiating from her body. He regretted letting her witness the violent scene yesterday. She had a soft heart. It was too much for her.


    He patted her back reassuringly. Jun Huangy against his chest, her body slowly warming up.


    Finally, she said quietly, ¡°I remembered something.¡±

 Chapter 339 - Butterfly Effect

    Chapter 339: Butterfly Effect


    Nan Xun was d that Jun Huang had regained some of her memory, but it pained him to see her face pale. He knew what she remembered couldn¡¯t have been pleasant. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Those things are in the past. I won¡¯t let you get hurt like that again. And we¡¯ll soon get your revenge.¡±


    Nan Xun had been thinking about killing the emperor of Eastern Wu for a while. He had to wait until he found out what their mysterious foe was nning so as to not alert them. Nevertheless, he wasn¡¯t going to let the emperor off the hook.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t forgive anyone who¡¯s hurt you.¡± Nan Xun¡¯s eyes turned ferocious, his tone frigid.


    Jun Huang pursed her lips in concern. However, the emperor of Eastern Wu had fallen from his grace. It wouldn¡¯t be difficult for Nan Xun to give him another push.


    There had always been tension between the emperor and the Eastern Wu¡¯s royal n. Eastern Wu was established by the royal n. In the beginning, every emperor had been handpicked from the n. Later, however, some of them started to get greedy. They wanted their descendents to inherit the throne.


    The royal n intervened and stipted that only the empress¡¯s son could be the next emperor. If that didn¡¯t happen, the n would pick the heir from its members.


    The current empress never got pregnant. If not for the royal n, the emperor would¡¯ve reced her with another consort. The royal n asked the emperor to take in a n member as the heir, but the emperor saw that as part of their conspiracy. He worried that the n would turn on him in the future, and therefore hadn¡¯t given them an answer.


    No one expected things to turn out this way. The emperor¡¯s sons were not his real sons. He was being forced to adopt a child from the n. However, he knew what a difficult position he was in. He was even more concerned that he¡¯d be the bridge the n burned down after they achieved their goal.


    ¡°Why must you be so stubborn, Your Majesty?¡± the patriarch said at a deliberate pace, sitting across from the emperor. ¡°Look around you. If you don¡¯t adopt, are you going to let someone else¡¯s child take the throne? You¡¯ve raised other men¡¯s children for many years. Do you really intend to give what is yours away?¡±


    Heid down the facts without sugarcoating his words.


    The emperor could taste blood in his throat. He scowled and red at the patriarch with a scoff. ¡°I was the one who expanded Eastern Wu¡¯s territory. My child should be the one to rule over it. Why should I share my achievement with you?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget that you can¡¯t have a child, Your Majesty,¡± The patriarch said bluntly. He didn¡¯t care at all about the emperor¡¯s ego.


    The emperor¡¯s face darkened further. He clenched his fists, wanting nothing but to kill everyone who had been mocking him behind his back. However, he knew he couldn¡¯t do that. He was as free as a captive could be.


    The patriarch rose to his feet and continued to exin the situation. The other members of the n echoed his words and tried to sway the emperor.


    Finally, the emperor flew into a rage and shot to his feet, knocking teapot and cups off the table. ¡°You¡¯re making a fool out of me! This is my nation. I will not allow you to put a finger in it. Get out of here if you value your lives.¡±


    The n members shared a look. The patriarch pursed his lips and said ¡°Your Majesty should reconsider,¡± before walking away with the others.


    The emperor couldn¡¯t quell the fury in his heart. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He took off a sword from the rack on the wall and shed at a waiting maid.


    The de hit the maid squarely. She copsed to the floor, dead. The emperorughed hysterically. The other maids dropped to the floor and trembled, but their pleading didn¡¯t stop them from getting killed.


    The emperor¡¯s personal eunuch witnessed everything from a hidden corner of the room. He watched as the emperor continued to stab the dead maids aggressively, as if he was trying to turn their bodies into paste.


    The eunuch touched his face and arm, feeling the scars left by the emperor from the banquet throb. He took a deep breath and frowned when he smelled the blood. While the emperor wasn¡¯t watching, he snuck out of the back door.


    He didn¡¯t realize how scared he was until he got out of the room. He trembled and almost fell to the floor. With a hand on the wall to support himself, he made his way back to his residence and started packing, putting in his rucksack the items the consorts gave him as bribes. Once that was done, he hid the rucksack under his bed. Then he retrieved a small pack of white powder.


    His eyes darted around. If he was to keep himself safe, he had to do something. The powder was an insurance.


    He brought a bowl of congee to the emperor. He¡¯d added some powder inside. His back was covered in sweat. Although the maids¡¯ bodies had been cleaned up, he was still scared. He was even more nervous that he¡¯d anger the emperor.


    Fortunately, the emperor had gone back to normal and didn¡¯t do anything to the eunuch. He sighed in relief and walked away, but not before adding some medicine into the tea the emperor was drinking as well. That happened to be seen by one of Nan Xun¡¯s men.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t expect things to turn out this way. He smiled. Here came his opportunity. Once he¡¯d decided what to do, he snuck into the pce with the night as his cover and waited for the eunuch in his room.


    The eunuch started when he opened the door and saw a stranger. Before he could open his mouth, Nan Xun unsheathed his sword, the de reflecting the moonlight. The eunuch covered his mouth to stop himself from making a sound.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to make you a deal, gongong,¡± Nan Xun said coldly.


    ¡°What deal?¡± the eunuch asked, alerted.


    Nan Xun chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re bold enough to drug the emperor. Why are you so jumpy when facing me?¡±


    The eunuch widened his eyes, breaking into a cold sweat. He was too afraid to respond.


    ¡°I can keep your secret and keep you alive,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°However...¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You have to keep drugging the emperor.¡±


    The eunuch had always been a coward. He nodded hurriedly but asked worriedly, ¡°How do I know I can trust you?¡±


    Nan Xunughed quietly, his eyes looking even colder in the dark. His dead stare was chilling. The eunuch backed away until his back hit the door, his heart in his throat.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have a reason not to trust me, and you don¡¯t have any choices.¡±


    The eunuch took a deep, shuddering breath and nodded. ¡°Yes... of course. However, you must keep me alive and help me escape afterwards.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s only response was a smile. The eunuch rxed slightly.


    It wasn¡¯t a good ce for Nan Xun to stay. He remembered something when he was about to leave and put a pill in the eunuchs¡¯ mouth when he wasn¡¯t expecting it.


    The eunuch clutched at his neck and coughed, but he couldn¡¯t get the pill out. It had gone down his throat. There was nothing he could do to change that.


    ¡°What did you just give me?¡± he asked with his face flushed, staring up at Nan Xun.


    ¡°Insurance,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°It won¡¯t kill you just yet. As long as you do as I said, I¡¯ll give you the cure after your task ispleted.¡±


    With that, he walked away.


    The eunuch stared after him with a conflicted expression before falling unconscious.


    Nan Xun had snuck away while Jun Huang was asleep. He was going to return to his safehouse, but his impulse took him to the outside of the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor. After some hesitation, he quietly made his way to Jun Huang¡¯s residence, evading the patrols along the way.


    Jun Huang had shut her window tonight. He took the front door. The maid didn¡¯t say anything when she saw Nan Xun and continued to make shoes for her lover. Nan Xun threw her a nce. She blushed in embarrassment and stammered without forming aplete sentence.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t intend to tease the maid. He went upstairs and gingerly opened the door. He walked past the screen. Before he could get close, Jun Huang woke up violently.


    He started, puzzled. His first reaction was to light the candle. Then he parted the silk canopy and stood by the bed. Jun Huang¡¯s eyes were unfocused and unreadable. Her face was covered in tears. It hit him like a dagger to the chest.


    Once Jun Huang finally came to her senses, she turned to Nan Xun and croaked, ¡°Why did youe from the outside? Did you go out at night?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. He didn¡¯t tell her where he¡¯d gone. He could tell immediately that she¡¯d woken up from a nightmare. He didn¡¯t want to burden her further with the cruel reality. She didn¡¯t belong to that world. He was willing to walk in the shadow for her.


    He sighed and poured her a cup of tea. She lowered her bright eyes and took a sip. Her tears shone under the candlelight. Nan Xun wiped them away for her with a handkerchief. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared about the ghosts that can only show up at night. Don¡¯t worry about them, and you¡¯ll have a good night¡¯s sleep.¡±


    Jun Huang leaned toward Nan Xun and chuckled. ¡°Ghosts?¡± She lowered her eyes. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t dream about ghosts, but about the destruction of Western Que, about the bodies scattering thend...¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s breath hitched. He¡¯d fought in wars himself. He knew what it was like. He looked at Jun Huang¡¯s pale face and finally understood what was happening.


    Instead of giving her empty titudes, he caressed her back tofort her.

 Chapter 340 - Late Night Conversation

    <h4>Chapter 340: Late Night Conversation</h4>


    Neither of them said anything. In the end, Jun Huang fell asleep in Nan Xun¡¯s arms.


    His eyes turned soft as he looked at her candle-lit face. Carefully, he moved her to the bed and tucked her in.


    He spent the night sitting by the bed. Jun Huang held onto his hand and didn¡¯t let go until the day broke. Nan Xun rose to his feet and stretched his numb limbs before leaving for his safehouse.


    When he arrived, he asked his shadowguard where Oleg Cragfiend was. He was told that the old master had woken up and was taking care of the herbs he¡¯d nted in the backyard.


    Nan Xun told Oleg Cragfiend about Jun Huang¡¯s nightmare. After a brief pause, the old man said, ¡°It¡¯s a normal reaction. What happened to the emperor of Eastern Wu triggered the memory hidden in her mind. That¡¯s why she recovered the bad memories first and keeps having nightmares. What she dreams about is what she least wants to recall.¡±


    Nan Xun understood part of the exnation. The violent scene that day must have been stressful to Jun Huang. Of all the memories she might recover, it was the tragedy that gued her dreams.


    He sighed without a word and told himself that he¡¯d spend more time with Jun Huang.


    ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing,¡± said Oleg Cragfiend, his tone serious. ¡°Had she had her memory, she wouldn¡¯t have reacted that violently to what happened at the banquet. She¡¯s kept her trauma hidden. The less she¡¯s willing to open up to others, the more it hurts her. The fact that she can talk to you about it means she¡¯s healing. Only after the worst pain would an injury heal. That¡¯s what is happening to her. Once she picks herself up, she won¡¯t be trapped by her nightmares anymore. Therefore... what you should do is to help her move on.¡±


    Nan Xun considered Oleg Cragfiend¡¯s words carefully. The poison master had a point. Jun Huang had been difficult to read. She kept everything, pain and suffering included, to herself. This was an opportunity for him to help her.


    With his mind made up, Nan Xun walked away. Oleg Cragfiend looked at the general thoughtfully. Nan Xun had proven time and again that he had more of a heart than his reputation would suggest.


    I hope the silly girl has truly met a man who loves her. Oleg Cragfiend sighed, silently praying for Jun Huang.


    His rtionship with Jun Huang hadn¡¯t always been good, and he only approached her to use her as a test subject. However, they had spent quite some time together. He couldn¡¯t not feel sympathy for the girl. He knew how deeply Jun Huang cared under her cold facade. He hoped Nan Xun would never wrong her.


    For the next few days, Nan Xun never left Jun Huang¡¯s side. At first Jun Huang hadn¡¯t noticed, but then she realized that Nan Xun was always around whenever she checked. It made her feel safe.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have other things to take care of?¡± Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help but ask. She put away her book and looked at Nan Xun questioningly.


    Nan Xun ruffled her hair and chuckled. ¡°Nothing is more important than you.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart swell, her eyshes shuddering. There was an undeniable warmth in her chest. ¡°I get that, but I¡¯m alright. I must have made you worried that night. But ¨C ¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? I just want to spend time with you.¡± Nan Xun yed ignorant and knelt down to take Jun Huang¡¯s hands, his eyes serious.


    Jun Huang smiled, her mood brightened. ¡°If so, tell me another story about us.¡±


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t going to say no to that. He nodded and sat down beside her, talking about their time in Northern Qi.


    She listened with rapt attention, unwilling to miss any details. Although she didn¡¯t remember, subconsciously she recognized that Nan Xun was describing something she¡¯d lived through.


    Nan Xun told the tale earnestly, his expression softening when he noted Jun Huang¡¯s concentrated look. His voice grew gentle.


    Telling the story was no longer only for Jun Huang¡¯s benefit. She might not know, but he¡¯d been too busy to look back and examine their rtionship until now. As he talked, he remembered all the little details. It affected him more than he had expected.


    At the time, they spend more time apart than together. His responsibilities kept him busy, and Jun Huang didn¡¯t allow herself any break from her plot for revenge. Even when she¡¯d fallen ill, she persisted. She refused to y the pawns in a chess game. She had to be the one pulling the strings.


    She might seem like an outside observer in most conflicts, always calm and collected, but Nan Xun knew she was the one who had put in the most effort. If she¡¯d let herself rest, her condition wouldn¡¯t have deteriorated so much.


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart ached. He¡¯d vowed to protect her, but he hadn¡¯t been able to take away her worries. Despite losing her memory, she was still weighed down by her past.


    His voice grew slower and gentler. The change didn¡¯t escape Jun Huang¡¯s notice. She¡¯d always been observant.


    She looked up at Nan Xun, her breath hitched when she noted the pain in his eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, but she didn¡¯t know what to say. Instead, she grabbed his hand tightly, as if the contact was the only thing that could dispel the tension in the air.


    ¡°I know there must be more to our rtionship than romance even though you haven¡¯t told me,¡± Jun Huang finally said. ¡°Neither of us are regr peasants. It¡¯s impossible for us to think only of ourselves. I don¡¯t remember anything about the weight we carry, and I don¡¯t want to remember. For some reason, a voice in my head keeps telling me to let it go. My past is too heavy for me to take on. However... I don¡¯t want you to shoulder the burden on your own.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart pounded as he listened to her every word. At that moment, he fell a little deeper in love.


    He calmed himself and looked down at Jun Huang¡¯s flushed face. ¡°You said it yourself that the burden is too heavy for one person to bear,¡± he said seriously. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to shoulder everything on your own, either. That¡¯s how you used to be. You kept everything to yourself. I can¡¯t do anything but watch you suffer. In truth, no two people should ever shoulder the weight of the world.¡±


    Their conversation took a heavy turn. Jun Huang lowered her eyes bemusedly, her thoughts unreadable.


    She took a deep breath and straightened her back. ¡°Both you and my master have done a lot for me. I can¡¯t just sit around and do nothing. I must ovee my nightmares myself. Outside intervention isn¡¯t enough. How about we visit Jun Hao and spend some time together? I haven¡¯t seen him for a while.¡±


    Nan Xun pursed his lips. Jun Hao had been living in his safehouse. As for the hideout in the alleyway where the interrogation room was, Yin Yun had been there, taking care of business. Nan Xun didn¡¯t know exactly what the man had done, but nothing had gone wrong so far.


    That wasn¡¯t why he was hesitant, no. It was just... Everytime they went to the safehouse, Jun Hao always clung to Jun Huang.


    Looking at Jun Huang¡¯s hopeful eyes, Nan Xun nodded in resignation. He understood that she and Jun Hao were bound by blood. Despite her loss of memory, the connection between them remained strong.


    That didn¡¯t mean he liked seeing Jun Huang being that close with another man, not even her brother.


    After disguising themselves, they left the manor for the safehouse. Jun Huang followed Nan Xun to Jun Hao¡¯s room.


    They boy widened his eyes after opening the door, staring at Jun Huang. Then he threw himself into her arms.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t visited me for a few days, sister. I thought you¡¯ve forgotten about me.¡± Jun Hao pouted. Jun Huang snorted fondly and sat down on the bed, keeping her arm around Jun Hao.


    ¡°Of course I haven¡¯t forgotten about you,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile, wiping his tears with a handkerchief. ¡°I¡¯vee, haven¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Sister, sister! You didn¡¯t know what happened the past few days...¡±


    ¡°...Yin Yun brought a little rabbit yesterday...¡±


    ¡°...They never let me out to y, but they¡¯ve brought many interesting things to me. Many of them I haven¡¯t seen before...¡±


    ¡°...Oh, I remember you liking umon trinkets, sister. I¡¯ll go get them for you.¡±


    Jun Hao squirmed out of Jun Huang¡¯s arms and rushed to pull out a wooden chest. Inside were a good number of small toys.


    Jun Huang listened to him with an indulgent smile. Jun Hao¡¯s insistent babbling didn¡¯t bother her at all. The two of themughed without a care in the world.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help feeling left out. At first Jun Huang would still exchange a few words with him, but now she¡¯d forgotten about his existence. He crossed his arms and fumed.

 Chapter 341 - Childish Argument

    <h4>Chapter 341: Childish Argument</h4>


    When Jun Hao finished introducing the toys he hid in the wooden box to Jun Huang, she turned to Nan Xun and btedly realized that she¡¯d forgotten about him. She smiled awkwardly and cleared her throat as she stood up. ¡°Sorry, I was so focused I didn¡¯t pay you any attention.¡±


    Nan Xun darted his eyes around. It¡¯d be unbing of him to make his frustration known, but he didn¡¯t want to let it slide. ¡°It¡¯s alright, but I¡¯m going to get jealous if you keep going.¡± He tried to find a less direct way to express his feelings. ¡°Although Jun Hao is your brother, he is also a man. I can¡¯t possibly feel nothing when you put all your attention on him and none on me.¡±


    He made it sound as if he was in the right. Jun Huang blinked in surprise. She covered her mouth andughed, her eyes and brows curved into a beautiful smile. Nan Xun stopped ranting. He pulled Jun Huang to his side and pointed at Jun Hao, who was ying with toys on the floor.


    ¡°You¡¯re her brother, but don¡¯t forget that she¡¯s my wife. I¡¯m your brother-inw.¡±


    Jun Huang put down the toy in his hand, his gaze shifting between Jun Huang and Nan Xun, his brows furrowed. He rose to his feet and spoke like a child trying to sound mature. ¡°No, you aren¡¯t. You haven¡¯t gotten married yet.¡±


    ¡°Your sister and I are married,¡± Nan Xun retorted with a re. ¡°You just didn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true! How can I not know about it if you¡¯ve gotten married? Your marriage doesn¡¯t count without me as the witness. You aren¡¯t my brother-inw yet. You shouldn¡¯t touch my sister. Don¡¯t you know that men and women have to keep a polite distance from each other?¡±


    Jun Hao shot to his feet and stepped between Jun Huang and Nan Xun, pushing Nan Xun away and stretching his arms out to guard Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun rolled his eyes. Thinking of Oleg Cragfiend¡¯s reminder and the reason they hade today, he put aside his anger and took a deep breath, looking at Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang smiled, her eyes gentle. Nan Xun swallowed down what he was about to say. None of that mattered when she looked at him like that.


    ¡°What are you doing, arguing with a child?¡± Jun Huang said teasingly. ¡°Fancy yourself a little boy?¡±


    Nan Xun awkwardly cleared his throat. Jun Hao stuck his tongue out at him and pulled Jun Huang back to the bed, supporting his chin with a hand. ¡°Yin Yun said that sister has forgotten many things and I should tell you about our childhood. I¡¯ll share a few stories with you.¡±


    He nced at Nan Xun and raised an eyebrow.


    Nan Xun turned a blind eye to the boy¡¯s taunt. He did want Jun Hao to help Jun Huang relive the happy memories from their past. He wasn¡¯t going to interrupt them ¨C no matter how much he wanted to kick Jun Hao out.


    ¡°Do you remember, sister, that I hated reading when I was little. Royal Father forced me to take sses from a teacher...¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t want to go to school, so you tried to make yourself ill,¡± Jun Huang continued without thinking. ¡°You went to the lotus pond and sshed water at yourself so that you would catch a cold, but you identally fell into the pond. Your teacher happened to see that... the pond was dried. You weren¡¯t hurt. However, you ended up covered in mud.¡±


    Nan Xun and Jun Hao exchanged a look. The boy¡¯s expression told Nan Xun that Jun Huagn¡¯s story was urate.


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t noticed their reaction. She continued, ¡°I remember that one time you followed your caretaker out of the pce. You got separated. You were scared but you didn¡¯t know the way back. Finally, you recognized one of the dogs kept in the pce. You followed the dog through a hole and found your way back. Royal Father scolded you after finding out.¡±


    When she stopped talking, she realized that both Nan Xun and Jun Hao were staring at her. She didn¡¯t immediately realized what was wrong.


    ¡°That was because sister snuck out without me. I was looking for you...¡± Jun Hao¡¯s eyes turned red. He mentioned a few more silly stories from his childhood, and Jun Huang was able to continue every one of them. Jun Hao couldn¡¯t contain his emotions. He threw himself into her arms and bawled.


    Realization dawned on Jun Huang. She¡¯d remembered her past without realizing it. She was jerked out of her shock by Jun Hao¡¯s wailing. She gave Nan Xun a look, silently asking for his help.


    Nan Xun bit back a smile and patted Jun Hao on the back. He lowered his voice to avoid scaring the boy. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re a big boy now. Stop crying. Otherwise how are you going to protect your sister?¡±


    Jun Hao cried even harder. ¡°I know it¡¯s my fault that I didn¡¯t protect sister well. That¡¯s why sister... sister ended up hurt. Wah...¡±


    Jun Huang shot Nan Xun a re. Nan Xun touched his nose awkwardly.


    ¡°Shh, it¡¯s not your fault. You¡¯re still young.¡± Jun Huang gently smoothed her hand over Jun Hao¡¯s back. ¡°You have to first grow up ande to your own before you can protect me, right? Besides, I¡¯m doing alright.¡±


    She continued tofort him, but Jun Hao showed no sign of calming down. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t a patient man. Frustrated, he reached out to grab Jun Hao, but Jun Hao refused to let go. He clung to Jun Huang and kept sobbing.


    Things got a little out of control after that. Yin Yun had heard themotion upon his return and thought that something had gone wrong. He burst through the door and saw Jun Hao burying his face into Jun Huang¡¯s clothes while sheforted him. At the same time, Nan Xun was holding onto Jun Hao¡¯s legs, trying to pull him away.


    Yin Yun didn¡¯t recovered from his shock until Jun Hao started wailing louder. He ran up to them.


    ¡°Stop it. He may get hurt.¡± Yin Yun frowned at the way Nan Xun roughly pulled at the boy¡¯s legs. He knew Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t use too much force, but he still worried.


    Nan Xun nced at him and let go. ¡°You better get him to let go,¡± he said, pointing at the boy. ¡°His voice will get hoarse from crying. More importantly, it¡¯s tiring for Jun Huang to keep holding him. She¡¯s only just recovered. I don¡¯t want her to fall ill again.¡±


    Yin Yun¡¯s mouth twitched. He knew how possessive Nan Xun was. He hurriedly put his arms around Jun Hao and patted his head. ¡°Did you hear him, Your Highness? The princess hasn¡¯tpletely recovered. She can¡¯t hold you for too long. You don¡¯t want her to be ill, do you?¡±


    Jun Hao stopped bawling. He looked up at Jun Huang and noted the tired lines on her face. He pulled away timidly and tried his best to blink away his tears. It was a pitiful look.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m alright,¡± Jun Huang patiently said.


    Jun Hao nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t cry anymore. I have to protect sister.¡±


    He wiped his tears away and managed a smile.


    Jun Huang ruffled his hair, touched. Before she could say anything, Nan Xun coughed.


    Yin Yun got his unspoken message and hurriedly said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, princess. You should return to the manor. It¡¯ll be troublesome if someone realizes you¡¯ve left.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded in agreement. She exchanged a few words with Jun Hao before leaving with Nan Xun. They made their way back to the manor side by side. Nan Xun turned to her and noted how rxed she looked under the moonlight. She was stunningly beautiful.


    I¡¯ll forgive her brother for fighting for her attention, he thought to himself.


    The maid sighed in relief when they returned and pped her chest. ¡°You¡¯re finally back, mydy. I thought you¡¯d never return.¡±


    Jun Huang nced at Nan Xun before looking away from his intense gaze. She didn¡¯t let her bashfulness show. ¡°Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°Nothing serious,¡± said the maid. ¡°But the mistress asked you to join them for dinner. I told her you were feeling unwell. She said to let you rest. She¡¯d get a doctor tomorrow. I was worried that you¡¯d be found out if you haven¡¯t returned when the doctores.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here now,¡± Jun Huang quietly said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You may leave to attend to your business.¡±


    The maid nodded and walked away.


    After eating something for dinner, Jun Huang went to bed. Nan Xun stayed at her side the whole night. On one hand, he was worried that she would get another nightmare. On the other hand, he simply wanted to stay with her.


    At midnight, Jun Huang was still sound asleep. Nan Xun sat on the bed watching her and finally fell asleep as well.


    Nan Xun woke up at the crack of dawn. He was d that Jun Huang hadn¡¯t had any nightmares. He opened the window to air out the room and had the maid prepare some breakfast.


    When Jun Huang woke up, the doctor had arrived. Jun Huang didn¡¯t pretend to be weak. She watched the doctor with cold eyes as he worked. The doctor said to the mistress, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s recovered. She¡¯s only feeling weak because of her long years of being ill. She¡¯ll feel better after getting some sunlight.¡±


    The mistress was relieved. She patted jun Huang on the back of her hand and said solemnly, ¡°You¡¯ve been prone to illness. The weather is nice today. Take a walk with the servantster and don¡¯t stay in your room all day.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, mother,¡± Jun Huang said quietly. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    The mistress didn¡¯t leave until after giving Jun Huang a few more reminders. Jun Huang¡¯s smile dropped. Nan Xun knew why her mood had taken a downturn.


    The mistress was too attentive to Jun Huang; it was tiring. Jun Huang hated lies and false emotions. Naturally it¡¯d be draining for her to face the mistress every day.

 Chapter 342 - Master and Servants

    <h4>Chapter 342: Master and Servants</h4>


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get some fresh air,¡± Nan Xun walked up to Jun Huang and whispered.


    Jun Huang rubbed at her forehead. She was getting tired of the walls of her room. She nodded and had her maid help her get ready.


    The housekeeper had promoted Nan Xun from a servant to a guard. He was told to keep an eye on Jun Huang in case something happened. When they left the manor this time, the housekeeper didn¡¯t assigned anyone else to follow them, which saved them the trouble of pretending.


    Once outside, Nan Xun¡¯s sole focus was on keeping Jun Huang safe. She was touched, but her expression was as aloof as ever.


    The maid was immediately dismissed. It¡¯d been a while since shest saw her lover. She went to seek him out. She didn¡¯t want to be the third wheel anyway.


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang soon reached a quiet ce with nice scenery. He knew that she was a woman of culture. That was why he led her here. Unfortunately, they ran into some of the young mistresses from the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor.


    ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t it my sickly little sister?¡± The third mistress covered her mouth and chuckled, her voice dripping with sarcasm.


    Jun Huang frowned. She didn¡¯t want to waste her time on her fake sisters, but they weren¡¯t going to let her go without her greeting them. Weighing her options, she took a deep breath and walked up to them, her lips curved into a polite smile.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to run into sisters. I hope you won¡¯t me me for not noticing you before.¡±


    ¡°me you?¡± sneered the third young mistress. ¡°Oh, we wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±


    The first young mistress had more self-control. She tugged at the third young mistress¡¯s sleeve in warning before taking a step forward, her smile friendly. ¡°Where are you going, sister?¡±


    ¡°Enjoying the quiet like people in the past often did,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I hear that the view is beautiful. I came to get some fresh air since I have some time.¡±


    She lowered her eyes. The dangling ornament on her hairpin shook in the wind, and the strands of silk wrapping around her body flew and tangled in the air. Added to that her pale and thin face, she looked heartbreakingly delicate.


    The young scions following behind the young mistresses muttered among themselves, which further stoked the girls¡¯ anger.


    The first young mistress might be good at controlling her emotions, but she wasn¡¯t Jun Huang. She couldn¡¯t help but get jealous. ¡°The others must have been stunned by your appearance, sister,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Unfortunately, you¡¯re bound to the manor by your illness. Why did you push yourself and left the manor? Why don¡¯t you stay home? There¡¯s a pretty big garden there. Is it not enough for you?¡±


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t a fool. She could read between the lines and understand her words as the mockery it was. She looked up at the first young mistress. ¡°I understand where youe from. Thank you for your concern. However, I didn¡¯t want to stay at home despite my condition. What a coincidence it is for me to run into you here. If we weren¡¯t sisters, others wouldugh at us for running into our worst enemy at every corner.¡±


    ¡°You said you were here to enjoy the quiet like people in the past often did,¡± the second young mistress piped up, her tone mocking. ¡°How quaint. We¡¯ve been improvising poems on our way here like the old schrs. I wonder if you¡¯ve read the four books and five ssics with that frail body of yours?¡±


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t stop himself from shooting them a re. The first young mistress noticed and scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s said that servants resemble their master. If sister doesn¡¯t know how to properly train your servants, you may send them to me. I¡¯ll teach them what they should and shouldn¡¯t do.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t care about being the subject of their scorn, but she wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to insult Nan Xun. Her eyes turned frosty. ¡°You¡¯re right. Servants do resemble their master. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t dare let youy a finger on him. Any servants taught by a master like you will be too much for me to handle.¡±


    ¡°Keep reciting your poems, my dear sisters. I don¡¯t want to hear another word from you, and I don¡¯t want to hear the work of ancient poetsing out of your mouths, imed by those who don¡¯t deserve the art. Ha, others may not mock you, but I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to hold my tongue.¡±


    She walked away with Nan Xun in tow.


    ¡°She deserves to be bed-ridden.¡± The first young mistress spat through gritted teeth, trembling with anger. She wanted to curse Jun Huang out, but they were outside. Too many unwanted eyes were watching. She must not lose herposure as the oldest daughter from an esteemed family.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t contain her anger. She stalked off with a dark expression and didn¡¯t break the silence until muchter. ¡°We can¡¯t stay in the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor any longer. If we do, I...¡±


    Taking a deep, calming breath, she turned to Nan Xun. ¡°When are we leaving?¡±


    Nan Xun understood her anger. He was just as furious when the young mistresses insulted Jun Huang. If he didn¡¯t have to keep a low profile, he¡¯d have dealt with the girls and put them through hell.


    ¡°Soon. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Nan Xun tried tofort her. He suggested, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t let those people ruin our day. Why don¡¯t we buy some gifts for Jun Hao? He¡¯ll be happy.¡±


    That was a good idea. Jun Huang nodded without hesitation. They made their way to the downtown area and walk around to look for gifts.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t go out a lot. The city was foreign to her, and the mistress didn¡¯t let her leave the manor often. She¡¯d allowed her a lot more leeway recently, though.


    ¡°I know you don¡¯t remember Jun Hao¡¯s preferences, but don¡¯t worry too much,¡± Nan Xun spoke up when he noted the frown on Jun Huang¡¯s forehead. ¡°We¡¯ll buy something a boy his age will like. Of course, you should get whatever catches your fancy as well.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Jun Huang nodded and gave him a reassuring smile. She picked up a finely crafted toy and considered it. Nan Xun turned to her. The way sunlight caught her in a warm glow captivated him.


    ¡°You two are a perfect fit,¡± the owner of the street stand said earnestly, looking up at Jun Huang and Nan Xun.


    Even though that was likely to be nothing but a sales pitch, Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help but blush. She coughed and looked away, pretending to be nonchnt.


    Pleased, Nan Xun paid for what Jun Huang had picked and took her hand, ignoring the looks cast their way.


    Jun Huang widened her eyes slightly, but she didn¡¯t pull away. She averted her gaze with a faint but warm smile on her face.


    Meanwhile, the emperor of Eastern Wu was having a difficult time.


    In the end, he caved under the pressure from the royal n and adopted a few of their members. The boys had been convinced by their parents that the throne would one day be theirs. As a result, there wasn¡¯t a moment when they weren¡¯t plotting against one another.


    The emperor had been discontent with the situation he was in. The way the boys behaved and the medicine the eunuch gave him made it even more difficult for him to control his anger. He became more irritable and lost his temper frequently. The pce was in chaos. No order could be established.


    Nan Xun was thoughtful when he got the news. He silently thanked the man behind the scene for getting the emperor to this point. However, the man¡¯s motive was still unknown. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t help but worry.


    Seeing Jun Haoying bonelessly against Jun Huang for her attention ignited his irritation. He marched toward them and picked Jun Hao up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know that men and women shouldn¡¯t stay in the same bed after age seven?¡± Nan Xun said disapprovingly. ¡°If others see you like that, you¡¯ll getughed at.¡±


    Jun Hao hade to ept Nan Xun as his brother-inw over the time. He squirmed out of Nan Xun¡¯s grip and stuck his tongue out at him before hiding behind Jun Huang.


    Pissed, Nan Xun reached out to grab the boy, but Jun Huang stopped him andughed. ¡°You¡¯re a grown man. Why are you arguing with him like a boy? If others see you now, you will beughed at.¡±


    His anger couldn¡¯tst when Jun Huang smiled at him like that. He sighed. ¡°You¡¯re the bane of my existence, but I¡¯ll dly ept that. I want to stay with you and take you everywhere I go.¡±


    Jun Huang paused and chuckled. ¡°I feel the same.¡±


    Their intimacy was almost too much to witness. It was all anyone could ask for to have a love like theirs. However, not everyone could be like them. Even fewer could live through what they¡¯d been through.


    Jun Hao grimaced and whined with his hands on his hip, ¡°Have you forgotten about me? I¡¯m still young. You¡¯re a bad influence. Leave my room. I don¡¯t want the two of you here.¡±


    Nan Xun pulled a serious face at him. ¡°If you get influenced so easily, you can only me yourself for being weak-minded...¡±


    Jun Huang looked at them exasperatedly. They were going to start arguing again.


    However, she also knew that Jun Hao had kicked her out because she¡¯d been here for a while. He worried that she¡¯d be suspected by those in the manor. In truth, he was thest person who would want her to go.

 Chapter 343 - Chaos in Eastern Wu

    <h4>Chapter 343: Chaos in Eastern Wu</h4>


    ¡°Alright, we won¡¯t stay here and get in your way,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°Remember, you should find a good woman to settle down with, living a life of mutual support and respect.¡±


    She started to get a little choked up. She had only wanted to offer Jun Haofort.


    Nan Xun could read the concerns in her tone. She¡¯d always been worried that her health wouldn¡¯t allow her a lifetime with him. If only they could start over...


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go.¡± Nan Xun didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to dwell on that. He put an arm around her and led her away. Jun Huang took a deep breath and schooled her expression into one of indifference. They walked out of the courtyard house one after the other.


    Jun Huang lowered her head in contemtion, her strides faster than usual. Her pursed lips and pale face made Nan Xun¡¯s heart ache, but there wasn¡¯t much he could do.


    He reached out for the illusory glow surrounding her. She turned to him suddenly, her eyes reflecting a hopeful light. ¡°We¡¯ve walked home together at night, haven¡¯t we, Nan Xun?¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s mouthed dried. He felt the urge to pick Jun Huang up then and there, but her downcast eyes gave him pause.


    ¡°My memory is fuzzy. The cold moonlight is all I can remember.¡± She chuckled, but it was a bitter one.


    It hit Nan Xun hard. He took a deep breath and walked up to Jun Huang, gently pulling her close to him. ¡°It¡¯s alright. If you can¡¯t remember, I¡¯ll tell you about us. If you don¡¯t want to hear it, I¡¯ll retread our tracks with you.¡±


    Jun Huangughed into Nan Xun¡¯s arms, the sound as carefree as she¡¯d ever been. She snuck a nce at him. ¡°There are other things I remember. The memories are unclear, but I have a feeling that you¡¯re in all those memories.¡±


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t be more pleased. His earlier frustration melted away. He wanted nothing but for Jun Huang to be part of him.


    Jun Huang had been slowly recovering her memory. Although many of her recollections had nothing to do with him, he was d to see her bing healthier, lighter. When the time came, he¡¯d be able to tie up his n and take Jun Huang away, living a life free of care.


    Before he could do that, however, a letter from Northern Qi arrived.


    Nan Xun had been in a good mood that day. He¡¯d gone outside with Jun Huang in the morning, listening to her talk about what she remembered about her childhood. Then his shadowguard came suddenly. He wasn¡¯t able to walk Jun Huang home himself, so he had a shadowguard keep an eye on Jun Huang while he returned to his safehouse.


    ¡°What¡¯s the emergency?¡± Nan Xun asked with a frown as he opened the door.


    ¡°Northern Qi sent a message,¡± the shadowguard took out an envelope as he said. ¡°This subordinate worried that it might be something important, so I sought you out immediately.¡±


    Nan Xun took the envelope and nodded. His expression changed when he read the letter.


    ¡°A temporary peace has been reached. I hope you¡¯ll return soon. Do not dally around in Eastern Wu. There are many affairs to take care of in the imperial city, and many problems have arisen. It¡¯s better that you return before the officials get suspicious.¡±


    Qi Yun had told him about the current situation in Northern Qi and asked him to go back at once.


    ¡°What do we do, Your Highness?¡± the shadowguard asked, looking over at Nan Xun. The general stood before a window with a thoughtful look on his face.


    Nan Xun broke out of his trance. ¡°He must have a reason to ask for my return. It is true that the courtiers may get suspicious if I stay after the war ceased. Moreover, this is an opportunity for us to get out. We should seize it in case something goes wrong.¡±


    The shadowguard admired Nan Xun for his calmness. They had something that could send Eastern Wu into chaos, which would be perfect for their purpose. ¡°What about Miss Jun Huang? That¡¯s a tricky issue we¡¯ll have to solve properly. If we leave anything that can be used against us, the tide may be turned. After all, we don¡¯t know what the hidden forces at work want.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Nan Xun¡¯s expression clouded. Getting Jun Huang out was the most difficult part of their departure. Everyone in the Grand Chancellor manor was tied to Jun Huang. He had toe up with a solution.


    The shadowguard quietly left the room. Nan Xun stood there for a long time until it started to get windy. He walked out and made his way to the Grand Chancellor¡¯s manor.


    As he expected, Jun Huang was sitting in a pavilion, her expression cool. The light-colored dress waved in the wind, and her hair tangled and danced. She looked ethereal and untouchable.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Jun Huang gave him a small smile and walked up to him.


    Nan Xun averted his eyes and cleared his throat, brushing Jun Huang¡¯s hair back. ¡°Northern Qi¡¯s emperor urged us to return.¡±


    Something shed through Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. She¡¯d wanted to leave Eastern Wu for a long time. This ce made her uneasy. And she wanted to take a look at the nation she and Nan Xun had called home.


    Nan Xun knew what she was thinking. Her brightened mood made him less worried, but there was still one issue. ¡°It¡¯s a littleplicated with you, however...¡±


    ¡°The mistress is taking everyone to pay tribute to their ancestors tomorrow,¡± Jun Huang said without hesitation. ¡°That¡¯s our chance.¡±


    Nan Xun thought for a moment. They discussed what they were going to do and settled on a n. He nodded and said he¡¯d make the necessary arrangements. Jun Huang should focus on her safety and not to worry too much.


    With that settled, what was left was his parting gift to Eastern Wu.


    The next day, the mistress took Jun Huang and the others into the mountain. Nan Xun stayed in the city and spread the news that the emperor wasn¡¯t of the royal blood. The true righteous heir to the throne was left wandering outside the pce.


    The rumor shouldn¡¯t have reached the royal n, but it did. The emperor and the royal n had been at oddstely, and thetter had been trying to get something against him. The rumor could be of use even if it wasn¡¯t true.


    After investigation, they found out that it was true. The emperor had been swapped with the real crown prince when he was young. The real crown prince ¡®s whereabouts was unknown.


    Although the emperor wasn¡¯t to me for the swap, he was an ipetent leader. The royal n wasn¡¯t going to let him wreck havoc in the nation. The patriarch banished the emperor and sent a search party to look for the real descendents of the royal family.


    The ensuing chaos gave Nan Xun and the others an opening to arrange for their escape.


    Jun Huang and the Grand Chancellor¡¯s family made their way up the mountain. The road they traversed went along the edge of a cliff. Jun Huang opted to stay in the same coach as the other young mistresses rather than the mistress this time.


    The young mistresses had always disliked Jun Huang. They pretended she didn¡¯t exist. Jun Huang didn¡¯t care. She counted down in her mind and motioned at the rider to halt the coach when they reached the right ce.


    ¡°The view is nice outside,¡± Jun Huang said slowly. ¡°I¡¯d like to take a look. Let¡¯s take a break.¡±


    The first young mistress frowned. She wanted to object, but her attention was caught by the magnificent view when she parted the curtains. She swallowed her protest and exchanged a nce with her sisters. They got off the coach after Jun Huang did.


    Jun Huang walked further away from the coach. The maid looked at her from afar and reminded her to be careful. Jun Huang ignored her words and stood at the edge of the cliff.


    She took a deep breath. Deafening wind whipped through her ears. In the distance were gentle creaks and streams. It felt as if she¡¯d be able to touch the sky by reaching out.


    ¡°Be careful, sister. We can¡¯t afford to have you fall off.¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. The third young mistress¡¯s voice never failed to put her in a bad mood. She turned to her, scowling.


    The third young mistress scoffed. ¡°Oh? Not going to keep up your pretense when mother isn¡¯t here? And people think you¡¯re pure-hearted. Ha, what a joke. They¡¯ve all been deceived by a poor excuse of a woman.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I can¡¯tpare with you. I hear you have a reputation. I wonder if it¡¯s true.¡±


    Jun Huang huffed. Her expression was as calm as ever, but it somehow made her words even more infuriating.


    The third young mistress¡¯s face darkened. She balled her hands up into fists and red at Jun Huang. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± Jun Huang asked with feigned surprise. Then she put on a knowing smile and chuckled, covering her mouth. ¡°When Gentleman Li was trying to court me, he told me a lot of your embarrassing stories to please me. Those obscene words shouldn¡¯t be uttered in politepany, but Gentleman Li didn¡¯t seem to care. I never expected third sister to be so... passionate. He also said that regr men wouldn¡¯t be able to handle a woman like you.¡±


    The third young mistress¡¯s face contorted. Jun Huang¡¯s calm face and nonchnt tone made her even more furious. In the heat of the moment, she pushed Jun Huang, knocking her off bnce.


    Jun Huang had been standing by the edge of the cliff. She staggered and stumbled on a rock. Before either of them could react, she¡¯d disappeared.


    The others had witnessed the third young mistress pushing Jun Huang off. The young mistress stared at where Jun Huang had been with wide eyes, unable to recover from her shock.

 Chapter 344 - Servants

    <h4>Chapter 344: Servants</h4>


    The first young mistress dragged the third young mistress back and pped her across the face. ¡°What have you done?!¡±


    ¡°She... she provoked me first. I didn¡¯t mean to do it. I...¡±


    ¡°Enough.¡± The first young mistress shot her sister a re and ordered the servants and guards to look for Jun Huang. The mistress noticed themotion and got off the coach to ask what had happened. When she heard that Jun Huang had been pushed off the cliff by the third young mistress, she fainted and copsed.


    Jun Huang knew she¡¯d be safe, but she couldn¡¯t help the fear running down her spine. Images shed through her mind. There was something familiar about the feeling of falling. When she tried to focus on the shing images, though, she couldn¡¯t.


    She squeezed her eyes shut and couldn¡¯t help struggling a little, her throat too tight to make a sound. Free-falling wasn¡¯t something one got used to. Before she could think herself into panicking, a pair of strong arms caught her. She opened her eyes when her feet touched the ground.


    The man who had caught her wasn¡¯t Nan Xun, but his most trusted shadowguard. She had seen the man a few times before. He calmly let go of her. Jun Huang finally rxed somewhat.


    She¡¯de up with the n with Nan Xun. After scouting out the area, they realized that there was a hidden cave opening into the cliff. They had the shadowguard wait there to catch Jun Huang when she fell.


    It was a terrifying thing to do when she thought about it, but at the time, they didn¡¯t hesitate. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. If they missed it, there was no telling when she would be able to escape. Therefore, Jun Huang had insisted on following through despite Nan Xun¡¯s reluctance. It was a good thing that the shadowguard was as good as his job as he had always been. She safely reached the cave.


    The shadowguard tied one end of the rope to Jun Huang¡¯s waist and the other end to a stone pir. ¡°Hold onto the vine, please. I¡¯ll lower you down. The prince is waiting for you at the bottom of the mountain. We have to get out of here before those from the Grand Chancellor manore searching for you.¡±


    Jun Huang took a deep breath and nodded. With the shadowguard¡¯s help, she held onto the vines covering the cliff.


    The shadowguard carefully lowered her down. The rope tightened ufortably around her waist. She gritted her teeth and braced for the pain, holding onto the vines, her face covered in sweat. Her fingers had been dyed green by crushed vegetation, but that was thest of her concerns.


    Soon she reached the bottom of the valley and saw Nan Xun. He wrapped his arms around her and gingerly lowered her to the ground. He sent a signal re at the shadowguard. As Jun Huang untied the rope around her waist, she looked up and saw the shadowguard quickly scaling down the cliff.


    She pursed her lips without a word. Nan Xun gave her and the shadowguard a nce. They made their way out of the valley and found the coach they had arranged for. Nan Xun helped Jun Huang in. Soon, they were on their way to Northern Qi.


    ¡°What about Jun Hao and Yin Yun?¡± Jun Huang asked once they settled down.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s waiting for us in Northern Qi,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°It¡¯s better to leave them here. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve taken care of everything. Jun Hao and Yin Yun would be staying in a safe ce. Once we¡¯re done, we¡¯ll seek them out.¡±


    Jun Huang sighed in relief. She had been tense the whole day. Now that she could rx, she started to feel tired. She soon fell asleep with her head resting on Nan Xun¡¯s shoulder.


    Nan Xun caressed her fair face. His heart ached a little, but the sense of relief and satisfaction overpowered it. He and Jun Huang were going back home.


    It didn¡¯t take long before they reached Northern Qi. Nan Xun had to report back to Qi Yun. Given Jun Huang¡¯s condition, he opted to take Jun Huang back to his manor first before leaving for the pce.


    Jun Huang had been asleep for a long time. When she woke up, there was no one around. She rubbed at her forehead and blinked the haziness out of her eyes. This ce seemed familiar to her. It must have been Nan Xun¡¯s manor.


    She took an instant liking to the ce. Once she got changed, she walked out of the room. The way the backyard was arranged surprised her. It fit her taste perfectly. She wasn¡¯t sure if Nan Xun had somehow figured out her preferences, or if the old Jun Huang had decorated the ce herself.


    She wandered around, taking in the view. The once familiar scenery felt more like a strange, half-forgotten dream. Every little thing caught her eyes. She soon reached the back garden. Before she entered, she heard someone talking.


    ¡°Did you see the woman the prince brought in?¡± asked a young maid who was obviously new to the job.


    The other maid scoffed. ¡°How can I not? I saw her face as well. Tsk, truth be told, she looks like a twin to Gentleman Feng. I wonder if the prince truly likes the woman, or if she¡¯s a substitute for the gentleman.¡±


    ¡°How can you say that?¡± asked the younger maid.


    The older maid snorted derisively. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen how graceful and handsome Gentleman Feng is and how well the prince treats him. Haven¡¯t you heard the rumors?¡±


    ¡°I have, but you said so yourself that those are rumors. Why would I believe them? That man is a peasant. Why would the prince favor him? In my opinion, the woman the prince carried into the manor seems more likely to be the prince¡¯s partner.¡± The younger maidid down her points, but the other maidughed at her.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Jun Huang asked. She didn¡¯t intend to hide, but the two maids had been so focused on their conversation that they failed to notice her. They jumped.


    ¡°We...¡±


    ¡°We simply think you look very much like another man. A man the prince used to love dearly.¡± Before the younger maid could say anything, the sharp-tongued one spoke up.


    Jun Huang raised an eyebrow and fixed her sleeves with feigned nonchnce. After a moment, she asked, ¡°What is he like?¡±


    ¡°Feng Baiyu is the best of our generation. He¡¯s remarkably talented and so graceful that he makes you feel inferior with his mere presence. Not even the finest gentleman couldpare to him.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at the maid and chuckled. ¡°Oh? I haven¡¯t seen him myself. How do I know if what you said is true? If there¡¯s someone like him, why haven¡¯t I heard of him?¡±


    Feng Baiyu had been the perfect gentleman. Many servants had been on the receiving end of his kindness. Jun Huang¡¯s attitude made the maid angry. She shot Jun Huang a re.


    ¡°It¡¯s a big world. It¡¯s not that surprising for you to not have heard of him.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes turned cold. She quirked her lips and hummed. ¡°Why haven¡¯t I seen him around? Would you mind leading me to him so that I can see for myself why he deserves your loyalty?¡±


    The maid scowled and gritted her teeth. ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t. If Gentleman Feng were still around, you wouldn¡¯t have been allowed to enter the manor.¡±


    The implication was clear. Jun Huang frowned, displeased. However, it¡¯d be unwise of her to say anything else. She didn¡¯t want to invite more trouble.


    She dropped the issue. She didn¡¯t want to waste her time arguing with the maid. The younger maid came up to Jun Huang. ¡°Please forgive her, miss. She¡¯s simply worried about Gentleman Feng. She doesn¡¯t mean you harm.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Jun Huang turned to leave.


    Meanwhile, Nan Xun had just returned to the manor. Jun Huang wasn¡¯t in her room. He left the building to seek her out and saw hering toward him.


    ¡°Where did you go?¡± Nan Xun hurried to her and asked.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t say anything. Nan Xun could tell something was troubling her. He led her to a stone stool in the backyard and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t sort out her thoughts. She decided to ask. ¡°Who is Feng Baiyu?¡±


    Nan Xun paused, his expression changed. That was unexpected. ¡°Did someone say something?¡±


    His reaction made Jun Huang even more suspicious, but she didn¡¯t tell him about what had happened earlier. She simply said that she heard others praising Feng Baiyu and got curious. Could there really be someone that extraordinary?


    Nan Xun chuckled. ¡°There is someone that extraordinary and beautiful...it¡¯s you.¡±


    Nan Xun exined to her that Feng Baiyu was Jun Huang¡¯s fake identity. Jun Huang listened to him talk about the old Jun Huang with rapt attention. If Feng Baiyu hadn¡¯t been her, she¡¯d have praised the gentleman for his bravery and wit as well...


    After that, Jun Huang didn¡¯t react that much when a maid brought up Feng Baiyu. Then a few other servants mentioned Feng Baiyu again and again. Since she knew the truth now, it didn¡¯t bother her. However, the servants grew aggressive and made their contempt for Jun Huang known.


    Jun Huang had been taking medicine to help with her health, but oftentimes the medicine never reached her. She didn¡¯t care. She never liked taking medicine. Nheless, Nan Xun noticed one day. He heard the servants talking behind Jun Huang¡®s back, saying that they¡¯d rather throw the medicine away than to give it to her.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t dense. He immediately had his men investigate and found out that the servants had been mocking Jun Huang and treating her badly. He flew into a rage and punished all the offenders, giving them a stern warning against running their mouths.

 Chapter 345 - Restrain Yourself

    <h4>Chapter 345: Restrain Yourself</h4>


    Jun Huang soon heard about Nan Xun¡¯s punishment for the servants. She was momentarily stunned. The one delivering the news to her said teasingly, ¡°You don¡¯t know how much influence you have in the manor, miss. The prince has punished a good number of servants for you, a majority of whom are his confidantes.¡±


    Jun Huang put away her book and threw the servant a cool nce, scaring the servant into silence. ¡°The prince has his reasons. Why would I be involved?¡±


    Jun Huang knew what Nan Xun¡¯s motivation was, of course. She curved her lips into a smile. Others took that as herughing at their misfortune.


    Jun Huang brought it up the next time she saw Nan Xun. ¡°You know I don¡¯t care about what they said. There¡¯s no need for you to get angry and make things difficult for yourself.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re irrelevant. I know you care about me, and I dly ept your kindness. However, you shouldn¡¯t be too harsh on them. We both know how fickle the human heart can be.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s tone was earnest, and her expression serious.


    Nan Xun realized that Jun Huang had heard about what he¡¯d done. He sighed. ¡°You¡¯re too soft. People are going to walk all over you. You should know that as well.¡±


    ¡°I simply don¡¯t want to waste my attention on them,¡± Jun Huang said calmly.


    Nan Xun ruffled her hair. ¡°Qi Yun summoned me to the pce. I can¡¯t stay with you today.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled. ¡°Go ahead. Don¡¯t let me dy you. I¡¯ll spend my time reading books and wait for you for dinner.¡±


    That warmed Nan Xun¡¯s heart. He was reluctant to leave, but he didn¡¯t have a choice. He turned around to look at her every step he took. Jun Huang saw him off before returning to her book.


    Nan Xun made his way to Qi Yun¡¯s residence and entered after the eunuch had notified Qi Yun. When he entered, the young prince was approving reports.


    ¡°Is there an emergency?¡± Nan Xun asked without preamble.


    Qi Yun looked up at him and asked faintly, ¡°I hear Royal Brother has punished a lot of servants recently. I¡¯m curious, aren¡¯t they your most trusted people? What have they done to deserve your ire?¡±


    If Nan Xun was bothered by the question, he didn¡¯t let it show. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. They said the wrong thing to the wrong people. I punished them. Simple as that.¡±


    Qi Yun arched an eyebrow. He heard that Nan Xun had gotten angry for a woman. The vague exnation made him suspicious. He wondered what Nan Xun was hiding.


    After some deliberation, he cleared his throat. ¡°Oh, I asked you toe for the grain storage in the northern part of the city. Last month, the man in charge imed that there was a leak and a big portion of the grains were ruined. However, he hasn¡¯t given me the exact number. Why don¡¯t you go get an answer for me, Royal Brother?¡±


    Nan Xun did consider that worthy of his attention. He nodded and walked out of the pce. The eunuch waited until Nan Xun had left before he said, ¡°There are many officials at your disposal, Your Highness It¡¯s a simple storage. You could¡¯ve sent anyone. Why would you order Prince Nan to take care of it? He¡¯s only just returned. He must be tired...¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Qi Yun¡¯s face turned cold. The eunuch knew he¡¯d gone above his station. He shut his mouth.


    Qi Yun rose to his feet. ¡°Get prepared. I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    ¡°Where is Your Highness going?¡±


    ¡°His manor,¡± Qi Yun said with an unreadable look. Before the eunuch could respond, Qi Yun went off to get changed. It dawned on the eunuch why his master had been so insistent about sending Nan Xun away.


    Not long after, Qi Yun visited Nan Xun¡¯s manor under the guise of a private inspection. The housekeeper was scared and worried. He feared that he¡¯d get Nan Xun in trouble if he failed to treat the de facto emperor well enough. ¡°Apologies, Your Highness. Prince Nan isn¡¯t in.¡±


    ¡°I know. He¡¯s been sent to the northern part of the city. I simply came because I have some free time¡±


    Ignoring the housekeeper¡¯s reaction, Qi Yun went straight into the manor. He heard a familiar voiceing from the back. His heart pounded. Something unexinable drew him to the voice.


    He spotted Jun Huang immediately. In a fit of uncontained joy, he rushed forward and threw his arms around her. ¡°When did you return, Jun Huang?¡±


    Jun Huang frowned and broke out of his hold, taking a few steps backward. She stared at him without hiding her difort and indignation.


    Assuming that he¡¯d angered her somehow, Qi Yun rushed to exin, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Jun Huang? Have I scared you? Please forgive me for my outburst. I haven¡¯t seen you for a while, and I didn¡¯t know when I¡¯d get to see you again. It¡¯s such a pleasant surprise to run into you here today. That¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t control myself.¡±


    Jun Huang leveled him with a frigid nce. ¡°Please restrain yourself, mister.¡±


    That was all she said before she turned to leave.


    Caught off guard, Qi Yun rushed to block Jun Huang¡¯s way before she could leave. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Jun Huang?¡±


    Jun Huang frowned. She didn¡¯t remember anything about Qi Yun. His insistence made her ufortable. ¡°Nothing. I just don¡¯t want to stay here. If you insist on staying, be my guest and sit here on your own.¡± She threw the housekeeper a look. ¡°If the prince doesn¡¯t return soon, you should walk our guest outside.¡±


    She walked away.


    Qi Yun stared at her back, his heart aching. He wondered if this was her way of distancing from him.


    The housekeeper frowned. He didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to be so blunt. Qi Yun was going to be the emperor. He wasn¡¯t someone she should offend.


    ¡°Your Highness, she¡¯s sometimes too direct for her own good, but she didn¡¯t mean anything by that.¡±


    ¡°I know. I have other business to attend to. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Qi Yun looked away after Jun Huang had disappeared and walked out of the manor like a living corpse, sparing no nce for the housekeeper. His people followed him out.


    Jun Huangy down on her bed and meditated. She couldn¡¯t recall who Qi Yun was. She rubbed at her temples and fell asleep.


    The sun was setting when Nan Xun finished investigating the storage. He sent one of his men to tell Qi Yun that he¡¯d report back tomorrow before returning to his manor.


    When he reached the dining hall, Jun Huang was nowhere to be seen. A servant told him that Jun Huang had been staying in her room.


    Has she forgotten about time reading again? Nan Xun hurried to her residence opened the door to see her lying on the bed. Her eyshes fluttered in the night wind.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Not feeling well?¡± Nan Xun approached her worriedly and rubbed at her temples.


    Jun Huang opened her eyes and sat up, shaking her head. ¡°Nothing. Just a little tired.¡±


    ¡°You need rest,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°You can read anytime. Your wellbeing is more important than anything?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded casually and said after some hesitation, ¡°A young man I don¡¯t recognize visited today.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s expression clouded, his brows furrowed. He asked Jun Huang to tell him what had happened. She obliged without any resistance.


    Nan Xun had an idea about who it had been, but he¡¯d like to make sure. He sought out the housekeeper, who confirmed that it had been Qi Yun.


    With that figured out, Nan Xun returned to Jun Huang¡¯s room. She looked at him questioningly. Nan Xun was going to tell her about Qi Yun, but decided against it. With a smile, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of it. He won¡¯te bother you again.¡±


    Jun Huang rxed and nodded with a smile. Once dinner was ready, the two of them went to the dining hall together.


    Afterwards, Jun Huang¡¯s eyelids started growing heavy. Nan Xun tucked her in before returning to his room. He decided that he should clear the air with Qi Yun. He didn¡¯t want Qi Yun to chase after Jun Huang.


    The next day, after briefing Qi Yun on what had happened to the storage, he lingered in the pce. Qi Yun asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Royal Brother?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something I have to tell you,¡± Nan Xun said with steel in his voice. ¡°Even if we weren¡¯t brothers, you shouldn¡¯t covet the wife of an official. Don¡¯t forget that you were our witness when Jun Huang and I got married. You have no excuse for crossing the line.¡±


    Qi Yun was both mortified and furious, his body trembling and his face flushed. Finally, he said, ¡°Then you better keep a good eye on her. Maybe she¡¯ll realize that I¡¯m a better choice one day and leave you for me.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not a regr woman, but we both know she¡¯s still interested in literature and art. Perhaps she prefers spending her time with me.¡±


    Nan Xun stopped to look at Qi Yun. He knew Qi Yun was merely trying to anger him. He snorted. ¡°If Jun Huang liked you better, I wouldn¡¯t be here. You knew Jun Huang before I did. You practically grew up together. However, there¡¯s nothing romantic about her rtionship with you. If she hadn¡¯t fallen for you over the years you know each other, she¡¯s not going to fall for you now.¡±

 Chapter 346 - As Fate Dictates

    <strong>Chapter 346: As Fate Dictates</strong>


    Qi Yun gritted his teeth at Nan Xun¡¯s confident deration and took a calming breath. ¡°Are you boasting? How do you know she wouldn¡¯t like me? If I tell her how I feel, do you think she¡¯ll cruelly turn me down?¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t do it. You haven¡¯t confessed to her exactly because you know she doesn¡¯t like you. Do you think she doesn¡¯t have an inkling about how you feel? She simply doesn¡¯t return your feelings.¡±


    ¡°You grew up together. She considers you a brother and a friend. It¡¯s not going to change. Do you know why she has been ying ignorant? If you haven¡¯t been childhood friends, she wouldn¡¯t have cared enough to do that.¡±


    ¡°If you confess to her, you can¡¯t even be friends. You know that. She does as well. She doesn¡¯t want to lose you as a friend, Qi Yun. If you care about her, don¡¯t cast aside her consideration.¡±


    What Nan Xun hit Qi Yun hard. Nan Xun had known all about his concerns. He simply kept it to himself to maintain the long running friendship between Jun Huang and Qi Yun.


    Qi Yun realized that he¡¯d made a reckless move. He sighed and smiled wryly. ¡°You¡¯re right. So be it then. You may go now.¡±


    He slumped over the divan, his face clouded.


    Nan Xun gave him a meaningful look and swallowed down his unspoken words. He simply wanted Qi Yun to recognize that Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t return his feelings. He wasn¡¯t trying to ruin the young prince.


    ¡°Consider what she wants if you care about her.¡± That was thest thing Nan Xun said before leaving the pce. He looked up at the sky and shielded his eyes from the blinding sunlight. A weight lifted from his chest.


    Qi Yun covered his eyes, his eyes stinging. He could still hear Jun Huang¡¯s cool voice. He couldn¡¯t recall thest time Jun Huang had been so cold to him.


    Please restrain yourself. The simple phrase had chilled him to the bone. He slowly breathed out and thought back to the way Jun Huang looked at him. Her eyes had been so calm andposed.


    He¡¯d seen how Jun Huang looked at Nan Xun. She¡¯d never been one to show her emotions openly, not even when she was with her family. However, around Nan Xun, her eyes were loving and gentle.


    Qi Yun knew Jun Huang well, which made her unusual reaction even more pronounced. She never looked at him like that.


    His chest tightened. When he first met Jun Huang, she was a little girl with bright eyes. Others assumed she was nothing but a princess with a strong personality. No one realized that she hoped for a peaceful world. No one saw how stunning her smile was. No one knew how graceful she could be.


    People like her would leave their prints in history. However, during the time they were apart, the girl had grown into a woman with the weight of revenge on her shoulders. She plotted and schemed, and finally she found her sanctuary... but it wasn¡¯t him.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t stay in the pce. He and Jun Huang had arrived at Northern Qi a while ago, but he hadn¡¯t had the time to stay with Jun Huang. Since he had a free day, he should keep herpany.


    He hurried back to his manor, his expression eager like a man rushing back to his wife, which was exactly what he was. The women working in brothels called out for him teasingly while waving their handkerchiefs.


    Once he arrived, he made his way to the side building where Jun Huang had been staying in, but she wasn¡¯t there. A maid noted his frown and hurried to him. ¡°Are you looking for thedy, Your Highness? She¡¯s in the backyard.¡±


    Nan Xun rxed and nodded, fixing his sleeves before making his way to the backyard. Jun Huang was ying a zither in the pavilion. A gentle melody weaved through the air.


    She tilted her head, her hair running gracefully down her face. Her red lips were curved into a faint smile, and her eyes were as bright as the moon. The setting sun cast an orange glow on her green dress. She looked like a painting as she plucked the strings with delicate fingers, eyshes fluttering.


    Not far from her, a few maids came to a stop, transfixed. Nan Xun lightened his steps in order not to disturb the serene moment. He stopped before he reached the pavilion.


    He would never let anyone take her away from him. He¡¯d never give up on her.


    He thought back to his conversation with Qi Yun. He didn¡¯t know if the young prince had been convinced, but he wasn¡¯t going to risk it. He listed out what he knew about Jun Huang and Qi Yun¡¯s shared past and decided not to tell her anything about it.


    ¡°When did you return?¡± The music stopped. Jun Huang looked up at Nan Xun with a smile. She was stunning with sunlight illuminating her from behind.


    Nan Xun broke out of his trance. Jun Huang¡¯s eyes were clear and focused. Overwhelmed by emotions, he approached her, his face softening.


    ¡°Not long ago.¡± Nan Xun sat down next to Jun Huang, his voice so quiet it was as if he didn¡¯t want to scare her.


    She pulled her hands back from the zither and hid them under her broad sleeves, tilting her head to face Nan Xun. ¡°Is it about yesterday?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to talk to her about Qi Yun. He shook his head without a word, silently expressing his reluctance. Jun Huang read him loud and clear. She covered augh and stopped pushing.


    She shifted her attention to the lotus pond. Nan Xun kept his eyes on her. He could spend a lifetime looking at her and still he wouldn¡¯t be satisfied.


    ¡°I¡¯m a little tired of staying in the manor.¡± Jun Huang nced at him, falling into his deep, meaningful gaze. A little awkwardly, she continued in a quiet voice, ¡°If you have time, would you like to go out with me?¡±


    Nan Xun paused. He didn¡¯t want her to feel trapped. He nodded and led her out of the manor. They walked along the bluestone path they¡¯d treaded on many times. Vendors cried out from both sides. The city was peaceful and prosperous.


    Northern Qi was different from Eastern Wu. In Eastern Wu, vendors didn¡¯t dare sell expensive items on the streets. Here, though, people felt secure enough to sell jade pieces and luxury items despite the heavy traffic. Nothing bad had ever happened to them.


    When asked, Nan Xun said that there were watchtowers everywhere in the imperial city, and soldiers regrly patrolled the area. If anyone dared make any trouble, they¡¯d be swiftly dealt with.


    Jun Huang nodded without a word. Her gaze was glued to the jade pieces. Her loss of memory didn¡¯t douse her passion for jade.


    They wandered around the city without a destination in mind. Nan Xun was reminded of the night strolls they took under moonlight. He turned to Jun Huang and tentatively took her hand.


    ¡°What is it?¡± asked Jun Huang, turning to face him.


    Nan Xun raised an eyebrow. ¡°We can walk around the city anytime. Why don¡¯t I take you out of the city today?¡±


    Her interest piqued, Jun Huang nodded earnestly. They returned to Nan Xun¡¯s manor and had a horse prepared. Jun Huang also packed some snacks in case they got hungry.


    ¡°Should we follow you in secret, Your Highness?¡± the leading shadowguard asked worriedly.


    Nan Xun shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯re in Northern Qi. I can deal with anything. However, I need you to keep an eye on the manor. If something goes wrong, notify me immediately.¡±


    The shadowguard nodded and left since Nan Xun had made up his mind. When Nan Xun found Jun Huang, she had a lunchbox in her hand, her eyes shining with anticipation.


    He chuckled. ¡°We¡¯re just riding out. If we get hungry, we¡¯ll hunt. There¡¯s no need for you to pack that. It¡¯s only going to get in the way.¡±


    Jun Huang thought for a moment and nced at Nan Xun. ¡°You know how to hunt?¡±


    Nan Xun raised his eyebrows in lieu of a response. Jun Huang considered his face. Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t have lied to her about that. Besides, he was the general of Northern Qi. He was known as a ruthless and confident fighter in battles. It wouldn¡¯t be that surprising for him to be apetent hunter as well.


    Jun Huang realized that she¡¯d worried too much. She handed the lunch box to a servant next to her and followed Nan Xun outside without bringing anything.


    They walked on foot with the horse in tow within the city. Once outside, Nan Xun helped Jun Huang mount and rode the horse away.


    The view opened up. Jun Huang felt a great sense of liberation. All she could see was green. The rustling grass and the dark blue sky calmed her heart.


    The grasnd seemed endless. She didn¡¯t know how long it¡¯d been when they reached a patch of woods. Nan Xun pulled at the reign to halt the horse.


    Jun Huang had enjoyed their time riding. She turned to Nan Xun once he¡¯d stopped. He ruffled her hair and jumped off the horse, opening his arms wide. ¡°Jump, I¡¯ll catch you.¡±


    Without hesitation, Jun Huang leapt into his arms. Nan Xun took a couple steps back toppled down. Before they hit the ground, Nan Xun pulled her into his arms to keep her shielded.


    They tumbled. Nan Xun had an arm around Jun Huang¡¯s waist and the other hand protecting her head. The grass served as good padding and the fall didn¡¯t hurt. When they stopped rolling, Nan Xun was on top of Jun Huang, his body looming over hers.


    Jun Huang opened her eyes to Nan Xun¡¯s deep and focused gaze. Her heart skipped a beat. She didn¡¯t know what to do.

 Chapter 347 - Shelter from the Rain

    <strong>Chapter 347: Shelter from the Rain</strong>


    ¡°You...¡±


    ¡°Hush.¡± Nan Xun covered Jun Huang¡¯s mouth. She looked at him questioningly and held her breath. Nan Xun chuckled as he took out a dagger. Before she could react, the dagger shot out from his hand like lightning. Nan Xun jumped to his feet and walked in the direction he¡¯d thrown the dagger.


    With a blush, Jun Huang sat up. She quickly calmed herself and cleared her throat before approaching Nan Xun. Once she got close, she realized that Nan Xun had hit a rabbit.


    ¡°We¡¯ll eat something first.¡± Nan Xun turned to face her, his hands still skinning the rabbit.


    Jun Huang nodded and got out of the way. She led the horse to a nearby tree and tied it to the tree trunk. Then she collected some grass for the horse. The work left her a little breathless. She turned to Nan Xun and saw that he had finished preparing the meat.


    After dinner, Jun Huangy down on the ground and looked up at the sky. For a moment, she felt small and insignificant. A lost expression shed through her face.


    That didn¡¯t escape Nan Xun¡¯s notice. He¡¯d been keeping an eye on her. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s check out the woods.¡±


    He got to his feet and reached out for Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang came to herself and nced at Nan Xun with a slight smile. She took his hand and let him help her up. He pulled her into his arms.


    This time, Nan Xun had Jun Huang sit behind him on the horse. He held the reign in one hand and a bow in the other. Jun Huang put her arms around his waist from behind and rested her face against his back.


    Her trust pleased Nan Xun. With a smile, he silently rode into the woods.


    The woods were difficult to navigate, but there were more prey to be found. Nan Xun kept an eye on Jun Huang. Whenever they came up to some tree branches, he¡¯d warned her beforehand. If there were too many obstacles for them to pass, he¡¯d cut them down.


    Soon, they reached the heart of the woods. They could hear animals scuttling around.


    With practiced ease, Nan Xun shot an arrow and hit a hare. It fell to the ground. Jun Huang looked at Nan Xun, entranced.


    As if reading her mind, Nan Xun twisted around and moved Jun Huang to the front easily. She held onto his arms, startled, shooting him a re when heughed quietly.


    ¡°Come on, give it a try.¡± Nan Xun handed his bow to Jun Huang. Without hesitation, she readied an arrow and narrowed her eyes. She let go when she spotted another hare.


    She hadn¡¯t put in enough force. The arrow hit the hare¡¯s foot, but not enough to cripple it. It fled and vanished into the woods. Jun Huang was a little disappointed.


    Nan Xun pinched her cheek and said reassuringly, ¡°It¡¯s impressive enough for you to hit it on the first try. Besides, we¡¯ve had enough to eat. If you got that one, we wouldn¡¯t be able to finish it.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and dismounted with Nan Xun. She idly watched from the side as Nan Xun easily skinned the hare. She¡¯d like to help, but Nan Xun didn¡¯t want her to get her hands dirty. He shot her down with a wave of his hand.


    They were having a good time. Unfortunately, the sky suddenly darkened. A storm wasing.


    Nan Xun looked at the sky through the webs of branches and frowned. He shot to his feet.


    Jun Huang noticed the change in the weather as well. ¡°It¡¯s going to rain.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°We don¡¯t have our things with us. We should find shelter.¡±


    They took their belongings and left.


    The weather changed suddenly without giving them any breathing room. Soon, big drops of rain fell from the sky.


    Nan Xun kept Jun Huang close and took off his robe to shield her from the rain. They ran. As soon as they spotted a cave, they entered it without thinking.


    ¡°Stay here. I¡¯ll check inside.¡± Nan Xun put his drenched robe on the ground. He improvised a simple torch and went further into the cave. He only rxed after making sure there was nothing unusual.


    Nan Xun had been focusing on keeping Jun Huang dry, shielding her with both his robe and his body. She didn¡¯t get wet at all. He, on the contrary, was half drenched.


    Jun Huang frowned at his wet clothes when he returned. ¡°You¡¯re going to get sick. You should start a fire and dry your clothes. It¡¯s pouring, and there¡¯s no telling when the rain will stop.¡±


    Nan Xun shot her a suggestive look. Embarrassed, Jun Huang coughed and looked away. Nan Xun started a fire and took off his clothes, draping it near the heat source. He didn¡¯t seem at all bashful about being topless.


    He recalled the first time they had stayed in a cave together. Never would he have dreamed about bing her partner in life. They¡¯d been through a lot together. It was fate that made them who they were.


    Once his clothes were dried, he noticed that Jun Huang was dozing off. After some consideration, he put his robe around her shoulders. She looked at him, her eyes reflecting the fire.


    ¡°Get some sleep. We¡¯ll leave after the rain stops.¡± Nan Xun gently patted her back.


    The wind had been chilling outside. Within the cave, the fire warmed Jun Huang to the core. She had been tired from their time in the woods. She nodded and closed her eyes,ying against Nan Xun¡¯s chest.


    Nan Xun looked down at her face, his heart softening. He kept himself perfectly still in order not to disturb her sleep.


    Past midnight, the rain still hadn¡¯t stopped. He was getting tired as well. He fell asleep with his arms around Jun Huang.


    When Jun Huang woke up early the next morning, she was lying on the ground with Nan Xun¡¯s robe covering her. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t with her. She jerked up and spotted Nan Xun roasting a rabbit not far away. She sighed in relief, her pale face regaining some of its color.


    Her reaction didn¡¯t escape Nan Xun¡¯s notice. He put the rabbit on a makeshift rack and walked up to Jun Huang, patting her back reassuringly. ¡°Get ready for the day,¡± he said gently. ¡°When you¡¯re done, breakfast will be ready.¡±


    Jun Huang finally recovered from her unreasonable fit of worry. She coughed awkwardly and walked outside. She soon reached a creek. The water was clear enough for her to see the fish inhabiting it.


    She untied her hair and let out a deep breath. It was a good thing that she hadn¡¯t done aplicated hairdo. Otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have been able to untie it herself.


    Distracted, she quickly got herself cleaned and tied her hair up again. She smiled at her own reflection.


    She sshed some water at her face, clearing her fuzzy mind. Then she went back to staring at the water. Her heart was elsewhere.


    Her cheeks had gone red because of the chilling cold. Images shed through her mind. It surprised her how the snippets of memory matched what had happenedst night.


    Noting that Jun Huang hadn¡¯t moved for a while, Nan Xun rushed to her side, worried that something had gone wrong. He realized that Jun Huang¡¯s eyes were unfocused.


    ¡°What is it?¡± he asked worriedly, his brows furrowed.


    The familiar voice jerked Jun Huang out of her thoughts. She managed a smile and said after some hesitation, ¡°Have we sought shelter in a cave before?¡±


    That caught Nan Xun off guard. He didn¡¯t expect this impromptu trip to make her remember their time together. In a fit of excitement, he told her about what had happened before. Jun Huang blushed when she heard the story.


    She shot him a re and looked away, trying to hide her bashfulness. Nan Xun noticed the red of her ears. He didn¡¯t point it out.


    Jun Huang was easily embarrassed. There were things he shouldn¡¯t put into words. He didn¡¯t want her to feel uneasy.


    Nan Xun took the roasted rabbit and tore off a leg for Jun Huang. She epted it silently. They made quick work of the rabbit and prepared to return.


    On their way back, Jun Huang asked for another story from their past. Nan Xun obliged. The time hade. He believed Jun Huang would recover her memory sooner orter.


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t as convinced. Every story Nan Xun told her sounded familiar to her, but she couldn¡¯t remember anything clearly. Still, it was cause for celebration. Her lips curved into a smile.


    Jun Huang still hadn¡¯t recovered from her joy even when they arrived at the manor. When she saw Oleg Cragfiend waiting for them at the door, though, her smiled dropped.


    Nan Xun spotted the poison master as well. Btedly, he realized that he¡¯d forgotten to notify the old man before taking Jun Huang outside.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know the condition she¡¯s in?¡± Oleg Cragfiend snapped before Nan Xun could exin. ¡°What if something went wrong?¡±


    Nan Xun knew he had made a mistake, so he quietly let Oleg Cragfiend vent. He knew the old man was worried about Jun Huang. He wasn¡¯t going to fault him for that.

 Chapter 348 - Unwanted Attention

    <strong> Chapter 348: Unwanted Attention</strong>


    Eventually, Oleg Cragfiend stopped scolding Nan Xun. Nan Xun lowered his head and stood before him obediently like a little boy being reprimanded by his parents. Jun Huang hadn¡¯t been subjected to her master¡¯s scorn, but she didn¡¯t like seeing Nan Xun like this. She turned to Oleg Cragfiend and said, ¡°It¡¯s not his fault, master. I was the one who asked for some time outside. You¡¯ve said yourself that I shouldn¡¯t stay in my room all day.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend shot her a disapproving look. Nan Xun took her hand to stop her from speaking up for him.


    Nevertheless, Oleg Cragfiend did stop talking. They made their way into the manor. It was inappropriate for them to hold the conversation outside the door.


    Jun Huang returned to her building to take a bath, while Nan Xun told Oleg Cragfiend about Jun Huang¡¯s recovering memory. After she re-emerged, Oleg Cragfiend took Jun Huang¡¯s pulse. His expression rxed.


    Jun Huang looked at him nervously. ¡°How am I, master?¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend put away his things. ¡°You¡¯re about recovered. You¡¯ll be fine after some rest. However, you have to take care of yourself even after your recovery. Don¡¯t overwork yourself again.¡±


    ¡°I understand, master,¡± Nan Xun spoke up before Jun Huang could. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve thought about it. Once everything is settled, Jun Huang and I will leave the capital and settle down somewhere peaceful.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend¡¯s expression finally brightened a little. He nodded and walked away. Jun Huang hadn¡¯t quite realized what they were referring to by ¡°everything¡±. Nan Xun didn¡¯t exin.


    Jun Huang had been leading a peaceful life in Nan Xun¡¯s manor. To stop Jun Huang from tiring herself, Nan Xun had his men acquire some storybooks to upy her time.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t object. She didn¡¯t find any faults in a peaceful life. However, the serenity was disturbed after a few days.


    Jun Huang was reading a novel in the garden. The writing was crude, but the story was captivating. It was an easy read.


    ¡°Someone is looking for you, miss,¡± a maid approached her and said.


    Jun Huang nced at the maid with a frown and nodded, cing the book on the stone table. The maid led her to the main hall.


    An extravagantly dressed woman sat on an empress chair. Her gold-gilded robe shone under the sun. It was almost offensively luxurious. Jun Huang nced at the woman¡¯s face and quickly looked away. She sat down on the seat for the hostess before smiling at the woman. ¡°What¡¯s the purpose of your visit?¡±


    The woman considered Jun Huang openly. Unfazed, Jun Huang had a maid pour her a cup of tea and took a sip, her expression rxed.


    The woman frowned. ¡°You don¡¯t look that different. Why would the prince show you favor? Have you seduced him like a fox spirit?¡±


    That told Jun Huang the woman was Nan Xun¡¯s admirer. She raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat, putting down her cup.


    ¡°What do you expect me to say?¡± responded Jun Huang. There was a hint of steeliness in her voice. ¡°If I were a spirit, do you think you¡¯d be able to enter this manor?¡±


    The woman hadn¡¯t expected the almost threatening words from a woman like Jun Huang. She red at Jun Huang and took a deep breath. ¡°Who are you, and what makes you think you¡¯ll be good enough for the prince? The prince only keeps you around because you look like Feng Baiyu. Who do you think you are when there are so many talented and beautiful women in the imperial city?¡±


    ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Jun Huang questioned. ¡°What if I¡¯m only here because I look like Feng Baiyu? What gives you the right to insult me? If you don¡¯t want your reputation to be tarnished, you better walk away.¡±


    She got to her feet. She didn¡¯t want to waste her time on the woman. ¡°See her off, housekeeper. You shouldn¡¯t just let anyone enter the manor.¡±


    The woman gritted her teeth, but she didn¡¯t have a reason to stay. Not long after her departure, rumors that there was a sharp-tongued and shameless woman in Nan Xun¡¯s manor started spreading. Many of Nan Xun¡¯s admirers visited to check out Jun Huang.


    Resigned, Jun Huang ordered the servants to find an excuse to turn the unwanted guests away in the future. The maids were put into a difficult position. The young mistresses from esteemed families might seem too good for petty tricks, but in truth, they were snobbish and prone to indignation.


    However, Jun Huang wasn¡¯t someone they could afford to offend, either. Nan Xun had made sure of it. The maids could only turn the troublemakers away, iming that Jun Huang was sick.


    ¡°Miss, it¡¯s the daughter of a second-grade official this time,¡±ined a maid. ¡°She insisted on seeing you. We¡¯ve done all we can, but she refused to go away. She said that she¡¯d consider you a coward if you don¡¯t meet with her. We don¡¯t know what to do.¡±


    Jun Huangughed, her brows rxed. ¡°She¡¯s trying to provoke me. If I meet with her because of her taunt, what do you think the ones you¡¯ve dismissed would think? Tell her she¡¯s weed to nder me in public, but be honest about her intention. I¡¯m not afraid of her.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± said Nan Xun as he emerged. He¡¯d been listening to the two of them talk from a distance. The maid hurriedly excused herself, giving Jun Huang and Nan Xun their privacy.


    Jun Huang shot him a re. ¡°You should take care of it. You are the one who attracts all the admirers. I shouldn¡¯t have to drive them away for you.¡±


    Nan Xun chuckled and held her close, resting his chin on her shoulder. ¡°No one other than you can catch my eyes,¡± he whispered. ¡°You know that they have nothing to do with me. You¡¯re the only one I want, and the best woman I¡¯ve ever known.¡±


    His breaths were warm against her ear. Shey against his arms and snorted. Nan Xun sighed in relief when he saw her curved lips. Fortunately, she wasn¡¯t angry at him.


    ¡°Someone is here to see you,¡± Nan Xun said as he got to his feet.


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°An acquaintance,¡± Nan Xun said vaguely. Jun Huang frowned, wondering who Nan Xun was talking about.


    She didn¡¯t have an answer. She didn¡¯t remember knowing anyone. With a low chuckle, she followed Nan Xun to the garden.


    From afar, they could see a man dressed in white robe standing in the pavilion. He seemed to be in his thirties. Even a nce was enough for Jun Huang to tell that the man was brave and clever. However, she felt a slight aversion to the man for reasons she couldn¡¯t exin.


    She didn¡¯t let her emotions show. Calmly, she approached the man and considered him. The man looked at her with a smile, his expression open. Jun Huang took a step back. She didn¡¯t like being under his scrutiny.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Jun Huang asked bluntly, her tone was calm but steely. The thought that she should be less direct didn¡¯t even cross her mind


    ¡°This is Mister Ji Bo,¡± Nan Xun whispered in her ear.


    Unaffected, Ji Bo nodded with a smile and said in a caring tone, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about what happened. How unfortunate it is.¡±


    Jun Huang looked at him silently in lieu of a response. Ji Bo maintained his smile and only spoke up after the three of them had taken a seat. ¡°You lost your memory and have been trying to recover it. I don¡¯t know what you remember. Can you recall anything about me?¡±


    ¡°Apologies, I¡¯ve forgotten many things,¡± Jun Huang said directly. ¡°What I remember has nothing to do with you.¡±


    Ji Bo nodded in understanding and stopped asking questions. ¡°Since you don¡¯t remember, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    ¡°...Northern Qi wasn¡¯t what it is now. The princes fought ferociously for the throne. The third prince was the weakest link. You and Nan Xun took a team to where I¡¯d been residing... Eventually, you broke through my formation with your knowledge. It¡¯s a remarkable achievement...¡±


    ¡°Too many things have happened. I can¡¯t go into all the details. However, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to remember one day.¡± Ji Bo told her about how they met and briefly summarized the feud between the princes. Jun Huang listened with rapt attention.


    For some reason, she felt both a sense of familiarity and wariness for Ji Bo. She kept her feelings to herself as Nan Xun engaged Ji Bo in a conversation.


    Her feelings had no basis. She couldn¡¯t tell if she was being overly sensitive. What was more, Ji Bo held an important position in the court. Both Nan Xun and Qi Yun needed his help. It wouldn¡¯t be ideal for her to offend him for no good reason.


    Ji Bo might not be that petty, but it was better safe than sorry.


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯t noticed Jun Huang¡¯s unusual reaction since his attention was on his conversation with Ji Bo. They talked about the development of Northern Qi with great enthusiasm.


    Jun Huang needed her rest, so Nan Xun had been going to Ji Bo for advice recently. Since Ji Bo and Jun Huang often came to the same conclusions, Nan Xun didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with that.

 Chapter 349 - Ploy

    <h4>Chapter 349: Ploy</h4>


    Jun Huang got bored listening to their conversation. She excused herself and made her way through the hallway instead of returning to her room.


    ¡°What did Oleg Cragfiend say about her health?¡± Ji Bo asked after Jun Huang had left. ¡°Is she recovered now?¡±


    Nan Xun frowned and gave Ji Bo a onceover. Realizing that he¡¯d sounded too eager, Ji Bo cleared his throat and exined. ¡°I saw Prince Qi Yun yesterday. Hearing that I¡¯d be visiting you, he told me to ask after Jun Huang.¡±


    ¡°Please tell him that Jun Huang is fine and he doesn¡¯t have to worry,¡± Nan Xun said bluntly. ¡°He should be focusing on Northern Qi.¡±


    Ji Bo nodded awkwardly. Something unreadable shed through his eyes, but Nan Xun didn¡¯t notice.


    Meanwhile, another trouble storm was on the horizon.


    Since the empress dowager took Shangguan Yue under her wing after the fall of her family, the two of them had been staying in the imperial manor, separated from the mortal world by a river. Now, though, the empress dowager was returning to the pce. Shangguan Yue naturally would apany her.


    ¡°Remember that the pce is different from the imperial manor,¡± advised the empress dowager. ¡°You have to watch your every move.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Your Royal Highness. I understand.¡± Shangguan Yue put on a smile. The empress dowager knew her well. She dismissed the girl and told her to follow a pce maid to get to know the ce.


    Shangguan Yue dropped her smile and followed the maid into the royal garden. This was her only opportunity. If she missed it, she¡¯d have to stay by the empress dowager¡¯s side forever.


    ¡°How is Prince Nan Xun?¡± Once she¡¯d built a rapport with the maid, Shangguan changed the subject.


    The maid didn¡¯t suspect a thing. She knew Shangguan Yue used to be on friendly terms with Nan Xun and assumed that she was merely asking after a friend.. ¡°Prince Nan Xun has just returned with his troops and received a great many rewards. He¡¯s garnered more and more respect in Northern Qi.¡±


    The maid blushed. Anyone would be lucky to be with the general.


    ¡°Has he married?¡± Shangguan Yue asked carefully. ¡°He isn¡¯t still with Feng Baiyu, is he?¡±


    The maid shook her head. ¡°His Highness hasn¡¯t gotten married, and Feng Baiyu is nowhere to be seen. However, it¡¯s said that there is a beautiful woman staying with the prince. None of us know what she¡¯s like. I hear that many young mistresses from esteemed families have sought the woman out, but they were all driven away. The prince even forbids anyone from bothering her.¡±


    Shangguan Yue had never given up on Nan Xun. The fact that Nan Xun had gained a lot more influence further cemented her resolve. When she heard that Nan Xun had cast Feng Baiyu aside and instead favored a woman, she perked up and got curious about her.


    She¡¯d forgotten about the maid in her musings. The maid noted her thoughtful look and her frown. ¡°What is it, Miss Shangguan?¡±


    The maid¡¯s pat on her shoulder interrupted her musings. She flinched, her face darkening in remembrance. The maid asked worriedly, ¡°Are you feeling alright, Miss Shangguan?¡±


    Shangguan Yue knew she wasn¡¯t in a good mental state. To avoid slipping up again, she pretended to be ill and nodded, ¡°Apologies, I¡¯m feeling sick all of a sudden. Please excuse me. We¡¯ll do this next time.¡±


    ¡°Will you be alright? Do you need a doctor?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll be okay after some rest.¡± With that, Shangguan Yue turned around and hurried away. The maids didn¡¯t suspect anything.


    Once she was back in her room, Shangguan Yue sat down on her bed, her mind filled with thoughts about Nan Xun. She had decided then. She wasn¡¯t going to give up now. She needed Nan Xun not only for her happiness, but also for her n to recover her family¡¯s reputation.


    The empress dowager noticed her unusual mood when they were having dinner. The girl had finished eating, but she hadn¡¯t put down her bowl. Her brows were furrowed in deep thought.


    ¡°Has a maid offended you by mistake?¡± asked the empress dowager. She couldn¡¯t help but worry.


    Shangguan Yue was jerked out of her trance. Her bowl dropped to the floor and made a loud clink. With a pale face, she rushed to kneel down before the empress dowager, asking for forgiveness.


    The empress dowager reached out to help her up, but Shangguan Yue shook her head with gritted teeth. Puzzled, the empress dowager asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Shangguan Yue took a deep breath. She knew she needed the empress dowager¡¯s help in order to attract Nan Xun¡¯s attention. She didn¡¯t have any other options. ¡°I have something to discuss with you, Your Royal Highness. It¡¯s a sensitive matter which is best discussed in private.¡±


    The empress dowager had always been indulgent to her. She couldn¡¯t say no when Shangguan Yue looked at her with such pitiful eyes. She ordered the servants to leave them alone before helping Shangguan Yue to a divan, patting her hand reassuringly. ¡°Speak your mind. You don¡¯t have to be so formal with me.¡±


    ¡°You know I¡¯ve always loved Prince Nan Xun, Your Royal Highness. Unfortunately, the prince was blinded by a mere strategist and cast my love away. I hear that the strategist has disappeared. Therefore...¡±


    She lowered her head and trailed off.


    ¡°Do you still want him?¡± The empress dowager was smart enough to figure out what she was asking for.


    Shangguan Yue nodded and said bluntly, ¡°It¡¯s not just for me. Prince Qi Yun is now in power. How are you going to protect yourself? He may let you return to the pce this time, but what about in the future? Since his return, Prince Nan¡¯s reputation has even exceeded that of Prince Qi Yun. If I get married to the general, Prince Qi Yun will think twice before making a move against you. Isn¡¯t that a win-win situation?¡±


    She looked up at the empress dowager and held her breath, worried that she¡¯d gone out of line.


    She¡¯d been staying with the empress dowager for a long time. What she said was exactly what the empress dowager was worried about.


    The empress dowager had lost her influence. It¡¯d be easy for Qi Yun to target her. If she could get Nan Xun on her side, it¡¯d solve her problems.


    Noting that the empress dowager had been swayed, Shangguan Yue seized the opportunity and continued, ¡°I hear that there¡¯s a woman who¡¯s been staying in the manor without an official title. We should see for ourselves who she is and what she¡¯s capable of.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± said the empress dowager. ¡°Alright, deliver my order and summon her. Let us see what kind of a woman she is.¡±


    Shuangguan Yue nodded earnestly and smiled. After having dinner with the empress dowager, she had a man deliver the message to Prince Nan Manor the next day, telling Nan Xun that the empress dowager wanted to see the woman who had been staying in his manor.


    Nan Xun was having breakfast with Jun Huang when he got the message. As someone without a title, Jun Huang was in no ce to turn down the empress dowager¡¯s invitation.


    Nan Xun was conflicted since the empress dowager had been kind to him. He assured Jun Huang, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s always treated me kindly. She must have heard what others are saying and decided to see who you are. If she really does make a move against you, leave ande to me. Don¡¯t worry about offending her.¡±


    Jun Huang listened to him nag and thought he was overreacting. She was but a nameless woman. Why would the empress dowager risked offending Nan Xun just to take her out?


    Nheless, Nan Xun¡¯s words did assure her. It was her luck that she could always turn to Nan Xun when danger struck. His promise made her fearless.


    The two of them went to the pce together. On their way there, Nan Xun continued to remind Jun Huang that she should seek him out in Qi Yun¡¯s ce if the empress dowager did anything untowards. Jun Huang nodded in understanding.


    Not long after, the empress dowager sent a maid to retrieve Jun Huang. She bid Nan Xun farewell and followed the maid to the Pce of Compassion and Tranquility, where the empress dowager resided. She turned a blind eye to the maid¡¯s scrutiny. If she was bothered at all, she didn¡¯t let it show.


    ¡°They¡¯ve arrived, Empress Dowager,¡± an old caretaker turned to say to the empress dowager on the bed. She¡¯d spotted Jun Huang from afar.


    The empress dowager nodded and told her to bring Jun Huang to the back garden. The caretaker hurried outside and greeted Jun Huang with a simple bow before leading her through the hallway.


    Jun Huang frowned. She¡¯d heard the empress dowager¡¯s voice, and yet the caretaker was going to take her to the back garden. She was smart enough to know what the empress dowager was trying to do. She scoffed but kept her thoughts to herself.


    She knew that those who came for her must harbor ill-intentions. The empress dowager was trying to put her in her ce. She wasn¡¯t going to let things go her way.


    Without a word, Jun Huang followed the caretaker to the back garden. Food had been prepared in the pavilion. She sat down and enjoyed the tea and snacks without hesitation. There was an inherent air of superiority to her as she looked into the distance.


    The old caretaker was impressed with herposure. She¡¯d never met anyone so calm and collected before.


    ¡°The empress dowager must have woken up already,¡± the old caretaker said, moving the desserts toward Jun Huang. ¡°She¡¯ll be here in a minute.¡±


    Jun Huang shot the caretaker a nce and nodded without a word, shifting her focus back to the scenery. The caretaker fell silent after failing to disrupt her calm.

 Chapter 350 - One-sided Obsession

    <strong>Chapter 350: One-sided Obsession</strong>


    After about an hour, an older woman emerged with a young woman. The older one was extravagantly dressed. It must be the empress dowager. The woman by her side didn¡¯t look like a regr maid but someone who had been raised in an esteemed family. Jun Huang didn¡¯t know who the young woman was, but she could read the jealousy in her eyes loud and clear.


    Must be another woman who harbors unrequited feelings for Nan Xun, she thought. He sure is popr in Northern Qi.


    ¡°Greetings, Empress Dowager.¡± Jun Huang got to her feet and bowed. Her manners were impable.


    The empress dowager would have left Jun Huang hanging for longer, but Jun Huang was Nan Xun¡¯s lover. She didn¡¯t want to make Nan Xun her enemy. That was why she showed up after only thirty minutes. It surprised her that the young woman was able to maintain her calm.


    Nevertheless, the empress dowager didn¡¯t think the woman with nothing but a pretty face was good enough for Nan Xun. Moreover, she wanted Shangguan Yue to be Nan Xun¡¯s principal wife. Those she¡¯d taken under her wing deserved the best.


    ¡°Alright. I hear that you¡¯re prone to illness. It¡¯s chilly outside. Let¡¯s get in.¡± The empress dowager stood up and entered the pce with Shangguan Yue¡¯s help.


    Jun Huang frowned. She didn¡¯t know what the empress dowager was nning, but she was wary nheless. Outside, there were many unwanted eyes. The empress dowager wouldn¡¯t dare do anything. Inside, however, there was no such restrictions.


    Unfortunately, as a peasant she couldn¡¯t say no to the empress dowager. After some hesitation, she entered the pce.


    The empress dowager put on a friendly smile and invited Jun Huang to take a seat. She then dismissed the guards and servants.


    Jun Huang looked around the room, her lips curved into a smile.


    ¡°You bear some resemnce to the young man Nan Xun had introduced to me,¡± the empress dowager said from her seat.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes shed, her smile deepened. She nodded. ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time someone said that to me. I almost started to think he¡¯s perhaps my long lost brother. However, I hear that Gentleman Feng is a rare talent. I can¡¯t possiblypare.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. He¡¯s just a strategist. He doesn¡¯t matter that much.¡± The empress dowager leveled Jun Huang with a calctive stare, trying to determine if Jun Huang meant what she said.


    Jun Huang met her eyes squarely. The empress dowager realized then that Jun Huang wasn¡¯t as easy to deal with as she¡¯d thought. No woman should care so little about their man¡¯s previous lovers. Herck of reaction was noteworthy.


    Jun Huang knew what the empress dowager was thinking, but she wasn¡¯t going to exin herself. She smiled. ¡°What did Your Royal Highness summon me for? Is it because you remembered the strategist you met and heard that I look like him?¡±


    There was a lilt to Jun Huang¡¯s voice, and her lips were curved into a smile. She sounded like she was joking, but the empress dowager was mistrustful and interpreted that as mockery. Her expression clouded for a brief moment.


    ¡°That¡¯s not it,¡± the empress dowager said with a huff. ¡°I¡¯m just curious about Nan Xun¡¯s taste. Yourck of respect for the authority will make it difficult for you to be part of the royal family.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Your Royal Highness,¡± Jun Huang said faintly.


    Shangguan Yue had been boiling with rage listening to their conversation. She disliked Jun Huang, but her resentment for Feng Baiyu was even stronger. And yet he was brought up again and again. She tightened her fists and tried her best to calm herself.


    The empress dowager realized that she¡¯d digressed. Shangguan Yue¡¯s reaction didn¡¯t escape her notice. She cleared her throat. ¡°Yue¡¯er, why haven¡¯t you poured our guest some tea?¡±


    She shot Shangguan Yue a pointed look.


    Shangguan Yue nodded and had a maid bring her a pot of tea. She poured Jun Huang a cup. An idea took root in her mind once she put down the teapot.


    She had her back to Jun Huang. Jun Huang thus didn¡¯t notice Shangguan Yue sneaking nces at her. Shangguan Yue took a deep breath.


    The tea was boiling hot. She could feel the numbing heat even through the ceramic. She gritted her teeth as she watched Jun Huang talk to the empress dowager with a confident smile, which seemed to her like a silent deration of ownership over Nan Xun.


    Jealousy turned into a murderous resentment. Shangguan Yue wanted to destroy Jun Huang and made Nan Xun hers.


    It took a while for her to regain her focus. She looked down at her reddened hand. The pain didn¡¯t registered in her brain. She steadied her breathing to push aside her jealousy and refilled the cup with hot tea.


    Jun Huang had been keeping an eye on Shangguan Yue. A lot had happened recently, which made her wary of any potential danger and more sensitive to malice.


    She¡¯d been on guard since Shangguan Yue turned to her. Her eyes were focused as they trailed Shangguan Yue¡¯s movement. Shangguan Yue didn¡¯t notice. She held her breath and walked up to Jun Huang. When they were close enough, she stumbled on nothing and dropped the cup.


    With her eyes narrowed, Jun Huang shot to her feet and caught the cup. The lid fell to the floor with a clink. A drop of hot liquidnded on the back of her hand, the pain prickling. When she realized what Shangguan Yue had nned to do, she decided not to let the woman off the hook easily. She bent down to help Shangguan Yue, but sneakily tripped her, causing her to lose her bnce and fall to the floor. While no one was looking, Jun Huang dropped the cup.


    Shangguan Yue screamed and fell to the floor on her back. Then the teacup hit her forehead. Before she could react, the boiling tea sshed all over her face. The heat was excruciating.


    She covered her face with both hands and almost fainted from the pain. Jun Huang staggered back like she¡¯d been startled.


    The empress dowager motioned at the maid to help Shangguan Yue up. Shangguan Yue covered her face with one hand and pointed at Jun Huang with the other. The pain made her voice grating. ¡°She did it on purpose! She tripped me!¡±


    The empress dowager had seen what Shangguan Yue had done. Her stumble was too fake, exposing her intention for all to see. Jun Huang, on the other hand, kept up a perfect pretense. Everyone believed she had been trying to help Shangguan Yue to her feet, and that Shangguan Yue had fallen before Jun Huang could reach her.


    Even so, Shangguan Yue was under the empress dowager¡¯s protection. Her face had gone red from the heat and a few blisters popped up. The empress dowager flew into a rage and hit the desk with her palm, ring at Jun Huang and shouting at the maids, ¡°Take her down! How dare she do such a thing in my pce? I¡¯ll teach her a lesson ¨C ¡±


    ¡°What do you say you¡¯re going to do?¡± The door flew open, revealing Nan Xun and Qi Yun. The maids restraining Jun Huang started, at a loss of what to do. Before they could react, Nan Xun pushed them away. They almost fell to the floor.


    It pained Nan Xun to see Jun Huang¡¯s pale face. If only he¡¯de earlier, she wouldn¡¯t have suffered this treatment. He patted her shoulder reassuringly. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You¡¯re alright.¡±


    Qi Yun turned to the empress dowager with a dark expression and asked coldly, ¡°What happened?¡±


    The empress dowager brushed her hair back. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. That girl shamelessly sshed hot tea all over Yue¡¯er. Look at her. Her face was ruined.¡±


    Qi Yun narrowed his eyes at the empress dowager. She guiltily averted her gaze. That was enough to tell him that there was something fishy. However, he couldn¡¯t question her openly as her grandson.


    He gave Nan Xun a pointed look. Without missing a beat, Nan Xun surveyed the room and settled his gaze on one of the maids. She had been the one to bring in the tea.


    Nan Xun marched toward her, his presence terrifying. Before he could get close, the maid dropped to her knees fearfully. She told him everything as soon as he demanded for an answer.


    The empress dowager stilled. Nan Xun looked around the room, his expression frigid. The servants were too scared to say a word. The empress dowager shuddered when his piercing eyes settled on her.


    ¡°You¡¯re a senior. We¡¯ll show you the proper degree of respect, but we won¡¯t tolerate your misbehavior. You better think of an exnation, Your Royal Highness. I¡¯m not letting this slip.¡±


    Nan Xun took a deep breath. He didn¡¯t want to imagine what would happen if Shangguan Yue had seeded. He took Jun Huang hand and led her out.


    The empress dowager soon regained her senses. It was humiliating that she¡¯d been intimidated by a young man. Nan Xun¡¯s attitude made her furious. ¡°How dare he?! He¡¯s but a prince with a different surname. How dare he talk to me like that? He has no respect for his superior.¡±


    She turned to Qi Yun, who had been watching the scene y out. ¡°He tantly ignores the authority of the royal family. Such an offense deserves the harshest punishment.¡±

 Chapter 351 - Eliminating the Threat

    <strong>Chapter 351: Eliminating the Threat</strong>


    Qi Yun scoffed. ¡°Isn¡¯t Brother Nan your favorite, Empress Dowager? What changed?¡±


    Her face clouded for a brief moment. ¡°So? He¡¯s not part of the Qi family. How can someone like him be considered one of us? How can you trust him? Don¡¯t you know that a subordinate may end up garnering more respect than his master? Haven¡¯t you heard how the others had been ttering him? If one day hees to his full power and reces you, you only have yourself to me.¡±


    Qi Yun sighed, resigned, his anger fading away. The extravagantly dressed woman was nothing but an ungraceful loser.


    His question had been rhetorical. Of course he knew why the empress dowager had paid that much attention to Nan Xun in the beginning. She simply wanted insurance. She started treating Nan Xun with kindness when his talent started to show. However, no one realized that Nan Xun¡¯s heart woulde to be upied by one woman. If anyone dared hurt her, even someone who¡¯d given him the world could be nothing but his enemy.


    ¡°Take good care of the empress dowager. At her age, she shouldn¡¯t go out without a good reason.¡± With that, Qi Yun walked away with a flourish of his sleeves. The farce might as well have never happened.


    The empress dowager slumped dejectedly. It looked as if she¡¯d aged a decade in an instant. She watched Qi Yun go. There was a lump in her throat preventing her from saying anything.


    Shangguan Yue crawled to the empress dowager despite the burning pain and grabbed her foot. ¡°Help me, Your Royal Highness. I was telling the truth. Don¡¯t give me up. If you let them take me, they¡¯ll torture me to death. I¡¯m begging you, Your Royal Highness.¡±


    The burn had damaged her vocal cords. Her grating voice sounded almost hellish. The empress dowager had been overwhelmed with her fury for Nan Xun and Qi Yun. Shangguan Yue¡¯s plea didn¡¯t help.


    Scowling, the empress dowager kicked Shangguan Yue away and looked down at her. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯ve done? You¡¯re more trouble than you¡¯re worth. What use do I have for you?¡±


    Since they left the Pce of Compassion and Tranquility, Nan Xun hadn¡¯t let go of Jun Huang¡¯s hand. It was as if he feared that she¡¯d be in danger again if he did. He couldn¡¯t help but be afraid at the thought of what would have happened if Jun Huang had been hit by the boiling tea.


    Jun Huang turned to him and noted his pursed lips. He was still beating himself up for what had happened. She chuckled. The sound was a ray of sunlight breaking through the heavy clouds. Nan Xun came to a stop.


    ¡°What are youughing about? Do you know what the boiling tea would have done to you? Do you know what the empress dowager would have done if Qi Yun and I hadn¡¯t arrived in time? How am I to keep you safe?¡± Nan Xun was still scowling.


    Jun Huang knew he was right. She stayed silent lest she misspeak. Nan Xun sighed. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Jun Huang said faintly, hiding her slightly burned hand under her sleeves. Nan Xun didn¡¯t notice.


    What happened today made Nan Xun realize that many dangersy hidden in the shadows still. Jun Huang might get hurt anytime. He silently swore to take her away from the imperial city once everything settled.


    He pulled Jun Huang close, still reeling from what could have happened. He was afraid that he¡¯d one day fail to protect her and leave her defenseless. He feared that she¡¯d get hurt despite his caution.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re not afraid of them,¡± Nan Xun said seriously, his eyes determined. ¡°I know you¡¯ve restrained yourself because I told you the empress dowager was kind to me when I was young. However, I never want you to be hurt. Don¡¯t worry about the empress dowager. I¡¯ll take care of everything. She¡¯s never going toy a finger on you again.¡±


    Jun Huang knew Nan Xun meant it. He would never appease her with lies. His oath touched Jun Huang. She rested her head on his chest and nodded.


    They held each other tightly in the royal garden, fitting together perfectly like they were always meant to be together. Even the maids passing by couldn¡¯t help looking at them with envy. It didn¡¯t seem possible for mortals to have a love like theirs.


    Qi Yun looked at them from afar. He still felt a pang of hurt when he saw them, but the pain didn¡¯tst. Lingering in his heart was a faint, dull sense of loss.


    There were countless couples in the world, but Jun Huang and Nan Xun were the only one that could hurt him. And yet he seemed to catch them in an intimate moment all the time.


    Instead of approaching them immediately, Qi Yun had the servants prepare some tea. He sat down at a stone table and didn¡¯t leave until he finished the pot.


    He got to his feet. The couple had finally let go of each other and were looking at the koi fish in the pond.


    Hearing footsteps approaching, Nan Xun turned to find Qi Yuning their way. He frowned. Qi Yun ignored his expression in favor of considering Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang felt the gaze and turned to him. She recognized Qi Yun as the young man who had visited the manor.


    ¡°Last time, I didn¡¯t know who you were and ended up saying something inappropriate,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°I hope Your Highness may find it in yourself to forgive me.¡±


    Her formal apology was hurtful, but Qi Yun soon recovered and gave her a smile. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to apologize.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to Nan Xun questioningly. Herst encounter with Qi Yun hadn¡¯t been pleasant. If she were Qi Yun, she¡¯d be unhappy. And yet he treated her as friendly as he¡¯d been before. She wondered why that was.


    Nan Xun smiled and said quietly, ¡°You¡¯re friends.¡±


    That exined it. Nan Xun had told her she was Feng Baiyu. A strategist needed a master to serve.


    What Qi Yun had said and her familiarity with Nan Xun gave her some clues. Feng Baiyu must have been an advisor for Qi Yun in his pursuit to gain the world.


    Qi Yun had heard about Jun Huang¡¯s loss of memory. He¡¯d made up his mind to give up on her after his conversation with Nan Xun. He could now calmly watch the two of them together. He realized that he¡¯d been too obsessive. He almost ruined something wonderful.


    ¡°You don¡¯t deserve what happened today,¡± Qi Yun said seriously. ¡°It¡¯s my mistake. Apologies for making you feel threatened.¡±


    Jun Huang waved a hand dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Your Highness. Besides, whatever happens, happens. If the empress dowager wanted to hurt me, even exercising the highest caution wouldn¡¯t have stopped her. Fortunately, I¡¯ve narrowly escaped getting hurt.¡±


    Qi Yun pursed his lips. He wanted to tell her they¡¯d grown up together, that she was his best friend, but he didn¡¯t. It wouldn¡¯t change anything.


    Jun Huang would apologize, which wasn¡¯t what he wanted.


    ¡°You¡¯re still prone to illness,¡± said Qi Yun. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t exhaust yourself. What happened today must have scared you. Since the issue has been resolved, you should return to Prince Nan Manor and rest. Don¡¯t worry about anything else. The empress dowager and Shangguan Yue will never be able to hurt you again.¡±


    Nan Xun shot Qi Yun an unhappy re and pulled Jun Huang close, stepping between her and Qi Yun. ¡°You must be tired,¡± he said to Jun Huang. ¡°Qi Yun will take care of the rest. Let¡¯s go. He¡¯s readied a sedan chair for you. We¡¯ll go home, and you can get some sleep.¡±


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to say no to that. She nodded with a smile. Nan Xun told her to wait for him outside. She obliged without a question asked.


    Qi Yun raised an eyebrow. ¡°How do you know I¡¯ve prepared a sedan chair?¡±


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t going to admit he¡¯d been paying attention to what Qi Yun was doing when he was holding Jun Huang. ¡°I thought we¡¯ve reached an understanding after our conversation, Qi Yun.¡±


    Qi Yun looked questioningly at him and btedly realized that Nan Xun was jealous. He let out an amusedugh.


    Nan Xun red at him with an impassive expression. Qi Yun didn¡¯t stopughing immediately. A tear hung at the corner of his eye. He cleared his throat and teased, ¡°Does our almighty general Nan Xun have so little confidence in yourself? You¡¯re jealous?¡±


    Nan Xun balled his hands into fists and said coolly, ¡°You may be in charge, Qi Yun, but if you dare chase after Jun Huang, I ¨C ¡±


    ¡°Enough with that. I¡¯m not that kind of person. Go. Jun Huang is still waiting for you.¡± Qi Yun cut in. He was going to be the emperor. He wouldn¡¯t have his general talk back at him. Even though they were close, there was a line that shouldn¡¯t be crossed.


    Nan Xun realized that he¡¯d overreacted. The mere thought that Qi Yun might try to take Jun Huang away from him put him in an unreasonable fit of jealousy. As a result, he lost his calm.

 Chapter 352 - Reaping what you sow

    <strong>Chapter 352: Reaping what you sow</strong>


    Qi Yun didn¡¯t look pleased, but Nan Xun had said what he wanted to say. Jun Huang was still waiting for him outside. He walked away without a word.


    Watching him go, Qi Yun¡¯s expression rxed somewhat. He sighed and called out for the captain of the imperial guards he¡¯d sent for.


    ¡°What has Your Highness summoned this official for?¡±


    ¡°Take your most trusted men and surround the Pce of Compassion and Tranquility,¡± Qi Yun said. ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone leave.¡±


    The captain looked at Qi Yun in shock. ¡°Why? It¡¯s the empress dowager...¡±


    ¡°Oh, do you think I need your permission to do anything?¡± Qi Yun¡¯s face clouded. The captain epted his order obediently and left.


    Not long after, the pce was surrounded by the imperial guard. All entrance and exit were restricted. The empress dowager almost fainted when she heard. She spat, ¡°Bastard! Is he going to make this my prison? Not even my son had done that to me. How dare he?!¡±


    The maids were too afraid to even make a sound. The old caretaker smoothed a hand over the empress dowager¡¯s back to help her breathe, worried that she¡¯d ck out from her fury. ¡°You have to take care of yourself, Your Royal Highness. The prince has onlymitted such an atrocity because he¡¯s blinded by anger. Don¡¯t forget that he¡¯s known for his filial piety. Once he finds out the truth, he won¡¯t make things difficult for you.¡±


    ¡°Ha, piety?¡± The empress dowager scoffed, dismissing the caretaker¡¯s words. ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know how my unfortunate son died? I have eyes.¡±


    The maids broke into a cold sweat, terrified. The old caretaker dropped down to her knees with a loud thud. ¡°There are always unwanted ears listening in, Your Royal Highness. You must not say something like that. If the prince hears it, he...¡±


    The empress dowager realized her mistake before the caretaker finished. Her clothes were drenched in sweat, and her breathing quickened. She wiped her forehead with the handkerchief the caretaker handed her.


    It had been an eventful day. Those in the Pce of Compassion and Tranquility soon fell asleep. Under the moonlight, a person dressed in ck rushed to the wall by the door. Once they made sure no one was around, they slipped something through the bottom of the wall and left.


    The imperial guards had been watching. The captain waited until the person left before quietly making his way to the door.


    Slipped through the crack beneath the wall was an envelope. The captain swapped it with an empty one and had his people keep watch. He would find out who had been getting intels from the mole within the pce.


    ¡°Your Highness, the captain of the imperial guard asked for an audience,¡± the eunuch said.


    Qi Yun looked up from the reports and let the captain in, who handed him the letter without a word. Qi Yun¡¯s expression clouded as he read it.


    Written in detail was what had happened to Jun Huang in the Pce of Compassion and Tranquility. He narrowed his eyes and huffed. ¡°Did you catch the one recieving the message? How about the mole?¡±


    The captain held his breath and shook his head. ¡°Forgive this official for my ipetence. I was too far away, and whoever it was had disguised themselves. To avoid alerting them, I kept my distance. And no one has shown up to take the letter yet.¡±


    Qi Yun kept his questions to himself and dismissed the captain, telling him to keep a close eye on the pce. If no progress had been made, he¡¯d go to the Pce of Compassion and Tranquility himself to investigate tomorrow.


    That night, no one showed up for the letter, and they still didn¡¯t know who the mole within the pce was. Enraged, Qi Yun took his men to the pce. He didn¡¯t want to worsen his rtionship with the empress dowager, so he summoned only the servants and didn¡¯t notify the empress dowager.


    The servants exchanged a puzzled look. Qi Yun looked them over with a dark expression.


    ¡°Who among you left the pcest night?¡± he asked in a frigid tone.


    The servants shook their heads. Qi Yun frowned. He couldn¡¯t tell who the suspects could be, but the issue was too serious for him to not take action now. It could easilye back to bite them.


    Not wanting to leave anything to chance, Qi Yun waved the captain of the imperial guard over. ¡°Take care of them. Keep everything a secret. Reassign some of the servants in my pce here for the moment.¡±


    The captain nodded and watched Qi Yun go. He shifted his gaze to the servants. They trembled in fear, but their pleading was lost on a man with a hardened heart. The captain made his order to his subordinates and left.


    The screams woke the empress dowager up. When she made her way to the main hall, she saw her caretaker and other confidantes lying dead in a puddle of their own blood. She fainted in shock.


    Those who had heard the screams didn¡¯t dare say anything. They¡¯d been warned that if they spread the news, the same fate would befall them.


    Nan Xun received the news when he was having a meal with Jun Huang. Qi Yun briefly described what had happened in the pce and told him to be careful. There might be threats lurking in Jun Huang¡¯s circle. Nan Xun kept it to himself and told Jun Huang not to worry about what had happened in the pce, especially not about Qi Yun.


    Since Jun Huang and Nan Xun returned to Northern Qi, Ji Bo had been visiting her frequently to talk about what was happening in the world. Jun Huang seemed disinterested. She didn¡¯t want to get close to Ji Bo, and she didn¡¯t know much about the happenings in the world. She wasn¡¯t in the mood to humor him.


    Nan Xun noticed Jun Huang¡¯s dislike for Ji Bo. He didn¡¯t understand why, but it nted the seed of doubt in his mind. He remembered then that Ji Bo was the one who had told him and Jun Huang to turn to the House of Heavenly Fiends. Now that he knew the organization was suspicious, what role did Ji Bo y in all that?


    The more he thought, the more suspicious he was of Ji Bo. He sent his men to investigate. He exercised the highest caution and assigned only his most trusted men to the task. He also reminded them to watch out for the House of Heavenly Fiends. Therefore, Ji Bo didn¡¯t know anything about what he was doing.


    Today, Ji Bo visited without being invited again. Jun Huang yed the zither in the pavilion, turning a blind eye to him. After about an hour, she stopped and realized that Ji Bo was still here. She pretended to only notice him then. ¡°When did the gentlemane? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    Ji Bo wasn¡¯t sure if Jun Huang had truly not noticed him. He shook his head with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been here for a while. I didn¡¯t want to disturb you since you seemed to be having a good time.¡±


    Jun Huang gave him a faint smile and poured him a cup of tea. ¡°Is there anything you need?¡±


    ¡°No, the prince asked me to check on you,¡± said Ji Bo. ¡°I know a thing or two about medicine. May I take your pulse?¡±


    Nan Xun happened to arrive at this moment. It wouldn¡¯t do them any harm to let Ji Bo check on Jun Huang. He spoke up, ¡°Thank you for the kind offer. Please go ahead.¡±


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to object. She let Ji Bo take her wrist. After careful inspection, Ji Bo said, ¡°You¡¯ve recovered well. I¡¯ll take my leave with that knowledge.¡±


    He rose to his feet and cupped his hands before leaving.


    Nan Xun looked at him thoughtfully, wondering what he was up to.


    Jun Huang frowned at his bemused look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I just visited Qi Yun,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°If he was worried, he could¡¯ve asked me. Why would he send anyone? There¡¯s something wrong with Ji Bo.¡±


    Jun Huang fell silent. She didn¡¯t have an answer, either. They agreed that the best thing they could do now was to keep their distance from Ji Bo.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask,¡± Jun Huang looked up at Nan Xun and said, remembering the woman who had tried to hurt her. ¡°What happened to Shangguan Yue?¡±


    Nan Xun pursed his lips. ¡°She got what she deserved.¡±


    ¡°In what way?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to say anything, but Jun Huang¡¯s gaze told him that she wouldn¡¯t stop wondering if he didn¡¯t tell her. She might even try to investigate herself.


    It wasn¡¯t a secret he had to keep. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to waste her time and effort on an irrelevant woman. He sighed. ¡°After what happened, the empress dowager cast her aside and offered her to me. Qi Yun and I decided that a quick death would only be a mercy for her, so we left her to the empress dowager and let her reap what she sowed.¡±


    ¡°Qi Yun had locked down the Pce of Compassion and Tranquility, and the empress dowager no longer cared about Shangguan Yue. Therefore, her face ended up ruined without timely treatment.¡±


    ¡°She should¡¯ve left when Sir Shangguan was apprehended. It was the empress dowager who gave her a ce. And yet she did something foolish and lost the empress dowager¡¯s protection. She was nothing but a useless mouth in the pce. She had been a prideful woman. After her fall from grace, the maids and servants who harbor resentment for her bully her every day. Her life isn¡¯t going to be easy.¡±


    There were things Nan Xun had left unsaid. Jun Huang didn¡¯t ask. There was an indescribable feeling in her heart. She wasn¡¯t sure what it was.

 Chapter 353 - Re-enactment

    <strong> Chapter 353: Re-enactment</strong>


    Nan Xun thought Jun Huang was feeling sorry for Shangguan Yue. ¡°Don¡¯t pity her. Someone with such a vicious heart doesn¡¯t deserve your sympathy. She only has herself to me for what happened.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I feel no sympathy for her. I¡¯m simplymenting the unpredictability of fate.¡±


    Nan Xun rxed and let out a sigh. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to see the cruel reality. For him, Jun Huang was the only ray of hope in the world. In her aloof eyes was a utopia the ancient schrs had written about.


    Someone like her shouldn¡¯t be subjected to human malice.


    He pushed aside his thoughts. He didn¡¯t want to talk to Jun Huang about the harsh truth of pce affairs. Oleg Cragfiend happened to arrive with a bowl of medicine, interrupting their conversation. Nan Xun sighed in relief.


    Jun Huang took the bowl of medicine and finished it in one go. Oleg Cragfiend reached out to take her pulse. ¡°You¡¯re about recovered.¡±


    After a pause, Jun Huang said, ¡°I¡¯ve been taking the medicine for some time, master, and I¡¯ve recovered more and more memories. However, there are things that remain fuzzy to me. Why is that?¡±


    ¡°You need more potent medicine.¡± Oleg Cragfiend seemed to have anticipated the question. He didn¡¯t sound at all surprised.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t say anything. Nan Xun, on the other hand, frowned and questioned, ¡°It¡¯s said that all medicine is toxic to some degree. The more effective the medicine, the more toxic it is. Isn¡¯t that going to be counterproductive?¡±


    ¡°I understand your concerns, but you have to trust me,¡± said Oleg Cragfiend. ¡°I can eliminate the toxicity of the medicine. Besides, that¡¯s what we must do given Jun Huang¡¯s condition.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned deeply. ¡°What went wrong? Has the poison in her body not be cleansed properly?¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not the case. The change of medicine is to stimte Jun Huang¡¯s memory. Do you know why there are things she cannot recall? She doesn¡¯t want to remember. If we are to restore those memories, she needs more potent medicine.¡±


    Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang. She was rubbing at her forehead to soothe herself. He knew she¡¯d been getting headaches since she started taking the medicine. Oleg Cragfiend said it was a normal reaction.


    ¡°Is she going to get more headaches with the new medicine?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Oleg Cragfiend turned to Jun Huang and sighed. He understood Nan Xun¡¯s reluctance. ¡°I don¡¯t want to lie to you. The new medicine will have stronger side effects. Her head is going to hurt more, but it will be tolerable.¡±


    Nan Xun fell silent. It pained him to see Jun Huang suffer. She¡¯d been losing sleep because of her headaches. Oleg Cragfiend wasn¡¯t one for hyperbole. That meant the new medicine would make her feel worse...


    On the other hand, Nan Xun didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to live her life without her memory. He took a deep breath and pushed aside his concerns. For Jun Huang¡¯s sake, it was better that he did nothing.


    Oleg Cragfiend could tell that Nan Xun had made up his mind. He gave Nan Xun a pointed look, who told Jun Huang to go rest without missing a beat and made his way to Oleg Cragfiend¡¯s temporary residence.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the new treatment,¡± Oleg Cragfiend said without preamble.


    ¡°Are there herbs that are difficult to acquire?¡±


    ¡°I believe it¡¯s going to take too long to rely only on medicine,¡± said Oleg Cragfiend. ¡°It¡¯s better that we give her psychological stimuli as well.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t gone into the specifics, but Nan Xun immediately figured out what the poison master was suggesting. He widened his eyes, still reeling from what the old man had proposed. Oleg Cragfiend understood his concerns. He told him to take some time to consider.


    Nan Xun returned to the back garden like a walking corpse. Not far from him was Jun Huang¡¯s residence, but he didn¡¯t close the distance. He couldn¡¯t. He felt a sharp pain in his chest as soon as he thought about what he was going to do to Jun Huang.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard your discussion with the old master, Your Highness,¡± the lead shadowguard said as he emerged from the dark. ¡°I agree with him. It¡¯s said that the most effective way to cure a poison is to cancel its effect with another poison. Perhaps that¡¯ll be enough to restore Miss Jun Huang¡¯s memory.¡±


    Nan Xun smiled wryly and lowered his eyes. ¡°But why should she experience the heart-wrenching pain again? She¡¯s been victimized too many times. She doesn¡¯t deserve it. I don¡¯t want to cut open her wound and make her hurt again.¡±


    The shadowguard fell silent. He wasn¡¯t sure what to say. Nan Xun sighed and looked up at the bright moon. His heart knew what he had to do, but his mind was filled with a tangled mess of thoughts.


    ¡°Send two teams to Eastern Wu. We¡¯ll n as we go.¡± Nan Xun acquiesced. Jun Huang had been without her memory for too long. It was time he got it over with.


    The shadowguard knew Nan Xun was conflicted. Without a word, he vanished into the dark. Two groups of men departed from the manor and made their way to Eastern Wu.


    The next few days, Jun Huang could feel the tension in the air, but she didn¡¯t know what the cause was. Nan Xun seemed to be keeping secrets from her. When asked, though, he insisted that she¡¯d been overthinking.


    Jun Huang stopped asking. During her free time, she¡¯d send for a performing troupe and watch a show in the back garden. Oleg Cragfiend and Nan Xun weren¡¯t sure if her indifference was a good thing or a bad thing.


    Today, Jun Huang had spent her day watching a y. It was satisfying, and it drained her enough that she quickly fell asleep at night, oblivious to the world.


    In the study, Nan Xun and the others discussed how they were going to re-enact the attack on Western Que¡¯s pce. They knew there was no room for mistakes. They had to do this right.


    ¡°What if something goes wrong?¡± Yin Yun was hesitant. He didn¡¯t want to risk Jun Huang¡¯s safety.


    After a pause, Nan Xun said in a serious tone, ¡°We¡¯ve nned for everything. I won¡¯t allow anything to go wrong. It¡¯s a show. No one is getting hurt.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that...¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s expression was tight. He forced himself to calm down. ¡°We¡¯ve got to this point. There¡¯s no going back no matter how worried we are. Whatever happens, you mustn¡¯t stop. If you do, our efforts will be all for nothing. Worse, Oleg Cragfiend has said Jun Huang¡¯s defense mechanism may kick in if we don¡¯t do this right. Then she¡¯s never going to recover her memory.¡±


    Yin Yun nodded without a word and took Jun Hao out for preparation. Nan Xun sat at the desk, his fingers trembling.


    This was it. One misstep, and gone was her chance of recovery.


    Jun Huang had thought she¡¯d be able to sleep until the day broke since she¡¯d been graced with a reprieve from her headache. It¡¯d been a while since she had a good night¡¯s sleep.


    ¡°Kill!¡±


    ¡°Ugh! Who are you? How did you get in?¡±


    ¡°Agh!¡±


    Clink! The sounds of des shing came from outside her room. Jun Huang had always been a light sleeper. The noises jerked her out of her sleep. She listened to themotion, her heart pounding and her temples throbbing. Her back was covered in cold sweat.


    Her face paled. It took some time for her to make sure that this was real. She wasn¡¯t dreaming. The noises weren¡¯t just in her head.


    A maid rushed in. ¡°Princess, you have to get up now. We must leave.¡±


    Jun Huang widened her eyes and looked around for Nan Xun. Her face went even paler when she didn¡¯t spot him. Her muscles grew taut when she saw the fire outside through the crack of the door. The fact that the maid had called her princess confused her. She passively let the maid drag her out of the room.


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart ached when he saw her expression from where he was hiding. He wanted to hold her,fort her, but Oleg Cragfiend stopped him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Oleg Cragfiend shook his head.


    Nan Xun felt a lump in his throat. Jun Huang had told him about her dreams of the destruction of her homnd. The nightmares had been guing her for half a month. And here they were, forcing her to relive her worst nightmare. The guilt was a heavy weight over Nan Xun¡¯s conscience.


    Oleg Cragfiend didn¡¯t allow him the time to wallow. He dragged him to follow Jun Huang and the maid.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know where Nan Xun was. Listening to the killings and watching the zing torches, she wanted nothing but to break out of the maid¡¯s grip, but she didn¡¯t have the strength to do that. She didn¡¯t know what she¡¯d see next. She had no choice but to follow the maid.


    Through the winding hallway, they reached an extravagant building. Jun Huang¡¯s pupils contracted as her gaze settled on the man standing in the main hall.


    It was her brother, the fifth prince of Western Que.


    The prince had hoped that the emperor of Eastern Wu would give him a bright future, but he faded into obscurity after the emperor¡¯s failure. He had lost all his power.


    That was when Nan Xun¡¯s men found him. They took him to Northern Qi and promised him reward if he helped them put on the show.


    The fortune practically fell into hisp. There was no reason for him to say no. He agreed to y his part.


    Within the pce, the fifth princeughed without restraint, leveling the couple on the throne with a venomous re.


    ¡°Hahaha, you didn¡¯t expect things to turn out this way, did you?¡±

 Chapter 354 - Falling

    <strong> Chapter 354: Falling</strong>


    The fifth prince pontificated about his n to the couple dressed in dragon robe and phoenix dress, his voice dripping with venom. ¡°You brought this to yourselves! Western Que should¡¯ve been mine, but what did you do? You insisted on passing the throne to the little boy! How is he a better candidate?


    He let out a peel of unhingedughter. ¡°Since you won¡¯t let me take the throne, I¡¯ll destroy it! What I cannot gain, others won¡¯t, either!¡±


    ¡°Western Que is doomed! So are you! This is the end of everything!¡±


    The fifth prince¡¯s voice grew hoarse. He stared at the man on the throne, his face contorted in hatred.


    ¡°You heartless monster!¡± The man in dragon robe growled. The fifth prince huffed and pped the man in the face. He was starting to forget himself.


    The woman dressed in phoenix robe charged at him with a fierce expression. Caught off guard, the fifth prince was knocked to the floor. He narrowed his eyes at the woman and grabbed her hair. Things went a little hectic after that.


    The fifth prince had forgotten that this was merely for show. He shot the couple a hateful re as the man dressed in dragon robe shielded his wife with his body, keeping a silent eye on the fifth prince. Then, a young boy ran out of the secret chamber.


    Jun Huang widened her eyes, confusion lifted from her expression. She tried to move forward, but the maid¡¯s grip tightened around her wrist. She couldn¡¯t break free.


    Jun Huang looked at her in shock. The maid¡¯s unwavering gaze and impassive expression made her even more befuddled.


    ¡°Let go of Royal Father and Mother!¡± Jun Hao¡¯s eyes were bright and piercing. It was as if he could see through one¡¯s soul.


    The fifth prince stopped to look at Jun Hao and scoffed. With big strides, he marched toward Jun Hao.


    The boy knew this was a show, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling scared when he saw the fifth prince¡¯s eyes. He tried his best to tamp his fear down. This was for Jun Huang¡¯s sake.


    He balled his hands into fists like he¡¯d done in his memory. The fifth prince couldn¡¯t help the resentment growing in his heart. He seized Jun Hao¡¯s arm in a viselike grip. The boy struggled but failed to break free.


    The fifth prince picked up a dagger and threatened, ¡°Give me the imperial seal. Then I may spare your lives. Otherwise, I¡¯m not going to show you any mercy.¡±


    ¡°No, he can¡¯t have the seal.¡± The woman grabbed the man in dragon robe by his arm and shook her head, her tears falling like a cut pearl ne. ¡°You mustn¡¯t, Your Majesty. The seal is a sign of authority. It can only be given to those with integrity and wisdom. Heartless men like him will end up ruining the nation. If Hao¡¯er has to be sacrificed for Western Que¡¯s sake, he¡¯ll... it¡¯ll be...¡±


    The woman couldn¡¯t finish her sentence. Her entire body trembled as she sobbed.


    The fifth prince¡¯s expression darkened. He threw Jun Hao to the floor and, when the boy was still recovering, picked up a long sword, seemingly intending to kill Jun Hao.


    The couple couldn¡¯t bear to watch their son get killed, but there was nothing they could do. The man held the woman tight and squeezed his eyes shut. Jun Huang felt as if her heart had been cut open. It was unbearably painful.


    Without thinking, Jun Huang charged at the fifth prince. This time, the maid didn¡¯t stop her. Jun Huang didn¡¯t have the time to question that. Her only thought was to keep Jun Hao safe.


    Before the fifth prince could attack Jun Hao, Jun Huang hurriedly stepped between him and the boy and picked up a sword to defend her brother.


    A malicious idea took root in the fifth prince¡¯s mind. Although Nan Xun had agreed to let him live, Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t allow that to happen. He was going to die even if he cooperated. It was better that he fought Jun Huang for real and killed her. Then he would think about escaping.


    He raised his sword and marched toward Jun Huang. Nan Xun could no longer stay on the sideline. He was about to make a move when Yin Yun showed up and kicked the fifth prince away. While the prince was struggling to get up, Yin Yun led both Jun Huang and Jun Hao outside.


    The fifth prince covered his chest with one hand and punched the floor with the other. He knew he had to keep ying his role as per Nan Xun¡¯s instructions.


    He took a deep breath. He only had a chance to kill Jun Huang if he lived. He mustn¡¯t grow impatient and expose his true intention.


    He resumed his role and got to his feet, ordering the soldiers to give chase.


    Jun Huang looked at Yin Yun, then at Jun Hao, who had fainted from a fit of panic. She could hear soldiers closing in on them. Her forehead was covered in sweat, but she forced herself to calm down.


    She knew the fifth prince and his soldiers would catch up with them if they did nothing. She came to a halt. Yin Yun stopped to look at her questioningly, holding Jun Hao in his arms.


    ¡°Take Jun Hao and go, Yin Yun.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Yin Yun questioned.


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes were determined and calm. Her gaze shifted between Yin Yun and Jun Hao. ¡°They want me. If we go together, we¡¯ll all get caught. You have to flee with Jun Hao. I¡¯ll direct our pursuers away from you.¡±


    ¡°You mustn¡¯t, princess.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s an order,¡± Jun Huang snapped.


    Yin Yun looked at the boy in his arms and, with great reluctance, nodded. He ran away carrying Jun Hao.


    Jun Huang sighed in relief. Throwing a nce back at the pursuers, she ran in the other direction. As she expected, all the soldiers opted to follow her.


    She came to a cliff. It seemed bottomless. She couldn¡¯t see anything below. She stood tall under the moonlight. The silver glow hardened her features. The thinyer of white robe she¡¯d hurriedly put on flew and tangled with her long, ck hair.


    She nced down at the bottomless pit. That way seemed to lead to hell.


    Strangely, she wasn¡¯t afraid. When the fifth prince reached her, she gave him a final, frigid look. Then she jumped.


    As she fell, she remembered a man with sculpted features. His eyes always went soft when theynded on her. The man loved and respected her, and she couldn¡¯t repay what he¡¯d done for her.


    A single tear streamed down her cheek and scattered. She closed her eyes, feeling the gusts of wind whip past her ears.


    Nan Xun knew she would be fine, but his heart stopped when she jumped all the same. He followed after her.


    He soon saw the falling Jun Huang. He controlled his movement to get close to her and grabbed her, pulling her into his arms. Jun Huang had lost consciousness.


    Theynded on the they¡¯d set up beforehand. Nan Xun quickly checked Jun Huang for injury. Her face was as pale as a sheet. With aching heart, he gently caressed her cheek. He then gathered her into his arms and climbed up.


    Nan Xun¡¯s men had caught the fifth prince as soon as Nan Xun jumped after Jun Haung. The fifth prince let them take him to a prison cell without resisting.


    Yin Yun and Jun Hao emerged from the other side. Jun Hao opened his eyes to see Jun Huangying in Nan Xun¡¯s arms. He burst into tears.


    Nan Xun frowned. ¡°Go with Yin Yun. Once Jun Huang wakes up, I¡¯ll send someone to take you here.¡±


    ¡°No, I want to stay with sister! I¡¯m not going anywhere!¡± Jun Hao bawled, refusing to leave. Nan Xun pursed his lips, conflicted. On one hand, Jun Hao¡¯s crying was getting on his nerves. On the other hand, the boy was Jun Huang¡¯s brother. He had to tolerate him.


    Yin Yun could sense Nan Xun¡¯s dark mood. Without prompting, he picked Jun Hao up and walked away.


    Jun Huang felt like she¡¯d been trapped in a nightmare. It all felt so real. She could barely keep breathing. Her body trembled against her will.


    Nan Xun held her hand tightly, his heart pounding painfully.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t!¡± Jun Huang jerked awake. Cold sweat streamed down from her forehead and drenched her hair.


    Nan Xun held her trembling body close, his throat tight. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re alright. Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here.¡±


    Jun Huang had finally remembered everything. The copsing pce. The bone-chilling wind that cut her cheeks as she fell. She couldn¡¯t help but cry, holding tightly to Nan Xun¡¯s cor, her hot tears leaving wet patches on his robe.


    Nan Xun could offer nothing butfort, gently telling her that everything was in the past.


    It took a long time for Jun Huang to calm down. Her face was red from sobbing. She looked pitiful.


    Nan Xun gently wiped away her tears and dropped a featherlight kiss on the corner of her eye.


    ¡°What do you n to do with the fifth prince?¡± Nan Xun finally said once Jun Huang was calm enough.


    Jun Huang had figured out what was going on. Everything had been a show Nan Xun and the others put on for her. She didn¡¯t me Nan Xun. In fact, she was grateful. How could she had forgotten about the burning hatred in her heart?


    She stared at the wavering candlelight. ¡°I¡¯ll cut him down and grind his bones to ashes.¡±

 Chapter 355 - No Mercy

    <strong>Chapter 355: No Mercy</strong>


    Nan Xun patted her backfortingly. He retrieved some clean clothes for Jun Huang and, after she got changed, took her to a dingy prison.


    Jun Huang tightened her fists. The ce reminded her of the water prison Qi Chen had put her in. The memory didn¡¯t evoke fear in her heart, but anger.


    They reached the fifth prince¡¯s cell. He¡¯d obviously been severely punished. His clothes were tattered, and his body was covered in deep, ugly gashes


    Jun Huang looked at him like he was an insect to be squashed. Her superior grace was out of ce in the filthy underground cell.


    The fifth prince¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw Jun Huang. Despite his pain, he crawled toward Jun Huang. The iron chains on his limbs prevented him from getting closer than three steps away from her.


    ¡°I¡¯m your fifth brother, Jun Huang,¡± he begged. ¡°Please spare me. Let me live.¡±


    Jun Huang scoffed. What a joke the man was.


    It was clear that Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to forgive him. The fifth prince realized that he was going to die. The hope in his eyes died down, leaving only a burning hatred for his sister.


    He stared at her and spouted off insults about their father and mother, his words harsh and his expression malicious.


    Trembling with anger, Jun Huang grabbed Nan Xun¡¯s sword on an impulse and crippled the fifth prince with a sh. The prince¡¯s scream rang and echoed in the prison, croaked and hoarse like a howl from hell.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t kill him. He¡¯d betrayed his family, but there was a line she couldn¡¯t cross. The fifth prince deserved to die, but he was her brother. She dropped the sword and looked away, her breaths shallow.


    After a long pause, Jun Huang walked out of the prison. Nan Xun knew what she was thinking. He motioned at his men to let the fifth prince go, but without giving the prince anything to sustain him. The crippled man had to rely entirely on himself.


    The lead shadowguard was worried. Once Jun Huang was out of earshot, he asked, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re going to let the foul man live, Your Highness? His existence is a threat. What if ¨C ¡±


    Nan Xun sighed. ¡°Jun Huang wanted to spare him. I¡¯m in no ce to take the decision away from her. I just want her to be happy.¡±


    ¡°So we¡¯re not going to do anything?¡±


    ¡°Have some men keep an eye on him,¡± Nan Xun said in a cold, chilling voice. ¡°If he does anything suspicious, kill him. If he doesn¡¯t, let him live painfully, unable to seek the mercy of death. He has many years to think long and hard about his mistakes.¡±


    That alleviated the lead shadowguard¡¯s concern. He went off to pass down the order.


    When Nan Xun walked out of the prison, Jun Huang was standing right outside, looking up at the sky with a lost expression.


    She turned around when she heard his footsteps.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m too cruel?¡± she asked.


    Nan Xun shook his head and caught her cold, trembling fingers.


    ¡°Men like him deserve to die,¡± he whispered. ¡°You¡¯ve shown him enough mercy. You¡¯re not cruel.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think too much,¡± he said gently. ¡°That¡¯s going to take a toll on you. You¡¯ve just recovered your memory. You should rest. Let¡¯s go home. We¡¯ll talk tomorrow, alright?¡±


    Jun Huang looked down at the ground and nodded, making a faint sound of assent. She returned to her bedroom with Nan Xun.


    Too many things had happened tonight. Sleep didn¡¯te to her easily. Nan Xun held her close and talked to her, trying to distract her from her previous interaction with the fifth prince.


    Early the next morning, Yin Yun and Jun Hao heard about Jun Huang¡¯s recovery. They¡¯d been staying in an inn. Jun Hao wanted to visit Jun Huang immediately, but Yin Yun stopped him.


    ¡°They had to deal with the fifth prince yesterday,¡± said Yin Yun. ¡°Too many things have happened. The princess must still be resting. We shouldn¡¯t bother her.¡±


    Jun Hao pouted at Yin Yun. Subjected to his pitying look, Yin Yun sighed in resignation. He was helpless against Jun Hao¡¯s silent plea. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll go to Prince Nan Manor first. If the princess is still asleep, we¡¯ll wait for her to wake up. Deal?¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡± Jun Hao nodded earnestly, his mood taking an immediate upturn. Yin Yun sighed again. After the two of them had a quick breakfast, they made their way to Nan Xun¡¯s manor.


    As expected, Jun Huang had only fallen asleep when the day broke and hadn¡¯t woken up yet. Nan Xun led them to the back garden, telling them to wait.


    Jun Hao got agitated after some time. He dragged Yin Yun toward Jun Huang¡¯s residence. She happened to have woken up then. Jun Hao eyes lit up as he rushed inside.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally awake, sister!¡± Jun Hao threw himself into Jun Huang¡¯s arms, pouting.


    With all her memory back, Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help tearing up when she saw her little brother. Jun Hao burst into tears and started bawling. The two of them held each other tightly as they cried.


    Nan Xun scowled and shot Yin Yun a pointed look. Feeling the coldness radiating from him, Yin Yun hurriedly picked Jun Hao up from Jun Huang¡¯s arms, muttering reassuringly, ¡°She¡¯s still recovering. Intense emotions may harm her.¡±


    Jun Huang had stopped crying. She cleared her throat. Nan Xun wiped her face with a handkerchief and sent for Oleg Cragfiend to check on her.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine, but she needs rest. Don¡¯t let her work herself to the ground like she¡¯s done before.¡± With that, Oleg Cragfiend packed up and walked out of the room.


    Nan Xun sat down next to Jun Huang and took her hands like it was the most natural thing in the world. ¡°You¡¯ve recovered. That¡¯s good. The only thing left to do is to find a reason to destroy Eastern Wu, avenging Western Que. That¡¯ll require some nning. Do you have any ideas?¡±


    Jun Huang thought for a moment. ¡°What happened to the emperor of Eastern Wu?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s no longer in power after I spread the news that he isn¡¯t of the royal blood,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°However, the royal n is keeping that a secret. He¡¯s alive and being kept captive in the pce.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and thought for a moment with her eyes downcast. ¡°I have some ideas. I¡¯ll seek the emperor out after Eastern Wu is destroyed and let him know all his work has been for nothing. I¡¯ll destroy his hope.¡±


    ¡°People like him deserves the deepest despair.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do everything I can to help you,¡± Nan Xun said seriously. ¡°No matter what happens, you have my support.¡±


    Jun Huang smiled and nodded.


    Jun Hao contemted what they had said. He¡¯d been young when Western Que was destroyed, but he knew what had happened. He remembered everything clearly. Some part of him was already mature enough to show his enemy no mercy.


    ¡°We can¡¯t just let him off the hook, sister,¡± Jun Hao said coolly. ¡°He deserves much worse for what he¡¯s done.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at Jun Hao and realized that the little boy who used to follow her around had grown up. She nodded and chuckled. ¡°I know what you meant, but we don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡±


    She turned to Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun cleared his throat and scratched his nose. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve nted my people by the emperor¡¯s side. His life is going to be a living hell.¡±


    That made Jun Hao feel a little better. His hatred for the emperor burned hot whenever he thought about what the man had done to Jun Huang. What was more, he¡¯d been forced to be apart with his sister. He wanted to kill the man himself.


    There was nothing he could do but to ask Nan Xun to assign more people to torment the emperor. Only the man¡¯s suffering could quell Jun Hao¡¯s hatred.


    Jun Huang sighed at Jun Hao¡¯s determined expression. She had been keeping her distance from Jun Hao because she didn¡¯t want to drag him into her revenge. She could shoulder the burden herself. Jun Hao was too young to get involved.


    She¡¯d forgotten, however, that Jun Hao wasn¡¯t an oblivious boy. His hatred wasn¡¯t any lesser than Jun Huang¡¯s, and it¡¯d grown deeper over time. Jun Huang simply hadn¡¯t noticed.


    After some hesitation, Jun Huang spoke up, ¡°Jun Hao, you must remember not to let your hatred consume you. Understand?¡±


    Jun Hao blinked, a little puzzled, but he¡¯d always listened to Jun Huang. He nodded.


    Jun Huang rxed. She yawned, feeling a little sleepy. Nan Xun told Jun Hao and Yin Yun to leave first.


    Jun Hao insisted on staying. Nan Xun had no choice but to have a room cleaned for Jun Hao and Yin Yun.


    ¡°Yin Yun, give me some time alone.¡± Past the back garden, Jun Hao came to a stop and turned to Yin Yun.


    As a guard, Yin Yun was in no ce to disobey the prince. The manor should be safe enough. He nodded and left.


    Once he was far enough away, Jun Hao let out a relieved sigh and sat down next to the lotus pond, staring nkly at the koi fish. What had happenedst night felt too real. He was still reeling from the fear.


    His face was pale and his body thin. The servants spotted him when they passed by. Jun Hao was at an age when children were most endearing. The servants stopped by to talk to him.

 Chapter 356 - Shopping in the Imperial City

    <strong>Chapter 356: Shopping in the Imperial City</strong>


    ¡°Don¡¯t you see the simrity between the boy and Gentleman Feng?¡± the maid who had been taking care of Jun Huang said.


    Another maid considered Jun Hao and marveled, ¡°I didn¡¯t notice before you pointed it out, but you¡¯re right.¡±


    Jun Hao looked at them owlishly and asked, ¡°Who is Gentleman Feng?¡±


    One of the maids covered augh. ¡°He¡¯s the prince¡¯s favorite.¡±


    Jun Hao stilled. Did Nan Xun have an old lover he couldn¡¯t forget? He widened his eyes at the maids and covered his anger, putting on an innocent look. ¡°Is Gentleman Feng a good looking man? I¡¯d like to see him.¡±


    ¡°Apologies, young master. Gentleman Feng disappeared awhile ago. We don¡¯t know why, but after that the prince hadn¡¯t given anyone his attention... until the youngdy came. She does look somewhat like Gentleman Feng.¡±


    The maid sighed, remembering the young, graceful man.


    Jun Hao boiled with rage. Nan Xun must have considered Jun Haung a substitute! In a fit of anger, he shot to his feet and excused himself, rushing to the study to argue with Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun was reading a book. He looked up at Jun Hao in surprise. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Who is Gentleman Feng? What¡¯s your rtionship with him? The servants said that he looked like my sister. Is my sister his substitute?¡± Jun Hao bombarded Nan Xun with a barrage of questions, staring at Nan Xun with cold, piercing eyes, very much unlike his usual amicable self.


    Nan Xun chuckled, realizing what had happened. He walked up to Jun Hao, who red at him fearlessly.


    ¡°You came without knowing the full story, but I don¡¯t me you. I¡¯m d you¡¯re worried about Jun Haung.¡± He patted Jun Hao on the shoulder.


    With a frown, Jun Hao took a step back. ¡°What do you mean? What do you take my sister for?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s the woman I love, of course,¡± Nan Xun said with an amused smile. ¡°Do you know who Feng Baiyu is?¡±


    Jun Hao widened his eyes. ¡°Feng... Feng Baiyu is my sister¡¯s alias. That¡¯s the Gentleman Feng they were talking about? Then why would they belittle my sister?¡±


    Nan Xun sighed and exined gently, ¡°There¡¯s a reason her identity isn¡¯t exined. It¡¯s Jun Huang¡¯s decision, and she doesn¡¯t want you to know. Besides, they aren¡¯t going to hurt Jun Huang in any way. It¡¯s better for us to let go.¡±


    Jun Hao scowled. He knew Nan Xun was right, but Nan Xun¡¯sck of concerns bothered him. He scoffed and walked away.


    Nan Xun sighed in resignation, watching Jun Hao go.


    Jun Hao sought out the maids and asked them to tell him about Feng Baiyu. They assumed the boy was merely interested in the strategist¡¯s stories. They told him what they knew.


    Jun Hao was fascinated. If only he could see Jun Huang as Feng Baiyu himself! The idea took root in his heart and grew. He paced around, unable to quiet his mind. He wanted to seek Jun Huang out immediately, but he managed to stop himself. Jun Huang needed her rest.


    He spent his time with the servants the next few days, asking them for more stories about Feng Baiyu. He even apuded when the story was particrly gripping.


    Jun Huang happened to see Jun Hao and a group of servants in the back garden today. Oleg Cragfiend had told her to get some fresh air every now and then. She frowned, but didn¡¯t approach them. Jun Hao, on the other hand, spotted her from afar.


    As soon as Jun Huang returned to her room, Jun Hao snuck in. With one hand on the door, he looked around to make sure Nan Xun wasn¡¯t around before closing the door with a sigh of relief. ¡°What are you doing, sister? Are you feeling better?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡± Jun Haung waved him over and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. She pushed the te of snacks toward him, motioning for him to have some.


    ¡°Sister, can you go out with meter?¡± Jun Hao asked hopefully, looking up at her with big eyes.


    Jun Huang paused and met his pleading gaze. Jun Hao must have gotten bored. She chuckled. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll have Yin Yun follow us.¡±


    Jun Hao cheered. After some hesitation, he said, ¡°I hear that sister has been disguised as a handsome man before. You¡¯re too pretty, sister. Why don¡¯t you dress as a man again? That may save us some trouble.¡±


    Jun Huang raised an eyebrow. He had some point. She agreed and had someone fetch her something Feng Baiyu would wear. Once she put the robe on, Jun Hao gasped and circled around her excitedly.


    She wore a sky blue robe and held a in paper fan in her hand. Part of her hair was tied to the back. Her smile was captivating. Even Yin Yun, who had arrivedter, was stunned by Jun Huang¡¯s looks.


    ¡°I know why people like you better like this,¡± said Jun Hao.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Jun Huang turned to him questioningly.


    ¡°Feng Baiyu is handsome and graceful, but also brave and intelligent. There are more women than men in the manor. It¡¯s only natural that some of them would fall for Feng Baiyu. Unfortunately, the gentleman is into man and was close to Brother Nan Xun. No one dared covet him. Sister, on the other hand, is stunning beyond words. Due to your health, there¡¯s a sickly beauty to you. The women can¡¯tpare with you, which fills them with jealousy.¡±


    Jun Hao theorized with great confidence. He even nodded to himself, validating his own analysis.


    Jun Huang covered augh and shook her head fondly. She had Yin Yun tell Nan Xun that they were going out. Yin Yun returned with a few shadowguards. Nan Xun had assigned his men to protect them out of concern.


    They were going to stand out if they took everyone with them, but Jun Huang wasn¡¯t going to turn Nan Xun¡¯s offer down. She told the shadowguards to follow them discreetly, leaving Yin Yun their only personal bodyguard.


    ¡°Has Nan Xun told you something else?¡± asked Jun Huang. She knew Nan Xun wouldn¡¯t have let her go out without him if he wasn¡¯t otherwise upied.


    Yin Yun nodded. ¡°The prince is going to the pce to talk to Prince Qi Yun about Eastern Wu. He asked you to not stay out for too long.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and took Jun Hao outside. As soon as she was out of the manor, she attracted many women¡¯s attention. Some even blushed when they saw her.


    The scrutiny was too much for her. It¡¯d been a while since she was put under the spotlight. She worried that Jun Hao would be even more perturbed, but when she turned to him, he looked pleased, his chest puffing out proudly.


    ¡°What¡¯s with you?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    Jun Hao smiled at her. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you, big brother. I didn¡¯t know you¡¯re so popr in the imperial city.¡±


    Jun Huang sighed in resignation at his inappropriate remark and unfolded her fan. Her aloof eyes made the onlooking women¡¯s heart skip.


    That sourface Nan Xun is going to be so jealous because of all the attention sister¡¯s getting, thought Jun Hao. Delighted, he took Jun Huang to the most bustling area of the city.


    The main street was crowded. Jun Huang frowned deeply. Yin Yun had been following them closely behind, but it got too crowded. When he finally squeezed past the wall of people, Jun Hao had already pulled Jun Huang to the side of the road.


    ¡°I want to try this, brother.¡± Jun Hao pointed at an old man selling candied hawthorns.


    Before Jun Huang could say anything, Yin Yun rushed to the old man. ¡°How much is it?¡±


    ¡°Two wen for a stick,¡± the old man said with a smile, his eyes crinkling.


    Jun Hao held onto Yin Yun¡¯s arm. ¡°I want two.¡±


    Yin Yun handed the old man four wen. Seeing the handsome little boy, the old man picked two sticks with the fullest candied hawthorns for Jun Hao. He happily took them and handed one to Jun Huang. ¡°Try it with me, brother.¡±


    Jun Huang chuckled. Without hesitation, she took the stick and bit into a hawthorn. The sweetness burst in her mouth, reminding her of her time in Western Que.


    Jun Hao was too full to have any more after eating two hawthorns. He handed the remaining one to Yin Yun and ran to the other side. Jun Huang finished hers quickly and caught up with him. Yin Yun stayed close to them, worried that something might happen in the crowd.


    Before Western Que¡¯s destruction, Jun Hao wasn¡¯t allowed to leave the pce freely. After the tragedy that befell them, the boy was forced to live the life of a fugitive with Yin Yun. He didn¡¯t have the time to settle down and see the world. Now that he was allowed some peace, everything caught his fancy.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you been treating him well enough?¡± Jun Huang teased, ncing at Yin Yun.


    Yin Yun cleared his throat awkwardly. Chuckling, Jun Huang turned back to Jun Hao. The boy looked at something disyed on a stand with curiosity in his eyes. Jun Huang realized that the vendor was selling sugar figures.


    ¡°If you like it, we¡¯ll buy it,¡± said Jun Huang.


    Jun Hao ran up to the stand and asked the vendor to make a figure for him. Jun Huang sighed softly, ncing at Yin Yun. He was carrying quite a few things Jun Hao had bought. She sighed again.

 Chapter 357 - Kidnapped

    <strong>Chapter 357: Kidnapped</strong>


    Jun Hao scuttled around like a bird that had escaped from its cage. Jun Huang left him to it. She was d to see him having fun. It wasn¡¯t until noon that he quieted down.


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t left the manor for some time. She didn¡¯t want to return just yet, either. After talking to Jun Hao, they made their way to the nearest tavern for lunch. Jun Hao fanned himself with his broad sleeve, sweat streaming down from his forehead. Jun Huang felt a pang of sympathy for him. She tried to cool him down with her foldable fan.


    Jun Hao was too full to eat anything because of all the snacks he¡¯d had. After a while, he got bored and whined that he¡¯d like to go out.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you leave our purchase here and go out with him, Yin Yun?¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°He¡¯s going to make a fuss if we force him to stay. I¡¯ll be here waiting for you two.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do that. What if something happens to you...¡±


    ¡°Nothing will happen to me when I¡¯m in this tavern,¡± Jun Huang cut in. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The shadowguards will keep me safe.¡±


    Yin Yun was hesitant, but then Jun Hao grabbed his arm and swung it around. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Yin Yun. Come with me. Please?¡±


    In the end, Yin Yun acquiesced and emphasized that Jun Huang must stay in the tavern. He reminded the shadowguards to keep a close eye on her before leaving with Jun Hao.


    Once they were away, Jun Huang put down her chopsticks and looked outside the window, supporting her chin with a hand. She remembered how Nan Xun had apanied her on a shopping trip. They¡¯d attracted a lot of attention as they walked around dressed in fine clothes. The memory put a smile on her face.


    She didn¡¯t have much of an appetite, so she stopped eating after a few bites. She ordered a pot of hot tea and had a few cups.


    After some time, Yin Yun and Jun Hao still hadn¡¯t returned. Jun Huang decided to leave early. She would have the shadowguards carry their purchase back.


    She got to her feet and made her way to the door, but it opened before she reached for it. She took a reflexive step backward.


    It was Yin Yun.


    Her heart sank when she saw his dark expression and realized that Jun Hao wasn¡¯t with him. Her eyes turned cold. ¡°Where is Jun Hao? Why did you return on your own?¡±


    Yin Yun¡¯s face grew darker. He dropped down to his knees. ¡°This subordinate deserves the worst punishment.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Jun Huang took a deep breath to calm herself.


    ¡°There was a circus performing near the tavern,¡± said Yin Yun. ¡°The prince was drawn. Unfortunately, there was too big a crowd. We ended up separated. I stayed outside the premise waiting for the performance to end, but the prince never showed up. Once the crowd was dispersed, I entered the building to find him gone. Then I came back to you.¡±


    Jun Huang understood the full story. She knew how Jun Hao was like. Yin Yun wasn¡¯t to me. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Don¡¯t beat yourself up. However, we must find him as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Yin Yun shot to his feet and called out for the shadowguards. He exined what had happened and told one of the guards to notify Nan Xun. The others would join Jun Huang in her search for Jun Hao.


    Meanwhile, Jun Hao was having trouble telling right from left. He remembered watching the circus perform and marveling at what the crew were capable of. When he turned around, Yin Yun was nowhere to be seen. He panicked and tried squeezing his way outside. Unfortunately, there were too many people blocking his way.


    He started sweating. Tamping down his urge to cry, he tried leaving again. Before he could get far, someone seized his wrist and covered his nose and mouth before he could react. An aggressive smell assaulted his senses. He cked out.


    The road was bumpy. He heard voices talking in the beginning, but then everything quieted down. His head was splitting and spinning. It took some time for him to regain his focus and realize that he was on someone¡¯s shoulders. They were in the middle of nowhere.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Jun Hao asked with a trembling voice. ¡°Why did you kidnap me?¡±


    The man carrying him didn¡¯t say anything. No matter how mature Jun Hao was given his age, he couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears when he realized he¡¯d been kidnapped, and Yin Yun wasn¡¯t around to save him.


    The man didn¡¯t care about Jun Hao¡¯s wailing. No one was close enough to hear it. He quickened his pace.


    Jun Hao had thought he¡¯d been carried outside the city, but then they arrived at a manor. He realized then that he had probably been taken to the fringe of the city. That was his spection, anyway.


    Before he could look around, he was dropped to the floor. He hit his forehead on a table and burst into tears. In his fuzzy view, he saw a man dressed in green robe walking toward him. He looked familiar.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t hurt you,¡± the man said coolly. It sounded more like a threat than a reassurance. Jun Hao stared at him, his vision going dark.


    I¡¯ve seen him before, he thought before losing consciousness again.


    Jun Huang and Yin Yun returned to the circus. The crew were preparing to leave. Jun Huang leveled them with a cold stare. The crew spared Jun Huang and the others a brief nce before going back to packing.


    Jun Huang was worried about Jun Hao, but she hadn¡¯t yet figured out what was wrong. There was something fishy about the circus. She just had to know what it was.


    ¡°Anything I can help you with?¡± An old man walked up to her. He seemed to be the ringmaster.


    Jun Huang considered the inly dressed old man. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I hear there was a performance and got curious. Unfortunately it ended before I arrived.¡±


    ¡°My apologies. We¡¯re in a rush to our next performance.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I¡¯m the one who waste to the party. I¡¯ll get out of your hair.¡± Jun Huang walked away. The others followed her lead.


    Outside, Jun Huang stopped and nced back. There was someone watching them from the shadows. Her suspicion grew stronger. She was even more convinced that something was wrong with the circus. She put some more distance between her and the circus.


    Noting her frown, Yin Yun jogged up to her and asked, ¡°Did you notice something wrong?¡®


    ¡°They¡¯re responsible somehow,¡± Jun Huang said, ncing up at him.


    Yin Yun looked at her questioningly, waiting for her to exin.


    ¡°They don¡¯t look like they¡¯re from the imperial city. Why would they be in such a rush to the next performance?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yin Yun couldn¡¯t connect the dots.


    ¡°Why would a performance troupe from outside the city left after one performance? The imperial city is prosperous. If you were the leading the circus, wouldn¡¯t you stay and hold more shows here?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. It is unusual.¡± Yin Yun pped his forehead in realization. It was impressive that Jun Huang had noticed that. Before he could say anything, Jun Huang took all the guards back to the circus. He hurriedly caught up with them.


    The old man¡¯s expression darkened when he saw her. Jun Huang ignored him and ordered the shadowguards to open their boxes.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± The old man rushed to stop the shadowguards. The others paled and put themselves between the guards and the boxes.


    Jun Huang scoffed, her cold gaze sweeping over the crew. The more easily scared ones went weak in the knees and fell to the ground.


    ¡°Why would you be so worried if you haven¡¯t done anything wrong? What atrocities have youmitted?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s tone grew even colder, her eyes sharper. The old man was rendered speechless. His face went white.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t have the time to waste on them. She gave Yin Yun a pointed look.


    Without missing a beat, Yin Yun pushed past the crew and opened the boxes they had been trying to hide.


    Inside every box was an unconscious child.


    Everyone widened their eyes in shock. Jun Huang didn¡¯t expect that, either. In a fit of rage, she took a sword from one of the shadowguards and held it to the old man¡¯s neck.


    The old man lost his strength. The others tried to flee, but the shadowguards caught them. Jun Huang took a deep breath to calm her fury and huffed. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re not leaving after what you¡¯ve done. Not under my watch. None of you can escape.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s tone was steely. The de broke the old man¡¯s skin. A drop of blood streamed down his neck. He felt weak in the knees, but he didn¡¯t dare move a muscle.


    Nan Xun arrived not long after. He frowned at the scene and had his men tie up the ringmaster. He then took the sword from Jun Huang and dropped it to the ground, putting his arm around her shouldersfortingly.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Nan Xun asked Yin Yun.


    Yin Yun respectfully exined everything. Nan Xun¡¯s face clouded. He had everyone at the circus apprehended and sent a man to notify the city¡¯s yamen.


    Jun Huang gradually recovered from her fury. She pulled away from Nan Xun and approached the boxes.


    With others¡¯ help, she lifted every child from the boxes. She was so gentle it was as if she was afraid of breaking them. She checked every one of the victims, but Jun Hao wasn¡¯t among them.

 Chapter 358 - Ten Miles Pavilion

    <strong>Chapter 358: Ten Miles Pavilion</strong>


    Her breath hitched, Jun Huang turned around and grabbed one of the men by the cor, her voice steely as she demanded, ¡°Is this all of them?¡±


    The man had been scared witless. He answered every one of her questions obediently.


    Jun Huang frowned. ¡°Did any of you see an eight years old boy?¡±


    The man thought for a moment. ¡°Is it a finely dressed, well-mannered boy?¡±


    ¡°Where is he?¡± Jun Huang demanded.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t take him,¡± the man stuttered. ¡°He was drugged and taken away.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s pupils contracted. She let go of the man, who fell to the ground and fainted from his fear. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t bear seeing the regretful look on Jun Huang¡¯s face. He pulled Jun Huang into his arms. ¡°Perhaps Jun Hao was rescued. We¡¯ll gather more information first. Don¡¯t be too worried.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded without thinking and blindly followed Nan Xun outside. Nan Xun reminded the soldiers who¡¯d arrived to take the kidnapped children home and to investigate the circus, hoping that they would find something about Jun Hao.


    Once they were back to Nan Xun¡¯s manor, Jun Huang finally regained the ability to think clearly. With a dark expression, she grabbed Nan Xun¡¯s sleeve. ¡°No, we were wrong. Jun Hao wasn¡¯t rescued. He was taken by someone else.¡±


    ¡°Why would you think that?¡±


    ¡°The man said he was drugged, so he hadn¡¯t been knocked out by the circus crew. Someone took him first. If the man had lied to me, and Jun Hao had been knocked unconscious by them already, why would someone rescue him but leave the other children behind?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s expression tensed as she spoke, her fear growing stronger. ¡°The answer is clear. The kidnapper wants something, and that something has to do with us.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s face clouded. He¡¯de to the same conclusion earlier, but he¡¯d been trying to calm her down. She realized the truth sooner than he¡¯d expected.


    He sighed and massaged her temples, trying to rx her.


    The next couple of days, Nan Xun frequented the city¡¯s yamen. He didn¡¯t have to get involved himself, but this was about Jun Hao. He had to take matters into his own hands. Besides, it¡¯d make Jun Huang feel better.


    Jun Huang had been in a dark mood. She had trouble sleeping or eating. She couldn¡¯t help but worry about Jun Hao. And yet they hadn¡¯t heard anything about him.


    She tried to upied her mind by reading. She became sickly and pale. Nan Xun didn¡¯t try to talk her out of worrying despite his concern for her.


    Just when they were growing desperate, Jun Huang received a letter. It was from the kidnapper. They said that if she wanted to find Jun Hao, she was to make her way to the Ten Miles Pavilion at nine tonight on her own. If she didn¡¯t show up, Jun Hao would be punished.


    Jun Huang¡¯s heart sank, her breaths shallow. Nan Xun took the letter from her and frowned.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re going, Jun Huang?¡±


    Jun Huang nodded after a pause.


    ¡°What if it¡¯s a trap?¡± asked Nan Xun. ¡°Perhaps someone else noticed the searching party. Besides, we know nothing about what the kidnapper wants. Even if they have Jun Hao, the fact that they want you to go at night on your own spells trouble. You have to be cautious.¡±


    Jun Huang shot him a nce and took a deep breath to suppress her emotions. ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind.¡±


    She got to her feet and left.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t expect her to discard his concern like it was troublesome. Upset, he didn¡¯t even think about convincing her to stay put.


    He knew how important Jun Hao was to Jun Huang, but he didn¡¯t want her to risk her life for anyone, not even her family.


    He sat in the garden for a long time until the sky went dark. He let out a long breath and arranged a rescue team for Jun Hao.


    Jun Huang left the manor on her own as soon as the sun set. Worried that Nan Xun would stop her again, she snuck out through the back door without anyone noticing.


    Outside the city gate, everything seemed barren. She warily looked around and reached the Ten Miles Pavilion. There was no one around, and the wind was chilling. There was something strange about the ce. Even Jun Huang couldn¡¯t help but get nervous despite her attempt to stay calm.


    She¡¯d forgotten to put on warmer clothes. It was getting cold.


    After some time with no signs of human activity, Jun Huang began to regret her decision. She was about to leave when an arrow split through the dark and whipped past her. Her heart pounded.


    ¡°Tell the guards to leave,¡± said a voice from the dark. Jun Huang turned and realized that Nan Xun had assigned his men to follow her.


    Before she could make a decision, a burly man emerged from the shadows. ¡°Tell them to leave, and I¡¯ll take you to your brother.¡±


    Jun Huang had no choice but to drive Nan Xun¡¯s men away. After that, the burly man covered her eyes and led her to a manor.


    Jun Huang balled her hands into fists. She didn¡¯t know what was going to happen. It was a gamble. Something told her that the one responsible for the kidnapping was telling the truth.


    Jun Hao was her only family. She would not let him get hurt.


    She didn¡¯t know how long they¡¯d been walking. She could hear dogs barking, but then, silence.


    The man came to a stop. The silence was unsettling. She clenched her fists as the man took off the blindfold.


    Themp was too bright for her previously blindfolded eyes. It took some time for her to adjust to the light. She looked up and saw the man sitting on the main seat.


    Her eyes widened. ¡°You.¡±


    Ji Bo met her gaze and chuckled, putting down the cup in his hand. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±


    Jun Huang wasn¡¯t sure how to feel. She didn¡¯t really expect Ji Bo to be responsible. She had her doubt before, but she didn¡¯t have any proof, which made her feel guilty for suspecting the man. But her instinct had been right.


    With her lips pursed, she took a deep breath to calm herself, her expression carefully impassive.


    ¡°Why are you here? Or should I ask, who are you?¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s eyes shed. The amusement in his eyes turned into something softer. There was a mix of yearning and other emotions in his gaze.


    Jun Huang frowned. She didn¡¯t like the way Ji Bo looked at her. His eyes were piercing and, strangely, pitying.


    Ji Bo let out a lowugh. He gazed at the flickering candlelight in deep thought. Finally, he said, ¡°Would you like to know a secret?¡±


    He wasn¡¯t actually asking. ¡°You and I are both descendents of the imperial n of Tianyu, the lost dynasty. I¡¯m... your uncle. Your mother was Tianyu¡¯sst princess.¡±


    Jun Huang scoffed and stared at Ji Bo coldly. ¡°Do you take me as a fool?¡± she asked sharply. ¡°You have no proof. There¡¯s nothing backing up your high tale. I¡¯m not gullible enough to believe your words.¡±


    Ji Bo didn¡¯t me her for her rudeeback. He knew why she would have doubts. He sighed softly. ¡°I understand your suspicion. Big sister was a lot older than I am. That¡¯s the truth. I wasn¡¯t lying to you.¡±


    ¡°Sister was a smart woman. She was beautiful but also remarkably talented. However, she forgot about rebuilding our homnd after growing up and instead fell in love with the man who had destroyed our nation. She knew full well that the emperor of Western Que was responsible for the destruction of Tianyu, and yet she couldn¡¯t control her heart. Ha, howughable.¡± Ji Bo¡¯s expression turned dark. He looked terrifying in the darkness.


    Jun Huang stilled, feeling a lump in her throat. She couldn¡¯t make a sound. Notig her pale face, Ji Boughed. ¡°That¡¯s right. Western Que deserves to be punished after destroying Tianyu. Fate had spared that man, but I wouldn¡¯t. Hahaha, of course I wouldn¡¯t. I couldn¡¯t not do anything when my sister had married our enemy and gave birth to his children. Western Que shouldn¡¯t have existed. A few tricks were enough to push it to destruction. Hahaha.¡±


    ¡°Why would you do that? If what you said was true, your sister, my mother, died because of you. You killed her. Weren¡¯t you close to her? How could you do something like that?!¡± Jun Huang growled, her eyes red. Tears fell down her face. Her nails dug into her palms. However, the pain was overpowered by the overwhelming sorrow in her heart.

 Chapter 359 - Descendants of Tianyu

    <strong>Chapter 359: Descendants of Tianyu</strong>


    Ji Bo ignored her usation and looked down at her with pity. Once she had calmed somewhat, he continued, ¡°I told you the truth not so you could me me. I¡¯m warning you to not repeat your mother¡¯s mistakes. I was willing to kill my sister for my goal. I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to do the same to you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry though. I want you to help me conquer the world and rebuild Tianyu. Do you remember asking me what my ideal world is like? I¡¯ll tell you now. It¡¯s a world where the countries have united, and Tianyu is restored to its past glory.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s head hurt, her eyes unfocused. She¡¯d heard Ji Bo¡¯s words, but they didn¡¯t register. On one hand, she thought him was delusional. On the other hand, she had a feeling that Ji Bo was telling the truth. He didn¡¯t have a reason to lie to her.


    Ji Bo¡¯s heart clenched. He wiped her tears away, his voice thick with sympathy. ¡°Jun Hao is safe, Jun Huang. I¡¯m not going to do anything to him. I¡¯m his uncle. And he¡¯s going to be the new emperor of Tianyu. Why would I want to hurt him?¡±


    Jun Huangughed, the sound cold and quiet, but dripping with sarcasm. She looked up at Ji Bo and uttered her words like a sigh. ¡°What wouldn¡¯t you do? You were willing to kill your sister due to your hatred. You used me as bait to exact revenge against Western Que and left me with no ce to call home. You don¡¯t want to hurt him? What a joke! You only keep him alive because he has value to you. There¡¯s nothing you wouldn¡¯t do!¡±


    ¡°Your n to rebuild is but a pipe dream! Who do you think you are? Do you think you can get everyone to do your bidding?¡± Her words hit him hard. Jun Huang didn¡¯t think she¡¯d said anything wrong. Ji Bo was too obsessed with rebuilding a nation that had been long lost.


    Ji Bo couldn¡¯t help the anger rising in his heart. How dared she criticized the revenge n he¡¯d spent years executing? He gritted his teeth to control his fury, but as soon as he saw Jun Huang¡¯s face, he was reminded of what his sister had said to him.


    ¡°Why must we live in torment? Our nation has been destroyed. Revenge isn¡¯t going to bring it back. Even if you do rebuild it, it wouldn¡¯t be our Tianyu. Give up, my dear brother. Don¡¯t let hatred consume you.¡±


    His sister looked at him with pity in her eyes, as if he was a man on his deathbed.


    ¡°Tianyu isn¡¯t doomed. You are!¡± Ji Bo had growled. ¡°You¡¯re a descendent of Tianyu, and yet you betray it. You just want to be with that man! Will he still love you if he knows you were from Tianyu? No, he won¡¯t. He will kill you himself. He¡¯s not going to allow a potential threat to live on...¡±


    Ji Bo broke out of his trance to see Jun Huang¡¯s cold eyes. The way she looked at him was different from his sister¡¯s gentle gaze, but it made him breathless all the same. Ji Bo grabbed her cor and forced her to meet his eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s our duty as Tianyu¡¯s descendents to rebuild it,¡± he said through gritted teeth. ¡°That¡¯s your fate. How can you discard it for a man?¡±


    Jun Huang stared at him like he¡¯d lost his mind, her brows furrowed in difort. ¡°You keep saying that I am a descendent of Tianyu, but why should I believe you? You stubbornly drag everyone down so that they¡¯d suffer like you have. Is that what you call revenge?¡±


    Ji Bo pped her across the face, hard enough to make her head ring. He was convinced that Jun Huang had refused to join him because of Nan Xun, which stoked the fury in his heart. ¡°You¡¯re going to rebuild Tianyu with me. You will not side with Nan Xun.¡±


    ¡°What does that have to do with you?¡± Jun Huang eximed. ¡°We¡¯re strangers! My personal affairs are none of your business. You¡¯ve been living in the past. Tianyu was destroyed a long, long time ago. There¡¯s no rebuilding it. You¡¯re deluding yourself by thinking there¡¯s any chance...¡±


    Her frigid voice prompted him to clutched at her cor like a man possessed. His body trembled and his breaths grew shallow.


    He dropped Jun Huang to the floor and took out a ceramic bottle. Jun Huang picked herself up. Her heart sank when she got a good look at it.


    ¡°What... what are you doing?¡± Her face was pale as she moved back, trying to get away from Ji Bo.


    There was no sign of recognition behind his eyes. He grabbed her robe and forced her to drink the liquid.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know what it was, but she knew she couldn¡¯t let Ji Bo get what he wanted. She struggled with all the force she could muster.


    Unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t as strong as he was. It didn¡¯t take much for Ji Bo to overpower her and pinned her to the floor.


    Ji Boughed maniacally and tried to pour the liquid into her mouth. Jun Huang did her best to move away.


    Enraged, he pped her and kept her head still by grabbing her chin. Jun Huang was about ready to give up on any hope.


    Nan Xun¡¯s voice was thest thing she heard before her vision went dark.


    When Nan Xun kicked the door open, a hysterical Ji Bo was holding Jun Huang down. Ji Bo had heard the thud. He knew he had to live to fulfill his goal. He dropped the bottle and rushed to the window.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you pay!¡± With those parting words, he climbed out and jumped.


    Nan Xun made a gesture at the lead shadowguard, who immediately took a team to pursue Ji Bo. Nan Xun hurried to Jun Huang¡¯s side and picked her up.


    She seemed so very breakable at this moment. Nan Xun didn¡¯t even dare feel her breaths, worried that she was already gone. His fear was heartbreaking to witness.


    ¡°Your Highness,¡± a guard spoke up. ¡°Let¡¯s take her back to the manor.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded btedly and carried Jun Huang back to the manor, seeking the poison master.


    Oleg Cragfiend knew what had happened, but he didn¡¯t expect Jun Huang to copse again. He had Nan Xun put her on the bed before taking her pulse.


    Oelg Cragfiend frowned. ¡°Poison.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s heart sank. Now he knew what Ji Bo had given Jun Huang. He handed the bottle to Oleg Cragfiend.


    The old man studied the residue, his frown deepened. ¡°It¡¯s a secret form from thest dynasty. There¡¯s no known cure.¡±


    ¡°What do we do? Is there no way to help her?¡± Nan Xun panicked, his forehead covered in sweat. It pained him to see her lying pale and weak on the bed again.


    Oleg Cragfiend waved a hand. ¡°She hasn¡¯t gotten too much poison in her. There¡¯s no record of a cure, but there must be one. I¡¯ll study the poison and try to find a cure.¡±


    Nan Xun let out a sigh of relief.


    Noticing the flutter of Jun Huagn¡¯s eyshes, he pushed all his thoughts aside and hurriedly helped her sit up.


    She remembered everything up until she fainted. Oleg Cragfiend¡¯s and Nan Xun¡¯s expressions further cemented her spection. ¡°Am I poisoned again?¡±


    She would know the truth one way or another. Nan Xun told her what the poison master had said.


    Jun Huang slumped down in despair. Ji Bo imed to be her uncle, and yet he tried to murder her. It tore at her heart.


    ¡®He¡¯s supposed to be my family,¡± Jun Huang said with a bitter smile. ¡°And yet he wants me dead. I might as well grant him his wish.¡±


    Nan Xun rushed to pull Jun Huang into his arms. ¡°How can you say that? Don¡¯t forget about me. If I¡¯m not a good enough reason for you to live, think about Jun Hao. You must pick yourself up. Don¡¯t let Jun Hao fall into the hands of a mad man.¡±


    Jun Huang calmed down eventually. She told Nan Xun everything Ji Bo had told her. Nan Xun didn¡¯t immediately react. After a moment of silence, he assigned his men to investigate.


    Nan Xun told Jun Huang to rest. He¡¯d take care of the rest.


    Jun Huang couldn¡¯t rx when her brother was still atrge. If she hadn¡¯t let Jun Hao go outside, he wouldn¡¯t have been captured by Ji Bo. It was her fault.


    Nan Xun knew she would me herself. He couldn¡¯t offer her anything butfort. ¡°Ji Bo had been ying the role of our ally for so long. He¡¯s a shrewd man. He wouldn¡¯t stop until he reaches his goal. Even if you hadn¡¯t let Jun Hao leave your sight, Ji Bo would¡¯ve found another way.¡±


    Jun Huang inhaled deeply and looked away. Nan Xun sighed. He knew Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t listen. It made him feel helpless.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± Jun Huang¡¯s voice was quiet, but her message was clear. She was still beating herself up, and didn¡¯t want him to witness her moment of weakness. He reminded her not to overthink again before leaving.


    The lead shadowguard was waiting outside when Nan Xun walked out of the door. He frowned and closed the door behind him. They made their way to another room.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± Nan Xun sat down on a chair and asked, looking up at the shadowguard.


    The shadowguard kept his head low. ¡°The man is cunning. He must have foreseen the need for a quick escape. There¡¯s a secret tunnel around the manor. We followed him in but lost track of him. When we reached the exit of the tunnel, it¡¯d been destroyed and blocked.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s frown deepened. He didn¡¯t expect the level of thought Ji Bo had put into his n, which allowed the man to flee sessfully. He tightened his grip around his cup of tea.


    ¡°We were in a rush to leave. Have you returned to the manor and looked for Jun Hao?¡±


    ¡°We did, but no one was there,¡± admitted the shadowguard. ¡°They must have moved beforehand.¡±


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t contain his fury. He threw the tea cup to the floor, which shattered and sttered shards of ceramic everywhere. No one even batted an eye.

 Chapter 360 - Sovereignty

    <strong>Chapter 360: Sovereignty</strong>


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes were dark and his face tight with fury. It took some time for him to gain control over himself. ¡°Find out everything about Tianyu. Whatever it takes! And don¡¯t forget about Ji Bo and the House of Heavenly Fiends. Be discreet with the investigation. Don¡¯t let anyone notice you.¡±


    The shadowguard nodded. He wanted to tell Nan Xun to take care of himself but decided against it. He walked away.


    Ji Bo had foreseen that Nan Xun would find him. Therefore, he¡¯d moved Jun Hao and his men in advance. When Jun Huang arrived, he was the only one left.


    The man who had taken Jun Huang to him was one of his deathsworns, whoitted suicide afterpleting his mission by swallowing poison.


    He¡¯d predicted Nan Xun¡¯s arrival, but not the speed at which Nan Xun had found his way to them. Therefore he hadn¡¯t had the chance to turn Jun Huang to his side. Once Nan Xun¡¯s men went after him, he immediately fled through the tunnel.


    He knew Nan Xun¡¯s men would follow him down, so he destroyed the exit as soon as he left through it. Then he met up with an ally and made his way to Eastern Wu at night.


    ¡°It was a close call, sir. We have to...¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡± Ji Bo shot the man a re and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. It had been a close call. He¡¯d been distracted by his memory. He should¡¯ve been more careful.


    The man considered Ji Bo carefully and asked, ¡°Am I right to assume that Jun Huang isn¡¯t willing to join us?¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s eyes grew sharp, but he didn¡¯t say anything.


    The man knew he¡¯d guessed right. He smiled, offering some titudes. ¡°Judging from the way you look, it seems that Jun Huang at least believes she¡¯s a Tianyu¡¯s descendent. That¡¯s good. What do you n to do next?¡±


    Ji Bo ignored the man and said nothing. The man took the silent treatment with grace. He stared at Ji Bo as the strategist closed his eyes and leaned against the window of the coach.


    They soon left Northern Qi. The coach had been moving quickly. Ji Bo managed to go through the checkpoint before Nan Xun¡¯s order arrived, and he did have the permission to cross the border.


    They entered Eastern Wu. The soldiers let Ji Bo in as soon as they saw his face. The man next to him turned to him curiously. Ji Bo scoffed and closed his eyes, ignoring the unspoken question.


    They soon reached the pce. The patriarch of the royal n, who was in power at the moment, weed them into the pce. He gave the man following Ji Bo a considering look.


    ¡°He¡¯s my subordinate,¡± Ji Bo interrupted coolly. ¡°Let¡¯s get to business.¡±


    The patriarch nodded and looked away. They entered the main hall and dismissed the servants.


    ¡°I¡¯ve looked into it,¡± said Ji Bo. ¡°It was General Nan Xun of Northern Qi who spread the news about the emperor and caused the chaosst time.¡±


    ¡°Why would he do that?¡± asked the patriarch.


    Ji Bo huffed, his eyes cold. ¡°Remember, patriarch, Northern Qi and Eastern Wu may have reached a temporary truce, but Nan Xun had stayed in the imperial city for a long time and ordered his men to stay at the border. What do you think he¡¯s doing? Why did he infiltrate Eastern Wu?¡±


    ¡°Do you mean his retreat is merely for show, and his true purpose is to defeat us from within?¡± The patriarch widened his eyes. That seemed to be the most likely exnation. In his eyes, everyone in Northern Qi was a hypocrite whose actions always contradicted their words.


    Ji Bo silently let the patriarche to his own conclusion, which was best for his goal.


    The patriarch realized btedly how devious Nan Xun¡¯s n had been. Eastern Wu¡¯s court had almost fallen apart. If Qi Yun hadn¡¯t forced him to retreat, Nan Xun would¡¯ve invaded the imperial city.


    He broke into a cold sweat. His resentment for Northern Qi deepened. ¡°There will be no peace between Eastern Wu and Northern Qi. However, we¡¯re not powerful enough to rival them.¡±


    ¡°Ha, don¡¯t worry, patriarch,¡± Ji Bo said faintly, waving his fan. ¡°I have a n.¡±


    Overwhelmed by the recent development, the patriarch didn¡¯t question Ji Bo¡¯s words. ¡°The gentleman is known for your wisdom. You must have an idea about how we¡¯re going to protect Eastern Wu and make Northern Qi pay.¡±


    Ji Bo threw the patriarch a cool nce in response and said slowly, ¡°We have to catch them off guard.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Even if we don¡¯t deploy the troops, Northern Qi will invade soon enough. That¡¯ll put us at a disadvantage. Since a war is inevitable, we¡¯ll make the first move and attack when they least expect it. Once we gain the upper hand, they won¡¯t be able to turn the tide.¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s smile was cruel and intimidating, but it gave the patriarch hope.


    Nan Xun and his men had been looking for the mastermind behind everything to no avail, but then Ji Bo showed his hands. He was the source of all trouble. He and his helpers were responsible for what Jun Huang had suffered in Eastern Wu as well.


    That was a significant discovery. Nan Xun wanted nothing but to get to the bottom of everything. Then, however, the border city was attacked.


    Nan Xun immediately followed a eunuch to the pce. Qi Yun¡¯s face was dark. He waved Nan Xun over and handed him the report.


    Nan Xun gritted his teeth. He didn¡¯t expect Eastern Wu to attack so suddenly. He silently cursed at their enemies for being shameless.


    Ji Bo must have been involved, somehow. There were many things Nan Xun had yet to find out about the strategist. His fury burned hot with old resentment mixing with the new. If only he could strangle Ji Bo himself now.


    He took a deep, calming breath and looked up at Qi Yun, meeting his unwavering gaze. Realizing what Qi Yun was asking of him, he dropped to one knee. ¡°Eastern Wu has invaded. I¡¯ll fulfill my duty and defeat them. Please make the order, Your Highness. It¡¯s best that we fight them off immediately.¡±


    Qi Yun agreed, but his words were interrupted by amotion outside. A group of officials shouldered past the eunuchs and barged in.


    ¡°Please reconsider, Your Highness!¡± eximed the Minister of Rites, a coward who thought too much and did too little.


    Qi Yun¡¯s expression grew darker. The others dropped to their knees, expressing their disapproval of a war. Qi Yun let out a sharpugh. ¡°Eastern Wu invaded. Do you think we should hide? Do you want me to give them our imperial seal?¡±


    ¡°Your Highness has misunderstood.¡± The officials trembled fearfully, lowering their heads.


    Qi Yun¡¯s gaze swept through every one of them before settling on Nan Xun, whose back was straight and unbendable.


    ¡°Eastern Wu has broken the peace treaty again. It¡¯s unforgivable. If we tolerate their advance, we¡¯ll be considered spineless. A nation¡¯s sovereignty must be maintained. Since they¡¯ve tantly challenged our authority, I hereby order Nan Xun to march out. You must drive them away and reaffirmed our power over our territory.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± said Nan Xun. The officials knew there was nothing they could do to change Qi Yun¡¯s mind. They disbanded.


    Nan Xun considered the officials with eagle-like eyes. He didn¡¯t realize that Qi Yun hade up to him.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± asked Qi Yun.


    ¡°The report arrived today. I only knew about what happened when I came to the pce. Why would the officials know beforehand?¡±


    Nan Xun looked up at Qi Yun. They both had their suspicion, but they didn¡¯t voice it.


    After a long stretch of silence, Qi Yun sighed. ¡°You¡¯re going to war again. What are you going to do with Jun Huang? I can let her stay in the pce. No one wouldy a finger on her under my watch.¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head. ¡°Ji Bo must have helpers if he¡¯d managed to keep his agenda hidden for so long. I believe there are people working for him in the imperial city. Ji Bo has stayed by your side for some time. There¡¯s no telling if he¡¯s nted his men in your circle.¡±


    Qi Yun nodded. ¡°I understand.¡±


    Qi Yun knew Nan Xun was worried about Jun Huang, and that Nan Xun needed to talk to her. He let Nan Xun leave. He¡¯d discuss the details of the battle with Nan Xun¡¯s second inmand.


    Once Nan Xun returned to his manor, he told Jun Huang everything. She didn¡¯t expect Ji Bo to make a move so quickly. More precisely, she didn¡¯t expect Ji Bo to gain Eastern Wu¡¯s trust in such a short time. He was indeed a formidable foe.


    ¡°The imperial city isn¡¯t safe. I worry that you¡¯ll be in danger here. Will you go with me?¡± Nan Xun made his case, but he¡¯d respect Jun Huang¡¯s decision.


    She considered his suggestion. Ji Bo should be in Eastern Wu now. She wouldn¡¯t be of help in Northern Qi. She nodded. ¡°I¡¯m going with you.¡±

 Chapter 361 - Signs

    <strong>Chapter 361: Signs</strong>


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask your master toe with us,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Just in case you need treatment.¡±


    He sought out Oleg Cragfiend. The two of them discussed what might go wrong during the journey.


    Before Nan Xun and Jun Huang departed, rumors that Nan Xun had been entranced by a woman spread within the imperial city. It was the talk of the peasants, and Jun Huang and Nan Xun had been preparing for the trip. They therefore hadn¡¯t heard anything until they set out.


    The rumors were outrageous. Nan Xun was off to protect Northern Qi, and yet people imed that he¡¯d forgotten about his duty because of a woman. They said that he was taking the woman on a trip and called her the reincarnation of a fox spirit.


    If Nan Xun was the only one targeted, he wouldn¡¯t care that much. However, they criticized Jun Huang as well. And residents in the imperial city was getting agitated. Nan Xun sent a man to the pce and ask Qi Yun to trace the source of the rumors.


    Without dy, Qi Yun sent his people to investigate and soon zeroed in on one man. After interrogating the man, he found out that the man had been a discarded pawn of Ji Bo. He was also the one who leaked the report from the border to the officials.


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang had been a popr topic in the imperial city. Worried that Jun Huang would copse during the journey, Nan Xun had Oelg Cragfiend prepare a great many pills for treating poison, all of which were of the finest quality and cost him a fortune. In addition, Nan Xun had been attending to Jun Huang¡¯s every need. One way or another, his actions cemented the rumors circting in the city.


    Nan Xun was too focused on getting rid of Ji Bo to care, but Jun Huang noticed. When Qi Yun caught the man nted in the pce, Jun Huang studied him and concluded that he wasn¡¯t anyone of importance.


    Still, Jun Huang wrote a letter to Qi Yun and asked him to go harder on the man. The man ended up giving them the locations of a few operation bases.


    Jun Huang had been following up the situation in the city, which was physically and mentally taxing. Nan Xun tried to talk her out of it, but she refused to give in.


    Halfway through their journey, Jun Huang was still exchanging letters with Qi Yun. Nan Xun frowned when he sought her out in the coach and saw her reading a letter.


    ¡°I told you to rest. If you¡¯re so concerned, I¡¯ll read the letters for you.¡± Nan Xun took the letter from her and browsed through the words. The pawn of a man had given them the location of another operation base.


    ¡°Men like him hold onto their secrets,¡± Nan Xun said, sitting down next to her. ¡°He knows that once he¡¯s given us everything, he¡¯s as good as dead.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right, but we¡¯ll get all his secrets out of him with enough patience.¡±


    Nan Xun sighed. Jun Huang chuckled and took the letter back. ¡°Enough with that. There are more important things for you to take care of. I¡¯ll deal with the more trivial tasks. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    Nan Xun huffed. He didn¡¯t want Jun Huang to work herself too hard, but he couldn¡¯t stop her from wanting to help. ¡°You know your condition. If your master hears that you¡¯ve been working again, he¡¯s going to add more herbs to your medicine. If you refuse to rest, we have to make you.¡±


    Jun Huang shuddered. She knew Nan Xun meant it. She put down the letter with an awkward smile and finallyy down to rest.


    Exhaustion set in. She fell asleep quickly. Nan Xun sighed in relief. He was about to get out of the coach when he heard her muttering something in panic. He turned to see her face tighten with fear, her brows furrowed deeply.


    Seeing her like that made Nan Xun resented Ji Bo even more. There was nothing he hated more than seeing her suffer. He stayed by her side and held her hand, silently letting her know that he¡¯d never leave her.


    When Jun Huang woke up the next day, Nan Xun wasn¡¯t around. The coach continued on at a deliberate pace. Jun Huang knew it was for her benefit. She was moved but also feeling useless. She swore that she would get to the bottom of what was happening in the imperial city.


    Soon, another letter came from the pce. Jun Huang unfolded it. The messenger didn¡¯t leave immediately. Instead, he said that Qi Yun had a message for her.


    Jun Huang put away the letter and asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°After your reminder, the prince had his men go through the treasury and found out that some of the silver is missing,¡± admitted the man. ¡°He¡¯d like some advice. The scandal will create a stir if exposed.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t immediately respond. ¡°Is it serious? Can the prince fill in the loss?¡±


    The man nodded. ¡°The prince has done that by having those in the harem wear in clothes. However, the one responsible must be identified. If there¡¯s a next time, it¡¯ll be impossible to make ends meet.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Jun Huang said. ¡°Tell the prince to keep an eye on the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Personnel.¡±


    The man looked at her curiously. ¡°Do you mean someone from either of the two ministries is responsible?¡±


    Jun Huang smiled instead of giving him an answer. The man was smart enough to not push. After asking about her health, he rushed away. Jun Huang silently picked up the letter and continued reading it.


    It said that the mole had given them another location, which was on one of the Minister of Rites¡¯s properties. That was cause for suspicion.


    Qi Yun hadn¡¯t been paying attention to the feud between the courtiers, so he didn¡¯t know the premise was the minister¡¯s. Jun Huang happened to know about it.


    However, the Minister of Rites was cowardly, not foolish. If he¡¯d been one of Ji Bo¡¯s pawns, why would he use his property as an operation base?


    Further investigation was needed.


    When Nan Xun found Jun Huang, she was writing something, her strokes hesitant. On the paper were ¡°Ministry of Rites¡± and ¡°Ministry of Personnel¡±. ¡°Ministry of War¡± had been struck through.


    ¡°What does this mean?¡± Nan Xun sat down by her side and put his arm around her.


    ¡°The Ministry of War is led by one of your people, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. ¡°Right after ourst victory, the former Minister of War passed away. Qi Yun asked me to rmend a sessor. I believe my second inmand would be a good fit, so I put his name through.¡±


    ¡°What kind of man is he?¡± Jun Huang asked. ¡°Is he close to Ji Bo?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what exactly Jun Huang wanted to know, but he didn¡¯t hide anything from her. ¡°He¡¯s an honest man who¡¯s followed me since the start of his career. I don¡¯t know about his rtionship with Ji Bo, but when Ji Bo tested him during thest conflict between Northern Qi and Eastern Wu, he remained loyal to me. He asked me about it afterwards and said that Ji Bo hadplimented him. I didn¡¯t know Ji Bo¡¯s true nature at the time, but he must have been trying to turn my officer to his side.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s trustworthy then,¡± muttered Jun Huang. Making the right guess didn¡¯t make her feel any better.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t like seeing her so concerned. He smoothed a finger over her frown. ¡°What is it? Why don¡¯t you discuss the issue with me?¡±


    Jun Huang exined the situation.


    After a long pause, Nan Xun said, ¡°Although the Minister of Rites was the first to barge into the pce before we marched, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s capable of treason. If he¡¯s Ji Bo¡¯s man, he¡¯d have gotten himself killed long ago. The Minister of Personnel, on the other hand, is a formidable man. He seems unassuming, but he¡¯s capable of terrible deeds.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    ¡°The Minister of War didn¡¯t die of illness,¡± Nan Xun said after a long pause. ¡°He was poisoned. Very few know the truth. An official story has been made up to avoid alerting the lurking threats, luring them into a false sense of security.¡±


    ¡°Is there something connecting him to the poisoning?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that a woman working in a brothel caught the Minister of War¡¯s fancy. The formidable fighter imed proudly that he would buy her freedom, and the woman returned his feelings. However, things didn¡¯t end happily ever after. The Minister of Personnel, who never showed that much interest in women, took the courtesan away first.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes widened, but she patiently waited for Nan Xun to continue. He patted the back of her hand. ¡°That marked the start of their feud. After some time, the woman died. The Minister of War was furious and threatened the Minister of Personnel with death. Then, however, the Minister of War fell ill. People assumed he¡¯d copsed due to the loss of his beloved woman, but it was murder.¡±


    Jun Huang fell silent. She knew what Nan Xun was suggesting. It was unusual that a man with few desires would suddenly set his eyes on a woman ¨C and a woman working at a brothel at that. Not long after, the woman passed away. Everything seemed to happen ording to some unknown n. There was something fishy about the situation.

 Chapter 362 - Unstoppable

    <strong>Chapter 362: Unstoppable</strong>


    ¡°However, the fact that he was being so obvious about it makes it suspicious,¡± said Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun frowned and continued, ¡°That can be true. However, the man is smart. It may be his way of misleading people.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond. Nan Xun massaged her temples and added, ¡°I read the letter Qi Yun sent you. One of the operation bases used to be the Minister of Rite¡¯s manor, but it was then gifted to the Minister of Personnel.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Nan Xun continued, ¡°I don¡¯t know what their rtionship is, but the manor has changed hands. Very few know about it. I happened to see the Minister of Personnel exit from the manor and found out about the transfer of ownership from his family.¡±


    ¡°Moreover,the Minister of Personnel was promoted by Ji Bo.¡± Nan Xun gave her the most convincing proof. Jun Huang was still digesting the new information Nan Xun gave her. He made some very good points.


    ¡°Nheless, I¡¯m pretty sure there¡¯s something wrong about the Minister of Rites as well,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°If he¡¯spletely innocent, he wouldn¡¯t have been doing the Minister of Personnel¡¯s bidding.¡±


    It was clear who the mole was. However, further investigation was needed to figure out what the ministers had done. Jun Huang took out a sheet of paper and wrote down their conclusions. Nan Xun had his men deliver it to the imperial city.


    Qi Yun was shocked when he received the letter. Enraged, he had the Minister of Personnel arrested, but spared the Minister of Rites.


    As Jun Huang had written in the letter, the Minister of Rites was a coward. Even if he¡¯d done something treacherous, it couldn¡¯t have that big an impact. If both ministers were put in jail at the same time, people would panic. It was better that he dealt with the Minister of Personnel first.


    The minister didn¡¯t know he¡¯d been exposed. He started to panic once he was thrown into the prison.


    ¡°I demand to talk to the prince!¡± he shot to his feet and eximed. The warden scoffed and turned a blind eye to him.


    Qi Yun didn¡¯te, but the evidence against him did. The minister paled when he saw the documents and almost fainted.


    Qi Yun took care of the rest without asking for Jun Huang¡¯s help. He followed the trail left by the Minister of Personnel and identified a few more spies Ji Bo had nted. They belonged to different factions, but they were all people in power. Qi Yun made quick work of putting them in jail.


    The imperial court was a lot more stable after that. Qi Yun had also established his authority and won people¡¯s approval.


    Knowing what Qi Yun had aplished alleviated Jun Huang¡¯s concern. At least the spies had been dealt with. They just had to wait for Ji Bo to make his move. The next few days went past uneventfully.


    The day before Nan Xun and his soldiers were going to arrive at the border, Eastern Wuunched a few surprise assaults. Northern Qi¡¯s troops at the border had rxed their guard since their general-in-chief wasing, which allowed Eastern Wu to catch them off guard. They were forced to retreat, and a few cities were thus imed by Eastern Wu.


    Nan Xun heard the news upon his arrival. He didn¡¯t say anything, but anyone who knew him could tell from his stoic face that he was furious.


    Once everyone had made their report, Nan Xun looked up at the officers and dismissed everyone except for the officer in charge. ¡°It¡¯s your fault that Northern Qi lost the cities. What do you have to say?¡±


    The officer paled. He wasn¡¯t sure how he should defend himself. He lowered his head.


    Nan Xun scoffed. ¡°If you¡¯ve kept your guard up, Eastern Wu wouldn¡¯t have won. You are to me for the blow on our morale. Don¡¯t try to talk your way out of it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re careless, and our enemies exploited that.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no use scolding him now,¡± said Jun Huang. She approached them and saw the officer¡¯s face flushed red at Nan Xun¡¯s reprimanding. He looked pitiful. ¡°Why don¡¯t we think about how we should take the cities back?¡±


    The officer had seen Jun Huang before. He knew about her rtionship with Nan Xun. He sighed in relief and asked with a smile, ¡°I hear that you were ill. Are you feeling better now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Jun Huang said with a smile.


    Nan Xun shot the officer a re and pulled a chair for Jun Huang. ¡°Tell the others toe in,¡± he said to the officer. ¡°We¡¯lle up with a n.¡±


    The officer nodded earnestly and ran outside, which got a chuckle out of Jun Huang. Nan Xun turned to her with remorse in his eyes.


    ¡°Losing the cities isn¡¯t ideal, but it happened too suddenly for us to do anything,¡± Jun Huang said reassuringly. ¡°We just have to take the cities back.¡±


    Nan Xun breathed out slowly, letting go of his negative thoughts. He smoothed a hand down Jun Huang¡¯s back.


    They stopped talking when the officer returned with the other officers. They nced at Jun Huang curiously, surprised to see a woman in the camp. However, Nan Xun¡¯s frigid gaze deterred them from making anyments.


    Nan Xun led them to the map and crossed out the cities that¡¯d been lost with a writing brush. His unspoken message was clear.


    The officers were silent. They didn¡¯t dare speak up lest they anger Nan Xun.


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯t expected them to say anything. He pointed out directly, ¡°These are our priorities. You¡¯ll make amends for your mistakes.¡±


    They tried to formte a n. Jun Huang quietly listened to their discussion. She didn¡¯t know much about battle strategies. Bored, she picked up a book and started reading.


    She nced at Nan Xun. He calmly led the discussion with a finger pointing at the map on the wall. The sun streamed in from outside the tent and cast him in a warm glow. Jun Huang¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    As if sensing her gaze, Nan Xun turned to meet her eyes. Warmed, he straightened up and beckoned Jun Huang over.


    Jun Huang obliged, putting on a faint smile. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes turned soft, and gone was his imposing presence. It was out of character for him, but the officers knew his tenderness was reserved for Jun Huang alone.


    ¡°We¡¯ve lost the high ground to Eastern Wu, which poses the biggest challenge,¡± Nan Xun continued after helping Jun Huang sit down next to him. ¡°Our priority is to take it back.¡±


    It was easier said than done. The officers could feel Nan Xun¡¯s stare like a physical weight. They knew the high ground was easy to defend but extremely difficult to attack. No wonder Nan Xun would be furious at them for losing it.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that difficult to take it back,¡± Jun Huang said after some hesitation.


    All eyes were on her. If she was nervous at all, she didn¡¯t let it show.


    ¡°The high ground is easy to defend, but people who don¡¯t know the terrain may not be able to make the most of the territorial advantage,¡± she exined. ¡°If I remember right, there¡¯s a cliff not far from the area. When the wind is on our side, we¡¯ll sneak in.¡±


    ¡°However, it¡¯ll be a dangerous mission. We need brave warriors who can think on their feet.¡±


    The officers exchanged a look. They realized that Jun Huang was proposing a strategy the ancient people had employed. It was appropriate for their situation.


    Nan Xun nodded in approval and added, ¡°It¡¯s a good idea, but we can¡¯t control the wind. If we don¡¯te up with a detailed enough n, things may go wrong.¡±


    ¡°We should keep tabs on the wind,¡± continued Nan Xun. ¡°When the wind blows in the right direction, we¡¯ll set their camp on fire. They won¡¯t be expecting that. Then we¡¯ll have a few elites sneak in and attack them from both sides.¡±


    The officers had known Nan Xun and his reputation. They were even more impressed when they heard his n. It made them feel inferior.


    They discussed the n and filled in the details. Although the n was risky, it was doable. The meeting didn¡¯t end until the sky went dark.


    One of the officers went outside and realized that it was gettingte. Nan Xun and Jun Huang had traveled a long distance and needed rest. The officers excused themselves and gave them their privacy.


    Even someone as strong as Nan Xun would get tired. He rubbed at his forehead, his temples throbbing. When Jun Huang returned after asking for some food, she noted Nan Xun¡¯s exhaustion. She sighed.

 Chapter 363 - Know Your Enemy

    <strong>Chapter 363: Know Your Enemy</strong>


    ¡°We can¡¯t achieve our goal overnight,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too hard. We only just arrived. They aren¡¯t going to say anything even if you rest for the day. Why are you doing this to yourself?¡±


    She reprimanded Nan Xun because she cared. She went up to massage his shoulders and rub the tension out of his muscles.


    Nan Xun looked up at her, his eyes were beautiful under the candlelight. Jun Huang reached out to touch his brows. He took her wrist and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder, his expression concerned.


    ¡°He who stands among the trees can¡¯t see the woods,¡± he muttered. ¡°I¡¯ve been telling you to rest as well, but you¡¯re as stubborn as I am. It scares me to see the toll the journey has taken on you. I don¡¯t think I deserve being scolded by you, but at the same time I hope you¡¯ll be scolding me until the end of our lives.¡±


    Jun Huang snorted softly, her lips curved into a loving smile and her eyes crinkling.


    Hearing a sigh, she pulled back and straightened up, looking at Nan Xun¡¯s stoic face. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Nan Xun was silent for a moment. ¡°I suspect that Ji Bo may be with the Eastern Wu¡¯s army. If that¡¯s the case, we have a difficult fight ahead of us. Ji Bo¡¯s clever. We have to recognize that even though we¡¯re not on the same side. I¡¯m not sure things will go our way.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t respond. She¡¯d been thinking about that same thing. It defied logic that Eastern Wu shouldunch an attack when their imperial court was still in chaos. Ji Bo must be responsible, somehow. He knew Northern Qi and Nan Xun well. Whatever n they came up with wouldn¡¯t surprise Ji Bo. The thought had been weighing her down. She wasn¡¯t sure if they would seed, either.


    If Ji Bo had simply instigated an open conflict between Eastern Wu and Northern Qi after his escape, that wouldn¡¯t be that big a problem. If he¡¯d be Eastern Wu¡¯s strategist, however, they would have to be wary.


    After a long stretch of silence, Jun Huang reassured gently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. There¡¯s no changing what has happened. We just have to keep our guard up. Ji Bo¡¯s but a man no matter how smart he is. He may know all the theories, but he¡¯s not a fighter. You, on the other hand, are the war god of Northern Qi. We¡¯ll win.¡±


    Nan Xun gave her a small smile, his concerns subsided somewhat.


    It was gettingte. They had dinner and retired to their bed, holding each other as they slept. They had a good night¡¯s rest until the day broke.


    Meanwhile, Ji Bo was in the Eastern Wu¡¯s camp, joined by the officers.


    ¡°What do you want to talk to us about, advisor? It¡¯ste. What did you interrupt our sleep for?¡± A bearded, burly man scoffed. He was the general of Eastern Wu. His reputation was no match for Nan Xun¡¯s, but he was known for his long winning streak.


    Ji Bo¡¯s face fell and his hand tightened around his tea cup. He shot the general a cool nce.


    The general had never been subjected to such contempt from a man as physically weak as Ji Bo. He hit the table hard. The air was thick with tension.


    Ji Bo took a deep breath and drank some tea, barely managing to put on a calm face. He almost sshed tea at the general. ¡°Apologies for disrupting your rest. News came that Nan Xun had arrived at the border. Things aren¡¯t going to go as smoothly from now on.¡±


    ¡°What do you propose we do?¡± a schrly-looking man asked. His fair face made him look breakable, but he was known as a ruthless fiend who killed people without batting an eye.


    The burly man had wanted to exert dominance over Ji Bo, but the schrly man stopped him with a pointed look. He didn¡¯t have to say anything for the burly man to get his message.


    They were good friends. The schrly man was cruel, but clever. The burly man didn¡¯t want to shut his mouth like his friend had suggested, but he wasn¡¯t going to damage their friendship for an outsider.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been with Nan Xun and his men for a long time. I know the way he thinks. They¡¯re at a disadvantage at the moment. Their first step is very likely to be reiming the high ground.¡±


    Ji Bo made his spection based on his understanding of Nan Xun.


    The schrly man was quiet. Every officer in attendance was thinking about his words. It was natural for any generals to reim territory they¡¯d lost. However, the high ground gave them great territorial advantage. Nan Xun would have to be a fool to make a move now.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I know it¡¯s difficult for them to attack us, but I believe Nan Xun won¡¯t stop until he drives us away,¡± Ji Bo said seriously. ¡°As for the how, I think they¡¯ll drop from above.¡±


    He led the others to the sand table and pointed at a cliff near the high ground.


    The burly manughed, ¡°You¡¯re a strategist who¡¯s never fought in battles yourself. I don¡¯t me you for not knowing anything about warfare. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve overestimated them?¡±


    ¡°How so?¡± Ji Bo asked calmly. The burly man scoffed derisively.


    ¡°Nan Xun has to be an arrogant fool to do that,¡± exined the schrly man when he noted Ji Bo¡¯s anger. ¡°Let¡¯s disregard first how they¡¯re going to scale down from the cliff. The act of climbing up the cliff is a difficult enough task in itself. Moreover, we¡¯ve set up watchtowers in the area. If they are to drop down from the cliff, we¡¯ll be able to shoot them down with bows and arrows. They¡¯ll be painting a target on their backs.¡±


    The others quieted down when they saw Ji Bo¡¯s darkening expression. The schrly man said with a smile, ¡°We¡¯ll keep our guard up, though. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    The officers shut their mouths despite their dissatisfaction. Ji Bo knew they were resisting his authority. He looked at them without a word.


    The schrly man realized that the discussion wouldn¡¯t yield them anything useful. He spoke up, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should rest, Gentleman Ji Bo. It¡¯ll be bad if you fall ill. Please excuse us.¡±


    He walked out of the tent. The others exchanged a look and followed him, paying no attention to Ji Bo.


    Ji Bo gritted his teeth and watched them go. In a fit of anger, he threw his teacup to the ground. The tent fell silent after the clink.


    It took some time for him to calm down. He inhaled deeply and summoned his personal shadowguard. ¡°What¡¯s going on in the imperial city?¡±


    ¡°The royal n hasn¡¯t settled on a sessor for the throne,¡± the shadowguard said honestly. He knew Ji Bo was in a bad mood, so he made his report brief and to the point. ¡°Members of the royal n are getting out of line. If not for the patriarch, the brothers would have started killing each other. In order to increase his chance of bing the emperor, one of the scions sought the patriarch out and asked toe to the border to gain experience.¡±


    Ji Bo frowned. ¡°And the patriarch agreed?¡±


    The shadowguard nodded without a word. Ji Bo cursed under his breath and swept the teapot and the rest of the teacups off the table. They shattered.


    Ji Bo didn¡¯t consider the scion to be that much of a problem. The border was barren. Those in the royal n led a luxurious life with no understanding of the suffering in the world. The scion would flee as soon as he saw the ce.


    To Ji Bo¡¯s surprise, the scion wasn¡¯t deterred when he arrived. In fact, his curiosity was piqued. The day after his arrival, he greeted Ji Bo politely and left with a group of officers.


    Ji Bo didn¡¯t have the time to care about him. He was worried about a surprise attack from Nan Xun.


    Northern Qi¡¯s army marched out. Ji Bo shot to his feet when he heard, but a young man came up to him before he could do anything.


    ¡°Gentleman Ji Bo.¡± The young man smiled pleasantly. There was a youthful confidence to him.


    Ji Bo frowned. He didn¡¯t immediately recognized the young man since he was armored, but the young man soon took out a token and cleared his throat. ¡°The patriarch is considerate. Knowing that you¡¯re a strategist who may not have seen deaths with your own eyes, and that I am willing to serve my nation, he put me in charge of the battle today. If youe with, you don¡¯t have to do anything. If you don¡¯t want to do as the patriarch suggested, you may stay in the camp. I won¡¯t me you.¡±


    That caught Ji Bo off guard. He stared at the scion with a nk look. The scion interpreted that as fear. He lifted his chin and huffed.


    The battlehorn had been sounded. Ji Bo had no choice but to nod in agreement. ¡°If so, this gentleman will follow you and learn from the experience.¡±


    Delighted by thepliment, the scionughed heartily and walked away. Ji Bo silently followed after him.

 Chapter 364 - Framing

    <strong> Chapter 364: Framin</strong>g


    The scion didn¡¯t have to go to the frontline himself. He¡¯d be making the orders atop the city wall, and the drummer would pass down his orders. When they ascended to the top, the two armies were already engaged in a battle.


    ¡°What happened?¡± the scion snapped at an officer. ¡°I haven¡¯t made an order. Why did they start fighting already?¡±


    The officer didn¡¯t say anything. He couldn¡¯t talk back to a member of the royal n no matter how much he wanted to.


    The scion looked down at the battlefield and waved the g to make his orders. When Northern Qi¡¯s army circled their left wing, he should¡¯ve sent the right wing to their aid. However, he had the left wing retreat, hoping to minimize casualties.


    He didn¡¯t anticipate that his backing down would boost Northern Qi¡¯s morale. Soon, the left wing was decimated. The right wing was the next to be hit.


    Intimidated by Northern Qi¡¯s ferocity, the scion went weak in the knees and fell on his hip, too stunned to do anything.


    Ji Bo had been watching him coolly. He wanted to take over, but he didn¡¯t let his concern show. Instead, he focused on studying Nan Xun¡¯s strategies.


    The scion had recovered from the failure. He got to his feet and had the troops fan out to circle Northern Qi¡¯s army.


    Once Northern Qi¡¯s right wing and central troop had been surrounded, Nan Xun pulled the left wing back. The scion pped andughed.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it fun? We sacrificed our left wing but trapped their center and right wing. That¡¯s a good bargain!¡±


    Ji Bo pretended to not hear the scion¡¯s words. The young man spat angrily. When he was about topliment himself some more, Northern Qi¡¯s center and right wing converged as the left wing abruptly changed direction, trapping Eastern Wu¡¯s soldiers between them and striking from both sides. Eastern Wu¡¯s troops fell into disarray and almost got eliminatedpletely.


    Ji Bo sighed, shaking his head. The scion had yet to recover from the blow on his ego. He¡¯d thought he¡¯d be able to take down Northern Qi¡¯s center, but instead, it was Eastern Wu¡¯s troops that suffered. His throat went tight.


    Meanwhile, Jun Huang frowned as she observed the battlefield. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense. Intels said that Ji Bo is in the enemy camp. Why would he make such ridiculous decisions? Is he trying to lure us into a false sense of security?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t say anything. He knew Ji Bo as well as Ji Bo knew him. Past experience had shown him how much of a genius in warfare Ji Bo was. Themander today, though, was a terrible fool.


    Their spies soon delivered another message, saying that the one making the orders today was a member of the royal n whose intelligence and character left something to be desired. Ji Bo had been ordered to step back.


    Nan Xun handed the letter to Jun Huang and ordered his men to charge without dy. Northern Qi cut through Eastern Wu¡¯s army like butter and soon took back a number of cities. They even conquered a few towns at the border. Intimidated, the Eastern Wu soldiers lost their calm. They were close to losing.


    The scion was overwhelmed with his hatred for Nan Xun. He knew the throne would never be his if he let this go on. He had no choice but to surrender the leadership to Ji Bo.


    ¡°Nan Xun is too cunning. If things continue this way, not only will the patriarch me me, I¡¯ll also me myself. I order you to take over, Ji Bo. You must drive away the enemy troops.¡±


    He threw the g at Ji Bo, who let it fall to the ground. The scion went red in fury, but he had no other options. He took a deep breath. ¡°We¡¯re in the same boat. If Eastern Wu loses, most of the me will go to you, the strategist.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve offended you, but I¡¯m sure you aren¡¯t a petty man. You¡¯ll forgive me for my transgression...¡±


    ¡°Sir, the enemy advanced again,¡± a soldier who had been observing the battlefield ran up to Ji Bo and said, interrupting the scion.


    Ji Bo narrowed his eyes and asked for a new g, turning a blind eye to the scion. ¡°Center, move to the right to dy the enemy¡¯s left wing. Left and right wings fan out and attack from both sides.¡±


    Things changed constantly on the battlefield. Nan Xun soon realized that Ji Bo must have taken over. He ordered his soldiers to pull back to avoid further casualties.


    The scion didn¡¯t expect Ji Bo to turn the tide with such a simple order.


    Eastern Wu had managed to maintain its face, but the scion began to resent Ji Bo. He knew what the right thing to do was, but refused to offer me guidance. This man has his own agenda.


    ¡°You¡¯re indeed clever. It¡¯s Eastern Wu¡¯s fortune to acquire a talent like you.¡± The scion had been staying with the patriarch for some time. He was shrewd enough to hide his emotions andpliment Ji Bo with a smile.


    Ji Bo walked away to order the soldiers to pull back. He didn¡¯t intend to waste his time on the scion. The scion gritted his teeth and huffed. He had a report written and delivered before Ji Bo could it.


    He imed the victory as his and med the failures on the officers, saying that they were ipetent and refused to listen to orders.


    Hearing the news gave Nan Xun an idea. He sent his lead shadowguard to Eastern Wu¡¯s camp. The shadowguard had disguised himself as an Eastern Wu¡¯s soldier. Heughed and chatted with other soldiers like he belonged there, waiting for an opening.


    At night, the camp was silent save for the strange noisesing from the scion¡¯s tent. The shadowguard snuck close when no one was looking. His face flushed red when he realized that the scion was... fornicating.


    Afterwards, the scion put on a robe and left his tent to take care of his biological urge. In his rush, he failed to check if anyone was around. He whistled as he urinated.


    The shadowguard approached him from behind with a hemp sack and, without giving him any time to react, put it over his head. He beat the scion up.


    It waste. Few were still awake. The shadowguard snuck away with the night as his cover afterwards, leaving the unconscious scion on the ground.


    The scion hadn¡¯t picked himself up until the day broke. He yanked the hemp sack off his head. Before he could say anything, he realized that he was surrounded by a group of officers. His face turned dark.


    ¡°What are you looking at?!¡± he snapped. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to see here!¡±


    Subjected to the scolding he didn¡¯t deserve, the burly man touched his nose and cleared his throat, pointing at the scion¡¯s open robe. The scion looked down at himself and btedly realized his waist band had loosened. He wasn¡¯t wearing anything inside. His entire body was exposed for all to see.


    His expression darkened further. He was going to hit the burly man who didn¡¯t know when to shut up, but before his punch couldnd, his wrist was seized by a fair but strong hand.


    ¡°When I hear about what happened, I thought you were watching the moon in nature¡¯s embrace like ancient men because the tent was smothering,¡± said the schrly man. ¡°However, there was no moon or starsst night. There¡¯s no reason for you to sleep outside. And you look like death.¡±


    He frowned and flung the scion¡¯s hand away.


    Enraged, the scion opened his mouth to curse the schrly man out, which pulled the wound on the corner of his mouth. Pain shot through his face, stoking the fury that had been building up since he was beaten. He sneered. ¡°I knew it. You were the ones who ambushed me! You ungrateful animals! If not for the royal n, you¡¯re nothing! Not generals, not officers, not even servants who carry my shoes!¡±


    The officers tightened their fists, feeling the urge to punch that haughty look off the young man¡¯s face. However, Ji Bo stepped in and gave the officers a pointed look.


    Ji Bo had gained control over the army. Even though he was only a strategist, the others had to be wary of him for the influence he held if nothing else.


    ¡°Enough,¡± Ji Bomanded. ¡°Don¡¯t you have training to do?¡±


    The officers scattered, leaving Ji Bo and the scion on their own.


    The scion scoffed and walked away with a flourish of his sleeves. Ji Bo¡¯s dislike for the scion intensified, but for his goal, he had to suppress the dessents from both the troops and himself.


    Everyone in the Northern Qi¡¯s armyughed when they heard about what had happened. Jun Huang and Nan Xun exchanged a smile.


    Once they were back in their tent, Nan Xun asked, ¡°How do you know the scion will me the officers?¡±


    Jun Hung smiled slightly. ¡°He¡¯s a brainless man with nothing but ambition. A simple trick is enough to make him resent the other officers. It¡¯s going to be difficult for Ji Bo tomand the troops now.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. Noting the concerned look on her face, his heart sank. ¡°Are you feeling guilty for plotting against Ji Bo?¡±


    Jun Huang met his gaze and realized what he was worried about. She chuckled and shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing left between us but bad blood. Why would I feel guilty? However, Ji Bo must know we¡¯re behind the incident. He¡¯s going to retaliate somehow.¡±

 Chapter 365 - Snowfall

    <strong>Chapter 365: Snowfall</strong>


    Nan Xun sighed and patted Jun Huang¡¯s back. He understood her concern, but there was nothing they could do to change the situation.


    The scion of the Eastern Wu¡¯s royal n was convinced that the officers were responsible for his humiliation. He ordered to increase their training and decrease the number of breaks, iming that the soldiers should work harder in order to win the war. That further drove a wedge between the officers and the scion.


    Eastern Wu¡¯s army was falling into chaos, while Nan Xun led his troops with capable hands. He drove Eastern Wu further and further into their territory.


    Ji Bo studied strategies night and day. He swore he would retaliate in kind.


    It waste at night when he put down the book. He was about to go to sleep when he heard amotion outside. He sat up and levelled the burly man barging into his tent a cold look.


    ¡°There¡¯s a problem, sir.¡±


    Ji Bo frowned. ¡°What happened?¡± He put on a robe and got off the bed, pouring himself a cup of tea.


    The burly man took a deep breath. ¡°The scion took a team of elites and our supplies back to the imperial city after dinner.¡±


    Ji Bo threw the cup to the floor and cursed. It took some time for him to calm down.


    ¡°What do we do?¡± asked the burly man.


    A ferocious glint shed through Ji Bo¡¯s eyes. He scoffed. ¡°Assassinate him and frame Nan Xun as the killer.¡±


    The next day, news got out that Nan Xun had killed a member of Eastern Wu¡¯s royal n. Nan Xunughed incredulously when he heard.


    ¡°It was Ji Bo,¡± Jun Huang murmured.


    Nan Xun turned to her, waiting for her to continue. She exined, ¡°We¡¯ve made the scion resent the officers. He must have done something in retaliation. If that¡¯s the case, the officers must hold a grudge against him as well. It¡¯s said that the scion died suddenly on his way back to the imperial city. People believe we¡¯re responsible, but we didn¡¯t even know about his death beforehand. Ji Bo must be using this as a way to motivate the officers.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t their soldiers be pleased that the scion died?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang huffed, her eyes dark. ¡°That¡¯s if they were the one who did it. If they think we¡¯re responsible, they¡¯ll feelpelled to seek revenge.¡±


    Realization dawned on Nan Xun. As they had expected, Eastern Wu marched out immediately. They exchanged a nce and prepared for the encounter.


    Driven by the scion¡¯s death, Eastern Wu gained a slight upper hand in the battle. Nan Xun gave as good as he got. He pulled back at the right moment and minimized the casualties.


    The news reached Northern Qi¡¯s imperial city in no time. Before Qi Yun received any exnation from Nan Xun, there were already officials speaking up against the general.


    ¡°Your Highness, General Nan Xun has made a questionable move,¡± eximed an official as he knelt down at the center of the main hall. ¡°How could he do something like that? It¡¯s as if he¡¯s provoking Eastern Wu on purpose! He has his own agenda, Your Highness.¡±


    Qi Yun scoffed. ¡°You schr officials do nothing but banter all day. If you¡¯re so worried about Nan Xun, why don¡¯t I summon him back and send you to fight at the frontline?¡±


    His voice wasn¡¯t urgent or loud, but there was an edge to it. The officials were too intimidated to say anything. The one who had spoken up fell silent, worried that Qi Yun would make good on his words.


    After the officials was dismissed, Qi Yun stayed behind and contemted their conversation. He¡¯d always trusted Nan Xun despite them not being biological brothers. However, it was difficult not to get suspicious after he took the throne. He worried that Nan Xun was trying to increase his power by prolonging the war.


    After some deliberation, he wrote a letter to Nan Xun, asking him to address the rumors.


    Nan Xun was exasperated. He told Qi Yun everything. The scion had antagonized Eastern Wu¡¯s soldiers and ended up killed. Nan Xun was innocent. He wouldn¡¯t allow others to nder him.


    Qi Yun looked at Nan Xun¡¯s responding letter thoughtfully. Unconvinced, he asked Nan Xun for evidence. Given the wide poption the rumors had reached, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for Qi Yun alone to believe in his story.


    Nan Xun had no choice but to look for proof. Jun Huang didn¡¯tment when she heard. They both knew that although Qi Yun imed it was the officials who wanted evidence, it was Qi Yun who was doubting Nan Xun.


    ¡°Leave it to me,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°If he wants proof, I¡¯ll give him proof.¡±


    Before Nan Xun could say anything, she walked away. Worried that she¡¯d worked herself too hard, Nan Xun assigned a shadowguard to help her.


    Ji Bo had cleaned up after himself well. It wasn¡¯t easy to find concrete evidence. That wasn¡¯t what Jun Huagn was trying to do, anyway. It¡¯d take too much time. She mixed truths with lies and created their own proof.


    That was easier to aplish. They soon found out that the scion had been with a group of elites when he left. Ji Bo killed only the scion, but spared the elites. The group hadter been split up and embedded into the army. Ji Bo bought their silence with promises of great fortune.


    That was an opening.


    Jun Huang had the shadowguard pick a cowardly Eastern Wu soldier from the prison and convinced the man to im that he had been one of the elites apanying the scion. He made up a story about how Ji Bo had ordered the scion¡¯s death.


    The soldier had been caught after the scion¡¯s passing, and he was from Eastern Wu. No one knew where he¡¯d gone afterwards. What mattered was Nan Xun¡¯s reputation had been restored. The morale was high.


    Ji Bo, on the other hand, was having a difficult time. He cursed at Jun Huang for not knowing what was good for her. It worried him that the soldiers were starting to get suspicious of him.


    His reprieve came because of the weather.


    It started snowing heavily. One couldn¡¯t even differentiate between a man and an animal. Both nations had no choice but to cease the war.


    Nan Xun took the opportunity to spend some time with Jun Huang, enjoying the view.


    Jun Huang had rarely seen snow. Even when she did, it had often been tainted by men or animals. She¡¯d never seen such vast patch of pure, white snow. She could almost feel the color like it was a physical quality.


    Jun Huang almost jumped in delight when Nan Xun said he was going to take her out. She quickly schooled her expression and put on warmer clothes before leaving the camp. They made their way through the snow shoulder to shoulder.


    They were allowed some peace and quiet at the moment, but they didn¡¯t dare go too far. They didn¡¯t ride a horse, either, and instead walked on foot, hand in hand. They picked an unupied ce and watched the boundless snow.


    Jun Huang was feeling yful. She cleared her throat and said, ¡°Wait here for a moment.¡±


    With that, she ran off. Nan Xun didn¡¯t know what she was trying to do, but he obliged. She stopped not far from him and turned to smile at him. She looked stunning in the snowy afternoon.


    When he wasn¡¯t looking, she picked up a handful of snow, made it into a ball, and threw it at Nan Xun. Nan Xun was caught off guard, but he managed to tilt his head in time to dodge out of the way. Now he knew what it was Jun Huang wanted to do.


    Nan Xun¡¯s quick reflex didn¡¯t deter Jun Huang. She tried again.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t retaliate, worried that he¡¯d hurt her by ident. He made his way to Jun Huang, whoughed and backed away as she threw snowballs at him. Nan Xun soon caught her.


    In a fit of rare, childlike glee, Jun Huangy on the snow and refused to get up. Resigned, Nan Xun stayed on the ground with her. Both of them had snow in their clothes, but they didn¡¯t care.


    They were young. No matter how stoic and aloof they usually were when facing other people, they were only themselves when they were alone. They started having fun. Nan Xun even threw a few snowballs back at Jun Huang a few times. Jun Huang beamed, her eyes as bright as the stars.


    Exhausted, Jun Huang and Nan Xuny on the ground. She rested her head on his arm, feeling snownding on her face.


    After some time, she sat up and got to her feet. Nan Xun turned her down this time when she suggested another snowball fight.


    Jun Huang pursed her lips but didn¡¯t argue. She began to build a snowman. It took some time for her to make a crude one. Her eyes crinkled as she smiled.


    She turned to Nan Xun and noted the snow covering him. The white clothes he wore made him blend with the environment.


    ¡°I have an idea,¡± Jun Huang said suddenly. Nan Xun sat up and gave her a questioning nce.


    Jun Huang sat down next to him and let him take her chilled, reddened hands. ¡°This is our chance to strike back. We can have our troops put on camouge and attack Eastern Wu. Think about it. If the soldiers wear white and hide in the snow, will anyone be able to spot them?¡±

 Chapter 366 - Bitter Medicine

    <strong> Chapter 366: Bitter Medicine</strong>


    Nan Xun was quiet for a moment. Jun Huang had a point.


    He nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    Jun Huang gave him a faint smile. She was getting tired. Nan Xun noted her red hands and cheeks with a pang of sympathy and suggested that they returned to the camp. Jun Huang nodded. They brushed off the snow on them and walked back.


    Their footprints had been buried under a thickyer of snow, but fortunately, they hadn¡¯t gone far from the camp and could still see it from a distance. Jun Huang felt a little lightheaded, but she didn¡¯t think much of it. She assumed it was just her exhaustion.


    They parted after arriving at the camp. Jun Huang returned to the tent, while Nan Xun went off to discuss the idea of camouge with the officers.


    Jun Huang¡¯s idea won everyone¡¯s approval. After ordering them to make the necessary arrangements, Nan Xun returned to his tent.


    He parted the fabric and saw Jun Huang lying on the bed without putting on a nket. Frowning, he lit a candle and walked closer. Her red face told him she¡¯d caught a cold.


    He carefully pulled her into his arms. Jun Huang opened her eyes to look at him, her eyes misty from difort. She rubbed at her forehead with a frown and croaked, ¡°My head hurts and my limbs are weak. Is it the poison?¡±


    ¡°You must have caught a cold.¡± Nan Xun poured her a cup of water. ¡°Have some. I¡¯ll go get your master.¡±


    He carefully fed her the water. Jun Huang was thirsty. The water made her feel a little better.


    Nan Xun helped her take off her damp outer robe and covered her with a nket. He then retrieved a brazier to warm up the tent. Only then did he leave to find Oleg Cragfiend.


    Oleg Cragfiend immediately followed Nan Xun to the tent and took Jun Huang¡¯s pulse. He concluded that it was a simple cold, not the poison. Letting out a sigh of relief, he had someone brew the medicine he prescribed and reminded Nan Xun to take care of Jun Huang. Then he walked out of the tent


    The medicine was soon made. Nan Xun took the bowl and tried to wake Jun Huang, but failed.. He pulled her close and spoon-fed her. Fortunately, she was awake enough to swallow.


    After that, Nan Xun retrieved some hot water and wiped her face clean. Then hey down next to her.


    At midnight, he was woken up by Jun Huang¡¯s voice. He opened his eyes to see her curling into herself under the nket, muttering, ¡°Cold...¡±


    Nan Xun swallowed down the gulp in his throat and pulled her closer, putting his arms around her slim form. He med himself for her difort.


    Jun Huang hadn¡¯t had any peace since they got together. Every day, she was forced to work hard for something.


    His eyes stung. A drop of tearnded on Jun Huang¡¯s delicate neck. She was too tired to notice that a proud man had cried for her.


    When Jun Huang woke up, it was morning. There was no one in the tent with her.


    She had a massive headache. Rubbing at her temples didn¡¯t help, but the heat of the brazier made her feel a little better.


    Someone walked into the tent. She looked up to see Nan Xun walking toward her with a bowl of hot medicine. She wanted to smile at him, but the bitter smell made her scrunch up her nose.


    Her reaction didn¡¯t escape Nan Xun¡¯s attention. He shook his head resignedly and warmed himself up next to the brazier before approaching Jun Huang.


    ¡°Thank heavens you¡¯re awake. I thought you¡¯d sleep through the day.¡± Nan Xun sat down next to her and rxed somewhat. His joking words told of his true feelings.


    Jun Huang beamed at him, her eyes crinkling. Nan Xun sighed and fed her the medicine.


    Jun Huang¡¯s smile dropped. One spoonful was bitter enough to deter her. She had thought she would never fear anything bitter again after the myriad of medicines she¡¯d been given, but this one was particrly difficult to swallow. She looked pitiful with her brows furrowed.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a cold. I¡¯ll be fine after some rest. All medicine is toxic in some way. I already have poison in my system. Isn¡¯t this only going to make things worse?¡±


    Jun Huang looked up at Nan Xun expectantly.


    Nan Xun paused. He didn¡¯t realize what Jun Huang¡¯s true intention was, and instead med himself for failing to protect her. They had worked so hard to cleanse her of poison, and now she was inflicted with another kind. He¡¯d failed her.


    Jun Huang could read her guilt. She sighed inwardly and looked down at the bowl. She wanted to assure him, but she didn¡¯t want to take the medicine. Her face clouded.


    After a while, she sighed in resignation. ¡°You know me. I simply didn¡¯t want to have the medicine and misspoke. I wasn¡¯t trying to me you. Besides, I was the reason why I was poisoned, not you.¡±


    Nan Xun looked up at her. Her smile had given way to faint mncholy. He felt a lump in his throat.


    ¡°Good medicine is often bitter,¡± he said eventually. ¡°It¡¯ll be difficult for you to recover without any medicine. Please take it.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s so unbearably bitter,¡± Jun Huang muttered.


    Nan Xun thought for a moment. He had an idea. He drank from the ceramic bowl and kissed Jun Huang¡¯s pale lips, passing the medicine into her mouth. Caught off guard, Jun Huang barely even tasted the bitterness.


    Nan Xun was so close, and she could still feel his soft lips even after he¡¯d pulled away. She was both warmed and mortified.


    Oblivious to her embarrassment, Nan Xun took out a pack of candied dates and fed her one. The sweetness jerked Jun Huang out of her trance. She looked at him curiously. ¡°Where did you get the dates when it¡¯s snowing everywhere?¡±


    Nan Xun blushed and got too flustered to say aplete sentence. He shut his mouth and cleared his throat, changing the subject.


    After Nan Xun left the tent, Oleg Cragfiend came. He rxed once he made sure Jun Huang was no longer running a fever.


    ¡°You don¡¯t pay enough attention to your health despite knowing your own condition,¡± he said disapprovingly. ¡°Your stubbornness is going to end up hurting you. You should¡¯ve stayed in the camp. Don¡¯t wander around unless you have a good reason.¡±


    Embarrassed, Jun Huang ate another candied date to distract herself. Oleg Cragfiend stopped ranting when he noticed and chuckled.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny, master?¡± Jun Huang asked curiously, looking up at him.


    ¡°Do you know where the candied dates came from?¡± Oleg Cragfiend asked instead of answering.


    Jun Huang shook her head. Oleg Cragfiend nodded in understanding and said, ¡°Before sunrise, Nan Xun woke up and went all the way to the town to buy the candied dates. Worried that they¡¯d be freezing cold when he returned and end up upsetting your stomach, he kept the pack of dates in his arms. We thought it was something precious when he came back. Well, it is pretty precious to you now.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiendughed heartily. Jun Huang flushed red, at a loss of words. After some more teasing, Oelg Cragfiend left in a good mood.


    Her flushed face was what Nan Xun saw when he came back to the tent. Worried that the cold radiating from his body would make her ill, he stayed at the mouth of the tent and waited for his body to warm up. Jun Huang looked over at him.


    He took a deep breath and walked up to her. He btedly realized that his hands were still cold after reaching out for her. He could only use his forehead to take her temperature. Jun Huang blushed even harder with his handsome face being so close.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t running a fever anymore,¡± said Nan Xun, frowning. ¡°Why is your face still red?¡±


    He didn¡¯t know the answer, but she did. She cleared her throat and leaned backward, putting some distance between them. Eventually, she calmed down, and her face was no longer heating up. Nan Xun sighed in relief.


    Jun Huang stared at him for a long time. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to make the trip. I¡¯ll be fine without the candied dates. You should¡¯ve rested longer instead of going to the town.¡±


    Nan Xun blinked in surprise, but then realized that Oelg Cragfiend hade to talk to her. He sighed, ruffling her hair. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll do anything for you. Even if you just want to have a taste, I¡¯ll still get the dates for you. I don¡¯t want the bitter taste to linger in your mouth.¡±


    Nan Xun was being earnest. Jun Huang knew he was too proud a man to trick her with pretty words. Moved, she threw herself into his arms.


    Nan Xun stilled. He worried that his body would still be too cold for her, but he didn¡¯t want to push her away. After some hesitation, he put his arms around her.

 Chapter 367 - Frozen Wall

    <strong>Chapter 367: Frozen Wall</strong>


    ¡°When will the war ends, Nan Xun?¡± Jun Huang said, breaking the silence.


    Nan Xun rested his chin over her head. ¡°Soon.¡±


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t question him. She hoped everything would be resolved soon. Then she would settle down in a quiet ce with Nan Xun, leading a peaceful life with him. That was her idea of a happy ending.


    They held each other for a long time until Nan Xun let go of Jun Huang and guided her to the bed. He covered her with a nket.


    ¡°How is the n going?¡± Jun Huang asked, staring at Nan Xun.


    ¡°I had a meeting with the officers. It seems that the snowfall would continue. We¡¯ll take action in a few days. However, we won¡¯t be able to scale down from the cliff in such harsh weather.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. They had to take the high ground back, but they weren¡¯t going to risk soldiers¡¯ lives unnecessarily. Nan Xun massaged her temples and murmured reassurance to her, telling her to rest.


    The snow did continue. While Nan Xun and his men were conserving strength, Ji Bo had been making preparations.


    ¡°Will this work, Gentleman Ji Bo?¡± the burly man asked with a hammer in his hand.


    Ji Bo walked among the group. At the front, a few soldiers carved a path through the snow. The others walked along the path. Although the snow had been pushed to the side, every once in a while some of them would trip and fall.


    As he spoke, the burly man hadn¡¯t forgotten to take care of the schrly man, worried that hispanion would fall. The schrly man lifted his robe with a hand and put the other hand on the burly man¡¯s shoulder. They trudged through the snow with some difficulty.


    ¡°Of course it will,¡± Ji Bo said faintly and urged the others to hurry.


    The burly man scratched his head. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you take more people with you?¡±


    Ji Bo stopped, his gaze sweeping through everyone. ¡°This n is on a need-to-know basis.¡±


    ¡°He means there are spies in our ranks,¡± said the schrly man. It was a statement rather than a question. His breaths fogged up the air, which made his face seem even paler. His forehead was covered in sweat.


    Ji Bo gave them a nomittal smile. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone anything. I picked you toe with me because I trust you.¡±


    He kept walking.


    The schrly man and his more strongly-built friend fell to the end of the group. He scoffed at Ji Bo¡¯s back. Whether he trusts us is another story. What¡¯s more important is that he can then kill everyone who knows about the n if it¡¯s exposed.


    The burly man didn¡¯t know what his friend was thinking. Noting the frown on his face, the burly man suggested that they took a short break. The schrly man threw him a nce and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need. Let¡¯s keep going.¡±


    The burly man meekly kept pace with him.


    They soon reached their destination ¨C ake that had been frozen over after the snowfall. No one knew how thick the ice was. They stayed some distance away.


    Ji Bo knelt down to look at the water under the ice. He nodded to himself and beckoned the soldiers over. They cracked the ice with an ice pick and a hammer. A gust of cold air shot through the cracks.


    ¡°Fill the barrels with water and carry them back to the camp,¡± ordered Ji Bo.


    ¡°Won¡¯t the water freeze over on our way back?¡± asked the burly man.


    Ji Bo gave him a look without a word. The schrly man checked the barrels and huffed. The burly man hurried to his side. Inside each barrel was another barrel. The one outside was filled with oil. The burly man made the connections and pped his forehead in realization.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you here to be spectators,¡± Ji Bo said, looking up at them.


    The burly man nodded and joined the schrly man in filling the barrels with water. The soldiers would then carry the barrels back.


    Ji Bo didn¡¯t stay for long. The burly man and the schrly man stopped what they were doing.


    The schrly man looked at the high ground. The burly man asked, ¡°What do you think he¡¯s doing?¡±


    The schrly man masked his doubtful look and shook his head.


    Ji Bo ascended the city wall. Once night fell, he ordered the soldiers to carry the water to the top and pour it down. It was even colder at night. The water froze into ice as soon as it touched the air. The ice thickened until the city wall was encased in an imprableyer of ice.


    Ji Bo smirked in spite of the cutting winds, his eyes dark. The only one who knew about what he¡¯d done was the men he¡¯d taken to theke.


    He put some soldiers on watch and walked away.


    Nan Xun left the camp immediately after Jun Huagn fell asleep.


    ¡°How is it going?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    ¡°Everything is in position,¡± said an officer. ¡°It¡¯s snowed a lot. We won¡¯t be spotted with the camouge.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded and entered the main tent with the officers. There were a good number of people gathered here, and every one of them was an expert who could fight a hundred men on their own. They changed into white battle attire, awaiting Nan Xun¡¯s order.


    Nan Xun and the officers approached the high ground with the white snow as their cover. There was no moon tonight. All anyone could see in the dark was the vast, boundless white.


    They made their way to the city wall quickly. An officer put a hand on the wall to support himself. After a stab of cold, he realized that his hand was stuck.


    The officers¡¯ muttering caught Nan Xun¡¯s attention. He walked up to them and saw that the officer¡¯s hand had turned red from the cold while it remained stuck to the ice.


    Nan Xun¡¯s pupils contracted as realization dawned on him. The wall was under a thickyer of ice. There was nothing for them to grab onto. It would be impossible for them to climb the wall.


    Still, they had to first free the officer¡¯s hand.


    The officer was sweating profusely. His hand burned. Nan Xun took out a dagger, which almost made the officer copse in panic.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t pay his reaction any attention. He held the dagger to the officer¡¯s hand. The officer thought the general was going to cut his hand, but that wasn¡¯t what Nan Xun was trying to do. He cut a rough shape around the hand with the dagger.


    What came next required patience. Nan Xun didn¡¯t want to waste his time. He handed the dagger to another officer. ¡°Cut through the ice following the line to free him.¡±


    He took some of his men to walk the parameter. All the walls were covered in ice. They couldn¡¯t get into the city.


    They gave up on their original n. The officer was finally released from the ice. His hand was so numb it was as if it didn¡¯t belong to him. He asked Nan Xun why he had been stuck.


    Nan Xun gave him a cool nce. ¡°Your hand was warm when you touched the ice, which melted the ice particles. Since you didn¡¯t take your hand off in time, the water froze over and substantially lowered the temperature of your hand. As a result, your hand was stuck.¡±


    Everyone nodded in understanding and stayed away from the icy wall. Nan Xun nced at it resignedly. He had no choice but to regroup and leave.


    The next morning, Ji Bo ascended the city wall and asked the scouts if they¡¯d noticed anything. The scouts said no. Curious, Ji Bo walked out of the city with a few men.


    It didn¡¯t take long for someone to spot something. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve sound some tracks.¡±


    Everyone made their way to him. The soldier brushed the snow on the surface to the side, revealing tainted snow with different sets of footprints. More than one person had been here. There were also marks left by a de on the wall, which further proved that there had been an attempt at breaking into the city.


    Ji Bo hadn¡¯t managed to capture Nan Xun, but he was proud to have stopped Nan Xun¡¯s ambush with a simple trick.


    ¡°It¡¯s risky to march out now,¡± a man spoke up.


    ¡°How so?¡± Ji Bo asked with an eyebrow raised. He was in a good mood.


    ¡°The weather is too harsh...¡±


    ¡°Well, Nan Xun and his men tried tounch a surprise attackst night. They must still be on their way back. We¡¯ll be able to catch them off guard and defeat them easily. Why shouldn¡¯t we do it?¡±


    The man wanted to say something, but the others all agreed with Ji Bo¡¯s analysis. He shut his mouth. Ji Bo gathered a troop and led them out himself.


    They caught up with Nan Xun and his men when they were going to make some food. Nan Xun spotted Ji Bo as well. He and his soldiers mounted their horses in a rush, but maintained theirposure and didn¡¯t flee.


    Ji Bo scoffed. What an arrogant fool!


    Nan Xun and his men hadn¡¯t had the time to rest. They soon lost the upper hand and kept retreating. Ji Bo and his soldiers chased them doggedly.

 Chapter 368 - Supplies

    <strong>Chapter 368: Supplies</strong>


    ¡°Retreat ording to n,¡± Nan Xun ordered. He knew he couldn¡¯t win this fight. His soldiers nodded in understanding and turned around.


    Ji Bo was just getting started. He wasn¡¯t going to let them leave so easily. He scoffed and insisted on giving chase despite the others¡¯ objections.


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes turned cold. He and his officers lured Ji Bo to where they had set up an ambush.


    Ji Bo hadn¡¯t noticed anything wrong. Seeing that Nan Xun and his men had fled to a hill when cornered, he ordered his soldiers to ascend as well. They soon climbed to the top.


    Ji Bo had taken with him only a small troop, but it was more than enough to take care of Nan Xun and his men. Nheless, the general didn¡¯t seem at all nervous.


    ¡°You better consider surrendering when you still can, Nan Xun,¡± Ji Bo said arrogantly. ¡°I may spare your life if you do.¡±


    Nan Xun scoffed and lit a signaling re. Ji Bo frowned, staring at the bottom of the hill, wondering if Nan Xun had put people here beforehand.


    Suddenly, from the trenches emerged a group of soldiers. They had remained undetected with the snow as their cover. Caught off guard, Ji Bo widened his eyes. There was little he could do. They were already surrounded.


    ¡°How did you know I¡¯d send my men to attack you?¡± Ji Bo asked, staring at Nan Xun with a mad glint in his eyes. ¡°How do you know I¡¯d have them pursue you to this location? Has everything been part of your n?¡±


    Ji Bo shook his head to himself. ¡°No, You didn¡¯t know I would put water over the wall. You must have nned to break into the city at first, am I right?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t waste his time answering Ji Bo¡¯s questions. His goal was to apprehend Ji Bo and found out where he could find Jun Hao and the cure to Jun Huang¡¯s poison. He scoffed and took out a dagger, stabbing at Ji Bo.


    Adrenaline rushed through Ji Bo¡¯s system. Before the de could cut him, he grabbed a soldier and used him to block the cut.


    That ignited a fight. Ji Bo fell on his hip, startled by the intense fight happening right before him. If not for his men¡¯s help, he wouldn¡¯t even be able to get up.


    Recognizing that he was going to fail or even get himself in danger, Ji Bo took a calming breath and ordered the soldiers to retreat, shooting Nan Xun a re.


    Sensing Eastern Wu¡¯s intention, Nan Xun¡¯s men wanted to give chase and made Eastern Wu pay. However, Nan Xun stopped them.


    ¡°General, we should chase them down,¡± said an officer.


    Nan Xun narrowed his eyes at the direction Ji Bo had fled in. ¡°A beast is most dangerous when cornered. We¡¯ll get back and recuperate first.¡±


    He mounted his horse. The others obediently followed him back to the camp.


    Ji Bo didn¡¯t let the soldiers stop until they were a good distance away, but then he realized that Nan Xun hadn¡¯t followed. He was both disappointed and angry.


    ¡°What do we do now, Gentleman Ji ?¡± asked a soldier.


    Ji Bo cursed under his breath. Whatever had happened, happened. He stopped his men from setting up an ambush and told them to take a short rest. He tightened his jaw. They would return to the cityter.


    It was his first direct sh with Nan Xun, and he lost! Things had gone ording to Nan Xun¡¯s n.


    Ji Bo had always fancied himself a talented and wise man. He didn¡¯t expect to lose to a general who knew only how to fight. He didn¡¯t take the defeat well.


    Soon, though, he realized that Jun Huang must have been giving Nan Xun advice and pointing out Ji Bo¡¯s n. Ji Bo had known Jun Huang for a while. He knew how clever she was.


    They returned to the city on the high ground. He had barely rested when the burly man barged in, panting. ¡°Bad news, Gentleman Ji. There isn¡¯t that much food left in the city. If things go on, we¡¯ll starve to death before we get killed.¡±


    He was telling the truth. Ji Bo recognized the gravity of the issue and returned to his tent. He drafted a letter to ask when the supplies would arrive.


    However, he didn¡¯t get a response. Ji Bo cursed out loud. After a few more letters, he received only excuses from the royal n. It made his blood boil.


    In a fit of anger, he grabbed anything and everything in his tent and threw them to the ground. His tantrum was interrupted when the schrly man entered his tent. He turned a blind eye to Ji Bo¡¯s venomous stare. ¡°It makes sense that the royal n will be unwilling to deliver us supplies.¡±


    Ji Bo calmed himself and frowned. ¡°Get to the point.¡±


    The schrly man raised an eyebrow. ¡°Before, the royal n would¡¯ve delivered the supplies already. We¡¯ve suffered a series of defeats, though. They¡¯ve begun to doubt your ability. Of course they¡¯ll hesitate to give us anything.¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s face clouded. He had to admit the man had a point, which further stoked the fury in his heart. He kicked the schrly man out. Once he was calm enough, he had someone follow the man. If the man did anything unusual, he wanted to know.


    His personal shadowguard came out of nowhere and whispered into his ear, ¡°The fight for the throne is getting intense.¡±


    Ji Bo thought for a while. He believed it was time he put a puppet on the throne so that he could be in control. Once that was decided, he ordered the shadowguard to make the arrangements.


    Nan Xun and Ji Bo knew each other well. And their mutual understanding grew even deeper after their shes. Thest defeat had been bothering Ji Bo.


    Nan Xun wasn¡¯t interested in a dance. He¡¯d intended to finish things off with a single assault.


    It was getting chilly at night. Jun Huang, being prone to coldness, fell asleep quickly. Nan Xun couldn¡¯t sleep with all the concerns weighing him down. He sat up and put on a robe before leaving the tent.


    ¡°Our man is back, Your Highness,¡± a shadowguard said as soon as Nan Xun walked out.


    Nan Xun¡¯s eyes shed. He threw his tent a nce and nodded at the shadowguard, following him to a smaller tent not far from them. Inside was a middle-aged man. He greeted Nan Xun with a bow and said, ¡°The Eastern Wu army is running low on supplies. Ji Bo sent many letters to the imperial n and finally convinced them to deliver supplies here. They¡¯ve departed and are expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about the info?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    The man nodded. Nan Xun made a noise of assent and told the man to be careful and to keep his identity a secret. The man nodded. He disappeared into the night once Nan Xun had left.


    When Nan Xun returned to his tent, Jun Huang had woken up.


    ¡°Why are you awake?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Where did you go?¡± she said in lieu of a response, looking up at Nan Xun.


    There was no reason for him to lie to her. He exined, ¡°Our spy said that a batch of supplies areing in for Eastern Wu.¡±


    That piqued her interest. ¡°Do you want to steal it?¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. Jun Huang¡¯s eyes lit up. After some deliberation, she said, ¡°Take me with you. I won¡¯t make any troubles for you, and I¡¯ll follow your orders. I¡¯m just curious.¡±


    ¡°I hear it¡¯s not umon for armies to steal each other¡¯s supplies. That must be why you¡¯ve prepared enough resources tost us for the duration of the war beforeing. However, won¡¯t Ji Bo expect an assault?¡± Jun Huang bombarded him with questions.


    It¡¯d been a while since Nan Xun saw Jun Huang be so lively. He answered all her questions but didn¡¯t say if he¡¯d take her with him. Instead of arguing, she simply looked at him with bright eyes until he caved.


    He knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to say no when Jun Huang was being so insistent. She was the woman he loved. He didn¡¯t want to see her disappointed.


    Oleg Cragfiend had also told him that the odds weren¡¯t good for finding a cure to Jun Huang¡¯s poison. Perhaps she¡¯d copse sooner rather thanter. He didn¡¯t want to think about that, but he had to face the reality. The most he could do was to make her happy.


    He sighed. ¡°I can take you if you want, but you must follow me closely at all times. If things go pear-shaped, you have to escape when I tell you to. Promise me that, and you cane with me.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded eagerly. Nan Xun sighed again and ruffled her hair, silently praying that there would be no danger.


    She fell asleep leaning against him. Nan Xun gingerly ced her on the bed and dropped a kiss on her forehead.


    His lead shadowguard called out for him. Nan Xun tucked Jun Huang in before walking out of the tent.


    ¡°The officers are waiting,¡± the shadowguard said respectfully.


    Nan Xun nodded. He made his way to the tent for strategic meetings with the shadowguard in tow. This would be a sleepless night. He would make Ji Bo suffer even if they failed to steal the supplies.

 Chapter 369 - Worthless Deaths

    <strong>Chapter 369: Worthless Deaths</strong>


    The officers had heard what was going on. They knew there was no need for so many of them if they were only going to steal the supplies. They assumed Nan Xun was going to pick one of them to lead a team.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to lead the team for intercepting the supplies myself,¡± Nan Xun said.


    The officers didn¡¯t expect that. Stealing supplies might seem like a simple enough task, but it wasn¡¯t. It was amon tactic. Eastern Wu was likely to have foreseen their action. If their operation failed, it could mean deaths. That was why anyone of importance was rarely assigned to such a task.


    ¡°Please allow me to do it,¡± an officer spoke up.


    Nan Xun waved a hand dismissively and sat down. ¡°I¡¯m not arguing with you. What I want to talk about is the general battle n tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Eastern Wu will be ready, but they know they can¡¯t put too many people to safeguard the supplies. At most, they may put one officer in charge, and they won¡¯t do anything until noon. If that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no reason for us to go head to head with them... March out tomorrow morning and catch them off guard. Forget about the supplies... I¡¯ll teach you how you¡¯re going tomand the troops. Do not make any mistakes. You have to convince them that I¡¯m still in the army.¡±


    Nan Xun talked until his voice was hoarse. He finished a pot of tea himself, which helped a little.


    The officers had learned a lot from Nan Xun that night. Their eyes were bright with excitement.


    When the meeting ended, the day was about to break. It was time for them to set out. Nan Xun made his way back to his tent.


    Jun Huang was already awake when he entered. She looked up at him and smiled. ¡°You must have formted a n already. We should go. Time¡¯s a wastin.¡±


    Nan Xun took the tea Jun Huagn had asked for earlier and left the tent with her. They joined up with a team of soldiers and rode out.


    The sun hadn¡¯t risen above the horizon. It was dark, and the wind was chilling. Jun Huang leaned closer toward Nan Xun. The horses left hoof prints on the snow.


    They moved quickly. Soon, they heard something approaching them. They exchanged a nce and dismounted. After hiding the horses, they went up a hill andy low.


    Nan Xun was almost on top of Jun Huang, shielding her from the falling snow. He pulled her closer, worried that she would feel cold. ¡°Take this. Just to be safe.¡±


    Jun Huang turned to see Nan Xun handing her a dagger. She took it without hesitation.


    Illuminated by the rising sun was a group of men. They were Eastern Wu¡¯s couriers.


    Once they had entered the circle Nan Xun¡¯s men made, Nan Xun charged out with his soldiers. The sudden turn of events caught the couriers off guard.


    Nan Xun¡¯s men were quick and agile. The couriers had been in a rush to deliver the supplies. They didn¡¯t dare cause a dy when Ji Bo was in such a hurry. Thus, they hadn¡¯t gotten much sleep. The ambush caught them by surprise. Many of them were struck down before they could even draw their swords.


    A courrier who had been staying at the back started. Recognizing the futility of resistance, he fled. Jun Huang spotted him running away. She narrowed her eyes and went after him.


    The man didn¡¯t expect that. He drew his sword. Jun Huang only had a dagger as her weapon. She picked up a wooden branch to block the de.


    The man rxed when he saw that his pursuer was a woman. He struck at Jun Huang with quick and precise moves.


    Jun Huang backed away from aing sh, her back knocking into a tree. With an eyebrow raised, she kicked the trunk to propel herself and leapt over the man¡¯s head. The man dodged to the side quickly, but Jun Huang¡¯s dagger managed to cut his arm.


    Nan Xun finished off the couriers and came for Jun Huang before the man could strike again. He kicked the man in the back and knocked him off the hill.


    Jun Huang was going to rush down to take care of the man, but Nan Xun stopped her.


    ¡°Are we just going to let him go?¡± she asked.


    Nan Xun shook his head. ¡°The fall is enough to seriously injure him. Besides, the dagger is tempered with poison. He won¡¯t live for long. We should return now.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded and followed Nan Xun back to their group. They did an inventory on the supplies before making their way to the camp.


    The man had survived the fall. He struggled to his feet and patched himself up, gritting his teeth. He didn¡¯t notice anything wrong with the cut on his arm. He stumbled his way to Eastern Wu¡¯s camp.


    Ji Bo almost spat out blood when he heard that Nan Xun had taken the supplies. He was going to ask more questions when the man died of the poison suddenly. Ji Bo¡¯s face went dark. His urge to kill Nan Xun intensified.


    Things weren¡¯t looking good. Ji Bo had no choice but to use one of his trump cards. He collected his thoughts and summoned his shadowguard, making the order.


    The shadowguard was surprised initially, but it made sense for Ji Bo to make that move. It¡¯d be uncharacteristic of the strategist to do nothing after the failure he suffered.


    He had Ji Bo¡¯s letter delivered to Northern Qi¡¯s imperial city. It was time to fight back.


    Sir Zhao heard about an iing letter as soon as he woke up. Instead of having the letter delivered to him immediately, he had breakfast first and made his way to the study. He prohibited anyone from bothering him before opening the envelope.


    His expression was unreadable after reading the letter. He burned it with candle fire and rubbed at the calluses covering his palms.


    A schr official shouldn¡¯t have such callused hands. He was actually a fighter who had beenying low for revenge.


    His lips curved into a cruel smile. He quickly schooled his expression into one of indifference and summoned all his men.


    Once, he¡¯d been the general of Tianyu. After its destruction, he had wanted to take his own life, but Ji Bo stopped him. He told him toy low in Northern Qi. The years of waiting was all for this moment.


    Everyone in his manor was secretly a special-trained deathsworn, as capable as any soldiers. Now that Ji Bo was in trouble, it was time for him toe out of hiding.


    The Zhao Manor was emptied overnight. It was as if they¡¯d all vanished into thin air. Qi Yun was surprised when he heard, but he couldn¡¯t figure out what had happened. He knew Sir Zhao as a disciplined schr official. He ordered his men to search for the official, but failed to inform Nan Xun.


    All of a sudden, Sir Zhao led more than a hundred of his deathsworns and charged at Nan Xun from within Northern Qi¡¯s territory, catching Nan Xun by surprise. No one had anticipated the turn of events. Sir Zhao specifically had been targeting Nan Xun.


    Their paths had crossed before in the imperial city. Nan Xun didn¡¯t expect them to one day be enemies.


    Ji Bo had ordered Sir Zhao to assassinate Nan Xun. However, he only had about a hundred men with him, while Nan Xun had almost ten thousand. His only choice was to carve a path through the border city gate. Once the gate was forced open, the waiting Eastern Wu soldiers¡¯ advanced in droves.


    It was a hectic fight, but Nan Xun didn¡¯t lose his calm. He deftly countered the enemy¡¯s attack.


    It was fortunate that they¡¯d had dug a moat a few inches from the city wall, which was filled with oil rather than water. Nan Xun had the moat lit and a wall of fire soared up, keeping the enemies from getting close. Those who had slower reflex even got burned to death.


    Nan Xun moved quickly. After the enemies had backed away, he had the moat emptied and put out the fire with snow. Immediately, he led a charge against Eastern Wu.


    Ji Bo had no choice but to order the soldiers to retreat. Nan Xun didn¡¯t give chase since his men weren¡¯t in a better condition. Neither side won the battle, and both suffered casualties.


    Nan Xun was no stranger to loss. War showed mercy to no one. He¡¯d witnessed countless deaths himself. He had someone make a list of those who hadn¡¯t returned to the camp. It¡¯d be ideal if they could find the bodies. They submitted the list to the imperial court and requested for the families left behind to be taken care of.


    Eastern Wu soon recovered. Ji Bo officially dered war against Nan Xun, who used it as a way to motivate his soldiers. They began to prepare for the next battle.


    Jun Huang could never get used to witnessing deaths. It pained her to see the crippled soldiers whining on the ground. Some of them were missing an arm. Others, a leg. She couldn¡¯t bear looking at the blood-tainted snow.


    Nan Xun knew Jun Huang was naturally caring. He didn¡¯t want her to be numb to deaths like he was. Thus, when Jun Huang said she wanted to join Oleg Cragfiend as a war medic, he agreed. He told her to be careful. The soldiers might get rough. He didn¡¯t want her to get hurt.

 Chapter 370 - Infighting

    <strong>Chapter 370: Infighting</strong>


    Jun Huang followed Oleg Cragfiend and the other medics to the infirmary ¨C a simple tent lined with crude beds. Soldiers whose clothes were stained with bloody there, panting in pain. Jun Huang¡¯s throat tightened. She was close to tears.


    It wasn¡¯t necessarily out of sympathy. She¡¯d simply never stared death in the eyes and felt it weigh on her like a physical weight. She didn¡¯t know how to deal with it. Oleg Cragfiend patted her shoulder in understanding and told her not to think too much.


    Jun Huang spent day and night in the tent. Her silver dress had been tainted by blood, but she didn¡¯t seem to care. Things were most difficult at night. Every now and then there would be soldiers whose conditions worsened suddenly. Their scream was a terrible thing. They needed immediate treatment. Sometimes, when things got particrly bad, she wouldn¡¯t even have the time to drink water.


    As a woman, Jun Huang did receive some favorable treatment from the soldiers. Those who were used to making lewd jokes usually fell silent when Jun Huang was around, which she appreciated.


    There was a soldier who was particrly attentive to Jun Huang. Some time ago, he hurt his arm. Jun Huang had been the only one avable, so she was the one who patched him up. Since then, the soldier often offered her help and retrieved water for her.


    Today, Jun Huang and Oleg Cragfiend had saved someone who almost died. She felt lightheaded and weak in the knees. She sat down on the ground, rubbing at her forehead.


    ¡°Are you tired?¡± a man asked. ¡°You should return to your tent and rest.¡±


    Jun Huang looked up to see the young soldier she¡¯d treated before and gave him a weak smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll return after a bit.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t I walk you back? It¡¯ste. It¡¯s not safe for you to go on your own.¡± The soldier blushed as he spoke. Junn Huang was too tired to notice. She nodded carelessly and waited until she felt a little better.


    The soldier ran up to Jun Huang when she was going to get to her feet. Worried that he¡¯d dirty her clothes, he wiped his hands clean before helping her up, a bashful smile tugging his lips.


    Jun Huang gave him a polite smile. She assumed the young soldier had simply seen too little women in the army; hence, the shyness.


    After they¡¯d walked some distance, the soldier came to a stop. Jun Huang gave him a questioning look. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked quietly. ¡°If you have something to take care of, you may go. The camp isn¡¯t far from here.¡±


    ¡°That... that¡¯s not it. I have things to tell you.¡± The soldier¡¯s face was flushed red. Even under the dim light of the candles, Jun Huang could see his expression clearly. She frowned. She had an inkling about what the soldier was going to say, but she wasn¡¯t sure. She waited silently for him to speak up.


    Eventually, the soldier seemed to have made up his mind. With bright, focused eyes, he took a deep breath and said, ¡°It¡¯s impressive how devoted you are to bettering the world. You¡¯re a heroine who isn¡¯t any lesser than any men. After knowing you for a few days, I came to see you as a celestial descending to the earth from heaven. You leave such a deep impression. I... I may not be that smart or talented, but I want to keep you safe and drive all darkness away... I... adore you. Will you be with me?¡±


    His voice became so faint it almost got lost in the wind, but Jun Huang heard everything clearly against the silent backdrop. She wasn¡¯t exactly surprised. With a frown, she opened her mouth to exin, but then Nan Xun hade to find her. He pulled Jun Huang close with a dark look on his face.


    The young soldier looked at them in shock, too stunned to say anything. Jun Huang sighed. ¡°I¡¯m with Nan Xun. Thank you for your appreciation, but I can¡¯t ept it. I hope you understand. You¡¯ll find the right woman one day.¡±


    The soldier didn¡¯t know about their rtionship before. He could see how dark Nan Xun¡¯s expression was and how lovingly Jun Huang was looking at Nan Xun. He felt ashamed, but even more overpowering was the sense of loss.


    Nan Xun was his general. He could neverpare. He lingered a little while before walking away.


    ¡°He¡¯s gone already. Why are you still looking at him?¡± Nan Xun spoke unhappily. He was jealous that Jun Huang hadn¡¯t turned to him.


    Jun Huang turned around and said quietly, ¡°Do you really feel nothing about the loss of your soldiers?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t immediately react. He sighed. ¡°What good will it do if I get devastated for every death? There will always be casualties in war, especially at the border. I¡¯ve encountered one too many deaths, and I couldn¡¯t not get used to it.¡±


    Jun Huang fell silent. She understood. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t a heartless man. Of course he was affected by the deaths. However, that wasn¡¯t something he could change. The only thing he could do was to make better ns and minimize casualties.


    They fell silent. No word was needed at this moment.


    The Eastern Wu¡¯s army wasn¡¯t as peaceful. Sir Zhao had taken more than a hundred soldiers with him, most of whom were Northern Qi¡¯s soldiers. There weren¡¯t a lot of them, but enough to stir up trouble.


    At the end of the day, they were born and raised in Northern Qi. Although they were loyal to Sir Zhao, they felt no affection for Eastern Wu. They had only been holding back under Sir Zhao¡¯s order.


    Today, Sir Zhao¡¯s deathsworns were having a pleasant conversation, but then they heard a piercing scream. Before they could react, a woman with torn and tattered dress ran out of a tent.


    Her hair was a mess and her face was covered in tears, but it was obvious that she was of Northern Qi¡¯s blood. Sir Zhao¡¯s deathsworns were mostly Northern Qi¡¯s natives. They couldn¡¯t not do anything when they saw a woman of their kind humiliated and assaulted. They went up to protect the woman.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± demanded a Eastern Wu¡¯s soldier.


    A deathsworn scoffed. ¡°We¡¯re not going to condone such atrocities. We¡¯ll take her from you.¡±


    The Eastern Wu¡¯s soldiers had always looked down on the deathsworns. They weren¡¯t going to tolerate having their fun interrupted. A scuffle broke out. The woman was petrified. She looked around to seek help and noticed a gentle-looking man.


    Without thinking, she ran up to the schrly man, hoping to save herself. ¡°Please help, sir!¡±


    The schrly man looked at the soldiers engaged in a petty fight, then at the woman kneeling before him. Disgust shed through his eyes. The woman felt only a brief, sharp pain in her neck before her body started twitching uncontrobly. She took herst breath.


    The schrly man took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands before shifting his gaze to the group. They¡¯d stopped fighting. The deathsworns didn¡¯t expect the woman they had wanted to save to be killed so suddenly, and the Eastern Wu¡¯s soldiers didn¡¯t foresee the loss of their entertainment.


    The deathsworns were the first to react. They considered the schrly man¡¯s action as provocation. Their hands tightened around their swords.


    The schrly man turned a blind eye to their fury and said, ¡°Since you¡¯vee with Sir Zhao, you should forget about Northern Qi. There are things you shouldn¡¯t do.¡±


    He turned to the soldiers. ¡°There¡¯s no rule against hurting Northern Qi¡¯s women, but do that behind closed doors, not out in the open. You¡¯ll be punished by martialw if there¡¯s a next time.¡±


    After that, the conflict between the two groups escted. Eventually, it became Ji Bo¡¯s problem.


    Ji Bo was getting a headache listening to them argue. He didn¡¯t think the incident was that big a deal, so he dismissed both sides carelessly. He didn¡¯t realize his attitude had angered the Eastern Wu¡¯s soldiers.


    He sent for the schrly man afterwards.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Ji Bo asked without preamble.


    The schrly man looked at Ji Bo coolly and chuckled. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to talk your way out of it. I know you¡¯re sent by the royal n.¡± Ji Bo took a dagger to the man¡¯s neck.


    The schrly man was still smiling, unfazed. Ji Bo didn¡¯t have any patience for such empty talk. The de broke the skin. Blood trickled down from the man¡¯s neck.


    Neither of them said anything. They held gaze silently. Noting the man¡¯s taunting look and derisive calm, Ji Bo¡¯s hand moved almost on its own ord. He gritted his teeth and sliced the dagger across his neck.


    Before the schrly man took hisst breath, he whispered into Ji Bo¡¯s ear. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this.¡±


    His subsequent nights were gued with nightmares.


    As the schrly man had said, the burly man soon got wind of the schrly man¡¯s death. They had both been sent by the royal n to keep an eye on Ji Bo. They were sworn brothers. They always knew one of them would end up dead. They¡¯d agreed on that as a sign that Ji Bo had gone too far.

 Chapter 371 - Human Heart

    <strong>Chapter 371: Human Heart</strong>


    The burly man stilled when he heard about the schrly man¡¯s death. He gritted his teeth. The messenger was intimidated by the coldness radiating from him.


    After a long pause, the burly man asked, ¡°The army has been more and more agitated these days, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    The soldier nodded. The burly man¡¯s eyes grew murderous. He scoffed and told the soldier to pass down his message. The soldiers were to stop listening to Ji Bo¡¯s orders. The messenger was then told to write a letter to the imperial city to tell the royal n what had happened.


    The soldier nodded in understanding. He left after giving the burly man a final, worried nce. The burly man sat on the divan, his eyes unfocused. In his tight grip was a pristine piece of white jade. It was the schrly man¡¯s favorite piece of essory.


    Disobedience spread through the Eastern Wu¡¯s army like wildfire. Nan Xun, who¡¯d been injured in thest battle and was in recovery, was surprised when he found out.


    At noon, when he was applying medicine, he asked Jun Huang about it. She answered, ¡°Ji Bo¡¯s assassination of the scion was exposed to the royal n. They became wary of him and ordered two officers to keep an eye on him. To their surprise, Ji Bo refused to change his ways and even killed one of the officers, which destroyed thest of the royal n¡¯s trust in him.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, Ji Bo has tantly ignored the people¡¯s needs, and he never treats the soldiers as human beings. It¡¯s not that surprising for the soldiers to start something.¡±


    ¡°So the royal n yed a part as well?¡± asked Nan Xun.


    Jun Huang shook her head. ¡°The royal n intended for the two officers to act as check and bnce for Ji Bo. They didn¡¯t expect Ji Bo to kill one of them. The two officers are as close as brothers. The surviving one ignored the royal n¡¯s orders and instigated the chaos.¡±


    ¡°A mere officer shouldn¡¯t be capable of single-handedly turning the entire army, though. Ji Bo only has himself to me.¡±


    Nan Xun considered Jun Huang and smiled. ¡°If Ji Bo cares about the soldiers like you do, they wouldn¡¯t have been so easily riled up.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s train of thought went off track. He began to wonder how wonderful it would be if he and Jun Huang had a child together.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know Nan Xun¡¯s heart was elsewhere. She contemted if she should send people to escte the tension. It¡¯d be good if they could incite a civil war within Eastern Wu.


    She told Nan Xun about her idea. He approved and authorized her to execute her n.


    Ji Bo had thought the ensuing chaos was merely a simple act of disobedience from the soldiers, but it was a nned move led by the burly man. He was furious. He hadn¡¯t put a puppet on the throne yet. Everything in the world seemed to have turned against him at the same time.


    The royal n had received the burly man¡¯s letter. It said that Ji Bo had killed a high-ranking officer with no good reason, which made the soldiers lose faith in the army. The royal n was in a difficult enough position. Ji Bo¡¯s defiance was thest straw. They decided to take away Ji Bo¡¯s power.


    Their responding letter to Ji Bo was vague, but Ji Bo knew what it actually meant. With a scoff, he threw the letter to the ground, his eyes shing with murderous intent.


    He hadn¡¯t nned topletely take over Eastern Wu, but the royal n defied him again and again. He was at the end of his patience, and he didn¡¯t have a lot of options now. He ordered his men to storm the pce. They were to put their puppet on the throne, no matter the cost.


    Eastern Wu¡¯s court was seized overnight. All members of the royal n were imprisoned by the puppet Ji Bo put in power. There was nothing holding Ji Bo back now. However, Eastern Wu had suffered one too many blowstely, which hurt the nation¡¯s power.


    Nan Xun seized the opportunity and attacked Eastern Wu with great ferocity. Not only did Ji Bo have to fend off Northern Qi¡¯s advances, but he also had to resolve the conflicts within Eastern Wu. His hair turned grey overnight due to the stress.


    The possibility of losing what he¡¯d spent years building aged him significantly. He realized he still had one trump card ¨C Southern Mu.


    Southern Mu had been an affiliate jurisdiction dependent on Tianyu to survive. It wasn¡¯t until Tianyu fell that the first emperor of Southern Mu imed his title and established an independent nation.


    Ji Bo jumped off his bed. His eyes shone brightly in the dark. The shadowguard keeping watch outside heard the noises and rushed in, lighting themp immediately.


    ¡°Is something the matter, sir?¡± the shadowguard asked respectfully.


    Ji Bo nodded after a long pause. ¡°I need you to deliver a message for me.¡±


    Ji Bo sat at the desk and wrote a letter to Nan Jihan on behalf of Tianyu, asking for his cooperation to fulfill both their ambitions.


    The shadowguard hesitantly took the letter. Ji Bo knew what he wanted to say. The guard had been the one to save him from Northern Qi¡¯s armyst time. Ji Bo felt a faint sense of regret, but the feeling soon faded away. After a pregnant pause, he patted the shadowguard¡¯s shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s no room for failure.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± The shadowguard nodded and left the tent. He rode to Southern Mu at full speed.


    Ji Bo wasn¡¯t ready to sleep yet. He had a threat within the army to take care of.


    He spent the night nning what he was going to do. When the day broke, he summoned a few officers he could trust. After careful nning, they decided to lure the burly man in. To catch a group of rebels, one must capture their leader first. Once they had the burly man, it¡¯d be easy to deal with his goons.


    The burly man had nothing to lose. He was ready to die to get his revenge. Although the royal n had been taken care of, the burly man continued to spread news about Ji Bo¡¯s exploitation of Eastern Wu, which further tarnished his reputation.


    Ji Bo had no time to waste. He sent a group of ten thousand to chase the burly man down. They didn¡¯t capture him, but all the rebels had been killed. As soon as Ji Bo rxed his guard, the burly man came out of nowhere. In the chaos, he only managed to cut Ji Bo¡¯s arm. He was then pursued by Ji Bo¡¯s men to a cliff.


    The burly man stared at Ji Bo and spat. ¡°You think you¡¯re so clever, Ji Bo, but you¡¯ve bitten off more than you can chew. You killed him. I may not be able to kill you, but I won¡¯t let you get thestugh. Heaven will punish you for your deeds. What you¡¯re doing now will amount to nothing. Hahaha.¡±


    The burly man jumped off the cliff. Ji Bo trembled with fury and sent his men down below to retrieve the body.


    They found what they were looking for. The burly man had been killed on impact, leaving no body parts intact. However, Ji Bo wasn¡¯t going to let him off easily. He had his men prepare a ritual for the gods. The burly man¡¯s flesh was used as tribute. Ji Bo would rebuild Tianyu one way or another.


    His cruelty lost him some soldiers¡¯ support. However, they were too intimidated to make any moves against him, lest they get killed before they could do anything and suffer the same fate as the burly man. There were also a good number of people who were won over by Ji Bo¡¯s method.


    Nan Jihan soon received Ji Bo¡¯s letter. He stared at it, his brows furrowed. He couldn¡¯t make a decision.


    Noting Nan Jihan¡¯s expression, the eunuch asked, ¡°Is there something wrong, Your Majesty?¡±


    Nan Jihan looked up at him and nodded. ¡°The surviving member of Tianyu¡¯s royal n sent us a letter.¡±


    The eunuch couldn¡¯t believe his ears. Nan Jihan handed him the letter. His expression clouded like Nan Jihan¡¯s had. The young emperor put his hands behind his back, pondering what he should do.


    He was hesitant, but Ji Bo had made him an offer he couldn¡¯t turn down. Nan Jihan had been looking for the imperial seal that was lost in the war that destroyed Tianyu. Ji Bo promised to give Nan Jihan the seal as long as he helped him fight Northern Qi.


    With the seal, Southern Mu would be able to prove itself as a legitimate sovereignty. That was exactly what they had been trying to do. However, Nan Jihan couldn¡¯t make up his mind to attack Northern Qi.


    The eunuch had been with Nan Jihan for long enough to understand his hesitation. He tried to find a solution for his master.


    ¡°What would you do?¡± Nan Jihan asked before the eunuch could speak up. ¡°If you were in my ce, what decision would you make?¡±


    ¡°I would send the troops. Southern Mu has been belittled for being dependent on Tianyu for so long. Even after Tianyu¡¯s destruction, it¡¯s been a constant cause of contention that we don¡¯t have an imperial seal to prove our legitimacy.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s unlikely for the man to lie to us when he¡¯s in such a dire situation. Besides, he was the one to initiate contact. There¡¯s a good chance that we can get the seal.¡±


    Nan Jihan smiled wryly, his brows still furrowed. He wouldn¡¯t have hesitated if he hadn¡¯t been on friendly terms with Jun Huang and her allies.


    Noting his reluctance, the eunuch sighed. ¡°You¡¯re the emperor of Southern Mu, Your Majesty. An emperor follows his head, not his heart.¡±


    The eunuch dropped to his knees, making his unspoken words loud and clear with the gesture. After a pause, Nan Jihan waved a hand to dismiss him.


    The eunuch was observant. Without a word, he left the room. Nan Jihan stood rooted to the spot. He read the letter over and over again. In the end, he decided to march out.


    Nan Xun received the news not long after Nan Jihan deployed the army.

 Chapter 372 - For the Imperial Seal

    <strong>Chapter 372: For the Imperial Seal</strong>


    Nan Xun was surprised to hear that Nan Jihan had deployed their troops, but he didn¡¯t suspect anything. Southern Mu was Northern Qi¡¯s ally. He assumed Nan Jihan was here to help and didn¡¯t think to be wary of him.


    Right when Nan Xun and his men were going to defeat Eastern Wu¡¯s army, they were ambushed.


    Nan Xun couldn¡¯t believe his ears when he heard that it was Southern Mu. He almost got hit by a stray arrow.


    ¡°What do we do, general?¡± The officer in charge turned to Nan Xun for a solution.


    Nan Xun soon recovered hisposure. He had the soldiers circled them with shields and dismounted. His face was tight and frigid.


    He balled his hands into fists. He¡¯d clearly overestimated Nan Jihan¡¯s integrity. He scoffed. ¡°What¡¯s our status?¡±


    ¡°Eastern Wu¡¯s army of three thousand is at our front. After losing their left wing, their center and right wing amount to fifteen hundred. I¡¯m not sure how many infantrymen they have following their riders. Southern Mu has deployed at least five thousand soldiers. They¡¯re behind us, chasing after our left wing.¡±


    ¡°How many have we lost?¡± Nan Xun cut in, his eyes icy.


    The officer touched his nose. ¡°We haven¡¯t lost that many in our battle with Eastern Wu, but we¡¯re going to lose our left wing, which amount to a few hundreds. Given the circumstances, however, we¡¯ll have to sacrifice many men to retreat safely, which will leave us with only a thousand elites.¡±


    Nan Xun gritted his teeth, veins popping out from his forehead. He forced himself to calm down. He¡¯d very much want to decimate Southern Mu, but the officer stopped him.


    ¡°We have to retreat and live to fight another day, general.¡±


    ¡°Are you telling me to sacrifice the soldiers for my own safety?¡± Nan Xun red at the officer. The officer nodded despite his nervousness.


    Nan Xun was about to tear him a new one, but then Eastern Wu attacked them with arrows again. They didn¡¯t have any time to waste. Nan Xun knew what the smart thing to do was.


    Finally, under the officers¡¯ urging looks, he nodded and mounted his horse. He was escorted back to the camp by the officers.


    Nan Xun ascended the city wall. He¡¯d pulled a thousand elites back, but lost three thousand soldiers. He looked down at the battlefield. Nan Jihan¡¯s men cared nothing about their alliance and ughtered Northern Qi¡¯s left wing. Then they joined Eastern Wu¡¯s army.


    Jun Huang soon heard the news. She couldn¡¯t find Nan Xun even after Northern Qi¡¯s army had retreated. She asked around and found out that Nan Xun was still on the city wall.


    She looked up at him from a distance. He stood on the wall like a tall, lone statue. His white battle robe was tainted with blood. His armor reflected cold, blinding light. Jun Huang had never seen him looking so devastated.


    Nan Xun was still staring at the battlefield when Jun Huang ascended the stairs. She followed his gaze and saw a sea of bodies. Some had lost a couple limbs. Some had been decapitated. Some hung on a spear. Some were covered in arrows.


    Thend beneath them was a crimson red. The snow had melted from the heat of their blood. Red mixed with melted snow and trickled through thend.


    Quite a few banners had fallen. The soldiers cleaning up the mess picked them up and wiped away the blood before putting them away. Then they carried the bodies back to the city, awaiting Nan Xun¡¯s order.


    Jun Huang¡¯s throat tightened. She¡¯d thought Nan Xun had gotten used to deaths, but now she saw the raw pain in his eyes.


    She took Nan Xun¡¯s trembling hand in hers. He turned to her, started. He wanted to put on a smile, but his lips wouldn¡¯t oblige.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard,¡± Jun Huang said gently.


    Nan Xun smiled bitterly and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°I am to me. If I¡¯d kept my guard up when I heard about Southern Mu¡¯s arrival, we wouldn¡¯t have suffered such terrible loss.¡±


    ¡°I should¡¯ve known. I hadn¡¯t sent him any letter. He couldn¡¯t have been here to help us. Ha, how naive I am to assume he¡¯d be our ally. My mistake resulted in the loss of three thousand...¡± He choked up.


    Heart throbbing, Jun Huang threw herself into Nan Xun¡¯s arms and held him tightly. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Nan Jihan is to me... You didn¡¯t cause the deaths. Don¡¯t think too much. We¡¯ll defeat them next time and avenge the soldiers we¡¯ve lost.¡±


    Nan Xun pulled his lips but couldn¡¯t manage a smile. He closed his eyes, resting his stinging eyes. Jun Huang could feel him trembling. It made her heart ache and stoked her fury toward Nan Jihan.


    They stayed atop the wall for a long time. When they returned, the dead bodies had been brought back and registered.


    ¡°General, what should we do with them?¡± The officers knew Nan Xun must feel guilty, but they needed an answer.


    Nan Xun was silent for a long while. ¡°Bury them and hand me the list. I¡¯ll submit it to the court.¡±


    He staggered. Jun Huang caught him just in time.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time the officer had followed Nan Xun to battles. He knew how deeply the loss had hit Nan Xun. He wanted to offerfort, but he couldn¡¯t find the right words. In the end, he sighed and walked away.


    Back to the tent, Nan Xun barely had any time to rest before the lead shadowguard told him he¡¯d caught a strange man lurking about. He was going to deal with the man when the man said he wanted to talk to Jun Huang.


    Jun Huang frowned and told the shadowguard to bring the man to her. There was something familiar about him, but she couldn¡¯t ce the face.


    ¡°I¡¯m His Majesty¡¯s personal guard,¡± said the man. ¡°We¡¯ve met in Northern Qi.¡±


    Now Jun Huang remembered. This man was Nan Jihans¡¯. He¡¯d kidnapped her back in Northern Qi.


    Her expression darkened. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°His Majesty ordered me to deliver this to you.¡± The man handed her a letter. Jun Huang didn¡¯t want to take it, but Nan Xun did it for her.


    It said that Nan Jihan had a very good reason to have done what he did. He hoped Nan Xun and Jun Huang would understand and go along with the act. The attack today was to convince Ji Bo.


    Jun Huang scoffed and disregarded the letter. Nan Xun had doubts, but he didn¡¯t say anything immediately. He let the guard go.


    Things didn¡¯t end there. Nan Jihan visited the camp in person at night.


    Jun Huang was surprised to see him, while Nan Xun realized that Nan Jihan was telling the truth. Without wasting any time, Nan Jihan spoke up. ¡°The ambush during the day was to rx Ji Bo¡¯s guard. If we¡¯ve nned ahead, you wouldn¡¯t have let Eastern Wu have their victory... I pretended to work with Ji Bo in order to get Tianyu¡¯s imperial seal. Everyone knows I¡¯ve been looking for it. I have no reason to lie to you. You must know Ji Bo is a descendent of Tianyu as well.¡±


    Jun Huang and Nan Xun knew about Southern Mu¡¯s history and the importance of Tianyu¡¯s imperial seal. Nan Jihan¡¯s exnation did make sense. It was the smart thing to do to work with Nan Jihan if all he wanted was the seal.


    Before Nan Jihan could celebrate his sess, Jun Huang cut in, ¡°How do we know you won¡¯t betray us? We can work with you, but you have to honor your word. Moreover, you have to make amends for Northern Qi¡¯s loss today.¡±


    Nan Jihan smiled bitterly. He would dly do that, but he couldn¡¯t bear seeing the wariness in Jun Huang¡¯s eyes. After all, he¡¯d once been in love with her. It pained him to be subjected to her suspicion.


    Bidding them farewell, Nan Jihan turned and walked away. Nan Xun looked at him thoughtfully.


    Nan Jihan¡¯s personal guard had been silent. Only after they returned to the temporary residence Ji Bo arranged for Nan Jihan did the guard say, ¡°Are you really going to help Northern Qi, Your Majesty? What about the imperial seal?¡±


    Nan Jihan shot him a nce. The guard fell silent.


    Nan Jihan was their emperor. He must have thought through his decisions. They were in no ce to question him.


    It was a sleepless night. Nan Jihan had intended to take some rest to collect his thoughts, but then Ji Bo sent a man to retrieve him. He frowned. He only realized how early it was when he asked for the time.


    He cleaned himself up and changed into better clothes before following Ji Bo¡¯s man to Ji Bo¡¯s tent. He parted the fabric and walked in. Seeing the dancers and musicians inside put a frown on his face.


    He didn¡¯t expect Ji Bo to find such entertainment even in the middle of nowhere. Nan Jihan scoffed inwardly. He put on a smile and exchanged pleasantries with Ji Bo.

 Chapter 373 - Defeat

    <strong>Chapter 373: Defeat</strong>


    Once Nan Jihan was seated, Ji Bo gave the dancers a pointed look. Without missing a beat, the two women approached Nan Jihan and each took a side. Their delicate fingers found their way to Nan Jihan. One of them poured wine for him. The other massaged his shoulder.


    Disgust shed through Nan Jihan¡¯s face. Barely managing to stop himself from throwing them out, he seized the hands wandering all over his body. The guard stepped out to dismiss the girls. The dancers had no choice but to go back to serving Ji Bo.


    Ji Bo drank some wine andughed. ¡°It¡¯s said that Your Majesty neverys a hand on the stunning women in your harem. An uninformed mind would¡¯ve assumed you are into men. However, I know you must have grown to dislike the impure women since you¡¯ve seen the most stunning beauty.¡±


    Nan Jihan could tell that Ji Bo was testing him. He put on a polite smile. ¡°That¡¯s not the case. I simply don¡¯t like women of other tribes.¡±


    Ji Boughed. ¡°Your Majesty hasn¡¯t experienced how soft and seductive they can be, or you wouldn¡¯t have been able to let them go.¡±


    Nan Jihan didn¡¯t want to continue the conversation. He changed the subject. ¡°You¡¯re clever to have earned everyone¡¯s trust back in Northern Qi. Even after fleeing to Eastern Wu, you¡¯ve gained your foothold. How impressively flexible you are.¡±


    Ji Bo wasn¡¯t fazed. The mockery had no effect on him. He took it as an insult to the stupidity of Northern Qi¡¯s emperor and Eastern Wu¡¯s royal n.


    They both had their own agenda, and they mixed truth with lies. Nan Jihan got tired of talking in circles. He spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask where the imperial seal is. That¡¯s why I¡¯m working with you. If you don¡¯t have it, I¡¯m not letting you trick us into doing your bidding.¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s eyes darkened. He took a sip of the potent wine and smiled. ¡°Why would I lie to you? However, I can¡¯t give you the seal at the moment. We¡¯re at a disadvantage. If I give you the seal now, you may betray me and destroy my force. Then the deal will be for nothing. I¡¯ll give you the seal after we defeat Nan Xun.¡±


    He sounded genuine, and there was no w to his logic. However, Nan Jihan wasn¡¯t easily fooled. He pulled his lips tight and almost lost his temper. Thinking better of it, he took a deep, calming breath. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll honor your word.¡±


    He shot to his feet and gave Ji Bo a look before storming away.


    Ji Bo rxed his guard once he saw Nan Jihan¡¯s dark expression. It¡¯d be suspicious if Nan Jihan was able to maintain his calm. The fact that he¡¯d gotten angry made him believe that Nan Jihan was actually going to work with him.


    Ji Bo sighed in relief and slumped back onto the divan. The dancers leaned towards him, but he¡¯d lost his interest. He pushed them away. They lost their bnce and almost fell, but they quietly followed the others out of the tent.


    Ji Bo drank in his ownpany. Potent alcohol left a burning trail down his throat. He seemedpletely sober, and his eyes were unusually bright.


    The shadowguard returned after making sure Nan Jihan and his men had gone back to their tent. By then, Ji Bo had finished the jug of wine. He carelessly discarded it. The shadowguard went up to him. ¡°Are you really going to hand the seal to Nan Jihan after everything, Sir?¡±


    Ji Boughed. He stared at the shadowguard intensely. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be smarter after following me for so long.¡±


    ¡°Forgive me for being dense,¡± the shadowguard said, unfazed. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll enlighten me.¡±


    Ji Bo put down his empty cup, his eyes cold. ¡°That¡¯s just a bait. The seal is crucial to rebuilding our nation. Why would I hand it to a country that cannot survive on its own? Besides, if we give the seal away, the descendents of Tianyu will be considered illegitimate.¡±


    The shadowguard nodded in understanding. Ji Bo rxed, which caused the alcohol to finally take effect. He slumped down on the divan and closed his eyes.


    The shadowguard helped him to the bed and put him to sleep before standing guard outside the tent.


    Nan Jihan knew he was followed as he made his way back to his tent, so he and his men put up a front. Only after the shadowguard left did he write a letter to Nan Xun and Jun Huang, saying that he¡¯d earned Ji Bo¡¯s trust. The show was going to start.


    Jun Huang read the letter without a word. Nan Xun didn¡¯t show much of a reaction, either.


    After a long while, Jun Huang broke the silence, ¡°Do you think we can believe him?¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t immediately respond. He knew how Nan Jihan felt about Jun Huang. Although he was hesitant, he had a feeling that Nan Jihan was telling the truth. Besides, they didn¡¯t have a lot of options. They had to put their trust in Nan Jihan at the moment.


    Early the next morning, when Ji Bo was still asleep, Nan Jihan had already gathered his troops and marched out. The shadowguard barged into Ji Bo¡¯s tent and woke him up.


    Ji Bo rubbed at his throbbing forehead and said angrily, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Nan Jihan marched out,¡± responded the shadowguard.


    Ji Bo was surprised by Nan Jihan¡¯s eagerness, but then he realized why Nan Jihan would be in such a rush. Ji Bo scoffed, silently mocking the young emperor for his overconfidence and hopeless dream.


    The shadowguard could tell what Ji Bo was thinking. Without making anyments, he asked Ji Bo if he¡¯d like to go rally the troops. It was the Southern Mu¡¯s army. It¡¯d be remiss of him not to show them some decorum.


    Ji Bo agreed. He put on some clothes and hurried outside. Nan Jihan had anticipated Ji Bo¡¯s arrival. He put on a good act and cupped his hands at Ji Bo. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you rest for longer?¡±


    Ji Bo smiled. ¡°I hear you¡¯ve deployed your troops. It¡¯s only right for me to check on you.¡±


    Nan Jihan¡¯s eyes shed. Without a word, he took Ji Bo to the camp. Nan Jihan had put a lot of focus on their military after he took the throne, and he¡¯d cultivated quite a few excellent generals. To gain Ji Bo¡¯s trust, he¡¯d taken with him many talented men. Ji Bo was pleased, assuming that Nan Jihan was trying to get on his good side.


    Ji Bo leisurely watched them march out, waiting to enjoy the fruit of theirbor. Nan Jihan scoffed inwardly. The man would one day suffer a terrible fall.


    Nan Jihan and Nan Xun had discussed what they were going to do. Nan Jihan ordered his officers to restrain themselves and treated the battles as drills.


    Nan Jihan and Nan Xun fought with seemingly great ferocity. Ji Bo had believed that he¡¯d be thest tough after they destroyed each other, and only supervised the battle the first few times. Later, he let Nan Jihan took the reign, unwilling to give him even a soldier. Nan Jihanughed sharply. Ji Bo certainly dreamed big. He began to n how he was going to take Ji Bo down.


    Ji Bo had let his guard down. He lost himself in alcohol and women. Nan Jihan gained control over the situation without him noticing. When he finally realized it, he¡¯d lost contact with Eastern Wu, and he hadn¡¯t seen his shadowguard for a long time.


    He pushed the dancer in his arms away and rubbed at his temples. At the corner of his eye, he spotted a pack of medicine falling off from the dancer¡¯s sleeve. His eyes widened. Now he knew why he¡¯d lost track of reality.


    In a fit of rage, he put his hands around the dancer¡¯s delicate neck and said through gritted teeth, ¡°Talk! Who sent you?!¡±


    The dancer struggled, her face flushed. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Ji Bo tightened his grip and finally killed the dancer.


    He pushed the dancer away and stumbled outside. He felt weak and almost fell. Finally, he was able to push open the door. He found himself on top of the city wall. The sun was blindingly bright.


    He shielded his eyes reflexively. When his pupils finally adjusted to the brightness, he saw a sea of enemy soldiers swarming the city wall. His heart seized up. He went weak in the knees and fell to the floor, his face pale. When he looked up, he was met with a smiling Nan Jihan.


    Nan Jihan looked calmly at him. After a pause, he said, ¡°You¡¯ve finally woken up from your sweet dream. We¡¯ve been waiting.¡±


    Ji Bo¡¯s expression darkened. He saw Nan Xun and Jun Huang walking his way. He tightened his fists. ¡°No, you can¡¯t be here. Even if Nan Jihan is a traitor, you can¡¯t just break into the city.¡±


    Muttering, he turned to Nan Jihan and grabbed him like a lifeline. He¡¯d forgotten how he¡¯d called Nan Jihan a traitor only a second ago. He struggled to grab onto Nan Jihan¡¯s arm with a look of disbelief. ¡°Don¡¯t you want the imperial seal? If you drive them away, I¡¯ll give you the seal immediately.¡±


    Nan Jihan¡¯s eyes were cold. He didn¡¯t even waver, and instead knocked Ji Bo¡¯s hand away. ¡°I¡¯ll find the seal myself. Eastern Wu must be destroyed.¡±


    Ji Bo widened his eyes. He¡¯d thought Nan Jihan was an ipetent man who cared only about his little patch ofnd. He staggered back, stricken by the young emperor¡¯s deration.


    Nan Xun walked up to him and grabbed his cor. ¡°Where is Jun Hao? If you tell us now, we¡¯ll give you a quick death.¡±


    Ji Boughed and pulled away from Nan Xun, staring at Jun Huang. ¡°I¡¯ll never tell you,¡± he bit out viciously. ¡°You¡¯ll never find him!¡±


    His maniacughter rang in the air.

 Chapter 374 - ain Jun Huang, gain the world

    <strong>Chapter 374: Gain Jun Huang, gain the world</strong>


    Ji Boughed for a long time before he stopped. There were tears at the corners of his eyes. He stood atop the wall and looked around. His failure was just setting in. He felt lost.


    Nan Xun kept an eye on him in case he did something drastic and hurt someone, but Ji Bo simply stood there. The thirty-year-old man seemed old beyond his time. His messy grey hair flew in the air. He looked frail in that turquoise robe of his.


    He turned around and walked toward the other side of the wall. Nan Xun wasn¡¯t sure what he was going to do.


    Ji Bo looked down and saw Northern Qi¡¯s soldiers cleaning up the battlefields. He looked up at the cliff and saw soldiers who hadn¡¯t grappled down standing atop. That was how Northern Qi had broken into the city.


    He knew Nan Xun couldn¡¯t have entered simply with the help of Nan Jihan. He¡¯d filled the city with his men. They wouldn¡¯t listen to Nan Jihan¡¯s order. Nan Xun must have dropped down from the cliff and killed the guards before letting the rest of his troops in.


    Ji Boughed. Then hisughter turned into a wounded howl. He didn¡¯t expect this to be his end. He knew Nan Xun and the others wouldn¡¯t let him go. He was done. There was no way back.


    He sighed and closed his eyes.


    He jumped off.


    Before anyone could react, the tail of his robe had disappeared from their sight. Jun Huang was the first to move. She ran downstairs.


    On the ground was a mess of dead bodies and blood. Eastern Wu soldiers tried futilely to run away, while Northern Qi soldiers quickly captured them. The resistant ones, they killed. There was no piece ofnd left untouched by death, and the smell of blood was pungent.


    Jun Huang soon found the dying Ji Bo. She ran toward him, ignoring the blood tainting her dress. Hearing her footsteps, Ji Bo stared at her, his bright eyes filled with a mix of resentment, sorrow, and regret.


    Jun Huang stopped three steps away from Ji Bo. Finally, she asked quietly, ¡°Where is Jun Hao?¡±


    ¡°Can you... call me uncle once?¡± Ji Bo struggled to say. Blood rushed out of his mouth. He couldn¡¯t move. He knew his lungs had been damaged beyond recovery, and he would soon pass away. He stared at Jun Huang, pleading.


    The smoke permeating the air reminded him of the day Tianyu was destroyed. His sister held a younger him in her arms, avoiding the danger, avoiding the swords and weapons. She¡¯d kept him alive when he should¡¯ve died.


    He almost mistook Jun Huang as his sister when she ran to him. His heart squeezed painfully. He opened his mouth, but the word ¡°sister¡± failed to take shape.


    Jun Huang took in his expressions. She pitied him, but she would never forgive him. Ji Bo knew that as well. Heughed bitterly and said with a sigh, ¡°I¡¯ve hidden Jun Hao at a... a safe ce. Someone would be teaching him the way to rebuild a nation. If he doesn¡¯t want to do that, he can live a good life... I¡¯ve left him with an abundance of...¡±


    Ji Bo closed his eyes. Thest of his life had left him. Everything seemed to have fallen silent. Jun Huang could only hear a faint, rustling sound.


    Nan Xun¡¯s throat tightened when he saw Jun Huang staring at Ji Bo¡¯s body with unfocused eyes. He wrapped his arms around her cold body. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We¡¯ll find Jun Hao even without him.¡±


    ¡°He said...¡±


    Jun Huang told him what Ji Bo had said to her. Without a word, Nan Xun went off to tell his men to look for Jun Hao.


    His lead shadowguard came up to him and said respectfully, ¡°Your Highness, Ji Bo¡¯s shadowguard died from the torture.¡±


    Nan Xun patted Jun Huang¡¯s backfortingly. ¡°What has he said?¡±


    ¡°He said the House of Heavenly Fiends is a secret organization Tianyu used to gather information and do the dirty work. After Tianyu¡¯s destruction, the organization went underground. It was run by the former royal n members.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness and Miss Jun were able to take over because of Ji Bo¡¯s instruction and Miss Jun¡¯s identity. The organization is mainlyposed of Tianyu¡¯s descendents. They all should¡¯ve died a long time ago.¡±


    Nan Xun¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Who is the one in charge of the organization? What¡¯s his rtionship with Ji Bo?¡±


    ¡°It was Ji Bo.¡±


    Nan Xun raised an eyebrow. He didn¡¯t anticipate the length Ji Bo would go to for his n to rebuild his country. The man had put in everything. If the shadowguard hadn¡¯t told the truth under torture, Nan Xun would¡¯ve suspected someone else being involved.


    Jun Huang maintained a calm expression, but in her heart she felt cold. She had walked right into Ji Bo¡¯s web of maniption so long ago without noticing.


    She lowered her eyes and looked at Ji Bo¡¯s body. ¡°What do we do with the House of Heavenly Fiends?¡±


    Nan Xun shook his head. ¡°The organization was led by Tianyu¡¯s royal family. As long as you and Jun Hao don¡¯t take over it, the organization will naturallye to its end.¡±


    Jun Huang understood. An organization as old as the House of Heavenly Fiends should¡¯ve disbanded as soon as Tianyu fell. It only persisted because of Ji Bo. It¡¯d long started going downhill. They didn¡¯t need to do anything for it to fall apart.


    Nan Jihan walked up to them and threw a brief nce at Nan Xun. Seeing him holding Jun Huang hurt, but he was in no ce to say anything. ¡°We¡¯re about done with this ce. Should we break into Eastern Wu¡¯s imperial city now?¡±


    ¡°Exactly what I think.¡± Nan Xun let go of Jun Huang and ordered a shadowguard to take care of her. He went with Nan Jihan and personally led the final charge.


    The two of them were unstoppable. It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the outside of the pce. Those stationed at the imperial city had long grown dissatisfied with the imperial n. Some even joined Nan Xun¡¯s troops. Nan Xun had ordered his men not to hurt any innocent people, especially not the local residents. Those who had been under the imperial n¡¯s oppression came to see Northern Qi as a better ruler.


    The Eastern Wu pce was in chaos. The puppet Ji Bo had put on the throne decided to abandon the city and flee. Right after he¡¯d packed up, though, Nan Xun had surrounded the city with the troops. The emperor almost fainted.


    He was reaping what he sowed. Since the royal n had never shown him respect and even verbally attacked him when Ji Bo put him in power, he wasn¡¯t satisfied with simply putting them in prison. Once he lost contact with Ji Bo, he had the royal n members killed and Ji Bo¡¯s men taken out.


    Now that an army wasing for him, he didn¡¯t even have someone to talk to. Worse, his eunuch was a fool of a man who tried to flee in fear. He grabbed him.


    ¡°Where are you going when I¡¯m still here?¡± the emperor said through gritted teeth. ¡°If I die, you die with me.¡±


    The eunuch couldn¡¯t argue with that. He was but the emperor¡¯s servant. He had no choice but to follow the man. The emperor let out a long breath and dropped his rucksack to the floor. He looked outside with his back straight.


    His officials entered the pce one by one and knelt before him. ¡°Eastern Wu is no more. We¡¯ll only die worthlessly if we resist. We should surrender, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Seconded.¡±


    ¡°Seconded.¡±


    The young emperor had always been an ipetent coward. What little courage he¡¯d mustered fizzled out. The officials were right. He could surrender.


    He drafted a letter and had it delivered to Nan Xun. In the end, he and the officials were all taken and captured.


    The former emperor had been locked in the pce. He heard themotion, but he didn¡¯t know it was the enemy troops. He made his way to the door in shackles.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked, raising voice.


    There was no response from the eunuch who should¡¯ve been outside. He frowned and listened carefully. From the screams and the sound of de shing, it didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out that the pce was under attack.


    He didn¡¯t know how he should feel, and he didn¡¯t allow himself to think too much. He wanted to live. He wasn¡¯t going to die here. Looking around, his eyes settled on a vase. He used it to hit his iron shackles, but it didn¡¯t do anything.


    Nan Xun had led his men into the pce. While his men went through everyone and everything inside, he took Jun Huang to find the man who had once been Eastern Wu¡¯s emperor.


    After a while, they spotted a eunuch sneaking around with an armful of things. They exchanged a nce and went up to him.


    The eunuch was caught by surprise and dropped his possessions. Jun Huang could tell that many of them belonged to the former emperor. Nan Xun demanded, ¡°Where is he?¡±


    The man had been tasked with keeping an eye on the emperor. When he heard that the enemy force was storming the pce, he hurriedly packed up the items the former emperor had given him in return for his service. The eunuch was scared when he ran into these two unfamiliar, important looking people. Fear made him lose his voice.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t have the patience to wait for the eunuch to speak up. He took out a dagger and threatened the eunuch. Scared witless, the eunuch fainted.

 Chapter 375 - Lingering Threat

    <strong>Chapter 375: Lingering Threat</strong>


    ¡°Should be that way.¡± Jun Huang pointed at where the eunuch had appeared from. Nan Xun nodded and let go of the eunuch¡¯s cors. The eunuch copsed to the floor.


    Hearing something shattering, they exchanged a nce and ran toward the source of the sound.


    Nan Xun told Jun Huang to wait outside first. She nodded and let him take the lead.


    Nan Xun opened the door to see the former Eastern Wu¡¯s emperor sitting atop shards of ceramic. His eyes lit up at first, mistaking Nan Xun as his ally, but then Nan Xun waved at someone outside and in came Jun Huang.


    The former emperor¡¯s face paled, silently cursing at his men for failing to finish her off.


    With a scoff, Jun Huang walked up to the former emperor and considered him with icy eyes. A shudder ran down his spine. He was going to run when Nan Xun seized him.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious,¡± Jun Huang said with a frown. ¡°Why did you decide to invade Western Que? Western Que and Eastern Wu started out as allies. Why did things turn out the way it did?¡±


    The former emperor gave Jun Huang an odd look. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? It¡¯s because of you.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± asked Jun Huang.


    ¡°Whoever gained Jun Huang, gain the world. If not for you, the two nations would have continued to be allies. I had wanted to marry you and deepened the bond between our nations, but your father refused to oblige. I could only do things the hard way.¡±


    He said it like it was the unequivocal truth.


    Jun Huangughed incredulously. She¡¯d heard that exnation before, but she¡¯d thought it was a jest. And yet the man himself confirmed the reasoning.


    Noting the changes in her expression, the former emperor smiled. He knew he was going to die one way or another as soon as he saw Jun Huang. He¡¯d like to forgo torture and get a quick death. ¡°I thought you know. Let me tell you the truth: You were the reason Western Que was destroyed.¡±


    Overtaken by uncontroble fury, Jun Huang grabbed Nan Xun¡¯s swords and killed the former emperor with a wounded cry.


    It wasn¡¯t until the blood stream down along the de that she came to her senses. She dropped the sword and fell to the floor.


    Her head hurt, and she couldn¡¯t stop her tears. Her anger and sorrow threatened to take over her brain. She¡¯d put the me on the former Eastern Wu¡¯s emperor for so long. She never once believed that she would be a contributing factor as well.


    She knew Ji Bo was the instigator, but she couldn¡¯t forgive herself. She couldn¡¯t escape the spiral of guilt.


    Nan Xun knelt down and took Jun Huang into his arms, but she didn¡¯t seem to notice him at all. Her body trembled from the weight of her sorrow. Her temples throbbed painfully.


    She couldn¡¯t stop crying. In the end, she cried herself into unconsciousness. Nan Xun picked her up and turned to see Nan Jihan standing outside the door.


    Nan Jihan had been watching them for a while, and he¡¯d witnessed Jun Huang¡¯s fit of anger. His breath hitched when Nan Xun turned to him with Jun Huang in his arms. He wanted to keep them, but he didn¡¯t have the right. In the end, he watched the couple go further and further away from him.


    Nan Xun took Jun Huang to a ry station and ced her on the bed. He retrieved some hot water and a handkerchief to wipe the tears on her face. Only when his shadowguard told him that Nan Jihan had arrived did he shift his focus away from her. He turned to the door.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside.¡± Nan Xun rose to his feet. He didn¡¯t want to wake Jun Huang. Nan Jihan agreed easily and followed him to the room next door.


    An official from each of their respective countries had alsoe. Representing Northern Qi was Qi Yun¡¯s confidante. They sat down and talked about the split of their gains. Nan Jihan asked for only a few Eastern Wu cities bordering Southern Mu, some silver, and two horses. The rest would go to Northern Qi.


    The Northern Qi¡¯s official was pleased with the results. He excused himself and left to report to the court.


    Nan Jihan looked at Nan Xun, watching him rub at his forehead tiredly. After a pause, he asked, ¡°The old Western Que is now yours. What do you n to do with it?¡±


    Nan Xun threw him a nce and took a sip of the cold tea. ¡°I¡¯ve discussed this issue with Qi Yun before. The Old Western Que will be under my rule. I hope to take Jun Huang back one day, even if all that¡¯s left is her memory.¡±


    Nan Jihan approved of Nan Xun¡¯s consideration. He opened his mouth to say something, but then he sighed and stood to leave. Nan Xun got to his feet and said, ¡°Thank you for your help. If not for your assistance, it wouldn¡¯t have been as easy to destroy Eastern Wu.¡±


    Nan Jihan paused but didn¡¯t turn back. With a chuckle, he waved a dismissive hand. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I came to get the imperial seal and to help Jun Huang get her revenge. It has nothing to do with you.¡±


    He looked up at the setting sun, his throat tight and his heart filled with a sense of loss. ¡°Treat her well, or I¡¯lle after you.¡±


    He walked away in big strides, determined to leave everything behind.


    Nan Xun said a quiet thank you, but Nan Jihan was too far away to hear. The young emperor didn¡¯t dawdle at all. He summoned his men and returned to Southern Mu, sending some people to look for the imperial seal at the same time.


    When Nan Xun returned to the bedroom, Jun Huang had woken up. She stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.


    She turned to the door when she heard footsteps. ¡°Where did you go?¡±


    ¡°Seeing Nan Jihan off.¡± Nan Xun hurried to Jun Huang¡¯s side and carefully helped her sit up. He tightened his grip around her wrist.


    He didn¡¯t tell Jun Huang about their meeting. He knew her too well. She was still wallowing in regret because of the former Eastern Wu emperor¡¯s words. Mentioning Western Que would only make her feel worse. He would tell her when she had moved on.


    Jun Huang knew very well what came after a war, but she kept quiet since Nan Xun hadn¡¯t brought their conversation up. Shey against his chest and closed her eyes, listening to his heartbeats. The sound calmed her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve taken my revenge,¡± she said, opening her eyes. ¡°I want to find Jun Hao.¡±


    Nan Xun nodded. Once Jun Huang was feeling better, he took her back to Northern Qi. Qi Yun and Nan Jihan were both worried about her, so they offered to help find Jun Hao. They told Jun Huang to rest in Nan Xun¡¯s manor.


    Jun Huang knew how weak her body was now. She didn¡¯t argue and stayed at Nan Xun¡¯s ce.


    She¡¯d thought things would¡¯ve settled down, but there was still someone lurking about, waiting to strike at her.


    Today, Nan Xun had left to take care of something urgent, leaving Jun Huang in the manor. She wasn¡¯t too worried. The manor was filled with Nan Xun¡¯s men. No one would be foolish enough to try anything. However, she¡¯d forgotten that there was no shortage of people who weren¡¯t afraid of dying for their cause in the world.


    Bored, Jun Huang went to the back garden, idly taking in the scenery. She¡¯d told the servants before she came, but she didn¡¯t let anyone follow her. The servants were unhappy with that, but she didn¡¯t care. She wasn¡¯t going to appease them.


    The sun was zing, which was rare for a winter day. She dozed off in the garden. Very faintly, she heard footsteps. She forced herself to open her eyes. A man she¡¯d never seen before was standing before her.


    Frowning, she cleared her throat and asked, ¡°Are you a servant at this manor?¡±


    The man nodded. Jun Huang didn¡¯t notice anything wrong. She made a sound in acknowledgement and turned away, asking the man what he was here for.


    The man stared at her intensely. Noticing the heated gaze, Jun Huang turned to him and saw a scar on the man¡¯s neck. It was covered by his clothes, but from her angle, she could see it clearly. She kept her guard up while maintaining a poker face.


    ¡°Would you mind pouring a cup of tea for me? I¡¯m thirsty.¡± She looked up at the man with a smile. It was as bright as the winter sun.


    The man nodded after a brief pause and hurriedly filled her cup. Jun Huang stared at the man¡¯s hands. Now she saw the warning signs.


    He started filling the cup with tea without cleaning the cup or testing the temperature. The inside of his thumb was calloused, which was a unique feature for trained fighters.


    ¡°When did you start working here? I don¡¯t recognize you.¡± She took the cup and swirled the tea around. She didn¡¯t intend to drink it.


    The man¡¯s face clouded. He stopped his act, his face contorting in hatred. ¡°I¡¯m here to kill you.¡±

 Chapter 376 - The Lone Star

    <strong>Chapter 376: The Lone Star</strong>


    Jun Huang tensed up. She narrowly dodged the man¡¯s attack and threw the cup of tea at him. The cup missed the man, but the scorching tea sshed all over him.


    Jun Huang seized the opening to run away. The man scoffed and wiped off the tea before giving chase. Right before he could catch up with Jun Huang, Nan Xun returned to the manor and saw them.


    As a trained fighter himself, Nan Xun was sensitive to killing intent. He knew immediately the man running after Jun Huang was bad news. Before his shadowguard could react, Nan Xun flew to Jun Huang¡¯s side with light body technique.


    The man made a strike with his palm. Nan Xun caught his wrist and pushed him back, propelling him off the ground with inner energy. The man rolled backward and smashed into the fake mountain. The hit to his back caused him to spit out a mouthful of tainted blood.


    The man scoffed, recognizing Nan Xun. He scrambled to his feet and charged again. Nan Xun¡¯s eyes turned cold. What a fool!


    He kicked the man in the stomach, sending him flying.


    The lead shadowguard and the guards in the manor hade, hearing themotion. Without Nan Xun¡¯s order, they went to tie the man up.


    ¡°Hahahaha, even though I¡¯ve failed today, someone else woulde to kill you.¡±


    ¡°You bring misfortune to everyone around you, Jun Huang,¡± eximed the man. He red at Jun Huang with unrestrained hate despite him being pinned to the ground. ¡°Think about Western Que, and about your father and mother. You brought about their doom! Hahaha!¡±


    Jun Huang knew the man was here for revenge, and everything he said was meant to cut. However, she couldn¡¯t help her guilt when she thought about what the former Eastern Wu emperor had said and the brother she hadn¡¯t recovered.


    She watched silently as the man spouted off insults. A metallic taste rushed out from her throat. She tightened her fists. Her face paled.


    Nan Xun noticed her reaction. So did the man kneeling on the ground. Heughed louder and spouted off even worse insults. He spat out every word, every syble with great resentment.


    Jun Huang threw up a mouthful of blood.


    She didn¡¯t try to stay upright when Nan Xun caught her. Shey in his arms and looked up at the blinding sun. In her heart was a barren wastnd. Her head hurt and her limbs were weak. She closed her eyes and cked out.


    ¡°Jun Huang!¡±


    Nan Xun hadn¡¯t left ever since he carried Jun Huang to her bedroom. She woke up not long after, but she refused to open her eyes or say anything. It pained Nan Xun, but he didn¡¯t want to push her. He held onto her hands tightly in reassurance.


    A ray of sunlight streamed in from the window, illuminating the dust flying in the air. Jun Huang¡¯s eyshes fluttered. The air was quiet and tranquil.


    Nan Xun was hurting for her, but he liked the feeling of keeping watch over her.


    Someone knocked. Jun Huang¡¯s eyshes fluttered. Nan Xun patted the back of her hand and stood up to get the door. It was his lead shadowguard.


    ¡°The man only said he was from Eastern Wu,¡± said the shadowguard. ¡°He refused to tell us anything.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned and turned to Jun Huang. She tilted her head to look at him. After a pause, she said in a quiet voice, ¡°You should do what you have to do. I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Nan Xun had wanted to get information out of the man. Without dy, he left the room. He told the shadowguard to stay in case Jun Huang needed anything.


    Nan Xun made his way to the dark and damp dungeon. His confidantes had formed half a circle. At the center was the man they¡¯d caught. Nan Xun walked up to him. The man didn¡¯t look up until he was three steps away.


    The man¡¯s eyes were dark. His expression turned mocking when he saw Nan Xun. ¡°You¡¯re only treating that living embodiment of bad luck so well because you haven¡¯t been affected. One day, you¡¯ll die because of her as well. Or you¡¯ll grow tired of her and abandon her. Whicheveres first. Haha, I want her to die, but now that I think of it, she is a pitiful girl.¡±


    Nan Xun frowned at his words and bent down to hold his gaze. ¡°Are you a leftover scum from Eastern Wu?¡±


    ¡°Since when are Eastern Wu people leftovers?¡± the man bit out, his voice dripping with venom. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Jun Huang is a leftover scum of Western Que.¡±


    Nan Xun considered him and shook his head. ¡°No, you¡¯re not from Eastern Wu, but Tianyu.¡±


    The man looked at Nan Xun in shock, which told Nan Xun that he¡¯d made the right guess.


    ¡°More precisely, you¡¯re Ji Bo¡¯s man.¡± Nan Xun got to his feet and looked down at the man. The man struggled against the restraint, wanting to fight Nan Xun. However, the iron chains prevented him from doing anything. Any slight movement caused white hot pain to shoot through his body.


    ¡°If you tell us where Ji Bo has hidden Jun Hao, I¡¯ll leave your body intact.¡±


    ¡°And if I don¡¯t?¡± the man taunted.


    Nan Xun leveled him with an icy gaze, his voice calm. ¡°I¡¯ll make you.¡±


    He waved a hand at his men. The guards held their prisoner up and took off the chains, tying him to a wooden stake. He looked like a pig waiting to be ughtered.


    Nan Xun looked over at the torturing devices. His gaze settled on a dagger. It was a simple, unassuming weapon.


    The man snorted. ¡°Torture? Do you think I¡¯ll be afraid of a dagger?¡±


    Nan Xun weighed the dagger in his hand and turned to the man. ¡°You¡¯re right. This dagger will bring you the least pain. However, I¡¯m using it to make you talk. Do you believe that I can do it?¡±


    He walked toward the man. The dagger¡¯s de reflected blinding light under the candles.


    The man had been ready to die, and he¡¯d suffered great pain before Nan Xun¡¯s arrival. He didn¡¯t fear the dagger. His face, however, fell when he heard Nan Xun sending for a doctor.


    ¡°What... what are you doing?¡± The man¡¯s voice trembled. He couldn¡¯t mask his trepidation no matter how hard he tried.


    Nan Xun chuckled and put the dagger in the brazier. As the de turned red with heat, he said quietly, ¡°I can kill you easily, but that¡¯ll be too merciful for you, and I won¡¯t get what I want. On the other hand, I can take away your pride as a man. I can... make you wish for death.¡±


    His eyes shone with a cruel glint.


    The man paled when he realized what Nan Xun was going to do, but he refused to talk.


    The doctor came. Nan Xun made a few orders and turned his back to the man. The doctor put on a glove and picked up the dagger from the brazier. Once the guards disrobed the man, the doctor cut off his genitals with one precise cut, giving him no time to react.


    The de fell to the floor with the cut body part. The man¡¯s scream rang and echoed in the prison. Nan Xun kept his back to the man, unfazed.


    The doctor deftly dressed the wound to stop the bleeding. Once that was done, he walked away. Nan Xun turned around. The man was again dressed, but his clothes were tainted with blood, and his face was sheet white.


    ¡°Still not talking?¡± Nan Xun asked.


    The man pulled his lips into a sharp smile and refused to give in. Nan Xun calmly stayed on the sideline as his men tortured their captive.


    The man had been Ji Bo¡¯s follower. Pain wasn¡¯t enough to break him. Nan Xun soon realized that, but he didn¡¯t tell his men to stop. He watched him. The man showed less reaction to the physical torture than to what the doctor had done.


    After the time for an incense stick to burn, Nan Xun motioned at his men to stop. The prisoner lifted his head and looked up through his messy hair. ¡°You¡¯ve run out of options, haven¡¯t you? You might as well kill me, hahaha!¡±


    Nan Xun hummed in contemtion. After a while, he chuckled as if he¡¯d remembered something. He said idly, ¡°Do you know there are people in Eastern Wu who are partial to men without their genitals?¡±


    The man red at Nan Xun, his expression tightening and his face turning pale. Nan Xun calmly continued, ¡°There have always been men who prefer thepany of other men. You don¡¯t hold prejudice against them, do you? Why don¡¯t I find you a fewpanions?¡±


    Silence stretched. Finally, the man stopped clenching his jaw and said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, but you have to give me a quick death.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    After getting the location Jun Hao was at, Nan Xun had the man locked up. Once they found Jun Hao, he¡¯d have the man killed.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t immediately returned to Jun Huang. After what he¡¯d witnessed, he didn¡¯t want the smell of blood to taint her. He cleaned himself up in another room and put on some incense before he made his way to Jun Huang¡¯s room. When he entered, she was sitting on the bed, looking into the distance.


    ¡°We know where Jun Hao is,¡± Nan Xun said, taking a seat next to her.


    She perked up, looking at Nan Xun. She saw the truth of his words in his eyes. With great eagerness, she eximed, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you!¡±

 Chapter 377 - I’ll Follow You to Hell

    <strong>Chapter 377: I¡¯ll Follow You to Hell</strong>


    ¡°The journey is going to be exhausting. You¡¯re...¡±


    ¡°I have to go. I have to make sure he¡¯s alright. No one knows how long it¡¯ll take you to bring him to me. What if... I die before he¡¯s back? Then I won¡¯t be able to rest in peace.¡± Jun Huang was simply telling the truth. She wasn¡¯t trying to use her death as a bargaining chip.


    Nan Xun understood her. Oleg Cragfiend hadn¡¯t yet found a cure. Her days might very well be numbered. He wanted her to be happy, and he wanted her to fight to live. Eventually, he nodded. He¡¯d take Jun Huang to Jun Hao.


    They departed as soon as they could. Theirs was a small group. Apart from Jun Huang and Nan Xun were Nan Xun¡¯s most trusted men, Yin Yun, and Oleg Cragfiend. Nan Xun took the poison master in case Jun Huang¡¯s condition deteriorated.


    His decision was proven to be a wise one. Jun Huang had fallen unconscious along the way several times. Once, Jun Huang was bored and wanted to read, but Nan Xun stopped her and read to her instead. Not long after he started, Jun Huang fainted. He¡¯d thought she was simply asleep, but he couldn¡¯t wake her up. It wasn¡¯t until Oleg Cragfiend checked on her that he knew she¡¯d lost consciousness.


    Nan Xun had been constantly afraid for Jun Huang, worried that she¡¯d copse at an inopportune moment. It wasn¡¯t a smooth journey. She might get herself hurt.


    Oleg Cragfiend had been giving Jun Huang medicine nonstop, but it hadn¡¯t been effective. It got to the point that Nan Xun was losing sleep every day. He couldn¡¯t rest easy without Jun Huang in his sight. He worried that she¡¯d fall unconscious one day and never wake up.


    Jun Huang didn¡¯t know how she couldfort Nan Xun. She could only talk to him about the beautiful scenery outside.


    Half a month had passed. Nan Xun seemed to have aged prematurely from the stress. His chin was covered in stubbles. He didn¡¯t look like his usual stoic self.


    Yin Yun noted his unkempt look. Who would¡¯ve thought Northern Qi¡¯s general would end up like this? Who other than Jun Huang could have such a profound impact on him?


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t allow himself to rx until after Jun Huang had fallen asleep. Their coach was parked on the side of the road. Not far from it was the cliff. With a tangled mess of thoughts in his head, Nan Xun got off the coach to get some fresh air. He ran into an equally awake Yin Yun.


    Yin Yun traced the sound of footsteps to Nan Xun. He could see the exhaustion in the general¡¯s eyes. He sighed. ¡°The princess is doing rtively well, and Oleg Cragfiend is a master of poison. He¡¯ll be able to help her. Don¡¯t run yourself to the ground. We don¡¯t want you to copse before the princess gets her cure.¡±


    Nan Xun smiled wryly at his attempt of reassurance and looked up at the bright moon. Eventually, he said, ¡°What if Jun Hao has be nothing but a pile of bones when we find him? What will you do?¡±


    Yin Yun froze. He knew why Nan Xun would say such a thing, so he didn¡¯t me Nan Xun for painting a grim picture. He put some thought into the question and answered seriously, ¡°If His Highness has died, I¡¯ll follow him to the other world. I won¡¯t hang onto my life and leave him alone in the dark.¡±


    Nan Xun was surprised, but it dawned on him how devoted Yin Yun was to Jun Hao. The guard had watched the boy grow up. He¡¯d cared for him and risked his life for him. If one day Jun Hao did die, Nan Xun believed Yin Yun would do as he¡¯d said.


    If one day Jun Huang passes away, I¡¯ll do the same.


    He didn¡¯t voice his thoughts, but his eyes were expressive enough under the moonlight. Jun Huang had overheard their conversation. A look at Nan Xun¡¯s face was enough for her to understand his unspoken words.


    Yin Yun was getting tired. He patted Nan Xun on the shoulder and told him not to think too much before leaving. Nan Xun nodded, watching him go. When he turned back, Jun Huang was not far from him, her clothes fluttering in the wind.


    ¡°Why did youe out?¡± Nan Xun hurried to her side and pulled her into his arms.


    Jun Huang snuggled closer to him. ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°If I die, are you going to take your own life?¡± Jun Huang looked up at him. Her piercing gaze seemed to be seeing through his soul. His heart jumped and his throat tightened. With a sigh, he covered her eyes.


    ¡°As you¡¯ve spected, I¡¯ll follow you to the other side if you can¡¯t be cured. I¡¯ll follow you even in hell, even if I have to drink the brew that¡¯ll erase my memory[1].¡± Nan Xun¡¯s hoarse voice seemed to speak directly to her soul.


    She was shaken. A sorrowful smile tugged at her lips. She didn¡¯t push Nan Xun¡¯s hands away. ¡°What if I don¡¯t want you to follow me? Things have gotten back to how it should be. You should see the peaceful world for me. I don¡¯t want you to end your life prematurely.¡±


    Nan Xun put his arms around her tightly and said in a loving voice, ¡°Have you given up hope? Why can¡¯t you think about what I want, Jun Huang? Don¡¯t give up just yet. No matter how slim the chance of your survival is, no matter what we have to face in the future, I¡¯ll stay by your side. I won¡¯t leave you behind.¡±


    Jun Huang fell silent and leaned toward him, listening to the quiet wind. She looked up at the bright moon and the fluctuating line of the mountain range. She didn¡¯t put her love for him into words.


    A sliver of hope snuck into her heart, unbidden. She didn¡¯t have to worry about being alone anymore. The man had said he¡¯d never let go of her hand.


    For the next few days, Jun Huang fainting spells happened a lot less frequently. Nan Xun was relieved.


    They soon reached the location the Tianyu prisoner had given them. Worried that there would be danger lying await, Nan Xun had his guards scout the area first. Then he took Jun Huang and Yin Yun to the hidden cave they spotted.


    The journey had been bumpy. Jun Huang had wanted to stretch her legs for a long time. She insisted on following Nan Xun on foot. They entered the cave.


    The guards took point while Jun Huang and Nan Xun stayed in the middle. Yin Yun followed them at the end, keeping an eye on the surroundings. They each held a torch in their hands, staying on high alert.


    The path within the cave was smoother, easier to traverse. They hadn¡¯t encountered any danger so far. Jun Huang held onto Nan Xun¡¯s arm. Her expression was calm. Nan Xun and the others looked cautious. Caves were usually dangerous, and this was Tianyu¡¯s treasury. They worried that there would be traps.


    Fortunately, Ji Bo hadn¡¯t deemed it necessary to set up traps since the ce was so well hidden. They soon reached the end of the cave. Before them was a narrow path wide enough for only one person to pass at a time. Jun Huang frowned.


    She pushed aside her concerns and followed Nan Xun through the tunnel. The ce opened up to a vast, beautiful grasnd. Jun Huang gaped at her surroundings. Had she identally entered the realm of the celestials?


    The grass was a rich, vibrant green, decorated with tiny yellow flowers. Surrounding the grasnd were a circle of snowy mountains. The blue of the sky was in stark contrast with the snowy top of the mountains.


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t dare rx his guard. He kept Jun Huang shielded behind him and said to Yin Yun and his guards, ¡°You should go find Jun Hao.¡±


    Yin Yun nodded and led the guards away. The ce was big. They had to move around with their light body technique. They soon found a cabin by theke. Before they could get close, a maid walked out of the door and spotted them. Fear shed through her face. ¡°Who... Who are you?!¡±


    Yin Yun¡¯s response was cut short by Jun Hao¡¯s sudden appearance. He¡¯de out to check what themotion was about. His eyes widened when he saw his personal bodyguard. He dashed toward Yin Yun and threw himself into the man¡¯s arms.


    Nan Xun¡¯s guards were going to catch the maid, but Jun Hao pulled away and stopped them. ¡°She¡¯s not a bad person.¡±


    Yin Yunter found out that Ji Bo had entrusted Jun Hao to the maid and the assassin they¡¯d caught. The man realized that something had happened to Ji Bo after they lost contact with him. After telling the maid to take care of Jun Hao, he left their sanctuary.


    He found out what had happened and med Jun Haung, which led him to risk his life in order to avenge Ji Bo. That was something neither Jun Hao nor the maid knew.


    Jun Hao was well taken care of. He hadn¡¯t lost any weight. However, it had been a long time since he was separated from Yin Yun. He refused to leave his side. Yin Yun sent a man to notify Nan Xun with fond resignation.


    Nan Xun and Jun Huang made their way to the cabin as soon as they got the message. Jun Huang¡¯s heart pounded. She almost couldn¡¯t believe her eyes when she saw Jun Hao.


    Jun Hao had seen Jun Huang as well. He let go of Yin Yun and rushed into Jun Huang¡¯s arms.


    No words were needed to express their feelings when they held each other. Jun Huang tightened her arms around him. Color slowly drained from her face.


    Nan Xun caught her as soon as she copsed. He thought this was simply another fainting spell like the ones before, but then he noticed how pale her face was.


    He should¡¯ve known. How could Jun Huang¡¯s health have miraculously recovered the past few days? It was simply because she was going to see Jun Hao. She¡¯d been tapping into thest of her reserved strength so that she could stay upright until she found her brother.


    Now that She¡¯d made sure that Jun Hao was alright, her body rxed and gave out.


    1. In traditional beliefs, every soul will be given a brew/soup that makes you forget everything before entering the next life.

 Chapter 378 - A Recluse Life

    <strong>Chapter 378: A Recluse Life</strong>


    Nan Xun stared at Jun Huang, unblinking. Almost timidly, he reached out to feel her breathing, his fingers trembling against his will. He finally let go of the breath he¡¯d been holding when he made sure Jun Huang was still alive. What came next was an overwhelming sense of sorrow and rage.


    He howled.


    The tall, strongly built fighter was rendered into a bawling mess. He cursed at the gods for being unfair and at the world for being blind. Someone like Jun Huang shouldn¡¯t be hurt again and again.


    Jun Hao and Yin Yun stared at him, caught off guard. Jun Hao wanted to get close to Jun Huang, but Nan Xun pushed him away.


    Like a feral beast protecting its mate, he red at Jun Hao and growled, ¡°It¡¯s your fault!¡±


    He wasn¡¯t thinking clearly. His mouth spouted off cruel words on its own ord.


    ¡°If not for you, Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t have been like this. She got in danger for you again and again. I wish you¡¯d stay away from her.¡±


    ¡°People say she brought misfortune to everyone around her, but no, you do. You¡¯re the bane of her existence.¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re upset, Nan Xun, but how do you think the prince is feeling? You¡¯ve crossed a line!¡± Yin Yun yanked Nan Xun up and threw a punch at him.


    Nan Xun stared dumbly at Jun Huang¡¯s prone form. He only realized then what nonsense he¡¯d said. Before he could apologise, Jun Hao tugged at Yin Yun¡¯s sleeve and shook his head. They walked away, leaving Nan Xun alone with Jun Huang.


    After a long, long while, he knelt down and pulled Jun Huang into his arms. ¡°How can you be so cruel, Jun Huang? Does our promise mean nothing to you?¡±


    ¡°I want to be with you until our hair turn grey. I want to see the world and the most stunning scenery with you. How can you leave me behind?¡±


    ¡°I will give up everything to be with you. Everything... I¡¯m begging you, Jun Huang. Please wake up. I¡¯ll do anything you want me to do. Just don¡¯t leave me behind.¡±


    He was beside himself. He tightened his fists, averting his gaze from her pale, lifeless face. His heart squeezed painfully.


    Jun Huang was the most important thing in his life. He couldn¡¯t bear losing her. He¡¯d dly trade everything he had for a lifetime with her.


    He could give up his ambition. He could throw away his reputation. He could live without any power. He could be the most boring, mediocre man with no achievement under his belt. The one thing he couldn¡¯t live without was Jun Huang.


    A man who didn¡¯t cry was a man who hadn¡¯t loved. When he was a young prince shedding his blood on battlefields, he¡¯d never anticipated that one day, he¡¯d love someone so deeply that he shed tears.


    Jun Huang felt as if she¡¯d entered a world of infinite emptiness. There was nothing and no one in her sight. She was rooted to the spot and couldn¡¯t take any steps. Then, suddenly, she heard someone crying.


    The sound made her heart ache, but she couldn¡¯t remember who it could be. It was so close, and yet she couldn¡¯t see the man who was crying for her. She opened her mouth to offerfort, but no sound came out. The man was still bawling. She struggled to look at him.


    Finally, when Nan Xun was still muttering into Jun Huang¡¯s ear, she opened her eyes. The tears on his face were still fresh. With her heart throbbing, she gently wiped the tears away.


    Nan Xun was both startled and overjoyed. He didn¡¯t know what he should do to express this overwhelming feeling.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this,¡± said Jun Huang. ¡°If I die, find someone else to love. Don¡¯t cry for me anymore. It¡¯s not worth it.¡±


    He¡¯d wanted to tell her how much he loved her, and yet she doused the fire in his heart with those cutting words. He stilled.


    Jun Huang looked away. She didn¡¯t want to see the hurt look on Nan Xun¡¯s face. She worried that she would change her mind and instead tell Nan Xun to stay forever alone for her.


    Nan Xun was furious. He¡¯d given her his heart, but she didn¡¯t want it. He knew it wasn¡¯t because she didn¡¯t love him.


    Overwhelmed by a myriad of emotions he couldn¡¯t sort through, he bit Jun Huang in the shoulder.


    Jun Huang winced, but didn¡¯t push him away. Nan Xun let go of her quickly and rubbed at where he¡¯d bitten, worried that he¡¯d hurt her. After a long pause, he asked bitterly, ¡°Are you really willing to push me into another woman¡¯s arms?¡±


    His pained voice hit Jun Huang hard. She met his gaze, and all the selfless words she¡¯de up with got stuck in her throat. She shook her head.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want you to be with anyone else. My heart hurts whenever I think about you showing another person the same love you¡¯ve shown me. But that¡¯s selfish.¡±


    ¡°I want you to be selfish. Can¡¯t you hold on for a little longer for me?¡±


    Their eyes met. Finally, Jun Huang nodded with determination and snuggled close to Nan Xun. He held her tightly in his arms as if she¡¯d disappear the next moment.


    She fell asleep. Nan Xun picked her up and went to find Jun Hao and Yin Yun. They hurried back to Northern Qi. This time, even though Jun Huang hadn¡¯t woken up, Nan Xun calmly and tirelessly took care of her for three days and three nights straight.


    Yin Yun and Jun Hao wanted to help, but Nan Xun shook his head. He wanted to be the first thing Jun Huang saw when she woke up. Jun Hao and Yin Yun could only stay outside and keep the couple safe.


    Just when they were going to lose hope, Oleg Cragfiend returned. He immediately sought Nan Xun out without notifying anyone in advance. Nan Xun was sitting by the bed, looking at Jun Huang like he could do this for an eternity.


    Yin Yun and Jun Hao followed Oleg Cragfiend into the room. Their throats felt tight and their eyes stung. Oleg Cragfiend sighed and went up to Nan Xun. ¡°I can save her.¡±


    Nan Xun didn¡¯t immediately react. He struggled to his feet and stared at Oleg Cragfiend, worried that the old man was humoring him. Oleg Cragfiend snorted and continued, ¡°As the fated phoenix, Jun Huang must never enter the mortal world again. You have to live the life of a recluse with her. Will you be willing to?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Nan Xun said without hesitation. Oleg Cragfiend nodded and went to prepare the ingredients for the medicine.


    After everyone had left the room, Nan Xun copsed to the floor. He took Jun Huang¡¯s hand in his and choked out, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. You¡¯ll be fine soon.¡±


    Oleg Cragfiend soon gathered the necessary ingredients. He and Nan Xun took Jun Huang away from Northern Qi and arrived at the poison master¡¯s old home.


    Oleg Cragfiend had prepared a medicinal bath for Jun Huang. She had to be immersed in the medicine every day for three months straight, during which Nan Xun had never left her side.


    When Nan Xun¡¯s lead shadowguard came, Nan Xun was resting under a tree. He hadn¡¯t had any proper sleep for a long time. He blinked blearily when he heard someone approaching. He was a little surprised when he saw his shadowguard.


    He¡¯d left his guards and shadowguards to Qi Yun before he left. He had no use for them since he¡¯d be living here with Jun Huang, and it didn¡¯t make sense to keep his subordinates from doing what they did best.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Nan Xun got to his feet, rubbing at his throbbing temple. He walked toward a table.


    The shadowguard cleared his throat and looked at the closed door. ¡°Hasn¡¯t she woken up?¡±


    Sorrow tinted Nan Xun¡¯s eyes. He shook his head with a wry smile. It pained the shadowguard to see him like this. He¡¯d never thought the unbeatable Nan Xun would look so vulnerable.


    After a long stretch of silence, the shadowguard updated Nan Xun on the tasks Nan Xun had assigned him before his departure. The treasure Ji Bo left had been found and delivered to Qi Yun. The young emperor would use it to people¡¯s benefit. Qi Yun had asked about Nan Xun and Jun Huang. A deep sigh was his only reaction.


    Nan Jihan had returned to Southern Mu after finding the jade seal. He didn¡¯t ask after Jun Huang.


    Nan Xun nodded without a word. The shadowguard wasn¡¯t going to force a conversation. He looked around and asked, ¡°Where are the young master and Yin Yun?¡±


    Nan Xun looked up and exined, ¡°Oleg Cragfiend said that since I¡¯ve taken Jun Huang, it¡¯s only right that he has a new disciple. He took Jun Hao away. Naturally, Yin Yun would be following them. If you want to talk to them, go out and walk a mile toward the east. That¡¯s where they¡¯re living now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll check on them.¡± The shadowguard got to his feet.


    ¡°Leave this ce after that and don¡¯te back,¡± Nan Xun said, finally making up his mind. ¡°Go to Qi Yun. He¡¯ll treat you well.¡±


    The shadowguard stilled. He didn¡¯t turn around, but instead nodded with his fists clenched. A ¡°Understood¡± was all he said before he quickened his pace and vanished.


    Nan Xun sighed and took a sip of his tea. It was too bitter to swallow.


    The shadowguard didn¡¯t leave immediately. Instead, he stayed in the dark and kept watch on Nan Xun. He¡¯d been following Nan Xun since he was little. Nan Xun treated him like a brother and never wronged him. He¡¯d sworn that he¡¯d do anything Nan Xun told him to do, and yet Nan Xun was telling him to leave.


    He had no reason to disobey Nan Xun. Nan Xun was his master. Even though the general had given up on all his power, the shadowguard would always be his soldier.


    Nan Xun knew the shadowguard had been watching him, but he pretended to not notice. The next day, when he noticed the absence of the shadowguard, he sighed and put away the dried medicine before returning to the house.


    ¡°When are you going to wake up, Jun Huang?¡± Nan Xun asked gently, looking at her sleeping face.

 Chapter 379(END) - Til death do us part

    <strong>Chapter 379: Til death do us part</strong>


    Jun Huang wouldn¡¯t be able to answer him, of course. Nan Xunughed bitterly.


    Hearing a faint thud, he turned to see a monkey perching on the windowsill.


    Nan Xun reached out for the monkey. Who knew what the wild thing would do? Before he could catch it, the monkey jumped in and took a nt from the medicinal bath. Nan Xun shot to his feet and tried to grab it.


    With intelligence behind its eyes, the monkey gave Nan Xun a look and turned to leave.


    ¡°Stop it, you damn animal!¡± eximed Nan Xun. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯ve stolen?¡±


    The monkey made some unintelligible chatter and ran away. The medicinal bath was prescribed by Oleg Cragfiend. Every herb had its part. Nan Xun jumped out of the window and chase after the monkey.


    The monkey hadn¡¯t expected Nan Xun to be so stubborn. It stumbled and almost fell from a branch. But then it caught a vine and swung away. Nan Xun had to use light body technique to catch up with it.


    Not long after Nan Xun left, Jun Huang¡¯s eyshes fluttered.


    Surrounded by wisps of steam rising from the bath, she opened her eyes.


    She blinked. It took some time for her to figure out where she was. Hera had left her body stiff and weak. She struggled to her feet.


    Droplets of water slid down her fair skin and dripped from her fingers. Theynded in the tub of medicinal solution with a faint sound.


    Her eyes turned misty in the steam. She looked around before stepping out of the tub. There was a white silk robe on the rack nearby. She put it on and walked out of the door with her hair down.


    There was no one around. She frowned. Confusion shed through her beautiful face. She made her way down the stairs and saw how brimming with life the valley was.


    She recognized the ce. Oleg Cragfiend used to live here, and she¡¯d stayed here for some time as well. The cabin, though, was new. The behemoth tree was still as she¡¯d remembered. There was a creek next to it. That was her favorite spot whenever she was missing home.


    Outside the cabin, there was a small parterre filled with orchids. Their fragrance enveloped her like aforting nket. Standing here, she felt as if she was standing at the center of the world. Everything around her was of the nature. They burned themselves into her memory.


    To think a world such as this could exist. This must be the ideal, quiet life the ancient people had pursued.


    She knelt down in the parterre and looked at the beautiful flowers. Smiling, she extended a hand. A butterfly quietly perched on her fingertip. She chuckled. ¡°Do you know where the man who has been taking care of me is? Why isn¡¯t he around?¡±


    The butterfly couldn¡¯t answer her. It took flight once her breaths hit it. Then many more butterflies emerged and circled around her.


    Meanwhile, Nan Xun had finally caught up with the monkey and took the herb back. He wasn¡¯t going to hurt an innocent animal. He let it go and made his way back.


    He returned to find the door ajar. His heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened. There was a mix of disbelief, trepidation, and delight in his gaze.


    Taking a deep breath, he entered the door. There was no one in the bath, and the robe on the rack was gone. In a moment of ecstasy, he dropped the herb to the floor and bolted outside.


    There was arge group of butterflies in the parterre he¡¯d set up. He slowly came to a halt and looked into the distance.


    Jun Huang stood among the flowers, surrounded by colorful butterflies.


    It felt as if he was seeing her for the first time.


    Noticing his gaze, she turned around and gave him a smile stunning enough to topple a nation. She¡¯d always been beautiful. His heart pounded against his ribcage as he looked at her fluttering robe, her dancing hair, and her tender eyes.


    Jun Huang was still smiling. Nan Xun could no longer control himself. He ran to her at full speed, scaring the butterflies away, and held Jun Huang tight, his body trembling uncontrobly.


    Jun Huang buried her face into his chest, listening to his thundering heartbeats. Her smile deepened and her eyes crinkled. ¡°Where did you go?¡±


    Nan Xun told her about the monkey.


    ¡°Well,¡± she said. ¡°I guess it¡¯s thanks to it that I¡¯m awake now.¡±


    ¡°Seems to be the case.¡± Nan Xunughed, his eyes shining with an adoring glint. She lowered her head and cleared her throat, bashfully averting her gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t remember the cabin and the parterre.¡±


    ¡°I built them for you,¡± said Nan Xun. ¡°Would you like to live here with me?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyebrows jumped up in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re giving up your power and career for me?¡±


    Nan Xun chuckled resignedly and updated her on the recent development. She frowned.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you regret giving up your old life?¡±


    Nan Xun tightened his hand around hers and said seriously, ¡°You are the only one I need in my life. Greed begets more greed. It¡¯s a blessing that I can have you. Why would I ask for more?¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s eyes stung. Shey her head against Nan Xun¡¯s chest. They stayed like that for a long time until Jun Huang remembered Jun Hao and Oelg Cragfiend. She asked after them.


    Nan Xun pursed his lips. He didn¡¯t want to talk about other people at this tender moment, but he couldn¡¯t say no to Jun Huang when she looked at him like that. He sighed and took her to Jun Hao.


    They followed a path and soon reached where Oleg Cragfiend and Jun Hao were living. When Jun Huang saw her brother, he was kneeling on the ground trying to identify the different herbs. He couldn¡¯t for his life remembered what his master had taught him yesterday. He struggled to put a name to the nt in his hand.


    ¡°Is this ginseng?¡± muttered Jun Hao as he scratched his head. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like it.¡±


    Jun Huang took the nt from him and murmured, ¡°This is dong quai. Its effect is mild and its taste spicy. It can replenish blood and promote cirction.¡±


    For a moment, Jun Hao didn¡¯t react. Then he threw himself into her arms and bawled, warm tears leaving stains on Jun Huang¡¯s cors. Jun Huang¡¯s heart ached, but she managed to blink her tears away. She wanted to be strong for him.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m fine now,¡± Jun Huang said gently, ruffling Jun Hao¡¯s hair. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past.¡±


    Jealous, Nan Xun plucked Jun Hao out of Jun Huang¡¯s arms and stepped between them. ¡°You¡¯re a big boy,¡± he said with a dark look. ¡°You should keep your distance from women.¡±


    Jun Huang sighed in exasperation. Jun Hao made a face at Nan Xun and went past him to catch Jun Huang¡¯s arm. With an eyebrow raised, he recounted how Nan Xun had treated him while she was unconscious.


    That was what Oleg Cragfiend saw when he returned. He smiled with fond resignation and dropped his things. ¡°What do you n to do next?¡±


    Nan Xun turned to Jun Huang, who gave him a gentle smile. They bothughed.


    ¡°I want to lead a peaceful life with her.¡±


    Jun Huang nodded. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with that. I¡¯d like to be here with him til death do us part. We¡¯ve missed so much time. I just want to grow old with him, witnessing the turn of the seasons, letting snow grey our hair. I cannot ask for more.¡±


    ¡°Others dream of a prosperous world. I dream of a beautiful city, within which is one man. A man I want to spend my life with.¡±


    Jun Huang¡¯s face softened. Every minute detail about her expression was a love confession to Nan Xun.


    Jun Hao nced at Nan Xun¡¯s reddened eyes and muttered aint that Jun Huang and Nan Xun always forgot about him. He ran off to find Yin Yun.


    The adultsughed, finally free of care.


    Qi Yun stood under a pavilion, looking into the distance. The ground was covered in peach blossoms. With a gentle look on his face, he watched his little boys running around in the garden.


    The empress came to him with a te of pastries. She put the te on the table and stopped at Qi Yun¡¯s side. Her expression was unbearably soft as she watched their children having fun.


    Qi Yun often checked on Nan Xun and Jun Huang after Nan Xun took her away. He was genuinely happy for Nan Xun when he heard that Jun Huang had woken up.


    Then he heard that Jun Huang had given birth to an intelligent and adorable daughter. That day, all the flowers in the valley bloomed, the fragrance reaching ten miles away.


    Not long after, the couple had a son. The smart little boy was starting to learn how to walk, and he loved following his sister, babbling nonsensical things. The four of them were a loving family.


    ¡°What are you thinking, Your Majesty?¡± asked the empress.


    Qi Yun turned to her and met her gentle eyes. He sighed faintly and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m thinking about the prosperous world, about the wars and chaos in the past. Who among us can go down in history as a hero? And who will dominate the history books? But then I realize I¡¯ll be pleased with simply spending a life with you, my empress.¡±


    After that, no one ever heard of a woman chosen by fate. Those who knew her never brought her up. Gradually, she was forgotten by the world.


    The one passage about her in history went like this: The magnificent scenery seemed to have lost their colors when she emerged. Having met her was the greatest miracle in his life.


    The End


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